Veganism and vegetarianism are personal dietary choices that have been gaining in popularity over the past few years. Choosing to forego meat and/or other animal products is something that can positively affect many people’s lives. However, this is a deeply personal decision that has to be made on a person to person basis, based on their specific needs, schedule, level of financial freedom and dietary restrictions. Because of these factors and the fact that no two people have exactly the same requirements we simply cannot assign a moral value to whether or not someone is vegetarian or vegan.
One reason is because making a change such as that requires a huge amount of personal buy-in with time, effort, and money. It is a large change that affects everything about a routine trip to a grocery store. Meat and other animal products comprise a large portion of what most Americans eat on a daily basis and finding replacements not only for the calories, but for specific foods can be a daunting task for many.
Another reason is that eating vegetarian or vegan tends to be much more expensive than a diet that comprises partially of meat and animal products. Not everyone can afford a sudden increase in the size of their grocery bill. And further than that, millions of Americans live in “Food Deserts” where the more healthful options often seen with vegetarian and vegan diets are simply not available. A situation that leaves people who cannot afford, whether that be with their time or money, to go somewhere else for food.
Just as significant is the matter of dietary restrictions. Some people have limits on the kinds of food they can eat for a variety of physiological and psychiatric reasons. Demanding that someone limit what may already be a small selection of food to what you find “acceptable” is wrong and a complete overstepping of boundaries. You don’t have the moral authority to question the kinds of decisions someone makes in order to get the energy they need to survive. To respond to the call back of “But it’s unhealthy” I will simply note that those kinds of observations are between individuals and their doctors. Not the business of some random person on the street or internet.
None of this is to say that changing to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is a bad thing and this isn’t meant to discourage anyone from making that choice for themselves. But rather to emphasize that it’s in fact, a choice. There are many great reasons to make it. From trying to have a healthier lifestyle to not wanting to hurt our animal friends, it is all completely valid. But you do not have the authority to decide whether or not someone is a good person or not based on whether or not they eat meat.
Blu Thomas can be reached at [email protected]
Alan M
(1) Science - not someone on the street or internet - has proven that plant based is much healthier than an omnivore diet. (2) Are you perhaps saying if plant-based was the same price or lower than omnivore diets AND if it was readily available THEN more people could/should adopt a plant-based diet? If so that is more of a system problem vs a personal dilemma. (3) Physicians do not receive training/education on the benefits of a plant-based diet so a personal physician is likely NOT the best information for someone looking for the best dietary advice. (4) I have been strict vegan for 10 years [b/c I no longer want to harm animals] and I have never heard the "physiological and psychiatric reasons" defense. Anything to support that or is that just opinion? (5) When you write about access to vegan food I don't follow. All grocers have large produce depts. and all have grains, beans, spices, snacks, etc. Vegan food does not mean Beyond Burgers, soy based ice cream, etc. Interesting opinion piece Blu. I hope you don't mind my response. :-)