Confessions of a former vegetarian
This afternoon at the grocery store I reached for one of the mouth-watering rotisserie chickens they sell at the deli. As I put it in my cart I grimaced a little bit as I recognized its shape and associated it with living birds, turning my eyes away when I saw the headless neck. The thought popped into mind:
If I had seen the conditions under which this animal lived and watched its slaughter, would I still purchase its meat?
I have never been entirely comfortable with eating meat. In my early 20′s I came across a video clip that showed a small pig shaking and scared as it was led to slaughter in a meatpacking plant, and decided at that moment to become a vegetarian. I remained steadfast in my decision not to eat meat for about two years. Then I began to reincorporate a little fish into my diet, in part because I came to the intellectual decision that fish did not experience fear and suffering at the same level as higher animals…and, truth be told, in part because it was getting hard to eat meatless dishes all the time. Then some health concerns related to having a carb-heavy diet cropped up and I started to buy some lean, organic, free-range beef and chicken from Whole Foods every now and then as an effort to get more protein into my diet. Then I began having children and moved to the ‘burbs and found that it was too expensive and difficult to find meat from animals that I could be sure were raised and slaughtered ethically, and it was too complicated to figure out how to make sure I (as a pregnant and nursing mother) and my children got proper nutrition from a low-meat diet, so it all just kind of flew out the window. These days we eat regular grocery store chicken and beef four or five days a week.
What bothers me about this is not that I’m eating meat per se — as I talked about in my post about why I was a pro-choice vegetarian, I’m no longer categorically opposed to the slaughter of animals for food — but that my decision to go back to eating meat was based more on convenience than on careful examination of the facts, and that I’ve taken almost no time to educate myself about what goes on at the slaughterhouses of the meat distributors I support.
Maybe it’s all fine — maybe the burger I ate at Wendy’s or the rotisserie chicken I bought at the grocery store came from animals who were treated well and killed quickly and humanely…or maybe the animals lived painful lives under hideous conditions and were slaughtered in a way that I’d find unconscionable. The problem is that I wouldn’t know. Because I haven’t wanted to know. Because doing a bunch of research about slaughterhouse practices would be depressing and time consuming and one more thing on my already overloaded to-do list, and if I found bad news I don’t know how I’d go about modifying my family’s diet anyway. As I’ve talked about before, sometimes when the search for truth gets inconvenient it’s easiest to just stop asking questions and do whatever makes your problems go away.
So that’s where I am: I eat meat, I feed my family meat, but I’m not entirely comfortable with it. I’m suspicious of my own lack of desire to get full information on this subject, yet I also don’t want to vilify all large-scale meat packing plants since the cheap meat they provide is a critical source of nutrition for low-income families.
I bring this up not because I have any great answers (obviously) but because I want to get advice from you guys: Does anyone else struggle with this issue? Anyone have any solutions for making sure that the meat you buy is humanely raised without breaking the budget? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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My family goes in with other families to order grass fed beef from a local butcher. We pay about $4.30 per pound. So we break about even on the ground chuck (for organic ground chuck) but make up for it with the other cuts of meat, including filets. for grass fed filets from whole foods or wegmans, you pay almost $30 per pound. grass fed is healthier for humans and more humane for the animal. our butcher also offers other types of meat.
organic eggs in our area are also cheaper from local farmers than in the stores.
good luck!
We were vegetarians for almost 9 years. I was led to it by reading Genesis.
When God created the world, he offered every tree with seed in its fruit for food to Adam and Eve and the foliage to ALL the animals (Gen 1:29-30). After the flood, he instructed Noah, "Every living thing that lives shall be food for you" (Gen.9:3). I felt that, since the ideal was to NOT eat animals, as a Catholic seeking holiness, I would follow the ideal.
Then, years later, reading the Acts of the Apostles with my daughter as part of our post-Easter(homeschool) religion program, I encountered Peter's vision when he saw "something like a large sheet" come down from Heaven, filled wiht all sorts of creatures and heard a voice commanding him to kill and eat. When Peter protested because some of the creatures were considered unclean by Jewish law, he heard the voice say, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane."
During the months before this, I, too, had struggled with having far too many carbs in my diet. I felt that Peter's vision was meant for me to pay attention to. I resisted, but the thought persisted and around that time, was the Resurrection Gospel when Jesus ate some fish before the apostles to prove He wasn't a ghost.
Okay, I get it. Reluctantly, I went back to eating meat – very slowly bringing it into our diet. I began to waver about a year later when the reading from Acts came up at Mass. Normally, I spend time with the readings before Mass. Not that Sunday. The words hit me hard and we have been omnivorous ever since.
