"Ethical" Meat

"I don't have a problem with eating meat, just the ethics behind it."

The above statement was said to me during a "foodie" talk about curry.  I full-heartedly agreed with the individual and support her decisions 100%.  And, for that reason, many vegans are going to disagree with me... Many vegans disagree with me frequently, I just need to get used to it.  I'm already used to the fact that I make many people still eating meat uncomfortable...

Will I ever meat again? No.  Like the true-blue animal-rights vegetarians mentioned in the article below, I have developed an ethical opposition to the consumption of another animal.  I believe in speciesism, and hope for it to one day be as politically incorrect as racism, sexism, and all other prejudices in this world.  In the meantime, though, I want to support any baby steps away from the horrible and disgusting abuse that happens in every single factory farm, where speciesism is at its worst.  Like the feminist movement that has gone before it, the animal rights movement needs to focus on making violent rape/and torturous mercy killings illegal before we elect a cat for leader of the free world.  It's all about the baby steps...

As such, I support Meatless Mondays.  If everybody gave up eating meat for a day at least once a week, just imagine how many lives could be saved!  As long as you don't go on about it to me, I'll even be okay with you eating a steak the next day.  I'd prefer if you didn't...but if you know the producer, and you choose that over a factory-farmed chicken (who, by the way, I think need more protection than cattle in this country), I'll appreciate you're baby step.

I'm a farmer's daughter, and always will be.  Giving up meat was my single act of rebellion as a teenager, and I've always maintained a level of respect from where I've come from.  But I also have an idea for where we're heading...especially if we don't do anything to stop not only the abuse of animals for our mere pleasure (not nutritional benefit), but also the obesity epidemic and environmental consequences of over-production.  These are all points that I'll cover in the future...

After the "foodie" conversation, I made my way home and found this article on a Vegan Mainstream's facebook page.  Like many vegans I know, this article upset Vegan Mainstream.  It didn't paint rainbows of happiness across my heart either, but I can appreciate parts of it - especially the honesty.  Having profitted from the life of a farmer as a child, I do support "seeking out and paying a high premium for meat."  It should be a luxury - not a daily occurence!  In the same respect, fresh vegetables should be a daily occurence and not a luxury...and so I support local vegetable farmers.

Today I had a separate discussion with somebody whose sister had been a vegan for two years.  The reason for her to stop identifying as a vegan was because it was "too hard." She found herself deprived when going out with friends (to KFC...I'll hold back my comments on friends like that...) and following a strict diet too difficult.  This is exactly why I advocate for "cheating." I'm human.  I make mistakes.  And I'm not going to lose sight of the greater good just because there is milk ingredients in the bread I bought this week because I ran out of time to make my own.  As a fellow vegan pointed out, "an environmentalist doesn't stop calling themselves an environmentalist if they throw a pop can in a garbage can rather than the recycling bin."  So, to make the die-hard vegan police (who-don't-actually-exist) happy, I'll acknowledge that I'm a "Cheatin' Vegan."  For those who find life as a vegan or vegetarian too difficult for them, I'll be here to guide you in the right direction.  I won't, though, like the ex-vegetarian in this article, ever slide back into eating meat...and I mean that.

All that being said, I'm sure you're thoroughly confused about my point by now.  So, now's the perfect time to read somebody else's point of view.  There are some interesting points here, which inspired the above tangents, etc.  Check it out: "Why Vegetarians Are Eating Meat" in Food and Wine Online magazine.

Okay, so I am slightly sad that the ex-vegetarian started eating animals again, but everybody is entitled to their own choices.  Just as vegetarians and vegans concerned about the "questions being raised about meat replacements derived from soy and wheat gluten" have the choice of a HUGE variety of other vegetable protein sources out there.  And that's my favourite part about being a vegan right now - they just keep multiplying!  After seven years of not eating meat, I can honestly say that the times I have gotten my protein from ONLY soy or "omnisub" fake meats has been rare.  Maybe, if you add it all up it would be two servings a day for two months.  Out of 84 months, I'd say that's pretty rare.   Just think about the rise in popularity of the nine protein sources currently in my cupboard: quinoa, lentils, millet, white navy beans, brown rice, almonds, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), barley, kidney beans.  It definitely makes the choice of beef, pork, chicken or fish boring in comparison. And that's just what's in my cupboards right now.

So, if you're currently on an omnivore diet, I hope you at least try to chose more "ethical" meat.  Better than that, I'd be thrilled if you committed to giving up meat completely, but once a week is still good.  Otherwise, well, there's always more room over here in the veg*n room!

(I often joke around about my problem of food hoarding.  When there are also talks of disasters striking, though, I take comfort in - and comfort my cat with - the knowledge that he'll eat me before I eat him...which won't likely happen for six months after being trapped in my overstocked apartment.  Even in the worst disaster, I'm sure we'll be able to sneak out into the river valley for some vegetation by that time...)

