'cute in the field doesn't equal dead on a plate.' I hadn't intended to do this so early in the year, but got invovlved in a conversatiation with Dani post-parkrun in which it slowly dawned on me that all the reasons I'm not a vegetarian anymore (used to be ... back in the day, got mugged by a bacon sandwich)are basically excuses, and the real reason is simple: I like meat.
What I don't like is the manner in which animals are treated both as they live/grow and the manner in which they are killed. If I could afford to only buy meat from'free range' and humanely slaughtered animals, then I would do so, and quite happily eat away! However, the River Cottage option isn't open to all of us, and so I am being a vegetarian instead - for a month to start with, and then we will see....
The rules of engagement: No meat! I am going to eat fish though, specifically tuna - on the grounds that they swim in the sea for most of their lives, and that can't be a bad way to be! Also, eggs (free range, of course) and dairy products are allowed. I don't often drink milk anyway, as I have a mild lactose intolerence, but I do eat more cheese than is good for me (and then there's chocolate....) I am aware that the way in which Dairy herds are kept is often appalling, and one of my missions this month is to research whether there is a cow friendly way of eating these things.
It's the 4th of October, and so far, so good. A certain amount of quorn products found their way into my (morrison's) trolley this week, and I'm planning a return to lentil consumption for the end of the week - may end up barefoot with flowers in my hair if this goes on....
Of all the lies we tell, the worst are the ones we tell to ourselves - Thanks to Dani for giving my self-deception a well timed and much deserved kicking!
Some cows - who I shall not be eating! - taken in Snowdonia this summer.
Good to hear that it's going well.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a spare 90 minutes (does anyone?) watch Earthlings. You can find it on google videos, just search for 'Earthlings'.
The cows look as if they're standing on top of each other, hahahaa.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember that quote but I like it. :)
The only cow friendly way to drinking/eating dairy is to pretend you're a calf and suck away. Everything else in like plugging a cup on to any (me?) nursing mums boob and hope for a lot.
Chocolate. Now..there's dark chocolate and then there's dark chocolate. One thing that is so important when you want to eat Vegetarian or Vegan (or whatever) is reading the ingredients. Some things you don't expect might not even be Vegetarian. It's insane.
I am fighting a daily boxing match with myself over eating eggs, eating non-vegan sweets etc. It's exhausting. I really really want to be 100% Vegan but my willpower to say no to a muffin or eggs or whatever is so small..it's barely visible. :(
A word on fish..that might be their habitat..the water..but as soon as you buy 'ethically grown' or whatever it says you might as well buy barn chicken. They're kept in a tub with way to many other fish and are pumped full of stuff..just like the chickens and the cows. :(
I don't wanna preach btw..just got carried away.
You might like reading 'Skinny Bitch'. That's what got me started. ;) I can lend it to you if you fancy it.
Dani
Best of luck with it. :D