Tag Archives: food

Beyond meat and dairy

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I’m currently reading Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. Last night I read the chapter on vegetarianism. As I understand it, the story goes like this. Almost all farmed animals suffer (there are virtually no exceptions). Choosing to purchase and eat the flesh of dead animals and products made from their milk is direct and practical support of farming. This, in turn, equals direct support of animal suffering. Therefore, choosing not to eat meat and dairy is the only sensible action possible. Boycott the suffering of animals.

I’ve held the view that animals have the right to be free for some time. I’ve also, for 6 or 7 years, been reducing my dairy intake. Today, I have taken the next logical step. I am no longer willing to consume meat or dairy products. In exceptional circumstances, if I can be certain the animal lived free and suffered minimally during slaughter, I will eat meat. I am ethically comfortable with the consumption of other species.

But for all practical purposes, I will no longer eat meat or dairy. Goodbye pizza, goodbye hamburgers, fish and chips, etc.

One notable exception to complete veganism is eggs. I will continue to eat eggs, so long as I can be sure they come from hens that live mostly free lives outdoors, are well treated, and appear to be generally happy and comfortable. I believe I can find eggs that meet these requirements from the farmer’s market, and I will take steps to do so.

In order to mark this occasion, and to remind me of my new commitment, I purchased a Remington HC-5550, and for the first time in nearly 18 months, cut my hair. This is what all that hair looks like on the bathroom floor.

Finally, this is what I look like, post hair cutting.

Will you join me? Will you give up meat and dairy? If you choose to eat meat and dairy, please be under no illusions, you are directly and personally responsible for the needless suffering of animals. Animals will feel pain, fear and stress for the purpose of your dietary preference. That’s the choice you make every time you buy meat or put the dead flesh of an animal into your mouth.

I look forward to expanding my culinary horizons and the discovery of fabulous new plant based foods. Exciting times. :-)

Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma

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I have just finished The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book is a smooth blend of narrative and education. Divided into three parts, each section tells the story of a different meal. Firstly the stereotypical fast food McDonald’s, representative of the monoculture, corn based, industrial food chain. Secondly a meal made from organic or sustainable produce including a look at the industrial organic industry. The final part tells of the author’s journey to hunt wild pig, forage wild mushrooms, attempt to mine natural salt, and grow or harvest fruits and vegetables.

Personally, the book has engaged inside me an awareness, an activism, a sense of reverence, around food. It has also reminded me of my own passion for writing. I fondly imagine the life of the writer, free from daily constraints to pursue the matter of her thoughts.

I highly recommend your read The Omnivore’s Dilemma. It is at times abstruse and prolix, that is: complicated and wordy! However, the little hardship in reading is easily made up for by the content. Indeed, I find myself penning this note in a more loquacious style than usual, partly inspired by Nollan’s writing.

As for the matter of food, I shall talk more about that in later posts. For now, I will simply say: food matters, read this book.