Feeding Ourselves Sustainably

Food Agriculture Sustainability

This is a trans-local community learning together about feeding ourselves sustainably. The purpose of this community of practice is to advance our collective knowledge around how to support the emergence of resilient communities that are able to feed themselves in a healthy and sustainable manner. ...learn more

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Feeding Ourselves Sustainably Discussion Forum > what are the reasons that you're "opting out"? by Lauren Parks on 2007-08-28 1:19 pm

Created: Apr 21, 2008
Updated: Apr 21, 2008
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Topic: what are the reasons that you're "opting out"? by Lauren Parks on 2007-08-28 1:19 pm

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wind about 1 year ago

I'm still reading Michael Pollan's book. I just finished a section about eating vegetarian and some moral arguments for and against eating meat. What I thought was really interesting is that he only focused on animal rights as a reason to go veg. I'm interested in hearing why you all have decided to "opt out" of the industrial food chain or why you would like to try to?

I know I started eating vegetarian for a few reasons, one was because I was taking an environmental conservation class and it stunned me to learn how much land is being used in the US to raise cattle. We talked about all of the environmental implications of using land in this way and I decided it would be an interesting experiment to try to cut down on the meat that I ate. It just took off from there. After a month or so, I didn't have any interest in eating meat. I don't feel like everyone should all of a sudden just stop eating meat. It just happens to work for me. Not eating meat also made me begin to think so much more about what I was putting in my body. I suddenly began to try new foods and eat more vegetables and less processed food.

As I read this book, I can't go to the store without scouring the label of everything I pick up. I can't believe some of the things that we have been putting in our bodies, mostly out of laziness. Okay and partially because we don't want to know where it comes from. We're busy, we're running around and cheap and fast is what works for us. But I'm realizing how much more complicated it is than that. Because in every store that we go into there are so many different options. I may choose the organic option, but that may have been shipped from California, or Argentina. Even if it's organic, some pre-made meals have preservatives and all sorts of other extras in them.

So this question has now become two part:

Why are you opting out?

Is opting out possible with our lifestyles and really, should we bother?

looking forward to hearing from you!

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wind about 1 year ago

by KRISTA BENSON on 2007-08-31 4:42 pm

Interesting to see your reasons, Lauren.

I stopped eating red meat and pork because it became increasingly difficult for me to enjoy it when I was about 16. This was the same time that I, like you, became aware of the resources it takes to raise animals for human slaughter, the pure and total waste of resources when it happens the way it does in the US.

I stopped eating fish and chicken when I moved to college and it became impossible for me to know where my food was coming from (my dad fishes and people they knew had chickens, so I knew the location of my food). Since that time, 10 years ago, I have continuously lessened the amount of dairy I eat and am now relatively close to eating vegan ... probably 80% of the time.

There are definitely issues that I have with this decision, as well as impacts on my lifestyle. One of my biggest worries is international travel and the difficulties of self-imposed dietary restrictions while traveling. In some parts of the world, it can be difficult to find food and also in many of those areas, the food that is shared with someone is an enormous gift. I've found myself eating food (in Spain, for example) that does not fall in my diet, that I knew would make me feel ill after eating it, because it was offered in the spirit of hosting me.

However, I've also seen that I have an increased awareness of my food habits, the presence (or lack!) of whole foods in my diet, a lowered reliance on prepared foods, and an increase in the vegetables and fruit I eat.

I don't know that I can imagine not bothering to make this dietary decision on a long-term basis. While traveling, I make accommodations, but it has become an important part of my "walking my talk" in my life.

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