Your post about duty should help you with the difficulty of how you shop. If spending time researching and searching for "ethical" food is harmful to you, and by extension your family, or will create severe financial hardship and stress, then I don't believe you are called to do that.
You are called to know, love and serve God in this life so to be with Him forever in Heaven. As a wife, you are called to help your husband in his duty to God. As a mother, you are called to raise your children to the best of your ability to be godly people. You have talent as a writer and probably are expected by the Giver to use that talent to bring others along the way. AFTER you perform these duties, you are free to decide what else to take on.
Sorry this is so long; hope some of it is useful.
(your sometimes correspondent about Advent and birthdays) Linda
Haven't read the comments, just wanted to say "So that's where I am: I eat meat, I feed my family meat, but I'm not entirely comfortable with it." is me EXACTLY.
An anonymous commenter asked:
"Would anyone care to offer the basis for their desire to eat/treat animals more "ethically?" I don't mean to be obnoxious, but I truly have no reason other than the fact that it seems like we should."
My answer: They feel pain just like we do. They value their lives just like we do. Those are really the reasons for me. In addition, there are many other reasons, meat production is disastrous for the environment (and therefore hurts humans) and is not good for human health. But the one reason that is sufficient for me is that I do not want to cause another sentient being pain or take its life. It's not necessary to eat meat to maintain health.
Thanks for bringing up the discussion, I appreciate the chance to talk about it and that we have a variety of opinions here. Best of health to everyone!
I second the eggs suggestion! We do eat meat. I don't personally struggle with it; I was never a vegetarian and don't ever intend to be. But, having MEAT–organic or not–can sometimes break the budget. We have a roast on Sundays (and leftovers worked into other meals, if there are leftovers), then we have eggs once a week for dinner (fritatta, quiche, etc.), and we eat vegetable proteins (chickpeas, lentils, various beans) on the other nights. We also try to stay traditional and eat fish on Fridays. Frankly, it's healthier to vary your protein intake rather than eating meat all the time–especially many modern convenience meats that are pumped up with antibiotics and other harmful additives.
I can relate to your skepticism of your own lack of desire to research the issue, though. I have noticed that same tendency in my own life, and it's never been a good thing when I ignore that little voice. Fortunately, the voice seems to be persistent, so eventually, I tend to give in!
Yes, I struggle with this.
Hi. I enjoyed this post and all the comments. Lots of good ideas. But I think there is another aspect to this discussion. I think being so particular about food can be divisive and distract us from the mountain path to holiness. Food is meant to sustain us, not to consume us. I don't buy as much organic food as I used to (5 children back), but I cringed when a friend invited me over but cautioned "It won't be as organic as you guys eat, but I hope you'll like it." Did I give her the impression that we only dared to touch organic food? There can develop this "more organic than thou" attitude. I guess my goal is just to eat simply and prayerfully.
I struggle with this question, too–we're on a very limited budget and I would love to eat more vegetarian and more organic. I find, however, that my body complains when I eat any legumes besides green beans, and my body and brain just plain work better with meat.
One side benefit to buying locally: when my husband lost his job, our egg lady said we could have free eggs, as long as we needed.
My sister has a farm, and her husband is still trying to figure out why free-range/grassfed costs so much more to buy in stores when the feed costs for the animals are so much lower! As far as he can see their free-range chickens cost MUCH less to maintain than confinement chickens would.
Jennifer,
Sorry I don't have time to read all the comments, hopefully I'm not repeating 10 people.
You probably already guessed that this is a big issue with me.
I'll only make one suggestion for now: go watch "Food, Inc." when it shows near you (or rent it when it comes out.) You'll never buy meat at the grocery store again.
(More info at my site for finding healthy meat options.)
Kelly
I second the other suggestions (or third them, or whatever) about purchasing a half (quarter, eighth, whatever floats your boat) of beef or other animal and freezing it. Sometimes even farms that are focussed on one thing are diversified on a small scale so you can buy eggs and organic veg "at the stall door" while you are there to pick up your meat.
If it seems like a large investment at one time you ought to be able to find some other families that will split the meat with you.
I am on the lookout right now for a small used chest freezer so that I can get us an 1/8th of beef, so I totally hear where you're coming from!
Also, making your own stocks and broth from meat bones is a VERY cheap way to get some very nutritious elements into your diet, you can use the stocks in your other cooking. The prep time is not very bad and you can let the pot simmer in the background while you are doing other things.
Check out this video: http://meat.org
I good blog is: http://www.abolitionistapproach.com
For a view from the farmer's side, more evidence that the issue is more complicated than we would like it to be, check out The Omnivore's Delusion.
