You Eat Chicken, Don't You?

I got a kick out of this blog I haven’t eaten animal products in nearly seventeen years and although my family and friends support my decision—and are trying to eat more vegan foods as well—I’ve heard my share of amusing comments and can relate to many of the situations described. People often ask if my vegetarian diet includes fish or chicken, as if fish were swimming vegetables and chickens grew on trees in my backyard. Even funnier, perhaps, is when my meat-eating relatives ask what we will do with all the cows, pigs, and other farmed animals if people don’t eat them. I suppose they think these animals just hook up on the farm and forget to use birth control, but most farmed animals are actually the product of artificial insemination. I’m also asked how I get protein or other nutrients, as if decaying animal flesh is something you want or need to sustain your body. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and all the healthy foods made from them are superior sources of nutrients. But I welcome questions about vegetarianism, even sarcastic ones, because it gives me the opportunity to tell others why a vegan diet is best for animals, people, and the planet. I often urge people to check out www.GoVeg.com to watch compelling videos like Chew On This or Meet Your Meat. For people who think I eat salad at every meal tell them about al the vegan foods available and refer them to www.VegCooking.com for recipes, product suggestions, and more.
— December 2, 2008 9:23 a.m.