If I worked on certain farms, I need blinders for my eyes to keep from seeing awful stuff.
When I think of the factory farming that goes on in this world and the way animals are raised and treated, it makes me sick. So, whenever possible I buy humanely raised, humanely handled meat, preferably from a local farm. If that’s not possible, I go for free range. I refuse to eat pork and won’t purchase farm raised fish.
I really like the idea of becoming a vegetarian, but to date I haven’t been able to pull it off, which is why I participate in Meatless Monday. Basically, I’m going meatless for almost 48 hours. Because I don’t eat meat for breakfast, and my lunch is usually what I had for dinner the night before I manage to go from tenish on Sunday night until dinnertime on Tuesday without eating any meat. Roughly that’s about 44 hours.
When I first started Meatless Monday I was only skipping my nighttime meal with meat. I was still having meat at lunch and cold meat at snack, but I realized I wasn’t ‘meatless’. So I stopped eating meat altogether on Mondays.
In the summer it’s super easy because I make salads for lunch and dinner and in the cooler months, I love homemade veggie soups or I stir fry some veggies and put it over rice, pasta or Quinoa.
If every one of us did just one meal differently, imagine what we could do.
It’s not the end game, but it’s a start.
When I look at all the things I want changed in the animal world it can be so very overwhelming, but if we each do a small part, we can really be the change. Blog the Change is a quarterly event where bloggers from all over write about our favorite animal welfare causes.
Together WE CAN BE THE CHANGE.
Thank you to our hosts, Kim from Cindy Lu’s Muse and Sue from Talking Dogs for this awesome blog hop.
Thanks for participating in the hop today, Jodi. Pretty sure you know I love the issue you chose to write about. If more people understood where their meat comes from and the truth about factory farming! Plus, i sometimes thinks there’s an intentional disconnect. I mean, if you DO know about how meat animals are raised and treated today, you really would want to NOT think about it, right? Also totally agree with you – if each of us did just a little bit, the world changes in a good way. Great post!!
I love eating meat, I don’t really desire to change. But good for you!
We do however support human treatment of animals, purchase locally when we can, and buy free range/grass fed beef and chickens. Someday I want to have my own farm and raise my own beef cows and chicken to eat, I think people should know where their food is coming from and respect the animal that gave it’s life for you to eat.
I’m pretty much a carnivore, I get light headed if I don’t have a steady stream of protein. But recently my daughter and granddaughter became vegetarians because my GD had digestion issues and it really helped get rid of those. They insist that vegetarians can get a plentiful supply of protein if they read the right cook books and shop at the right stores. Good post, Jodi.
I have thought about vegetarianism. I like the fact that you do it one day a week and know that it does make a difference. I don’t know near as much as I should and need to do something about that. I need to research more and become better educated about where our meat, where all our food, comes from.
We also do meatless Monday – although often it ends up being meatless Tuesday if I don’t plan it right. This week it was meatless Wed – and I”l be meatless again tonight since we have leftovers. (Roasted butternut squash w/ pasta. Yum!)
The rest of the time I try to mostly buy organic, but it’s so darn expensive – and then I was just reading that it doesn’t really mean much for the animals unless it’s marked as humanely raised. (You try to do something good – and then you find out you’re not doing it right!)
Great post!
I couldn’t agree with you more about how big of a difference it would make if each of us were to just change a little bit of our diet. I’ve read so many articles about Americans & their meat consumption; it’s amazing how much more we eat than other countries, and yet since it’s the norm it doesn’t seem odd at all. It’s hard to think about in numbers, but the U.S. farm industry processed 8.6 BILLION chickens. It’s just wow.
I must admit that I like my meat meals. But I also like meatless meals. Too bad I can’t get hubby to join me. He has it in his head that the only way he can have a satisfying meal is if it has meat in it. And there’s just NO changing his mind. So, I buy grass-fed beef and organic chickens. It may not be much, but it’s my little way of “fighting” the factory farming industry.
Yup a small change makes a big difference,
I tried to become a vegetarian, but it didn’t last very long. I try to eat a meatless meal once a week too. Your blog is a good reminder to me to try to eat less meat!
Sorry. This is one bandwagon I can’t get on. We eat meatless sometimes, but it is not for a “cause”. 🙂
Oh thank you, Jodi – your idea is perfect. If we each do something – and it needn’t be anything grand or all-encompassing – you’re absolutely right, we can indeed make a big change for the welfare of animals.
I’m going to try your suggestion. I hope many others will as well!
Thank you for blogging – and being – the change for animals.
Kim Thomas
Be the Change for Animals