Huff, puff, and blow the house down.
I feel a little creeped out. I've watched documentaries in the past about food in America, the over processes, the economically screwy, the overly subsidized. If you haven't researched or watched a documentary about food in America I HIGHLY suggest doing so...it's a real eye opener. Well, last night I watched Food Inc right before bed (wouldn't suggest that). I straight up could not go to sleep. This documentary went more in depth into the meat industry than prior films that I have watched. Let's just say: I'm officially freaked the fuck out. They later showed a scene of a farmer doing things the "old" way. I have NO problem watching animals being killed in THAT fashion. However, the way the industry (and there are only 4-5 VERY large companies that process all the meat that we eat) is ABSOLUTELY NOT okay for MANY reasons. I'm not just talking about animal activism either, I'm talking about food SAFETY too.
I'd like to note upfront, I'm not "vegetarian"... at least not in the traditional sense. I see no problem with eating meet, I mean, for Christ sake, I'm genetically omnivore! I already previously knew about the problems caused by the American food industry so for the animals sake, heath sake, and safety food standards sake, I decided to reduce the amount of meat in my diet. I don't typically eat a lot of meat anyway, so it wasn't a bit lifestyle change or anything. I still ate meat a lot when I ate out, when I went home for vacation, or when spent time with friends. I've been doing more research today and I'm seriously considering saying "good bye" to meat all together unless it's from a locally slaughtered, organic, vegetarian fed, and traditionally cared for animal. Which basically means I can only eat expensive meat from the Co-op and specific retailers. Again, not that it's a huge stretch considering I don't eat a lot of meat anyway. Of course, you can go and find all this information yourself, but that's not the real reason for this post. I'm seriously considering changing to a largely (practically all except for the special conditions mentioned above) vegetarian diet and I'm just hoping that friends and family will support that. This isn't just a meat issue either. Be it more expensive, I'm going to try to eat more fruits and vegetables from the farmers market and local retailers *cough cough* Co-op and significantly less processed foods. The money saved from not buying processed or meat foods should make up for the fact that I'll be trying to by more organic foods...which we all know are not as cheap as conventionally grown produce. But in America the cost of food is completely OFF. As noted by an organic farmer "I have a gentlemen come and question my 3 dollars for a dozen eggs and he's standing there drinking a 75 cent pop." I really don't think that makes a lot of sense either.
I'd like to note upfront, I'm not "vegetarian"... at least not in the traditional sense. I see no problem with eating meet, I mean, for Christ sake, I'm genetically omnivore! I already previously knew about the problems caused by the American food industry so for the animals sake, heath sake, and safety food standards sake, I decided to reduce the amount of meat in my diet. I don't typically eat a lot of meat anyway, so it wasn't a bit lifestyle change or anything. I still ate meat a lot when I ate out, when I went home for vacation, or when spent time with friends. I've been doing more research today and I'm seriously considering saying "good bye" to meat all together unless it's from a locally slaughtered, organic, vegetarian fed, and traditionally cared for animal. Which basically means I can only eat expensive meat from the Co-op and specific retailers. Again, not that it's a huge stretch considering I don't eat a lot of meat anyway. Of course, you can go and find all this information yourself, but that's not the real reason for this post. I'm seriously considering changing to a largely (practically all except for the special conditions mentioned above) vegetarian diet and I'm just hoping that friends and family will support that. This isn't just a meat issue either. Be it more expensive, I'm going to try to eat more fruits and vegetables from the farmers market and local retailers *cough cough* Co-op and significantly less processed foods. The money saved from not buying processed or meat foods should make up for the fact that I'll be trying to by more organic foods...which we all know are not as cheap as conventionally grown produce. But in America the cost of food is completely OFF. As noted by an organic farmer "I have a gentlemen come and question my 3 dollars for a dozen eggs and he's standing there drinking a 75 cent pop." I really don't think that makes a lot of sense either.