Jen – I was a vegetarian for 10 years. When I was pregnant with my second son I began to really crave meat, so I began eating chicken again. That was 10 years ago. I now eat anything that comes across my plate.
There was more to my decision that than, but that is the gist of it.
I try really hard to make sure it has been raised in good conditions and slaughtered humanely (as much as one can be sure – you have to just read the labels and trust the producers). But we can't "save" animals by not eating them. Otherwise, we need to consider the little field mice that are killed by the farm equipment used to harvest vegetables (corn, wheat, etc).
I highly recommend you read some of Michael Pollan's books. He especially touches on the ethics of our meals in The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. Pollan really helped me think through the ethics of food (and the labeling). I spend more on meat and dairy by buying organic/humane products, but it is worth the extra cost.
So, 20 years after becoming a vegetarian I'm now looking to keep locally-hunted and processed venison (hunted and killed by a friend) in my freezer this winter. (Hey, the deer lived quite happily!)
I just finished reading Fast Food Nation and I HIGHLY recommend it. I've never had a problem eating meat but I do have a problem with the gross and inhumane way slaughter workers, food service people and animals are treated. Not to mention how contaminated our meat actually is due to companies trying to save a few pennies.
Especially as a Christian I feel I should be changing my buying habits and speaking up for those who can't do so.
The problem is, I haven't figured how to break out of my old buying habits. I've cut back a little but I'd like to do more.
If you get some good suggestions please let us know!
Thanks for your answers (re: why we should treat animals ethically), Anna and Anne.
Anne, I think my questions was actually prompted by a strong feel against using sentience or ability to experience pain/pleasure as a measure of value. Sort of as Jennifer mentioned–it is that sort of world view (that value and dignity are based upon our abilities, or that pain and pleasure are the end all be all) that justifies abortion. If, however, we accept that all human life is worthy of respect because we all have eternal souls, how do animals fit into that?
Anyway, not to get too abstract, I suppose I probably will be just accepting that our conscience on this issue is not misleading us. Also in line with what my conscience is saying, I'll probably continue to put promoting respect for human life and human rights from conception first.
I am all in favor of treating animals humanely. I also think, however, that we moderns have a somewhat exaggerated idea about what constitutes cruelty. Here's just one example. I watched a video in which Mike Rowe (host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs") was discussing his experiences with castrating lambs. According to the Humane Society, the proper way to do it was to place a band around the testes that would cut off circulation. After a week or so, the testes would simply fall off. Mike Rowe was working with a farmer who removed the testes in a truly disgusting way: cutting open the sack and sucking the testes out. It was bloody. But the lambs that were castrated this way were back on their feet and running around within minutes. The lambs that were castrated the Humane Society way just laid down and trembled. They would not run or behave normally. I just don't think the Humane Society always knows best.
Someone commented that animals value their lives just like we do. This attitude is absolutely false. Yes, animals value their lives, but they do not have reason or free will. They do not feel as we do. We should not cause them unnecessary pain, but they are here so that we can use them. That's what they are for.
Someone else already provided a link to The Omnivore's Delusion. Great Article. The issues aren't as simple as some would argue.
–Elizabeth B.
You've already gotten a ton of good advice here. I'm just going to echo that you read "Real Food" by Nina Planck. It will resonate with you. She started life on a small family farm, ended up vegetarian and vegan (it was the only way to rebel against my reasoned, gentle parents, she explains) and eventually became an omnivore again. There's a ton of science in the book, and while she's not a Christian, she makes many points that should concern Christians, given that God set us as stewards over His creation.
I read it about a month ago, and I'm starting to shop very differently these days. I've got a post brewing; I'll let you know when it's posted.
Those large-scale meat packing plants that animal rights activist vilify also provide people (like my husband) with jobs. Meat production is not pretty, it's gruesome by necessity. But being gruesome doesn't necessarily make it "evil."
Frankly it's not something that bothers me because 1) I'm not wealthy enough to be particularly picky about the food that I eat, anyway, and 2) animals have no immortal souls (sentience has nothing to do with it), so I don't feel I need to treat them like human beings, or "semi-humans". Of course pointless, intentional cruelty is very wrong, but there's no "nice" way to kill an animal for food.
I think supporting local food producers is great and do it when I can, but I buy supermarket beef and chicken, etc, and I don't feel guilty about it in the least. We also eat a lot of beans and "vegetarian" meals for health and economic reasons.
I don't have any advice really, I just wanted to say how wonderful it is to hear that other people struggle with these things too. I am teaching a small group this summer on living out the gospel in our simple daily lives, and I honestly have reaised more questions than answers the whole time. What was supposed to be a practical supportive journey has turned into another "it's the spirit that counts" We read the gospel and it is obvious that God is radical and uncompromising about Justice, but when we really look into how entrenched we are in this global system where do we even start?
