Vegetarian Samarian

I am proud to be a vegetarian. It may be hard to believe but I feel good about my decision. I have no regrets and I very rarely crave meats. I’m just over my one month mark now and to be completely honestly I feel healthier and more energetic than ever.

While reading the Savvy Vegetarian Blog however, I came across a post that highlights an unfortunate truth that is becoming more and more apparent to me. Non-vegetarians are quick and brutal in putting us down. Some people honestly can not seem to see any rhyme or reason in not eating meat and have much joy in voicing their opinions to anyone who feels differently.

In the last month numerous people have approached me, each asking the same question. “Why would you ever become a vegetarian?” Once I answered, each response would also be the same. “You won’t last.”

Actually, I will. I have found that most people who put down vegetarianism all do it for one reason- ignorance. Before telling me that you see no reason in becoming a vegetarian, first ask yourself, have you even tried finding one?

I can almost guarantee that if every person in the world sat down for a hour or two and actually researched the horrendous living conditions in slaughterhouses, they would see eating meat in a whole new light.

For the people who immediately claim that a vegetarian lifestyle is unhealthy, take a minute to consider this…

I have stopped eating at fast food restaurants because without being able to buy a hamburger I see no point. I have replaced fast food with salads and I have added color to my diet with fruits and vegetables. Instead of carelessly coming home from school and eating whatever I felt like, I am beyond aware of everything I put into my body. I really think about the food I am going to eat before I eat it and because of this, my snacking has grown considerably healthier. The healthier snacks fill me up more so then chips ever would and without even meaning to do so, I have cut back on junk food tremendously.

There are always going to be people who disagree with how I am deciding to live my life and I respect that. I understand that vegetarianism is not for everyone. However I also hope that non-vegetarians can give me the same respect and before making bold statements of disagreement, first give the facts a chance. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I am a vegetarian. And I am proud.

A few weeks ago, I decided to join the 3.5 percent of Americans who call themselves vegetarians. Yes, that means I made the conscious decision to eliminate all meats from my diet (even though I’ll admit… fish is not included in this category. I could

never give up my shrimp salads.)

This means no more subway 6 inch turkey sub on Italian, no more big macs, no more brisket at our family dinners and no more turkey on Thanksgiving. I’ve never really been a huge fan of fruits and vegetables before but since I’ll be seeing  a lot more of them now, I should probably start acquiring a taste.

Some people would call me crazy. To them, eating meat is natural and is never given a second thought. Some people, like my father, would call it unhealthy. I need meat to stay healthy and becoming a vegetarian is going to impose huge health risks on me. I’m aware of all of this and I completely understand where these people are coming from.

However to be frank, I just don’t care. I was taught that one person could make a difference in the world and that’s exactly what I strive to do. I have my own opinion about raising animals for the sole purpose of killing them for food. And I’m willing to make as many sacrifices as necessary to fight for what I believe in. Wish me luck, I’m sure it’s going to be a bumpy road.