Cognitive Dissonance at its Greatest: A Country of Pet Lovers and Meat Eaters

First thing, the most kind and intelligent people in my life purchase/consume animal products that have foreboding origins. And bottom line, a person’s choice of food, in my opinion, does not determine whether that person is a loving and compassion soul... it does, however, bring up a psychological and ethical paradox.[*][*][*]

 

American’s love their pets.

 
Last year alone, we spent over 14 billion dollars on pet services (not including vet care). There has been no time in history that has seen such a wide and growing variety of products and services for pets and pet parents.[*] 
 
 
American’s also love their meat (and cheese)….no other county in the world consumes more meat then America.[*]
 
With these statistics, I have to admit I am a bit confused by the logic of consuming/purchasing animal products (ex. meat, dairy, clothing) but still professing our beliefs against animal cruelty.
 
Is it that people are still truly in the dark when it comes to the origin and process of how their food got to their plate?
 
True, some Americans do choose to stop eating meat and/or dairy (or choose more humane origins such as local farmers) when they learn the extent that animals suffer for its production. However, an overwhelming majority do not. Recent research has illustrated that people keep eating meat by simply dampening their moral consideration of animals when sitting at the dinner table.[*]
 
Research explains that when there is a conflict between people's preferred way of thinking and their preferred way of acting, it is their thoughts and moral standards that people abandon first -- rather than changing their behavior.[*]
 
People may even employ the following when faced with their role as a consumer in the reality of the horrific conditions of industrialized meat/dairy:  

Denial - "Animals are treated fine.” “Animals don’t suffer.” “Human’s are superior.”

 

Minimization - "That's only the non-freerange animals."

 

Passive aggression- A general negative feeling towards people who don’t eat meat or eat locally farm raised meat.

 

Isolation - "The animals are nowhere near me and have nothing to do with me." “There is nothing I can do about it.”

 

Repression - Any guilt arising from having an active role in animal cruelty is avoided..

 

Humor - Making a joke out of the issue to avoid their own feelings about it.

  
This may be surprising to some, but animals raised for food in the US, in large part, are excluded from legal protection against cruelty.[*]
 
Specifically, 28 states have enacted laws that create a legal realm whereby certain acts, no matter how cruel, are deem ‘accepted’,‘common’, ‘customary’, and ‘normal’ farming practices. Of those states that do have anticruelty statues, they exclude poultry which represents approximate 95% of the 7 billion farm animals slaughtered annually.[*]
 

(I’m not going to drone on and on regarding what happens to these animals. I’ve seen it and I don’t care to rehash it. If you are truly curious then I suggest watching Earthlings or, the rated PG version, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home)

 

So how do we go from abandoning our underlying principles of animal cruelty to changing our behavior? Could the answer be in an encompassing grasp on how much power the consumer has over this dilemma?  
 
With each meal, with each dollar – we truly cast our vote each and every day on whether we support animal cruelty or if we have enough balls and wherewithal to stand up against it.

“We patronize animals for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far beneath ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man.

In a world older and more complex than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."

 

-Harry Beston 1888~1968

 

For those of you who are too afraid to witness how these animals come into this world, live, reproduce and die...just remember that they have to live through this violence each and every day, every minute and every second – and each of us has an active role in its progression (or cessation).  
 
Even more disturbing, in my opinion, is this cruelty is caused not because Americans are starving, naked, or without other means of enriching their lives, but rather - we simple enjoy a cheap double bacon cheeseburger or we like the feel of leather. Suffering caused for nothing more than fulfillment of sensual desire.
 
I understand, no one wants to see, experience or confront this violence…  watching an educational documentary on how animals are treated today in agriculture (such as "Earthlings") is hard to watch, but would be even harder to live.
 
To be honest, I never thought that I'd be the victim of such an impact. To the point that it would have such an immense influence on my health and spirituality.
 
For me, I SEVERELY underestimated how devastating the knowledge a movie like this imparts. I felt so mentally and emotionally exhausted after but also I felt an incredible sense of empowerment.
 
It lends an energy and purpose that tends to light a fire and push a person to be an integral part of ending the suffering.
 
On behalf of the billions and billions of animals who are suffering today, right this second...may your voice and actions be lent to them.
 
 

"Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal."

 

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

 
 
… how is it that humanity has become so inhumane?
 
There is no NEED for this type of cruelty in today's society.
 