Ending Animal Testing

There is always differing levels of commitment to a cause.  I call myself a 'Cheatin' vegan because I know many more vegans on a much stricter level of commitment than I am.  My general philosophy is, though, that I'm always working towards being a better vegan.  Not supporting companies that themselves support non-vegan practices (such as vivisection, or animal testing) is just one more step at becoming a better vegan.

Education is the key to many successful things in life.  PETA does a fantastic job of educating the world on some atrocious things that happen in our world, like vivisection.  Below is the link to an article they posted about Lipton, a major tea company, and their end to animal testing.  I never would have thought that tea would be non-vegan, but I'm glad that PETA does their research and has ended this horrible practice!

Victory! Lipton Ends Cruel Animal Tests: "We are thrilled to announce that after more than 40,000 supporters of PETA and its affiliates around the world sent e-mails urging Unilever to stop…"

Tonight, my vegan knowledge grew even more!  I went to a presentation performed by two of my fellow board members for the Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta at the library downtown.  As always, my two colleagues were a wealth of information, and I think the presentation helped convince interested parties in the ease of transitioning to a cruelty-free lifestyle.

As part of my vow to become a better vegan, I'll share with you the information I learned tonight over the next month, or probably even longer.  For now, while on the topic of vivisection, I thought I would share a link to another group that is doing what it can to stop animal testing in medicine.  They are called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and you can find out more about them here!

New Year's Resolutions

Nearly two weeks in, but the New Year's Resolutions(NYRs) are still on my mind. Actually, I think it's better that I'm two weeks in and still hashing them out. It wasn't planned like this, ... But as I learned last fall, the best things in my life have been well-researched but poorly planned!

It's time to stop the research, though, and just jump in - start researching through experience rather than through the books. (Ironically, one of my NYRs is to read more: five minutes minimum every night.) And so, here goes:

This blog may not be perfectly designed yet, but one day it will be. It's not getting any better designed with my sitting on it. Time to share it with you!

Which brings me to NYR numero uno: Cheat Less, Vegan More!

The justification for being a cheating vegan is that I come off as more approachable to people who are interested in hearing about the vegan lifestyle. Or, well, at least I ostracize less of my family as they attempt to accomodate my "difficult" life choices. But, in the process, I've lost a lot of the reasoning in why I am VEGAN and not VEGETARIAN, which is becoming more of a problem for me.

This is something that matters to me. I've been on this journey - openly - for seven years. I've been a "vegan" for the last two, but I've always cheated, just a little bit...

So, this year is different. I understand that mistakes happen. Cheating is inevitable, but it shouldn't be allowed everyday. So, like many other successful "diets" out there, I'm devoting a few days a week to cheating, and being STRICT STRICT STRICT during the week. I have, in essence, become a "Weekday Vegan / Weekend Vegetarian." And, no, I will never eat meat...probably ever again... (but I never like to say "never")

I want to maintain my approachability:

If you are a die-hard vegan, I commend you! You scour ingredients lists, make most of your food from scratch and probably devote a fair chunk of your hard-earned money to a growing niche market. Your hard work has made it possible for me to be a cheating vegan! Without you, I wouldn't know how to use applesauce in my Grandmother's Chocolate Cake rather than eggs! I would have stared at my noodles and tomato sauce, wishing for a creamy alternative forever! I may even have continued to eat real CHEESE - the most addictive thing in the world!!! Because of you stronger vegans, I don't have to do that. You probably never hear it enough - and never from the animals that mean it the most - so, THANK YOU!

Are you vegetarian? Fabulous! You have made one of the best decisions in your life by giving up the eating of flesh. I was among your rankings for several years (and, in certain crowds will retain this title, if only to appease the judgemental identity nazis). I hope you find some recipes on here that will inspire you to at least bake vegan (it's the easiest way to progress!). And, in time, maybe you'll be so tempted by my killer "Nooch Cheeze Sauce" that you'll cook vegan too! It's all a journey, and I'd love to be a part of your inspiration to continue! :-D

If you're an omnivore, I completely understand! I'll give you some great recipes to try and suggest some meat substitutes for you. I've been veggie for seven years, and lived with omnis for six and a half of those years - I know how to fool you! ;-) And I also want to encourage you to make small steps towards compassionate living. Whether you decide to try "Meatless Mondays," or even stop buying those horrible, antibiotic-laden, sodium-filled, mass-produced, cruel white blobs the supermarkets call chicken breasts and opt instead to purchase ONLY from your local farmer (who you speak to weekly at the farmer's market), I want to support and inspire you! Thanks for coming here!!!

This blog is to keep me honest, and to start the journey for others. I want it to be interactive, so please comment! Chide me, if you like, for not being strict enough; ask me questions if your vegan-curious and I'll give you my opinion. When possible, I'll try to provide some solid facts, but I'm a pretty big believer in opinions mattering more than those facts that can be easily manipulated. (But we'll get into philosophy after we know each other a bit better! ;-D)

Oh, ok, this isn't a perfect welcome, but it'll have to do! No more procrastinating...let's get this cheatin' goin'!!!