Anonymous,
I'm with you on not losing the distinction between animals and humans. (I don't like, for example, to use "humane/inhumane" to refer to treatment of animals). But treating animals well, for me, is ultimately about treating humans well. Like taking care of the environment in general (and animal issues have quite a bit of impact on the environment), we are called by God to be good stewards.
It's sort of like cleaning a house. Human beings are more important than a clean house; but keeping your house clean is often an important aspect of treating humans well.
okay, there were 94 notes before I wrote this, but it's been one of those weeks.
You may want to look into
"Eat Right for your blood type" by Dr. Peter J D'Adamo For the science/experiential information.
different people have different responses to diferent foods.
Perhaps eating the protiens you body responds to would help resolve some questions.
If you think this would be a good method I suggest buying "Diabetes; fight it with the Blood type diet",
I got this book for my husband and it has helped
BUT I found that the Charts are Great! Much more up-to-date, detailed, five catagories instead of the original three.
Things I couldn't eat in the lists in the books available 10 years ago I actually can like mushrooms , Just not the one kind which actually makes me break out when I touch them and some things I ate a lot of because they were "neutral" are actully just "occasional" and it dones seem to make a difference.
I just want to point out one misconception. One commenter said that the whiter a chicken egg is, the less healthy the chicken who laid it was. Egg color actually has to do only with the breed of chicken. The color comes from pigment deposits that happen in the oviduct. Darker chickens lay red or brown eggs, and lighter chickens lay white eggs. The health of the bird has nothing to do with it.
"Would anyone care to offer the basis for their desire to eat/treat animals more "ethically?" I don't mean to be obnoxious, but I truly have no reason other than the fact that it seems like we should."
We are stewards. It may be a little old school, but God told the Israelites to kill animals in a certain way – slit the throat to allow the blood to flow out. Now, for them, blood defiled. But we understand today that when an animal is killed, and the normal production means is by bonking them in the head, not slicing the throat, all that blood gets soaked in to the muscles (what we eat). But not just the blood, also the diseases they had in their blood.
The cows that we get meat from (unless you buy local or organic – for the most part) are not grass fed but corn fed (something they can't actually digest) and stand in the their own crap all day long. Many are diseased an slaughtered anyway. Chickens are raised in coops that don't get any sunlight so that they get fatter quicker – many can't even stand up. The works of those factories? Many are illegal immigrants who can be hired (and exploited) for cheap. But when the government finds out, they don't punish the company that refused the law (by illegally importing those workers) they punish the workers.
Stewardship. If not because we are basically shepherds over these animals, then definitely because PEOPLE are hurt, exploited and cheated by these companies.
Go see "Food Inc," If you can.
Life Decisions International's list shows that Whole Foods is a contributor to Planned Parenthood, the largest single killer of unborn people in America. Whole Foods … healthy/ethical foods/farming … abortion. Of all the donations they could be making, why does Whole Foods find it necessary or fitting to donate to Planned Parenthood? Oh, do they agree with that notion that humans are a virus on the earth? Where does any of this fit in with a Catholic world View?
And Whole Foods does not stand alone. Do the digging and you'll find that most of these environmental groups are pro-abortion. Time for a little perspective.
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you so much for responding to me. I didn't really mean to imply that sentience is what gives "value", but only that we share the ability to feel pain with animals, so at least on that level, the physical suffering they feel is something that I can relate to.
I agree very much with you on the value and dignity and importance of respect for all human life, without exception.
I am very appreciative of the respectful tone of this conversation. We are all trying to bring more compassion into our lives as much as we are able according to our own circumstances. And there is no way to perfectly get it all right. It is only something we can hope to continue to grow into.
Great topic and one that has generated a lot of discussion!
I'm a vegetarian married to a non-vegetarian. This has meant movement in both directions in food. Me: I now periodically eat some shrimp and fish (eating out is hard as a vegetarian). He: eats WAY less meat than he used to, mainly because I cook dinner (or we cook together) and it's not that practical to make 2 separate meals all the time.
Here are some solutions that have helped us both and might work for your family:
1. Protein is put into proper portion at our meals. The 25% protetin, 25% carb and 50% vegetable rule that dieticians recommend to cover your plate works for us. This is also how more of the world cooks, using protein more as a condiment or flavor rather than the star.
The challenge I find economically with regard to food is to find decent vegetables and salad at a decent price. We don't buy organic vegatables on purpose, but we also shop farmer's markets or even get shares in a CSA to get the best prices on the best vegetables.
