Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat

[vovat]

For today's pseudo-philosophical entry, I'm going to offer a few of my thoughts on diet, specifically in regards to eating meat. I'm sympathetic to a fair number of animal rights causes, but I've never had any real qualms with eating meat. Sometimes I wonder if I should, though. I can certainly say I have respect for people who can get by without eating meat, because it just seems like so much work to me. I like meat, but I don't LOVE meat like some people do. I believe I've said before that the things I'd miss most if I suddenly decided to switch over to a vegetarian diet are ham sandwiches and Chick-fil-A. Oh, and shrimp, although that's not exactly something I eat on a regular basis. I've never been all that uptight about my choice of diet. I get annoyed when people insist that they've fought their way to the top of the food chain. Yeah, what animals did you, personally, fight and eat? Or are you talking about fighting over the last box of frozen chicken nuggets at the grocery store? But then, I've also seen statements from vegetarians who claim, in so many words, that it's not natural for humans to eat meat. Of course it is! What do you think the hunter-gatherers were hunting for? Carrots? We have reached the point where people don't necessarily NEED to eat meat, but it's still a natural thing to do. I've heard things about how it's not a good idea for a kid to be a vegetarian, but I don't know enough about nutrition to judge whether or not that's true.

I could make the argument that animals eat other animals, so that trying to argue for vegetarianism on the basis of animal rights is a slippery slope toward accusing cats of murder when they kill mice. (Mind you, I've known people who objected strongly when their carnivorous pets killed smaller animals, which makes me wonder why they didn't choose different pets.) But really, it's mostly just what I'm used to. I do think, however, that vegetarian options have become much more viable over the years. I don't eat fake meat, but I understand that some modern meat substitutes are actually pretty good, and vegetarians are no longer forced to eat tofu (which, as far as I can tell, is essentially rubber made out of soybeans) in order to get protein. I think it's possible that humanity will eventually reach the point where vegetarianism is the norm. But I don't think we're anywhere close to that point yet.

While I'm on the subject, I can't say I'm a fan of PETA's scare tactics and pictures of cute little animals being tortured. That's not to say that I don't feel really uncomfortable watching a cow get slaughtered or a rabbit clubbed to death, or feel that there's a lot of room for reform in the meat industry. It's just that, when your moral or philosophical argument boils down to an attempt at a visceral reaction, I have to wonder if you've really thought your position through all that well. I mean, isn't that basically the same approach used by fire-and-brimstone evangelists and politicians who run on a platform of fear?

Comments

[twobitme.livejournal.com]

Well prepared tofu is nothing like rubber. It can be, however, super tasty.

As far as whether a kid should be a vegetarian or not, that's really on the parents. They can be, because kids can get just as much protein on a vegetarian diet as on a meat based diet. If the parents are crappy vegetarians, than most definitely the kid can be in trouble.

I'm of the "I don't care what you eat" vegetarian type. People like different things. Katie loves a slab of ribs, and that's cool. It's what she likes. I can't stand the people who think because I'm a vegetarian that I've somehow slapped them in the face. But I'm also against the vegetarians who refuse to let meat be eaten around them.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I had some rubbery tofu once, but I guess that might not have been typical. I tend to be rather wary of meat substitutes, but there might well be some that are actually good. I'm just afraid to try them.

I can't stand the people who think because I'm a vegetarian that I've somehow slapped them in the face.

I can't understand that attitude either. I guess it's just another case of people being insecure whenever they're around someone who believes or acts differently than they do.

[punterschlagen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what animals did you, personally, fight and eat?

I did wrestle a chicken once, and decapitate it, and eat it. And it was good.

No kidding.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

But did you ever bite the head off a chicken? {g}

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

I am semi-vegetarian. I used to be be ovo-lacto, but I added fish back in in the last few years to get a bit more variety and nutrients (my diet was a little eggs/cheese heavy and we want to conceive fairly soon). My fiance is omnivorous, but eats the same diet as I do at home (because I cook). There are a lot of reasons to choose a (healthier than mine) vegetarian diet, ethical, environmental and health. That being said, it is a major lifestyle choice, and I respect whatever decisions people make. I tend to appreciate whatever efforts people make to decrease the amount of meat they are including in their diets- even one day a week of vegetarian dieting makes a difference, in aggregate.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

When you say "fish," do you mean only actual fish, or other seafood as well? I like seafood, but I know other people (including my roommates) who hate it. Actually, I should be going to Red Lobster tomorrow, so that should give me a good seafood fix.