Everyone wants a better world, but few actually place the effort into modifying their behavior to BE the change to make that type of world. Be that change.
 
 

"You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity."

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can't Do Vegan? Consider a Pescetarian Diet

Sure, you’ve heard people drone on and on about the benefits in becoming vegetarian or vegan, but maybe the thought of giving up meat (and *gasp* dairy) seems too overwhelming and difficult (especially when cooking for your family).

In this post, I encourage my readers to consider trying and learning more about the pescetarian diet (also termed ‘sea’gan).

Personally, I chose to eat a pescetarian diet nearly one year ago and it has had a tremendously positive affect on my health. I’ve lost 25 lbs (mostly lost in the first 2 months), have more energy, sleep loads better (‘loads better’ is a scientific measurement used by moms of toddlers in case you were wondering) and (what I’m most proud of) have influenced my family’s overall health (short and long term).  

So, what exactly is pescetarianism and why the heck should you care? Read on -

Pesce-what?

As known as pesco-vegetarian, the word itself is a blend from the Italian word ‘pesce’ which means fish and the English word ‘vegetarian’.

People who adhere to pescetarianism eat any combination of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, grains, fish and seafood – however, they do not eat mammals (ex. cows, pigs, deer) or birds (ex. chicken, turkey). Some pescetarians may eat eggs and/or dairy, whereas others do not (I do not).

To put plainly, it is someone who chooses to eat seafood but not any other meat (or dairy in some cases). Pescetarianism is closely compared to the Mediterranean Diet and, by some, has been used to transition into vegan/vegetarianism if desired.

Why give up my cheeseburgers for fish?

Consider this – try opting for fish instead of meat for your main entrée. Here are just a few of the benefits you (and your family) will gain:

Raises good cholesterol (while lowering bad)

Once a person starts eating a Pescetarian diet they experience a raise in HDL (aka ‘good cholesterol’) levels which immediately begins to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease which prevents coronary artery disease and reduces the chance of stroke and heart attacks.[*][*]

Helps manage weight

Foods that are typical consumed in the pescetarian diet largely help stabilize blood sugar (beans, nuts, vegetables, fish) which combats binge eating. There is a reduction for the risk of obesity, diabetes and hypertension when choosing opting for fish instead of red meat (or even chicken).[*]

Better mental wellness

Pescetarisns naturally consume large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids due to the larger consumption of seafood. Diets rich in omega-3s have been shown to reduce depression and improve cognitive assessment.[*][*]

Keeps blood pressure in check

Adopting a pescetarian diet does wonders for blood pressure. Since the diet typically omits foods high in sodium and saturated fats, it naturally reduces the risk for hypertension which plagues diets that consume red meat and dairy. Also worth noting, the high intake of omega-3 fatty acids with helps lower anxiety (particularly social anxiety disorder) and stress.[*][*][*]

Reduces risk of cancer

It is no surprise, the more you or your children consume red meat the risk of cancer mortality increases (of various types). On the flip side, diets higher in fiber and that are plant-based (such as pescetarians) reduce cancer risk in a number of the most common cancers.[*][*]

Improves women’s health

For those of us that are pregnant or nursing (or essentially childbearing age) a diet rich in fish and omega-3 fatty acids is superbly beneficial for brain, eyes and central nervous system development in the fetus and nursing infants. The effect of mom isn’t lost either, forgoing meat and substituting for fish will support a better heart, immune system and inflammatory response in mothers-to-be (or all moms in general).[*][*][*][*]

Better eating habits for children that stick for life

Science confirms the consumption of fish reduces rates of all-cause mortality, cardiac and sudden death in adults, yet the research is currently insufficient regarding infants, children and adolescents. What can be said, however, is healthy dietary patterns that include fish are established early in life – of which influence dietary habits and health as an adult.[*]

Power boost of Vitamin D3

For the average American, diet accounts for approximately 10% of the total vitamin D intake. The remaining 90% would then be at the mercy of light exposure (or supplementation). A significant portion of the population is deficient in vitamin D. Diets rich in fish (particularly salmon and other fatty fish) significantly increase vitamin D levels which largely impacts immune function, mental health regulation, and lowers the risk of cancer.[*][*]

Ethically speaking, you can sleep better at night

There is no doubt that a pescetarian diet is kinder to our animal friends and the environment. An omnivorous diet (consuming cows, pigs, chickens, eggs, etc) uses an extrapolate amount of fossil fuels and water (contributing to forest depletion and water pollution) – it also contributes to the current grossly inhumane treatment of billions of animals a year.  

