Since my last personal project entry, I have been more committed to starting a dialogue with both vegetarians and nonvegetarians about eliminating meat from their diet. It is interesting comparing the views of these two groups towards the idea of vegetarianism or veganism. Some of the vegetarians I discussed the issue with were passionate about the lifestyle. Similar to my attitude when I first started my journey, they expressed to me that they thought their dietary options would be limited and ultimately lead them to give up. They revealed that as time went on they began to be more confident in their choice and realized there are many options that allow them to have a fulfilling and balanced diet. Some adapted to a vegetarian diet so well that they challegened themselves even more and became vegans.
During my talk with non vegetarians I noticed that they incorporated meat in most of their meals that they thought it would be virtually impossible to live without it. For example, Fatimah Fair, a student at Lafayette, is passionate about the environment and the well being of animals, however, when asked to consider a vegetarian lifestyle she simply replied with “What am I going to eat? I would faint” Many others share this view that eliminating meat from their diet would be too drastic of a change. Their dependence on meat overpowers their sympathy for animals. While most agree that the meat industry can be unethical, their lack of action is also influenced by their idea that they are not powerful enough to create change. One of their concerns is giving up meat when other people will continue to consume it and still cause damage.
Considering these viewpoints has lead me to reflect on how I am challenging myself and question if what I am doing is enough. I came to the conclusion that I have become too comfortable with my vegetarian lifestyle and that it is time for me to take the next step. When asking others like Fatimah to take a risk and try something new, I figured it would only be right if I did the same thing so I decided to try out a vegan diet. As stated in The Guide for Nonviolence Practical Action Handbook by Michael Nagler, to put nonviolence energy to work “ we must have in mind specific goals and must understand how we intend to meet those goals”(28). When deciding to be vegan and convincing people like Fatimah to challenge themselves, I kept this quote in mind to make sure I was setting realistic goals for them and myself. Fatimah, expressed to me that it would be too big of a transition for her completely eliminate meat, so as the first step we agreed that she will eliminate everything else except poultry from her diet.
As I continue with this project, I plan to inform people that they don’t have to dramatically change their diet all at once. The process can be gradual and proportional to their comfort level.
Hi Lydia! I like how you incorporated other people into your project and engaged in conversation with both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Communication is the most important factor in the effort for societal change. I find that many people who eat meat in their diet see it as a staple or a constant that could not be substituted. It would be interesting if you can find a reason as to why a meat-heavy diet has evolved into a norm for many Americans today.
It is also interesting to see whether you experience any notable effects or changes in health as a result of your new diet.
Hi Lydia! This post was quite relatable for me, since I too am following a vegetarian diet. I found Fatimah’s reaction to your meat question interesting, since in my project research I also have found that people who’ve only been accustomed to diets including meat find the idea of cutting it out especially scary. I appreciate that you realize how big of a step this cut can be for people, and that you’ve instead tried to influence Fatimah on to gradual, minor changes to her meat consumption, instead of a full on diet change. I am wondering if you have communicated to people like Fatimah how certain vegetarian/vegan foods, (like tofu, setan, veggie burgers, etc). are often used as a reliable substitute for meat, and can be equally as filling and delicious. I think if people who are timid about vegetarianism are further educated about all the filling non-meat foods there are out there, that they may be less hesitant about attempting to cut meat from their diet. I am happy that Fatimah agreed to try and limit herself to only chicken, and would love to hear an update about how this small diet tweak goes for her.