2. We often will buy "fake" protein in the form of tofu-based hot dogs, chicken nuggets, Gardenburgers, sausage, hamburger, bacon, etc. Walmart carries the Morningstar brand and Trader Joe's has a vast array of fake meat (brauts, Italian sausage, etc.). This helps with the convenience factor and gives us a marginally more healthy and more ethical version of meat. Making Sloppy Joes with tofu crumbles is a seamless substitute and not that expensive.
3. When I do buy and cook meat (yes, I do this for my husband, even if I don't eat it myself), I spend the money to buy more expensive, humanely raised meat (this sometimes correlates with organic, but not always). This is rare, frankly, as he generally takes the outlet of eating meats as a treat when we go to restaurants. However, when we do buy meat, I feel like I have the wiggle room in my budget because we've done #1 and 2 above.
I've been a vegetarian since I was a teenager and it boils down, to me, with how much more violence I'm willing to add to in the world. Christians are called to be peacemakers and to know and think about our actions. As a Catholic, I feel as though my diet is one way where I can make a daily difference in how much violence and suffering there is in the world. While I can't leave a 0% footprint overall (I contribute to violence and suffering in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do, after all), I can significantly reduce this footprint by making easy, delicious and budget-conscious decisions.
Good luck to you all!
I buy organic meats when they are comparable in cost to regular. Other than that, I don't worry about it.
It bothers me that the trend toward animal/social conscience comes from liberal writers and filmmakers who share so few of my core values on life.
I'm raising and homeschooling seven kids on a soldier's pay and so we stick to a pretty tight budget. I know how those animals we eat live and die. I have done the research, but I can't afford to buy organic, pastured meat. I just can't. So I moved to a farm. I'm buying cheap meat, but I'm also raising a flock of chickens, twenty or so of whom are about to become meals. Next year, we'll raise beef cows, too. I'll know they lived happy lives and died humane deaths and that they never consumed anything that wasn't fit for them. Not everybody can move to a farm, of course, but that's my answer to the problem.
I grew up on a farm half of the time. My children have watched my husband slaughter goats and chickens. I think that the people who have the most problem with eating meat or how it's produced are those who are the most removed from the process. It has always been, it will always be visceral. We make sure our kids know where their meat comes from, so they won't have girly squirmish freakouts when they first realize that those cellophane wrapped packages once bled and pooped and lived.
It's the visceral insulation we are allowed to grow up with that creates such a squeamish culture in the first place.
I highly recommend Jennifer that you take the time to read this article the omnivore's delusion I heard about it from Beck
And yes, The Omnivore's Delusion: Against the Agri-Intellectuals is a must-read: http://www.american.com/archive/2009/july/the-omnivore2019s-delusion-against-the-agri-intellectuals
I wanted to shout, "AMEN" multiple times while reading it.
I admire your sincerity, this is way I find your blog so captivating. Your issues with the way this animals were treated is understandable but I don't have solutions. Only if you are committed to be a vegetarian again and you are ready for the everyday battle, go ahead and good luck! God bless you and may He show you the way!
Liturgy of the Hours
Jen: your position on eating meat (and your vegetarian past) is identical to mine.
I was vegetarian for 15 years (and vegan for part of it) and I've come to the conclusion that locavorism is not only the best community and economic solution for America–it is the solution to the issue of humane treatment of animals.
However, it is very, very expensive to eat like a locavore and in terms of produce, in the northeast, the amount of freezing, drying, preserving etc. just isn't possible unless I give up everything except that practice. It might become easier as my kids get older but for now, I do what I can.
We take small steps–and if we increase our income we'll definitely be moving to grass-fed pastured beef and free range insect eating chicken (free range corn fed chickens are not eating a natural diet and are not as healthy—same with grass fed beef.)
And see that's really telling you something isn't it? Humanely treated animals are healthier for you than inhumanely treated animals.
There is a kind of perfect symmetry in that.
We (meaning my family and I) do the best we can in the presence of social sin, but it would be vanity and pride to think that we could solve it all.
To impose an extreme routine with an extreme economic burden is not the reasoned choice.
But small steps toward the ideal would be great.
Have you read "Real Food" by Nina Planck?
This comes late in the discussion, but I thought I might add a few thoughts.
I think that it is important to have meat in our diet, but small portions and not every day. It is expensive. You realize the value of it when you raise it yourself.
When we work to take care of a flock of chickens every day, several times a day for two months, and we slaughtered them (you might start by looking into the difference in the way kosher meat is slaughtered; it is healthier and more humane) we realized the value of each chicken that we eat.