The Power is Yours

When it comes to food and dietary choices there are numerous factors on what ultimately is chosen (taste preference, social influences, expert advice, etc).

The choice is yours – in essence, the choice of what we (our children) decide to consume is the ultimate power over our genetic code (just check out the research of nutritional genomics).[*][*][*]

All and all, I hope this information provides some information on a possible alternative to yoru current eating habits that might helps you make better choices for you are your family – I know it has mine.

"The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs,

but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition”

Thomas Edison

Veganism: The Next Step in Moral Evolution

Before becoming vegan myself, there was an idea already in my head of some airy-fairy, mid-twenty new-ager who spoke of horror stories of undercover footage of how factory farm animals were treated or, better yet, someone throwing buckets of blood on people who bought fur coats…all in hopes of converting the uneducated meat-eating masses.

At the beginning, I did NOT decide to stop eating meat/dairy because of the humane aspect. In fact, my main reason was for the health benefits (check out The China Study to begin learning more). Although, I was (at least I thought I was) aware of the humane characteristic of the lifestyle –I never planned on shunning a Coach purse made of leather or bother finding out if the cosmetics I was buying was tested on animals or not.

Sure, I felt that the ethics a ‘lifestyle-vegan’ stood for was great and all, but I never thought of ever actually choosing to become one.  

That’s the thing – no one ever thinks they are going to become vegan. You simply do not choose change like that. 

About 8 months into my journey in eliminating meat and dairy, I found I had enough courage to begin to bear witness with my eyes and my ears to what we make approximately 72 billion animals (each year) bear witness to with their bodies and souls.

I purchased Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home and it was incredibly honest and incredibly powerful. (If you are wondering, this is NOT one of those documentaries that goes undercover and tries to shock-change people, you can learn more about it here)

Visual images are very powerful to humans. It’s very challenging to grab a rubber erase or a bottle of white out and simply scrap the emotion and reactions felt when witnessing a particularly moving visual scene. I think we all can easily re-call the smoke billowing out from the twin towers from 9/11 or those graphic pictures we where shown in high school history books of bodies piled up during the Holocaust.

People use many reasons to avoid addressing particular humane issues when it comes to the food they eat. People simply have “enough on their plate” as it is and challenging the deepest aspects of a person’s upbringing and education is enormously daunting. Not to mention that we are all pretty much neatly removed from observing any horrors of the meat, dairy and egg industry – just look at all those happy cow commercials, right?

Meat-eating, dairy-loving people truly believe themselves to be kind and compassionate to animals; they love their dog and cats, they give money to the local animal shelter and they even brake for a family of Canadian geese crossing a semi-busy street.

What is the underlying catalyst among those animal-friendly people who become vegan and those who do not?

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a mother now (there are a tremendous amount of changes I’ve made since being a parent and I’m not sure if this can be attributed to motherhood or not), but the images and knowledge I now have pertaining to the unethical treatment (particularly of dairy cows - and their calves) has damaged me and when I recall the information I feel as sick as I did when I first learn of it.

In a strange turn of events, the one thing I thought I would never be able cease (dairy) is one of the main factors that has solidified me becoming vegan.

Dairy. is. no. longer. appetizing. to. me.

(…not to mention there are great alternatives available).

True, dairy cows aren’t raised solely for the purpose for slaughter…instead, to put it in perspective, their devastating existence is drawn out a few years longer. One dairy cow will give birth to approximately 3-6 calves all whom are immediately taken from her. The female cow will be administered  hormones and a constant stream of antibiotics. The substantially unnatural demand of lactation will deplete calcium from her own bones – the bottom-line: that she will generate enough milk to fill as many half-pint containers for school children to drink each day as possible.

When she finally finds herself free from this “life”, her body will produce 2,000 quarter-pounders to a fast food franchise that will serve 7 billion low-cost happy-meals a year. 

****

I was asked last week by a colleague at work, if I truly believe the future of our diet as a community will not consist of consuming meat and/or dairy products.

I took a minute to consider the question and answer him honestly. The answer that surfaced did not surprised me, however the rationale did.

The answer is no, simply because compassion and reverence for Life is the goal of our human evolution.

