Author: Luc Dobin

I have really enjoyed reflecting on my commitment to vegetarianism during the course this semester. It has been interesting to look at the various perspectives surrounding meat consumption and vegetarianism through talking to other people and learning about some of the main factors and influencers to one’s choice to become a vegetarian. For me, my reason is that I do not feel that I have any right to eat another animal just because I want to or that it tastes good. This I feel is very pertinent to Nonviolence. In our modern world with the many options and choices that we have each day, we can imbue meaning and purpose in even the most mundane aspects of daily life such as pursuing a vegetarian diet. I feel that this experience has brought me closer to the food that I eat as I am more careful and aware of the types of food I am eating and where it has come from.

One major reason why I think vegetarianism has yet to really go mainstream in the United States is because of how disproportionally expensive fresh fruits and vegetables are in many areas. Furthermore, certain neighborhoods and towns have no access to produce without traveling far away by car to a neighboring town. This lack of access to inexpensive fruits and vegetables, I believe, is the major reason for unhealthy eating in America. As a direct result of immense government subsidies to Corn/ Grain and Dairy farmers, the price of less wholesome foods excluding fruits and vegetables is able to be marked down, making the price of produce artificially inflated in comparison.

In the end, I think that improving access to affordable fruits and vegetables to different communities is of most importance. It is a truly privileged ability of mine to pursue a vegetarian diet as I am not reliant on a limited quantity of food that I must survive on. Nevertheless, I have really come to appreciate the practice more than I did before.

Many people, especially those who have never attempted to become a vegetarian, think that choosing not to consume meat will have a drastic impact on their food choices and will make it more difficult for them to eat the things that they enjoy. After speaking with several of my friends who are not vegetarian, I have come to the conclusion that this assumption is generally tied to the fact that many people don’ eat very exciting meals to begin with even if they have meat in them. Growing up, since my parents are both from New York City, I was exposed to a multitude of different ethnic foods that I quickly learned to enjoy. My favorite types of food today are Indian and Thai food. These Eastern cuisines are much less meat-focused than our food culture here in the United States. Frequently, I will see many people eating plain pasta, meat without any sort of spices or sauce on it, or steamed vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and potatoes. Indian and Asian food, however, place the center of a dish around a deep flavor or spice that can be replicated with any food serving as the main ingredient of the dish. This allows for vegetarian options to have much more depth of taste to them without getting bored of eating the same boring vegetables every day.

In my opinion, the only reason that holds many people back from stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new foods or lifestyle choices such as going vegetarian is that they are unaware as to how easy it really can be. All that is necessary is to be a little more creative in terms of what you choose to eat. Many classic American comfort foods that we have grown up with include meat. This I believe is what makes most people think that they could never give up their favorite foods and become a vegetarian. In reality, however, anyone can succeed in living a meat free life by incorporating new cultural cuisines into their meals and through taking risks to try food combinations and flavors to which they are unfamiliar.

Over the past few weeks, I have remained steadfast to my commitment to pursuing a plant-based diet that continues to exclude all meat products. I am, however, unsure as to the effect it has on others. Last night, for example, I was taken out to dinner by my closest friend here at Lafayette along with his mother who was visiting him for the weekend. Chosen by him, we went to a steakhouse.  Not to my surprise there was only ONE entree on the entire menu that I as able to eat. It seemed as though one did not attend that particular restaurant unless they wished to exclusively consume meat. This brought to my attention that there is a stark divide between restaurants that provide “meat-centric” food options and those that provide alternatives such as vegetable based entrees. My conclusion is that most Americans are either substantially interested in trying to incorporate non-meat items into their regular diet or they are completely disinterested in this vegetable loving shift from the status quo.

Here in the United States, due to our complex network of supermarkets and our industrial farming industry it is considered the norm for one to eat meat for at least two out of their three meals each day. This continues to surprise me as each year new studies are released that encourage Americans to attempt to diversify their diet- if not for the wellbeing of animals then for their own personal health and well being. Furthermore, vegetarian diets are much more affordable than those of our meat eating counterparts. Despite the nearly endless supply of a variety of meats offered at the supermarket, it is still a much more economical choice for one to adhere to a vegetarian diet as the cost of fruits and vegetables has always significantly lower than that of meat.

Overall, I am still committed to pursuing a vegetarian diet and I do not think that this will change any time in the near future. My only mental reservation is that we as vegetarians must to more to encourage a shift in diet for all Americans from that of  almost entirely consisting of some sort of meat to perhaps only eating meat once per day. In the end, I do not expect these results to come quickly, however, I am interested as to how I can help to expedite the process of change in shifting the status quo surrounding meat consumption and vegetarianism in America and decreasing the polarization between the two groups.

In the past two months that I have been a vegetarian, I have noticed things that have come as a result of my change in diet. First of all, I am used to being an active person, and I try to go to the gym at least 2-3 times each week. During my first week on campus, while walking back from the gym all the way to Reuf I noticed that I felt really weak and lightheaded. Although it was a warm day out, I realized that this was most likely due to the fact that I was no longer consuming as much protein as I had been previously when I ate meat. Luckily, I was able to adjust my diet and begin making an effort to maximize the amount of protein that I was eating. Combined with this, I started to make myself protein shakes after each time that I went to the gym. I had never previously taken any sorts of protein supplements, however, after doing some light research I now know that it is a good idea to do so if one wishes to work out as a vegetarian.

Another change I which I have noticed is how much more energy I have throughout the day now that I no longer consume meat. This is because plants, fruits, and carbohydrates all are digested in a raid manor to provide your body with quickly usable energy. Meat, however, is much less efficiently broken down by our digestive system and therefore is not as strong of a source of energy in the short-term. This is because humans, although hard to believe nowadays, were not meant to consume meat on a daily or per meal basis. Meat can serve as a valuable source of energy for a much longer period of time because of its slow metabolization, meaning that it is more geared to those who eat every few days or even once a day. Even though I now eat more than I ever did before, because it is all vegetables and carbohydrates, I feel as though my energy levels are higher and I feel that my body is “cleaner” as a result.