This dawned on me the other day, as I sloppily ate a Shake Shack burger. “This is freaking delicious,” I choked out to my friend between bites, who nodded his agreement. There are people who would call us disgusting for touching a burger. Not because of the grease, calories and astronomical sodium level. Not because we shamelessly shoved our faces. But because we were eating meat.
In the past decade, vegan/vegetarian diets have been taking the nation by storm. And I think that is awesome. I’m happy that people are finding diets that work for them and make their bodies feel good.
What isn’t awesome is when someone thinks they’re a better person than you for having a different diet.
It’s true that billions of animals are slaughtered each year for human consumption. I’m not denying the fact that factory farms, quite frankly, suck. As the biggest self-proclaimed animal lover I know, I understand that the end of the road for mass-produced (we shouldn’t even be USING that term when it comes to animals) meat isn’t pretty. Rather, the end of the road for mass-produced meat is a captive-bolt gun to the face or a razor to the neck.
But the fact is, I know where my meat comes from. And when given the opportunity, I choose to buy locally-sourced, humane meat. Also, no, the label “grass-fed” doesn’t necessarily mean more humane. Get in the know, folks!
That’s right. The steak that’s slightly more expensive than the rest is the one I go for. Do your research and pay the extra couple of dollars for humanely raised meat. It’s a win-win: you’re supporting the humane treatment of animals, and you’re also supporting your personal diet choice.
Now that I’m done with my little stint on finding meat that’s humanely raised and harvested, let’s turn back to the whole question of “diet choice.” And this is where things are going to get a little dicey.
Google “veganism,” and I guarantee a website will pop up condemning people who eat meat. Oh, there it is, thanks for proving my point, PETA! With compelling arguments against meat consumption such as “it’s gross” and a picture of an earth with a frowny-face, what kind of heathen would still eat meat?!
I see this all the time. The tried-and-true argument: “People who eat meat are killers. They don’t care about animals or the environment. Being a vegan is so much more moral, and you’re a pretty sucky person if you’re not a vegan.”
And don’t think you’re in the clear, my dearest carnivores. Comments that vegans only talk about being vegan, that they’re killing plants, or that they’re just plain dumb are not great comments.
Honestly, it’s just not cool at all when people rip on each other for their diet choice. How ridiculous does this sound: “Debra is a freaking dweeb, did you see that salad she ate for lunch today? Nerd.” Or: “Look at Andrew over there eating that chicken breast. I bet he washes his hands in the blood of the animals he murders.”
As I previously stated, I’m not a monster for eating meat and you’re not a wonderful person for being a vegan. You’re a wonderful person because you volunteer at a hospital on the weekends, you’re a wonderful person because you’re working hard to get that promotion, you’re a wonderful person because you’re getting that GPA you want. You’re wonderful because of you. Not because of what food you put into your body.
Honestly, I think a vegan diet is wicked cool. I don’t know how y’all do it without sour cream, because I think that stuff should be put on everything, but you guys are seriously awesome for finding a diet that works for you. And I know some vegans who do some pretty sweet stuff with tofu and legumes, so no, a vegan diet isn’t boring.
I also think an omnivorous diet is pretty cool, too. Mainly because I like my meat so undercooked that it’s practically breathing (graphic, sorry!). Also because humans are biologically omnivores, and it just works for me. As I said before, it’s awesome to find a diet that works for your body.
Because the truth is, certain diets don’t work for everyone. I know people who simply cannot eat meat without feeling sick to their stomachs, and they get protein in other ways. I also know people who feel gross and fatigued when they don't eat meat, particularly due to an iron or B12 deficiency. Sure, you can take supplements for that, but many people don’t want to take a pill for something they can get from food.
Food shouldn’t be political. There shouldn’t be arguments between vegans and non-vegans, complete with pitchforks and torches, about who is the superior group. We’re all people, folks! And food is just that: food. Not a political or social weapon. Physical weapon, sure (have you seen potato launchers?! That’s a real thing!!), but not a social weapon.
So you do you. Find a diet that works for you, and go with it. Just keep in mind that your diet makes you no better or no worse of a person - rather, it’s something that you do to make your body feel good!
(And if anyone knows of some good vegan sour cream, drop me a line.)
