you are what you eat

Many of you know that I have eaten a vegan diet for the past 3 years, with the exception of a few weak moments and some time spent in Italy (this summer included). Nowadays, everyone is familiar with the term "vegan" but most people don't understand what it means to be vegan. It's more than not eating animal products- it's a political statement, a moral stance, a commitment to a cruelty-free lifestyle, and it requires constant awareness of everything that you eat and use or wear on your body. Sounds like a lot of work, huh? It is. But what are the rewards? Better health, a purer body, a cleaner environment, comfort in knowing that you aren't consuming dangerous chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics (assuming that you also eat only organic foods), the knowledge that you aren't contributing to the cruel mass slaughtering of farm animals, or supporting the harsh and unsanitary living conditions of farm animals used not only for meat, but also for eggs and dairy products. In a spiritual sense, I believe eating a vegan diet allows you to live closer to God. Our minds and bodies are not pure when we are absorbing the pain and suffering of animals, as well as the associated chemicals and hormones. From a humanitarian perspective, indigenous peoples in places such as South America are being driven off of their lands by food production companies that are mass-producing soy and other crops in order to cheaply feed factory-farmed animals in the US and Europe. Furthermore, the pesticides and other chemical used in the production of food for factory farmed animals poisons water supplies and contaminates the air that the local people breathe, resulting in birth defects, sickness, and death. These practices are also detrimental to the environment. Forests are being cleared to make way for soy crops to be used as animal feed. Also, factory farms produce tremendous amounts of waste! These practices are detrimental to soil health and local water supplies.

I've been in Italy for 3 weeks as of today. Already I have eaten butter, gelato, cheese, and eggs (though they have all been organic, except for the gelato). After studying the European Union extensively at UGA, I was under the impression that the EU had outlawed factory farming. While it is true that farms are held to higher standards in the EU, animals used for conventional food production in Europe are far from free-range, healthy, or happy. There's a small pig farm right up the road from us here in Staranzano. I can hear the pigs squeal during the day and when the wind blows a certain way, I can smell their waste. I run by this farm almost everyday, but I have never once seen a single pig. They're confined indoors. Cristina told me that I'll know it when they're being slaughtered. She says that they sound like screaming children as they're being killed. Even before it's their turn to die, they can see and hear the other pigs being slaughtered. They're terrified. They release adrenaline. You consume this terror and adrenaline.

With this post, I am recommitting myself to a cruelty-free lifestyle. You don't have to go completely vegan to take a stand against the dangers and injustices associated with factory-farming and large-scale food production. Here are some other options... Eat organic and try to eat local. Read food ingredient labels before you make a purchase. Most people only read the caloric and fat information, which is important, but it's more important to read the ingredients (don't buy things with chemical preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, or high fructose corn syrup). And please, oh please, don't let your kids eat this stuff. There are some great all-natural brands of "junk" food that taste even better than what you're used to. For instance, Newman's Own makes great "oreos," pretzels, and crackers, and you can easily find these products in Kroger or other conventional grocery stores. Better yet, the Newman's Own company dedicates its profits to several charity organizations. On that note, help out the poor communities that are affected by large scale food production. Local farmers in the third world can't compete with the cheap food products that result from mass production by large companies. Buy fair trade products, such as coffee and chocolate. You can find these things easily labeled in the grocery store. Dole may be screwing over small banana farmers in Central and South America (I don't know this for a fact, it's only an assumption), but you can help level the playing field by purchasing fair trade products from developing countries.

You are what you eat. Think about it. I've been at this for a while now and I'm far from perfect, but I'm always here to answer any questions, direct you to the appropriate literature, or to share my favorite recipes. I wish you all happy eating :)