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

I eat all seafood, although I cannot give any compelling reason for where I currently draw the line. I eat quite a bit of fish free purely vegetarin meals, though and I try to feel good about reducing where I can (though I do sometimes feel bad, and I occasionally toy with switching back to full time vegetarianism). I think it's really hard, and limiting to be a vegetarian if you eat out a lot, though. We have been trying to cook more, and better foods. It is definitely challenging.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah to your last paragraph on all counts. It also bugs me that people never seem to realize that the tactics do nothing to convince the people they most need to convince-- being the people who disagree with them. People need to listen more to their detractors and then build an argument FROM THAT. Anyhoo.

As someone who recently grew a baby and paid a lot of attention to nutrition, I think it's possible to raise a small child as a vegetarian--ovo-lacto-- if you take the protein balancing seriously-- but not as a vegan. It's just too hard to get the necessary amino acids. And are taking dietary supplements to make up the difference really better than just eating the dang food people were designed naturally to eat? Anyway, a baby's technically not a vegan if you breastfeed them, are they... ;)

I think it's natural for people to eat LESS meat than they currently do, and I love well-made vegetarian meals (and no, I don't like tofu, either), but I also love me some good meat meals. I think variety is the most important factor in a diet, so I'm all for EVERYTHING. I noticed I take a very Positive attitude toward nutrition-- a lot of diets (whether weight-loss or lifestyle-related) are all about LIMITING certain foods, fats or sugar or meat or whatever-- but I on the other hand prefer the Eat Whatever but Pack as Much Nutrients Into It As Possible approach. It's so much happier.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I always have to wonder about people who try to convince people of things by using tactics that could never possibly work. Maybe they don't really want to convert anybody, but just want to show an attitude of moral superiority. Or they're so convinced that they're right that they don't think they NEED a logical argument to sway other people. Probably a little of both, really.

Nice food for thought

[(Anonymous)]

Good post. I'm a vegetarian - have been for about nine years now. A few years ago, I almost accepted a job as a staff writer for PETA, actually (ended up deciding not to take it due to geographical reasons). Went to their headquarters and interviewed and stayed in their "Animal House" housing (sounds like a Belushi flick, but actually very nice) and did the whole nine yards. And I totally understand the visceral point you're making. Totally makes sense. I will say in their defense that there's usually (now) a means to end when they bust out with images like that, and they've targeted it a lot more lately-- say, evoking images of factory farm conditions to a fast-food chain they want to use more humane methods of slaughter. And in that way, they really are aiming for practical ways to affect change. That said, I really do understand people's dislike/distrust of PETA (hey, I was born in the Midwest, where *nobody* likes them {g})-- although I feel it's important to add that they have really schooled their employees (can't speak for volunteers) lately about the importance of politeness when talking to people or even when protesting (catch more flies with honey than vinegar...wait, no honey for the vegans ;)), and for that reason they really are some of the nicest semi-radicals you'll ever meet. :}

Stephanie

P.S. Secret! Though I haven't ate them in years (obviously), gotta say that I loved Chik-Fil-A as well and shrimp too (especially Outback's coconut shrimp for some reason....mmm).

Re: Nice food for thought

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, with PETA as with other groups, I'm sure there are radicals who give the more sensible members a bad name. I think it was the president of PETA who appeared on Bill Maher's show not too long ago, and I didn't think she came off as particularly crazy. On the other hand, I remember some other PETA guy appearing on another show and talking about how he thought people who went fishing were worse than Hitler, or something like that. That might have been Fox News, though, in which case I wouldn't put it past them to have used a crazy guy on purpose.

catch more flies with honey than vinegar...wait, no honey for the vegans

Or flies, for that matter. {g}