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Steps to a more humane diet
Many students are horrified when they learn how animals are treated in an
industry where traditional family farms have largely been replaced by factory
farms. Factory farms are known for their cruelty to farmed animals but
there are a variety of other issues even beyond the issue of animal
welfare. There are major environmental and social justice issues that are
compromised under factory farming.
One obvious way to react to the horrors of
factory farming is to consider changing the way you eat. Some people choose to go vegetarian or vegan all at
once. For others, cutting meat and dairy out of their diet takes more
time. You need to decide what's right for you. If you like the idea
of adopting a more compassionate diet, but don't want to do it all at once,
there are a number of steps that you can consider. Also, remember
that your dietary choices not only affect you but also affect your family
and friends. Many parents become nervous when their kids decide to change
the way they eat. Try to explain the reasons for your dietary changes so
that some of their concerns are addressed.
Of course, you have probably already probably considered going more organic
or free range in your choice of animal products. Supporting more humane and sustainable
methods of farming is a good first step. However you may be surprised to
learn that "organic" while perhaps healthier, does not necessarily mean more
humane in terms of how the animal is treated. And as for free range, that
can be a confusing term and requires knowing more about how your meat, dairy or eggs
were actually farmed. While looking for the most humanely raised animal
product is a great step toward a more humane diet, there is so much more you
can do that can both enrich your diet and reject the animal cruelty that is so
pervasive in modern agriculture.
Look at these links to learn more about terms like organic, free range, and
hormone free:
www.upc-online.org/freerange.html
www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_2878.cfm
www.goveg.com/organic.asp
www.sustainabletable.org
Here are a few ideas as to how you can start to make the transition to a
more humane diet.
Step 1: Reduce Consumption of Animal Products
So, you aren't ready to totally give up meat or dairy but at the same time, you
don't ethically agree with factory farms, or perhaps you don't want to eat food
that has been filled with hormones and antibiotics. Whatever your
discomforts are, you don't have to change your diet, "cold turkey," so to
speak.
Consider a gradual reduction in animal products. Perhaps starting with several days a week and see how it feels. Chances are you will discover an entire realm of great tasting plant based foods that were just seen as side dishes before. You can then gradually expand the number of days of the week you are devoting to your more humane and healthier way of eating, at your own particular pace. No rush, eating habits are a life long way of living. Make sure you are totally comfortable with your choice.
Step 2: Try Vegetarian
A great way to protect animals is to become vegetarian. A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat any meat or fish. A good way to get started on the path towards vegetarianism is by eating only vegetarian foods one day a week. Increase the amount of days you eat vegetarian meals when you're comfortable until you find that you are able to eat every meal animal free!
You probably already have lots of favorite foods that are vegetarian. Look for veggie options at your favorite restaurants. Explore foods from other cultures. Vary your diet by sampling new veggie foods like soy hot dogs or un-chicken nuggets. This can sometimes be difficult if your parents are cooking the meals. Help your parents by volunteering to cook a new vegetarian recipe for dinner.
For more information check out these links:
www.goveg.com
http://www.cok.net/lit/recipes/
Step 3: Go Vegan
Going vegan is an excellent way to protect farmed animals, the environment, and your health. A vegan is a vegetarian who doesn't eat eggs or dairy. Many of your favorite vegetarian dishes are probably vegan or could easily be veganized. Chances are your favorite restaurant even has a vegan dish on the menu or will give you the option having a dish tailored to meet your needs.
Today, health food stores and even many large supermarkets offer a variety of vegan alternatives: www.veganoutreach.org. A good place to start on your path towards veganism is by replacing the milk in your cereal with soy milk or rice milk. Try a plant based spread on your bread instead of butter. Bake a batch of cookies or a cake using egg replacer. Tofu scramble is a great way to start your morning without eggs.
Sometimes meat and dairy substitutions are hard to get used to or can be more expensive. In this case, you may want to try eating more whole foods. Be adventurous. Go to your localharvest.org and explore all the wonderful vegetables nature has to offer. You'll find lots of ways to prepare them at cooking websites like vegweb.com or vegcooking.com. Want more info on transitioning to a vegan diet? Visit Chooseveg.com.
Support
Got questions? Need Support? Making lifestyle changes are always easier when you have a support system. Consider asking a friend, parent, sibling, or teacher to transition their diet along with you. If you know any vegetarians or vegans, they'd probably be happy to help you too. Visit the forum and chat with other teens who are transitioning to a more humane diet.
Congratulations on taking steps toward a more humane diet! Every time you eat a vegetarian or vegan meal you do something to help farmed animals, the planet, and your health. Praise yourself for your efforts!
Check out these great resources for information on vegetarian and vegan cooking.
Vegan Outreach: www.veganoutreach.org/index.html
Happy Cow- Restaurant Guide: www.happycow.net
Meatless Monday: www.meatlessmonday.com
Compassionate Consumers: www.compassionateconsumers.org
Sustainable Table: www.sustainabletable.com
Worried about expenses? Click here to learn more about how to eat vegan on a tight budget: www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=07budget
To Learn about Nutrition and an animal friendly diet take a look at these links:
www.hsus.org/farm/resources/pubs/gve/for_your_health.html#experts
For more information on transitioning to a more humane diet, check out these links:
www.hsus.org/farm/resources/pubs/gve/
www.vegcooking.com/transition.asp
www.cok.net/lit/veg.php
Visit our activities page and www.healthylunches.org to find out how you can bring more humane options to your school cafeteria.
Family
Your family may not be thrilled with your choice to change your diet. Your parents or guardian may worry about your health. They may also be concerned about being inconvenienced by having to cook a separate meal or by buying unfamiliar foods.
The best thing you can do is acknowledge your parents concerns and find ways you can make things easier for them. Present them with information about the nutritional benefits of a more humane diet. Give your parents the night off by offering to cook a meal for your entire family and to do the dishes. Accompany your Mom or Dad to the grocery store and help with the shopping.
Need more tips on surviving family get togethers? When visiting with relatives, bring a vegetarian or vegan dish to share with everyone. This way you'll have something to eat and others will get to try a new food. Leaving a package of veggie burgers in Grandma's freezer is always a good survival tactic for longer or more frequent visits.
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