u/TeaMist

The title is dramatic only because it catches the eye. I don't think people who eat meat (I eat meat) are sinners anymore than someone who only eats plants (I too eat plants)!

I'm not vegetarian, but I've been forced to really pay attention to what I put into my body for health reasons, and honestly, I think all people should be aware of what it is they are eating, what it really means, where it is from and so on. I don't think it's right to separate the concept of "beef" away from the truth that you're eating a cow. The same thing, I feel, is also important is to know that the rice, or whatever plant you're consuming, didn't just spawn at the store.

That being said, I'm not here to attack people. There is an amount of separation between the food we eat (regardless of what foods we eat) and where it comes from, and what had to happen for it to get to your plate, that happens. More so as modernity, not so slowly, creeps up on us from the shadows. Just like some people don't think about the process of what is really going on to make that chicken into a nugget, the same can be said about things like oils, grains, and other 'rabbit foods,' as total meat heads my call vegetables. Again, I eat both. I am free of no sin, I am casting no stones. I'm here to ask a honest question.

All this preamble aside; I ask the vegetarianism community this:

I often struggle with the understanding that the things I eat, regardless if plant or animal, the effects it has. Yes, I know the bacon (I'm not actually a fan of pork and avoid it mostly), steak, buffalo wings, etc., was once an animal that had to be killed for me to consume it, no I'm not happy with the environments they have likely lived in before this, or the act of taking a life so that I may eat something that I didn't do so myself. Respect for what you're eating is my biggest issue when it comes to animal products, but that's a conversation for another thread.

But what do you *you* do, or think about when it comes to the issues of vegetarianism? It's no secret that a lot of land has to be destroyed all around the world to sustain the growing demand of food. Fresh water consumption, deforestation, monoculture (OK Google is it monoculture or mon-oculture I can't be wrong both times!) etc. GRANTED the impact of these things is WAY less than say the beef/lamb/dairy/pork industries and a lot of the plant farming that is done is just to feed said industries, but it's no hidden secret that there are a lot of 'sins' when it comes to farming (plant) foods for human consumption as well.

Again, this isn't an attack on anyone, we live in a very grey world where we have to make grey choices for our grey selves. And, food is no exception to this. Hell, unless for medical reasons, the difference (from what I understand) between Vegetarianism and Veganism is the moral grey zone. What you're ok with putting up with. I'm not trying to attack inconsistencies or insecurities, I have them myself, everything is not ideal in this unideal world. I just want to know how everyone deals with their nonideal choices in a world that forces us to make constant nonideal choices for our un/nonideal selves. Where are your lines in the sand, I guess is what I'm asking?

I go super out of my way, i.e. more then just looking for the fair trade logo on a bag/box, when drinking tea to try and find companies/sellers that grow their leaves, and have farms that have modernized in a way that makes sure that the farmers and their help are payed fairly for the work they are doing. Or aren't from a company that does/have done evil (I'm LOOKING AT YOU Celestial Seasonings!) But at the same time, I don't have the time, or energy to do so with every. Single. Thing. I. Eat. Or feed my family. It's hard enough to just keep up with basic politics, let alone the nuance of every farm/food that I indirectly/directly interact with in life.

Please share what you think! I'm not asking for a war zone here, just a conversation about what you're comfortable with and maybe why, even if that 'why' is simply a: "I'm too fucking tired dude." Because, brother, I feel that tiredness in the marrow of my bones. Either way, I hope you find your new favorite dish and enjoy your day. ❤️