Can Vegans and Carnivores Play on the Same Team?

Its hard to write this because my Vegan friends would say that fundamentally, I should work for NO animal to be harmed or exploited. But I know that the friends and family I love are not going to stop eating all animal products anytime in the foreseeable future. So what do I do now?

As usual, I’m stuck in the middle. But having a non-vegan family has given me a blended perspective.

I know what I think. I have chosen to live a life reflective of that. But I love my non vegan family members, which makes up the vast majority of my family. So am I just supposed to condemn and step away?

I’m not sure I can or even want to do that. Instead of focusing on our differences, I need to see what we CAN work on together.

I know that just saying that you are Vegan can annoy the HECK out of people.

Believe me I try my best to be aware of not being overbearing with my personal choices.

And I will be the first person to tell you that I certainly don’t have everything in life figured out. But I do feel strongly about some things. And those things I will shout from the mountaintops.

I think that the inhumane treatment of animals in our factory farms and other animal based industries is wrong. And we need to actively work to change it.

I know that people who choose not to eat meat agree with this statement. And honestly, I think a lot of meat eaters do too.

And I think more would… if they really knew.

As people watch videos of the abuse that takes place in factory farms they all seem to have similar reactions. Horror…Sadness…Pain…And often embarrassment that we allow this in our society.

Its a lot to take in. Especially for someone who cares about animals. So, they choose to remain ignorant.

‘I just don’t want to know because it would break my heart’. 

So, thats going on. And needs to be addressed. But in the midst of this period in time, I think there is a place that exists where people do care for animals, but also eat them.

I understand that this may be a controversial statement, but coming from an Omnivore household, I believe it to be true.

This is the fundamental place we differ.

But what is surprising, is that I find that so many of my meat eating friends are actually with me on a lot of the same environmental and health issues I’m concerned about. Maybe they haven’t worked the whole animal agriculture angle into their puzzle yet, but I think we are mostly on the same team. And thats something I can work with.

Just like me, they also believe strongly in having the ability to buy and eat wholesome food, free from genetic modification and pesticides. That concern doesn’t belong to vegans.

And who of us wants to gamble that nothing bad will result from eating pesticides on a daily basis for years and years?

I also think that the Standard American Diet is crap.

According to the CDC ‘Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years…In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese’.

Not good. 

And the worst part is that what results as limitations in our childrens’ futures, often comes from a place of love. A ‘treat’ often isn’t a treat, but becomes a daily part of our diets. And many ‘foods’ have been so processed that there is no longer any nutrition left.

Don’t get it mistaken- I’ll eat a snack completely devoid of any nutrition in a hot second if its vegan and delicious! But I”m not fooling myself. I try not to do that all the time.

The more I think about it, it seems pretty obvious that we should all be in this together.

I think we can all play on the same team.

It doesn’t mean that we are all going to play the same position. Different roles serve different purposes. Maybe it will take all of us working on a team to make the changes in our world that we ALL want.

Here are just 3 statements that ‘Meat Eaters’ and ‘Vegans’ can both agree on:

I care about the earth and I want to take care of it.

You don’t have to be vegan to care about our earth.

And no matter how you eat, you can be against the use of pesticides on your food. They are unhealthy to ingest and pollute our soil and water, making them dangers to humans and the earth. Anyone can be mad about that.

So make sure to choose Organic.

Its also just as important for meat eaters to move away from factory farmed meat. Not only for ethical reasons, but because the massive manure output pollutes the air and water that we all share.

I care about other people and animals and want a more compassionate world. 

Respect the soul that resides in every creature. Practice compassion in your actions towards all beings. Even if you intend to eat them.

Living mindfully helps here too. Slow down enough to think about why you are doing something, and what the impact is, and be honest with yourself.

Demand better for them and for you.

 

 I think it is important to be healthy and I want to live a long and active life as long as I can. 

Regardless of your overall diet philosophy, it will do every body good to choose more nutritious options. We all want the food we eat to Acknowledge your body’s need for wholesome fuel.

Make efforts to eat more foods that are serving you, and less of foods that are not. Everyone can enjoy the positive benefits their body will experience when they shift to a wholesome diet, and live a mindful life.

All of these things are desires that can unite us. I know I’m not the only one who feels the divide, and I think it is a great deal unnecessary. I think we all have a better chance of reaching our goals by working together.

One good way to address all of these issues at once is to change the way we eat.

Simply shift the ingredients we use in our daily lives. For meat eaters, that could also include working to improve the quality of life given to the animals that are meant for their consumption.

The wholesomeness of our food is the responsibility of all everyone. A shift toward Organic practices in the production of our food is in the best interest of everyone.

If you are worried that you just won’t ever like healthy food. Don’t be so sure. Think about all the different ethnic cuisines with their own unique flavors that you might not love unless you grew up there. I’m sure there are even a few familiar foods that took you some time to start appreciating.

Recognize that your palate can appreciate different flavors, when given the opportunity. You will adjust and start enjoying new foods just as much as the old stuff. You just have to figure out how to make things in a new way. And I am here to help you with that!

However you decide to eat, the point is that You as much as anyone, are responsible for what we are allowing to be accepted in our society.  Just because you and a Vegan might not eat the same, it doesn’t mean that you can’t care about some of the same things.

I understand that what I’m saying about to say may not go down well with some of my Vegan community, but I’m ok with that. Its where my experiences have brought me, so I figured they were worth sharing.