Full disclosure: This post has many generalizations. However, it is not going to be a Veg-Hatin' session. I aim to objectively look at the appeal of both of these preferred diets/life-styles and even share some anecdotal laughs from my own life. I encourage all 5 of my blog readers seriously consider the following:
VEGANISM
From Vegan.Org (The Official Website)What is a VEGAN?
A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals.Why VEGAN?
Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Living vegan provides numerous benefits to animals' lives, to the environment, and to our own health–through a healthy diet and lifestyle.Mission Story
In 2001, when I was still in my first mission area in Torrington, WY, I met a member-family of Vegans. Elder Skousen (and yes, Cleon was his grandpa) and I were invited over for dinner one night. I was ready for a big, meaty meal! We had worked a long day and this was after all, "Cowboy Country." To my dismay, I sneaked a peek into the kitchen where I only found a pot of vegetable soup. The mother must have seen the look on my face because she quickly explained that she had some microwavable packages of fillet minion that she pulled out for special occasions; it wasn't until later that night that I realized what she meant by special occasions.
Once everyone was served, I noticed that Elder Skousen and I were the only ones with meat on our plates. "We're Vegans" they explained cheerily. Over the next hour, we were the ones receiving the discussion about the Word of Wisdom. I'd never heard of what they were sharing with me before. For those of you who remember my letter home that week, I'm sure you were a little freaked out about how enthusiastically I relayed their arguments.
Their teachings made sense to me, at least for the most part. They explained that every food is grown in a specific season and ought to be eaten at that time. Fresh foods are best for the body. Eating processed foods is like drinking river water that has been polluted by numerous dirty tributaries. (Thank goodness our immune systems are suited to digest and disable most all of those pollutants.)
Once you are a Vegan for a while, the wife explained, taboo foods just don't look appetizing any more. They said they have had absolutely no desire for anything like a McDonald's Quarter-pounder since they became Vegans. I completely agree with this. The mind is a powerful tool that responds to repetitive suggestion.
Despite their reasonable arguments, I felt startled and uncomfortable with the style in which that they shared their beliefs. The best way I can describe my feelings is by comparing the experience to being surprised at the door by Jehovah's Witnesses while being the subject of a home intervention. There were a lot of foreign ideas being thrown at me in a very passionate way. If I have ever felt propositioned by a cult, this was it. I walked away that night with this image of a vegans:
VEGETARIANISM
Reasons why I am Pro-Veg:
1. Heart-disease starts in childhood and I have a family history of diabetes. And a Vegetarian diet (low-cholesterol) reverses heart disease.
2. The current American diet trend is to become UNNATURALLY OBESE.
3. I'm scared to learn where my food actually comes from.
4. Meat is a natural carrier of diseases that can be passed on to you. And yes, Mad Cow Disease is in the US. The sick animal came from a farm in Mabton, Washington, about 40 miles southeast of Yakima.
5. I don't think you can truly care about the environment and support the raising of animals for food. Pro-Vegetarian fact: Over 1/2 of the US water supply goes to animals raised for food. (Source: PETA.org)
6. I think America doesn't respect where we get our meat. You won't think think of Adam and Eve, fresh out of the garden, preparing meat the way we do now. Who knows how long they spent co-existing with those very animals. I appreciate the way the Native Americans treated the animals that they used for sustenance. They only hunted when they needed it, and they killed with honor and gratitude in their hearts, and they used every last bit of the beast.
Reasons Why I am Veg-Skeptical:
1. The Brethren have not made a big enough issue out of Vegetarianism to cause me to make a big deal out of it.2. PETA advertisers apply one of two tactics to promote their cause: pornography or scare-tactics.
3. I like the taste of meat.
4. I have low protein and B-12 levels, which are ample in meat.
5. Eating everything is terribly convenient. You don't have to turn people down when they offer you something or take you out to eat someplace fancy.
Conclusion
Compared to Veganism, Vegetarianism it doesn't seem that left-wing; in fact, it seems pretty middle-ground actually. Maybe it's time to GO VEG. If you are ready to look into it, Call 1.888.VEG.FOOD or visit www.goveg.com*Vegan Trivia: Vegan avoid using animal products in any way. One common animal by-product is gelatin--the main ingredient in Jello, which happens to be the staple food for Mormons. This begs the question, "Can you really be both?"
(P.S. Please don't let this affect your opinion of Vegans, but . . . It turns out that 4 months after I left the area, the husband of the Vegan family was arrested for embezzling from his employer--Microsoft.)
Very interesting points. I especially liked the last point you brought up.... ha ha.I was thinking as I read it if I could ever do it and I thought maybe I could be like a lacto ovo pesca pollo vegetarian. *Just off the red meat.* I like fish and poultry.
ReplyDeleteAmen to the convenience thing. Since I became vegetarian, I've had to turn down multiple people's kind offers of meals. Also, eating out is a pain because there are, at most, maybe two or three vegetarian options on a five page menu.
ReplyDeleteBut overall, I'm liking it. It's at least forcing me to think my food through more carefully, leading to generally healthier eating.
1. Heart disease is much more of a risk for people who GORGE themselves and don't exercise. Not a good reason to cut out tasty meat.
ReplyDelete2. Just eating meat is NOT the reason for the trend. Can you say "carbs and fat?"
3. Being scared of foods origins can be cured by discovering where it does come from and being more choosy if it really bothers you.
4. True, you can get mad cow from meat. But you can get e coli from veggies too, so ...
5. Oh yes, you can my good man. Meat was made to be eaten (in good proportions) by man. Raising animals for food is what we do having specialized. Instead of everyone hunting, some do other forms of work, while others raise the meat we eat.
6. See number three. Also, I appreciate the bit about the NA's, but they hunted and ATE meat, so I guess this point should go under veg-skeptical.
No time to address the next issues. Poopy diaper calling.
You know, I could live very happily as a vegetarian, if someone placed the food in front of me! But as you say, the General Authorities do not lean that way (I don't even know of any who are!) and I believe portion control is really the key. As far as vegans go, I think it's just ridiculous to booycott wool which HF gave the world to keep so many of His children alive and warm!
ReplyDeleteScary about that one man who invited you for dinner...your letter claimed he was one of the greatest, most spiritual men you'd ever met and here he turns out to be an embezzler! (maybe he got some bad tofu and it rotted his brain skewing his conscience!)