For those of you familiar with John Robbins works, you know that he is one of the leading vegan apologists in the world. As a meat eater, I personally think he’s a pretty cool guy.
Here’s the deal. I’m not a vegan. Nor am I a vegetarian. In my best moments, when I am feeling empowered and craving nutritious, high vibrational foods, I eat primarily a raw and whole foods diet, with a meat side for lunch and dinner, and sometimes for breakfast. I also eat a TON of dairy, although this is more due to my being addicted to the taste and less because I find it nourishing for my body – I have trouble digesting milk most days!
I eat meat knowing that most of it comes from CAFOs, and spend a good portion of my shopping time looking for meats that are labeled “grass fed” and “free range” and “organic” to lessen my contribution to the cruel practices in the meat industry. But if I NEED chicken for a recipe, and the store is all out of free range chicken, I sigh and buy the regular CAFO chicken anyway.
I picked up this book expecting to feel slightly uncomfortable, but DAMN. While I approach my animal produced foods from a perspective of “humanely raised is healthier for me, and kinder to the animals providing my sustenance”, I DID NOT expect to read about the far reaching effects of meat eating.. like a stone you toss into a pond, and the ripples spread out far and wide and into the most unlikely places, I discovered ways that eating meat harms our environment and our communities.
This was a hard read for me. I had to take frequent thought breaks. I had to fight the urge to run and tell everything I was learning. This book definitely had an impact on me.
Before I had even finished the book, I replaced my milk with plant based milk replacements and stopped using cheese in my recipes. I chose the vegetarian options on the menu when eating out. And I’ve stopped eating meat as often.
The biggest change I would like to make moving forward, is that when I do use meat, I want to know exactly where it comes from (which farm, how they raise the animals, how they are slaughtered, etc.).. and when I can’t determine the source of the meat, I don’t buy it or eat it. No more “ho hum, no ethical sources are available, guess I’ll vote with my dollars for an industry I abhor and put this low vibrational, misery laden dead flesh into my body”.
I’m afraid this is going to be hard to maintain since my husband is a carnivore through and through.. one of the funny stories my husband and I shared early in our marriage was the time I made veggie burgers for dinner and my husband took one bite, went into the kitchen, then came back out with deli lunch meat piled high up on his veggie burger.
While I don’t mind abstaining from meat, my husband will not be happy with no meat on the dinner for multiple days on end.. and even as he supports me in my food choices, as the primary cook in the family (I work from home, he works out of the house and comes home in time for dinner) I am put into a position of having to make the menu work for the whole household. While I currently live in the “bread basket of the world” in Central California, I’m also in the center of CAFO capital of the world for beef… it’s not easy to come by here, and when it is, it’s generally from Oregon or Washington State. I am greatly looking forward to moving to Whidbey Island, where there are multiple local small family farms that provide humanely raised and humanely slaughtered livestock.
But regardless of where I live, or what others in my household choose to eat, here are the changes this book inspired in me: I’ve switched to non-dairy plant-based milk. I am eating plant based meals for breakfast and lunch (when I’m only cooking for myself and my kiddos). I’m choosing vegetarian meals when it’s an option while eating out. And I am only using humanely raised meat options when cooking dinner with my husband.
More about The Food Revolution from the Amazon description:
A revolution in food-politics. When John Robbins released an early version of this book in 1987, he took the first steps in launching the food revolution. His viewpoint and insight on the harms of America’s eating habits was a wake-up call for many. By bringing to our attention fundamental issues in our eating habits, such as our dependence on animal products, Robbins provokes our awareness and promotes change.
Making conscious food choices. It is obvious to us that what we eat affects our own bodies, but what we may not realize is that what we eat also affects our world. In fact, most of the foods that are bad for us (think: genetically modified products) also negatively impact our environment. By approaching our eating habits with intentionality, we benefit our own health and that of the world we live in.
The value of a plant-based diet. Robbins’ arguments for a plant-based diet are compelling and backed by over 20 years of work focused on the subject of conscious eating. Through exposing the dangers in our factory farming system, Robbins makes a definitive case for solely plant-based eating. This timely read on healthy eating will enlighten those curious about plant-based diets and fortify the mindsets of the already converted.
Read John Robbins’ book, The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World, and discover…
The negative effects your current eating habits could be having on you
A powerful case for plant-based eating
Wisdom from one of the most frequently cited books of the food-politics revolution
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (June 19, 2020): 187.6
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 13.4
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 57.6