As a result, our portions are smaller and, as someone mentioned, we reserve that meat for special occasions – going back to Sunday dinners (with leftovers).
Haven't read the comments, so apologies if I'm duplicating. Another former veggie here. Our compromise re meat is to serve it only about twice a week — Sunday and one other day — and choose good stuff. Direct from the supplier if possible (there are various organic box schemes here) or at least organic meat from this country. It's not essential to eat meat every day. Pulses, nuts, dairy, eggs, fish — all good stuff.
I was raised on a ranch, and now live on a ranch, where we grow grains and raise black Angus cows.
Please consider the fact that much meat comes from farms and ranches that take excellent care of their animals, and they take great pride in that. I'm the fourth generation rancher, here, and my husband is a fifth generation rancher, so we've grown up with a sense of responsibility to both the animals and the consumer.
I do think buying locally is very good, but I understand not everyone has that luxury. I would encourage you to buy American, if you have the label to inform you. The US has the cleanest meat and the most stringent regulations, regarding the grade and source. We put source tags on our calves that can track them from when they hit the ground to when they hit your plate.
You're so brave to write about something that stirs up such passion and controversy! Bravo!
Sending best wishes from a ranch in Montana.
Wow! Lots o' comments!
Yes this is something I am concerned with as well. Our solution: we buy our meat from a local farmer that does a CSA. It's like getting a side of beef (and pork, chicken, and lamb) without having to invest all of the freezer space at the same time. We do a pick up twice a month. My goal is to use only this meat, and anything else we will do vegetarian meals. I love knowing EXACTLY where my meat comes from.
Anyway, this may be something to google and check out.
I have to say I am stunned at the mass of responses, mostly all saying the same thing, to this post, and even more stunned at my gut response to them, what with being the recycling, cloth-diapering, left-wing leaning, Obama supporting, homemade cleaning-solution making person I am.
You've certainly gotten tips on how to purchase meat people see as humanely raised, which to me seems an oxymoron, because humans aren't "raised" with the sole purpose of being slaughtered and eaten, so I'm not sure what is "humane" about the process at all. It's like a pride of lions getting together and discussing how they can kill the water buffalo more "lionly."
I was under the impression that even local farmers send their livestock to slaughterhouses to be processed, rather than doing it themselves (which is what my uncle and grandfather, both small scale, family farmers, used to do), so I'm not sure how buying locally solves the "humane" issue. How can slaughter be done "humanely?"
Someone commented about how this seems to be a "trendy" topic, and someone else mentioned "straining at gnats," and I can't believe I'm saying it, I have to agree. It seems people get on a bandwagon about something after hearing or reading a bit about it, but don't really consider the big picture (mainly because everything is so interconnected that it's downright impossible to see the big picture).
The truth is, for us to live, things have to die. People have jumped onto being "humane" to animals because they're cute, and they have big eyes, and they seem more "like us" than plants. But how can we really know what animals feel, and conversely, how can we say that animals are sentient but things like insects, which we have no problem killing if they are are in our homes, or viruses, or plants are not sentient? How do we know if they are sentient or not? Say we all stopped eating meat and became vegetarians. What if groundbreaking studies in the future confirm that plants do indeed experience pain when they are harvested? Will we stop eating plants? Why is causing pain and suffering to plants or viruses or cockroaches (or scorpions) okay but not to animals?
And this doesn't even speak to the issue of animal by-products, which are in all kinds of things, from clothing to food to fertilizer (used to grow all that yummy "vegetarian" food) to medicine. I wonder if all of those who insist on buying only locally grown meat also buy only shoes made of locally grown leather, or avoid medications for their sick children that are made of animal by-products from the same slaughterhouses they think they're avoiding supporting? Do they all avoid restaurants? Do they avoid buying other foods, like say, pasta, from mega companies that also own meat divisions that support "inhumane" farming practices? Do they know whether or not every item of clothing they buy was made by decently treated employees rather than children or overworked, poorly treated people in what basically is a type of slavery? Are they aware if the investments in their 401K or other retirement plans support these businesses?
It just all seems so hypocritical to me. But then we are all hypocrites. What do Catholics call it when you focus too much on your sins? Scrupulosity? That's what this reminds me of.
Be a good mom. Be a good wife. Be a good Catholic. Continue being the wonderful blogger you are. Don't heap guilt on yourself for all of the things you can't possibly know and control in this world. Buy the food you can afford to buy, and at the dinner table, pray for all of those whose hands brought the meal to you–the farmer, the slaughterhouse employee, the truck driver, the grocery store clerk, the factory worker, the receptionist at the corporate headquarters, etc. Then enjoy the meal, savor it, whether it's meat or beans or grains. Be thankful that you have food to eat.