Embracing veganism is not a moderate resolution. Instead, it is a dramatic, courageous, positive change the world is destined to experience. 

It takes courage to witness the suffering and cruelty that is being done on our watch. A part of you breaks. From that space, reverence and authenticity emerges.

The feedback I got when I asked my friends how they viewed people who choose not to eat meat/dairy was indifferent.

‘It’s everyone’s choice to eat what they want.’

‘As long as ‘they’ aren’t pushing their beliefs on me, then it’s fine.’

However, one simply does not choose to become vegan so it is impossible to try and ‘convert’ someone.

Becoming vegan is definitely isolating at times and (as with anything challenging within ourselves) it’s easy and more comfortable to focus on judging others – but that’s not what I choose to do.  I hope the people around me don’t think I am judging them or hoping to ‘convert’ them – because I truly understand veganism not to be a choice.

You see, I recognize that the only way to eliminate pain and suffering (by both animal and human) is very simple. Create Love and compassion in this world. This is our contribution and gift back to God (or whatever you choose to call it – the Source, the Divine, Buddha, etc). This Gift is not just a vegan’s gift but every and every one of us - to every creature (human and non-human) and with this we have the power to evolve our human race.

 The quotes provided throughout this post were taken from the book: Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust

AMAZING Vegan Quiche

This is so amazing that I’ve made it twice in the last two weeks...and I would have made it again for a third time, but I held back and decided to skip a week – but I totally plan on making this again next week!

The recipe is extremely versatile and tastes AMAZING – I never had quiche (not even the “regular” non-vegan kind) until now. It’s super easy and the taste will blow you (and your non-vegan friends) away.

Ingredients

•1 tbsp olive oil

•1 small onion, chopped

•2 garlic cloves, minced

•¾ package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained (or use a whole bag of fresh)

•½ block firm tofu

•¼ cup nutritional yeast

•4 tbsp soy milk

•½ tsp tumeric (I used mustard powder bc I didn’t have any tumeric)

•salt & pepper

•1 sheet defrosted puff pastry dough

•¼ tsp paprika

•1-2 tomatoes, sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F

2. Heat olive oil over medium heat, and sauté onions and garlic until translucent (about 2 minutes). Add spinach and (you can use fresh spinach – just cook until wilted). Season with salt and pepper.

3. In a food processor, add tofu, nutritional yeast, soymilk and tumeric (or mustard powder). Blend until you have a creamy, even consistency.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine the onion mixture with the tofu mixture. Season again with salt & pepper.

5. Lay puff pastry dough it in a pie plate or other oven-safe dish, creating a border around the edges (mmm, t he best part). Pour the tofu mixture into the dish and spread it evenly. Sprinkle with paprika and top with tomato slices.

6. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, or until mixture is set and crust has browned.

*Vegan* Southwestern Hashbrown Casserole

Every year we prepare a breakfast casserole for Christmas morning. This year will be a bit different….vegan style!

To avoid any mishaps, I decided to give it a run through a week prior and test it on my family.

This recipe turned out amazing - it even won over my 3 yr old!

Ingredients:

1 lb. frozen hash browns, semi thawed  
1/2 lb. vegan sausage, crumbled up
5 Tbsp. vegan friendly butter
3 green onions, chopped

2 cloves of garlic

1 small onion diced

1 green pepper diced
4 Tbsp. flour
3/4 cup vegetable broth
3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. oregano
3/4 cup soy milk
salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup vegan friendly shredded cheese

Preheat

Lightly oil a casserole dish and toss in hashbrowns and vegan sausage. Here is the type of sausage I bought at my local health food store.

Toss in dish.

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter.

Chop up veggies (I choose to use onion, green bell pepper, green onions, and garlic)

Saute veggies in butter for a few minutes until tender.

Add 4 tablespoons of flour and cook for a minute.

Measure up your veggie broth and soy milk.

Add the liquid to the veggies and continue to whisk.

Add nutritional yeast, oregano, salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring constantly until thickened (the sauce shouldn’t be so thick that it sits on top of the casserole instead of steeping through). I had to add a bit more soy milk.

Pour sauce over casserole.

And then mix together.

Get shredded cheese and place mix in cassrole.

For this go through I actually left the cheese on top, it turned out ok, but I next time I am going to mix together and instead put bread crumbs on top.

Bake for 50-55 minutes and serve. Mmmmmmmmmm.