You Are What You Eat?

Have you ever noticed how sensitive some people are about food? And by sensitive, I don't mean IBS, I mean opinionated.

I could care less what someone else is putting into their body. But for some reason, when I tell people that I've decided to stop supporting the cattle, poultry, and dairy industry by not eating or buying any of these products anymore some snicker under their breath, others are supportive, and then there's the select opinionated few that go apeshit.

So first of all, I want to explain . . . I began dabbling with vegetarianism after reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" in high school. If you've never read this novel, it's basically a very vivid look at the turn of the century meat packing industry. Synopsis = really, really gross. Click here. Now I knew that the conditions were greatly improved in 1999 when I read the book. . . but I still couldn't bring myself to eat beef for a really, really long time.

However, somewhere in college I forgot about the book and wasn't really that scared of mad cow disease anymore and I started eating red meat again. Now, I was never a steak girl, but I did enjoy a nice blue cheese burger or lean buffalo burger with a cold beer every now and then. Plus I ate turkey, eggs, cheese and chicken most of the time. Still, I always felt gross for a couple days afterward--almost, like "heavy" or something.

Then I picked up this book called "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone and Neal D. Barnard, MD. At first I was skeptical. You know who Alicia Silverstone is right? She's the "Clueless" and Aerosmith video chick. I was like . . . whaaat? But then I started reading and I was like, "This makes a TON of sense." This blog is really too short to explain to you how awesome this book is, but it basically throws all the horrible facts of our meat industries in your lap for the first few chapters and then it explains what you can do, through your diet, about it. Plus, do you like Woody Harrelson? Seriously, who doesn't love that guy?? He's mentioned in it too. I would encourage you to go to your library and check it out. It is life changing.

"I'm not saying that by changing your diet the world is going to change overnight. . . . By choosing kindness as your creed, in how you treat yourself, the planet, and other creatures, you are expressing the greatest power you have. Instead of trying to achieve peace, you are peace."--Alicia Silverstone

Don't worry, I'm not a going to pour red paint on you for wearing fur or judge you for enjoying a steak . . . that's your thing . . . and hunting and fishing are still totally cool in my book. I'm just refusing to spend any more of my money supporting the cattle, poultry, and dairy industries. This is my personal choice because of the inhumane (see below) conditions these animals are forced to endure from the beginning of their existence to the brutal end. Plus, I think it is healthier for me, personally. Also, the terrible toll the huge number of cattle are taking on our soil is really alarming. For example, "more than half of the topsoil of the American West has been lost since cattle started grazing 140 years ago . . . it takes nature from 100 to 800 years to create a single inch of topsoil" (source). No more dairy for me either. It's cool. I'm lactose intolerant anyway. Plus, did you know that humans are the only species on earth that continue to drink milk (and from another species at that!) after being weaned from our mothers? That's kinda wacky .

Anyway, I'm sure this blog is going to annoy some people. "Oh no. Nikki's one of those crazy vegans now." But I'm not really a vegan . . . . This is really just more of a health/planet/animal loving choice. And don't worry, I'm still getting my essential vitamins. There are plenty of other sources of calcium and iron out there.

It's pretty interesting how passionate people can get about food. I suppose this is why there is a gazillion dollar diet industry out there . . . anyway I really do encourage you to comment and let me know what you think. I can take it if you think I'm crazy, trust me. Are there things (weird or not) that you don't eat and why?

Do you really think you are what you eat?

Mangia,
Nik

PS: I gotta warn you, this is pretty graphic: "Although the Federal Humane Slaughter Act is supposed to keep certain practices in place, the law is rarely enforced. In 2000, (2000 not 1900!!!) a videotape was leaked out of workers at an Iowa Beef Processors (now Tyson Foods) plant in Washington State. Cows were routinely "stunned" by devices that didn't work, left to experience their painful ends with sensitivity and consciousness intact. The video showed cows being skinned alive, kicking for freedom as their legs were cut off. Employees who were willing to talk estimated that 3o% of the animals on the kill line were not properly stunned. . . . I know these stories are hard to read, but it's the reality of what goes into the food on your plate. The greatest crime being committed against these animals is not the eating of their meat, but our willful ignorance of their experience" (source).