There is No “I” in Meat

I love having a support system that understands the changes that I am making to my daily life and exactly how I feel about it. Team Less Meat consists of six people all attempting to benefit the environment by reducing our meat consumption. When first given this assignment I assumed that I would be reading responses from people that mirrored the struggles and successes that I encountered throughout my experience. While there were similarities, I found it interesting that different issues were addressed and whole new perspectives on the root of the problem were unburied.

What I noticed right from the beginning was that everyone set different goals for themselves. I believe this is interesting to point out because each individual is different and the only way to promote real success is to allow everyone to set and hopefully reach goals that they believe are attainable for themselves. Second, I began to find similarities between how my fellow meat reducers and I perceived meat. I found it easiest to relate to those who had been raised on meat, as it is as difficult to refrain from eating meat for them as it is for me. Our barriers and tactics for change are very similar, from trying to convince others of the benefits to small rewards for ourselves.

However, I found the most inspiration for those who had experiences different from mine. Judging by some of the positive responses, I believe people have found a lifestyle out of this sustainable behavior challenge. Reading through these uplifting blog responses reminded me of the importance of the whole experiment. While many of the barriers and tactics for change were similar between those who found their niche through this experiment and those, like myself, who are struggling through, I believe the difference comes from the way each of us were raised, our attitude towards changing, and our overall craving for meat.

Reading through my fellow students’ blog posts allowed me to relate to their experiences and even see the tactics that worked for them. However, I ended up learning even more. The most interesting thought process that I had never considered prior to reading these blogs was the idea that institutions have the ability to control the types of food that we eat. Lafayette College’s food provider has a strong say over what type of food that the college students here will eat simply by the way they present the food.

Do we choose what we eat? The immediate and obvious answer is yes. However, after reading through the experiences of those who are also working to reduce their meat consumption this question is not so simple. Eating less meat is a choice, however, the barriers to be successful in this lifestyle are great and I now have an even greater appreciation and respect for those who are able to successfully make the change.