Cheese is not vegan: Why I don’t eat meat
Every time I think that progress in being made regarding the benefits of plant-based eating, I read another clueless letter to the editor, Facebook response, or article about why humans are designed to eat meat. I’ve given up on trying to convince others that not only is it morally reprehensible to eat flesh, it’s also a habit that’s killing us and our planet. It’s a personal choice, and if others have no qualms about participating in environmental and animal abuse, I can’t stop them. However, I often find myself on the receiving end of blatant ridicule just because I am vegan and support animal welfare.
Therefore, I have prepared some responses to some of the most common questions and statements regarding veganism. Feel free to use them without fear of repercussion from me. Stuff like this is driving me crazy, and at this point, it’s a short trip.
Methuselah ate meat.
I have no idea what he ate. I wasn’t there.
We need to eat what our paleo ancestors ate.
Do you mean like raw meat, bones, dirt, etc.? I don’t think they ate paleo pancakes. I’m also pretty certain that they didn’t have a long life span.
Humans need meat to survive.
Then I should be dead.
Your cat eats meat.
Yes he does, but that doesn’t mean I should. Also, he’s an indoor cat and is not adept at catching live animals. He was highly entertained while watching my spouse trying to catch a rat and viewed the entire operation without assisting whatsoever. I’m not sure he couldn’t survive without prepared cat food.
Since our eyes are on the front of our face we should be meat eaters. Herbivores have eyes on the side of their face.
Hmm. You mean like sharks and komodo dragons? Also, how do you explain koalas, pandas, and giraffes for that matter?
Do you want cheese with that?
No. I promise you that cheese isn’t vegan. There are many good plant-based substitutes, however.
Don’t you miss eating meat?
No.
Can’t you make an occasional exception and eat meat once in a while?
No. For me, it’s not only a question of ethics. Because I have not eaten animal products for a long time, my body may no longer make the enzymes to metabolize meat. In addition, I don’t like the smell, taste, or texture of meat. Some of the newer plant-based meats are too much like the real thing for my tastes.
Where do you get your protein?
If I only had five dollars for every time I’ve heard this (hey, I have to consider inflation). From plants.
You can’t build muscle without animal products.
Really? If only someone had told me or my vegan friends.
Just saying.
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More reasons to eat vegan and leave the meat behind include saving water and land. Beef takes a lot of water to produce and if they are grazing on public lands there’s the damage they can do there. Then there is the methane produced by cattle and certainly the way many animals are treated in the industrial farming system.