Vegan'ism - Is it Possible for the MST?

I've never really been one to preach that much, but the pages I'm turning every single night have caused a great, dramatic pause in my soul.  One that I have to share.  It's a incredibly informative book by Jonathan Safran Foer called "Eating Animals," and I can guaran-damn-tee you that once you plow thru Chapter 1, you won't ever touch meat again.

The sight of a KFC sign will truly repulse you and when you see animals - be it a duck, a bird, a cow, goat, a pig, a chicken - you will smile and think that you are just plain happy that creature is alive.  You'll be horrified when you hear the word slaughterhouse and you will leave those pages on your nightstand with so much knowledge trippin' out of your mouth, it'll hurt.

Now all that said - I'm not quite done with the book yet, but once I am - it looks like I'm gonna have to give up eggs and cheese for good (I haven't hit that chapter just yet).   Eggs and cheese are pretty much my last remaining bastions in the animal world.  I've found insanely tasty renditions of both - especially this vegan/tofu quiche I grab at the Mar Vista farmers market (above photo).  But, nothing really compares to real eggs.   Sure, I buy organic, free-range, grass-fed, sustainable...all that jazz.  But, still...it's still an animal - and it's popping out of a bird that ain't treated that great.  A bird that lives a short, dank, miserable life even.  Which makes my lovely creation of the below omelette disgustingly bittersweet. 

Just read the book - you'll instantaneously see/hear/feel what I mean.

Comments

[kim]

Modern "Western" man eats too much meat (too much protein, overall) and too much fat. That's a given. Modern "factory farming" has several wrong, terrible and inhumane practices; that's true, too.
That said....... we are carnivores, and butchering food is not for the sentimental, but giving up meat seems excessive, especially simply because of a book or movie or two. Stick with the local foods movement, try to know your food sources as best you can (you can't travel and know how each chicken in every town was raised), and support legislation to end inhumane practices.

I think that's the best we each can do. It takes a LOT of smarts and planning to get adequate nutrition from veggies alone and, anyway, are you THEN going to get into the whole commercial grain industry, with chemical pollution of soil and water, genetic manipulation of plants ("frankenseeds"), overuse of petroleum, etc. etc.?? Buy local, organic, sustainable at the stores/stalls and try and support the same in restaurants. That's all.

[Robin]

Yeppers, all of the above. I'm a Vegetarian {before I read/saw all the above mentioned items} but do eat eggs every now and then... as long as I know the critters are free to roam and are treated nicely. We buy them locally from a gal who thanks her hens every time she gathers the eggs. Seriously. It rocks. Cheese I've not quite figured out yet... we just use it sparingly.
Good luck on your journey!

[Baldwin]

Watch the movie "Food,Inc." It will provide additional food processing information.

[shana]

assuming you haven't seen it, earthlings is the film to watch to strengthen your resolve... not that i could actually keep my eyes on the screen.
you can stream a lo-fi version here: http://www.earthlings.com/earthlings/video-full.php

[Cowgirl]

'The China Study' was the book that started it for me. Since then, there have been many more. It's good to become aware of the shameful animal raising practices that we humans condone. We need to stop, one person at a time, so, I encourage you to try as best you can (I am in the same quandry re: eggs & creme for my coffee). Thanks for the book recommendation and the very worthwhile posting. xo