Diet or Lack of a Definition
My diet - not for loosing weight but just what I eat - cannot be defined(should it?). I’ve been saying I’m a vegetarian for the last few years, yet I eat meat on occasion. I don’t feel like these meat occasions are lapses in which my will has been broken by carnal desire, I simply feel that meat in small amounts is good.
I predominantly eat vegetarian. I very rarely eat any ocean creatures, land mammals, or poultry. Actually, more often than not I eat raw and vegan but mostly my diet resembles a macrobiotic diet (brown rice, beans, nuts, salads, etc. with infrequent consumption of eggs and cheese) while making sure to obtain food that is all organic and as local as possible. I eat this way because I feel great and I have plenty of energy for everything I want to do. I also eat this way because of the environmental and social implications of supporting local organic farming, in turn not supporting the commercial farm industry which wreaks havoc on our world(http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~agroeco3/modern_agriculture.html).
Though I feel this way, I believe that if done right, taking into consideration the environment, human cost, and animal rights (grass fed, free range, sustainable, etc.), eating an appropriate amount of meat can be good. I say appropriate because for each person it may be different. For instance the common American diet, well, I guess just the diet of a large portion of the world, consists of a large amount of meat(beef, poultry, fish, and others). Cutting back on meat consumption or simply having a vegetarian based diet that includes some meat consumption can be beneficial for health (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18310903/) and environmental reasons (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/science/earth/04meat.html ; http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/29/business/climate.php ; http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink).
On the opposite end of the spectrum, adding small portions of meat into the diet can supplement certain nutrients, minerals, and proteins, while simultaneously providing a platform for experiencing different cultures. This is where my personal rules for eating meat come into play. If someone makes a meal with meat or animal byproducts I will eat it, so as not to waste or offend. If I have a choice, I will predominantly choose vegetarian, however if the meat falls into my criteria of being done “right”(taking into consideration the environment, human cost, and animal rights) there may be a chance I would order something with meat.
So, what would I call myself if someone asked? I’ve read about the term “flexitarian” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/) which is a vegetarian with meat tendencies, yet from my reading it sounds like there is a lot of guilt and marketing involved with this term, two things that I do not care for. Therefore I have come to realize that my diet is just that, my diet. It is a diet that I have found through trial and error that works well for me, the environment, and those around me. I urge others to explore and find their own diet that works well for them and takes into consideration the wellness of the environment and it’s inhabitants.