I think that by focusing on animal suffering, you and many of your commenters are missing several issues of human suffering that are entwined in the question of whether to eat mainstream meat:
1. Animals raised in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, especially cows fed corn, produce meat that makes humans more prone to heart attacks, cancer, and diabetes.
2. CAFOs use lots of antibiotics, breeding antibiotic-resistant bacteria that attack humans.
3. Pollution from CAFOs and cornfields (much of which corn is fed to CAFO animals) is fouling drinking water in the Midwest.
4. Food poisoning, caused by the routine practice of having animals stand knee-deep in their own feces and not cleaning them before slaughter, can be fatal, especially to young children.
5. The corn fed to CAFO animals could feed many, many more people than are fed by the meat.
6. The artificially low prices of CAFO meat (maintained by government subsidies, poor safety standards, and exploitation of illegal immigrants) encourage low-income people to eat at McDonald's instead of eating fresh wholesome foods; the problems of that diet for their health go beyond meat to excessive sugar, trans fat, inadequate fruits and vegetables, etc.
it was too complicated to figure out how to make sure I (as a pregnant and nursing mother) and my children got proper nutrition from a low-meat diet
Your vocation as a mother must come before your convenience in caring for your own children's health, if nothing else. Don't fret about humane slaughter as a form of holiness that comes second to your duty–protecting your children from eating infectious cow manure is your duty!
http://www.vegfamily.com is full of free, helpful resources for getting proper nutrition from a vegan diet. If you're only cutting back on meat, that's MUCH easier than cutting out all animal products!
My site has lots of recipes for vegetarian foods. Protein comes in all sorts of interesting packages! I particularly recommend nutritional yeast flakes (dissolve in any type of fat) as a source of protein and B vitamins (which are often lacking in vegetarian diets and may be the reason you feel tired) and the type of yummy flavor many people miss when not eating meat.
We gave up meat for Lent in 2002, and that was highly informative as a way to start understanding and changing our habits.
We don't eat fake meats much. Not only are they pricey, but they're highly manufactured and thus don't strike me as something God really designed us to eat. They're tasty and convenient, but mostly we eat beans, nuts, eggs, yogurt, whole grains, and sunflower seeds for protein.
An Anonymous wrote: I just can't in good conscience, spend more for food (that I know I can purchase more cheaply) even if it is healthier or more humane. I work for my church's food bank and see too many hungry people experiencing seriously hard times. Every $10 or $20 extra that more affluent people spend on their own groceries is less money available to donate to worthier causes.
You've got a point. However, those hungry people will be far better served by your refusing to buy into the system that offers them only heart-clogging, germy meat that fills their stomachs today but may kill them tomorrow. If you keep supporting that system with your money, nothing will change and people will keep suffering.
I agree with Becca. This isn't just about money, or about humane slaughter. Factory farmed meat is a whole different animal (pun intended!) from locally raised stuff, organic or not. Reading Fast Food Nation was really eye-opening. To know that processors have to cut their speed in half to end up with meat clean enough to export? And we get the dirty stuff? Gross.
I don't feel like I have to bleach my entire kitchen after preparing beef from my local farmer.
Wow – a lot of comments – let's see…what was the question, again?
"Anyone have any solutions for making sure that the meat you buy is humanely raised without breaking the budget?"
I have to agree with the others who think "humane" treatment of animals is silly and are generally opposed to all forms of anthropomorphism. Although animals feel pain, (and there are methods of slaughtering animals that are less painful than others), I don't believe that animals experience fear or suffering in the way that we do anymore than I believe that God made us – literally, physically – in His image.
I appreciate your statement: "…sometimes when the search for truth gets inconvenient it's easiest to just stop asking questions and do whatever makes your problems go away." because we do need to consider our food choices in the light of our primary vocations as mothers – providing healthy food for our children's development. This gets tricky because there are so many ideas and "fads" about the healthiest way to eat.
I have come to the conclusion that we can't get to the point where we say, "we can't afford another child because food is too expensive." I'm also not going to go "Hillbilly Housewife" and feed my kids hot dogs on a regular basis because it's cheap protein. We try to discern what we are to do with the resources God has entrusted to us as best we can.
Respectfully, I think the focus should be on how the choices we make about what we eat are in line with Catholic social teaching rather than animal rights.
I am completely in the same situation as you. I was a veg for almost 10 years, although there were some periods of time where convenience won out. I feel that its near impossible to go meatless with kids, especially when your husband is as carnivore as they come. I've done tons of research and agree that eating meat is just wrong…but I can't seem to give it up again. I've even tried to substitute meatless things (crumbled veg burgers into a ground beef recipe for ex.) to no avail. I struggle with this often and wish I could give you better than, "I know how you feel." lol!
