Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Eating Consciously - An Experiment

So I've been thinking a lot about eating lately.

Not in the "I want to eat all the foodz!" way so much, but the "How can I change my eating to be healthier for both me and the environment?" way.

My brother is thinking about becoming a pescetarian, and that's an awesome plan. The more I learn about farming in this country, the more disturbed I am by the ways animals are treated and the resources we're using and depleting.

I read an article about de-beaking the other day. Go look it up. You'll hate me, but you'll hate big chicken farmers even more.

Then I saw this on Facebook this morning:


Chickens actually are evil, but the point is pretty clear. 

That said, I don't think I can totally give up meat. Partially for health reasons - I have really low iron, and I don't eat beans or a lot of other plant-based protein foods, so a certain amount of animal protein is kind of necessary for me. Maybe not medically, but to feel okay, I need to have a little bit. 

I also HATE fake meat. Like, beyond the fact that it's processed within an inch of its (plant) life, it just skeeves me out. More than killing Hitler hating chickens does. 

And I would never be vegan. I do think most people get too much dairy, but I don't think that, assuming you buy milk, eggs, and cheese from local, ethical farmers, that those products hurt animals in the same way murdering them does. And I like leather. 

But I want to change something. 

I need to eat more vegetables and fruits, and meat is really expensive. 

So I'm going to stop buying meat, except fish, for the month of August. I can eat whatever I want out, since there's no way I'm going to be able to eat salad while everyone else has bacon and steak and all that. 

I don't even know that this is really an ethical thing, honestly, as much as it is a money/experimental/can I do this? thing. 

Eventually, I would like to switch to a totally pescetarian diet at home, with only occasional indulgences out. 

I think it will be cheaper, let me see if I can/want to give up most meat, and be a kind of fun social experiment.

Or you'll find me at 3 am eating bacon and snarling in the middle of my kitchen floor. 


2 comments:

  1. Sounds like an intriguing experiment! I hope it's a positive one for you! I haven't tried giving up meat before, but to be honest I don't tend to eat just a ton of it. Not that I don't like it, but just that I really tend to crave carbs, haha!

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    1. Yeah, I eat way more carbs than anything else, so I'm not too worried! Thanks for the encouragement - I'll keep you updated on how it goes! :)

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