I am amazed at how many comments you have! A friend emailed this post to me because I have a food blog about taking baby steps to better stewardship of our resources, and I'm going through a "conversion" of sorts, transitioning from regular albeit "healthy" foods to much more "real" food and conservative nutrition. It is a budget stretcher, but we've found a local farm with organic, grass-fed beef for $3.19/lb of ground beef, and $2.50/lb or so for whole chickens. I'm just learning to make the meat streeeetch for many meals and cutting the budget in other places. Finding like-minded people in your community (through the blogosphere or otherwise) is a great place to start. I learned of a local meat market that has reasonable prices for reasonably healthy, humane meats. I asked for a gift certificate there for my birthday!
I'd be honored if you'd drop by Kitchen Stewardship and see what you think – but it looks as though you're keeping rather busy just reading your comments over here!
I recently read a book called "Eat to Live" by a Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It challenged my beliefs about protein needs, first of all, and diet in general. I'm a SAHM of 3 under 5. We have tried to buy organic as much as possible. Yes, it's expensive, and we're now leaning heavily towards vegetarianism. I've also struggled with hypoglycemia and junk food addiction. And food addiction, in general. Actually, Jen, I took a break from reading this blog when you started tackling the subject of food addiction, b/c I felt so guilty…. Anyway, I recommend the book. It has helped me tremendously.
Hi Jennifer!
I've given some consideration in the past to eating vegetarian/organic et al., but ultimately I couldn't reconcile my conscience with it.
Sounds weird, right? Eating organic meat as unethical? Well, it strikes me that every dollar and cent spent extra on organic/free range etc. meat is spent for *our* intellectual convenience, to make us *feel* better, like what we're doing is righteous in some way, meanwhile each and every one of those dollars and cents could be given to provide for someone else's *necessity*. I just can't abide paying more money for meat that was raised "ethically" (whatever that means) when I could be given that same extra money so that other people can eat, period. It just seems to me that we need to get everyone on the planet food and clean water, and maybe some small minimal level of health care, before we start worrying about the animals.
Neoptolemus, have you considered that when you buy standard supermarket meat, only pennies of your purchase makes it to the little guy, the farmer who does the work and needs the money? I expect the same goes for organic from big companies. But if we buy direct from a grower, we get fresher food, raised more humanely, *and* every cent we pay goes right to the producer rather than a series of middlemen.
I will no longer pay extra for big brand organic for the very reason you cited.
I've been poking around your blog and am a bit late to this discussion but I find myself wanting to comment on the definition of humane some commenters have as it differs on a fundamental level from the meaning I always read into humane.
I've always thought that humane treatment was the treatment that humans should give.
We should be humane not because a cattlebeast deserves more when we humans eat it then when a lion eats it but because we are human capable of doing so.
That said as a farmer's daughter I second the recommendation to check out local farmers.
If you need a freezer first, I've found that they can often be found second-hand, as students we found a $75 freezer and more then paid for it by being able to buy a quarter cow cheap from the local farmer's market. I then learned to make soup stock so as to be able to make use of the soup bones included in our meat order
I hate to add something to a post that's already old and cold, but this is definitely something I struggle with all the time, and I find myself wishing frequently for a group of Christians where we could talk openly about our grocery shopping habits and really work on what is the Christian way to shop in our time.
My own very inadquate solution is currently to by organic when it's local (here in France we have a lot of organic stuff coming from Italy and Spain and even farther away sometimes…) and local when it's not organic. But I am not good at budgeting, etc. so I'm very inconsistent in how and what I buy. I would love to be a part of any ongoing discussions on this topic. However, I'm thinking that I'll need to seek this out on my side of the Atlantic, as the laws and products are quite different from those in North America…
Thanks for putting words on what I so often experience.
Your story is pathetic. You are lazy & uneducated & just wanted a quick fix to your inconvenience. Your consciousness (God) was telling you about the inhumane side of meat. Then you gave in to society & a quick fix. Vegetarian families do exist, you didn't need to be extreme. Maybe if you really learned how to cook & choose healthy foods from a regular store you could have been successful.
Every vegetarian can choose convenience over what is right. You know eating animals is wrong, I've been vegetarian for over 12 years now, I just didn't get too extreme & live 'normal' drinking beer etc. & not acting like a total health nut, only difference is excluding meat, I use eggs & cheese. There is a balance. Animals are just as important to God as humans.
You might try reading "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer. I'd read lots Michael Pollan, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and wasn't really convinced that ethical slaughter or vegetarianism mattered until reading Foer's novel.