He’s She’s my buddy, that cow there and I’m almost convinced she would let me stop and hug her, but I haven’t yet tried. As of late, cows, chickens, goats and the like, have been on my mind. Long time readers may remember in the past I was a vegetarian and was actually a vegan for two years as a University student, but this time last year I went back to eating meat for a variety of reasons. But lately, there’s been a quiet knocking on my conscience, a lack of peace which can only mean change is around the corner. I think the major catalyst was one day last week when I was looking at the website of where I will get my pet hens from, less than an hour or so later I was walking through the shopping aisle and saw freshly cooked chickens for £3.90. I stood there, for more than a moment or two wondering how a chicken’s life can be worth so little, thinking about all the work that went into keeping that chicken alive and it boiling (pardon the pun!) down to less than £4…something just didn’t seem right.
I was then a part of a discussion about the future, things like finances and number of children and the like. And I brought up my hope to raise my children with an understanding of where meat comes from, an appreciation that it is something that should be valued because it comes from life, a desire to choose quality over quantity. The discussion then went onto dairy and incorporating goats milk and rice milk, focusing on whole foods, organic where possible, taking no food for granted and not thinking things should come cheap and easy, because like everything in life what is cheap and easy comes at a cost…
And I suddenly wondered if I was lying to myself, why was it such an important element of the future and yet not now. Why was it so important my children have food without hormones in it, and not their parent(s)? Yes I do try to purchase organic food, but I do not do as much as I should. I became uneasy with what I stood for, or didn’t more importantly. So I decided I would rely on one of the foolproof exercises for finding peace and spent 10 minutes thinking about where I want to be in five years and made a mental list, which will no doubt make its way into my inspiration book. But, as I know all too well, we don’t get to where we want to be by being passive, it requires action, small changes and baby steps that are going towards the “right” direction.
And so my decision? To become a flexitarian. There are no hard and fast rules to this choice, all I have is a vision. My vision is to drastically reduce my meat consumption and to only eat meat that requires sacrifice – financial and practical. I’ll be buying meat from the butcher, where the animals are treated in the right conditions, allowed to enjoy life, are local and organic; where the meat is free from hormones and toxins; I will be taking the same approach to all animal products – eggs, yogurt and cheese etc. I’m not sure how often I’ll eat meat, I’m hoping not to have it more than once a week, but like I said, no hard and fast rules. As for dairy, I’m hoping to have a dairy free day at least once a week and apart from that focus on free-range and organic.
Life is a journey, I’m not sure how long I’ll be a flexitarian, but for right now it is what gives me peace and promise.
My name is Frugal Trenches and I’m a Flexitarian, how about you?
To learn more about ethical animal consumption visit http://www.chickenout.tv/ and consider seeing the film Food Inc!
We raise a lot of our own meat because we are against raising animals in factory farm conditions. It is by no means cheap, or easy, but I feel better for it. There is a great deal of pride when presenting a meal to your family that is totally home-grown.
People are often aghast when they find out that I butcher some of our animals myself. They often state that they could never do that themself, and sometimes even respond to me with anger that I do it. Yet many of these people eat meat from the grocery, from who-knows-where. Killing an animal that I have raised with the best feed available, on as much space as I can make available, treated kindly until the last minute is not easy for me, or my husband. I thank each one for nourishing my family, and do the deed with as much speed and compassion as possible. The first few times were awful, but as we get better at it, it does get somewhat easier. Still our least favorite days of the year tho.
The meat that we do buy is usually a half-steer from a local butcher, where you can see the cattle grazing the fields right outside the shop. This is also where I take my male goats, when they are big enough, as they are a bit big for me to do myself. And every year, I have to be the hard one, as hubby says, “Do we have to send this one, he’s so sweet.” Yes, we do, or else we will have too many goats to care for properly, and every other year, there are more babies.
I hurt my back badly, and haven’t been out to see my “critters” in over 3 weeks, and miss them terribly. My goats happily wag their tails when they see me, and gather round for their scritches. They chickens get excited for their scraps and feed, and move aside to let me collect their eggs. The donkey strolls over for a hug and kiss, and brays for me softly as soon as I enter the barn.
It is not easy, by any means. There is a LOT of work, and vacations are hard to come by, since it involves finding someone willing to do our jobs well. However, I wouldn’t have it any other way right now.
Val I think that is wonderful, to contribute in that way. I heard a very wise man say we should not eat meat if we could not kill the animal, it has never left me although I’m still on a journey!
I am always torn about meat and egg choices. The budget is tight and the kids are so fussy. I try to buy free range and local as much as I can but sometimes there is little choice. We do eat less meat than we used to. I try to do the best I can and to choose as wisely as possible and that is the best I can do for now.
Suzan, I think that is wonderful that you try as best you can. At the end of the day that is all we can do isn’t it?
I think it is great how you try to listen to what your mind/body/heart is telling you! I’m excited to read more as it is something I’ve been thinking about (reducing meat) since reading one of your other posts!
Thank you Kathryn and best of luck with reducing your meat and focusing on local, well reared and organic!
I think as there is more demand for organic meat, the price may come down somewhat…..But moving in the direction of vegetarianism is not bad. I just discovered that Quinoa is a complete protein and found a good simple recipe here: http://www.quinoa-recipes.com/. But I sincerely respect the position of Val and her family who sound so aware of what they are doing and why and do it as well as possible.
I hope you are right thickethouse! Thank yous so much for the quinoa site!
A very good post… gives me food for thought as I go about my day. BTW give the cow a hug for me.
lol I will Peggy!
Hello. I am and have always been a meat eater. I try not to eat too much meat as it can leave me feeling bloated, but if I am honest I love meat too much to “want” to give it up. If I had to I could, but given the choice I think I would carry on eating it.
oh I can relate Paige!
I only buy free range eggs and meat here, which is much harder to do in Canada than in the UK.
I’ve also been trying to get all my meat from stores that source it from SPCA approved farms, but again it is proving hard to do in my area; although I believe that the meat I currently get does come from a good farm, it hasn’t been approved yet.
Recently though I realised that when I eat out it is most likely not ethically sourced meat, which left me feeling like a hypocrite so I have reverted to vegetarian choices when I am out, although I eat out very rarely. I am concerned about eggs in restaurant meals, especially deserts- I think I’m going to have to start asking waitstaff to check for me- and, lets face it, probably skip the option.
A work in progress…
Yes Looby, I too found it harder in Canada although easier to be a veggie!
AMEN re a work in progress!
Oooh, excited that you’re doing this so I can pilfer some of your veggie meal ideas
I struggle with doing my Meat Free Mondays challenge but I’m slowly getting to grips with it and all those ideas you guys commented with has been really helpful.
p.s. of course it’s not bad to know about ITV3′s Poirot – that’s very important information!!!
I have about 15 recorded!!
lol can I admit I’m more of a BallyK and Darling Buds of May gal
You can’t correctly call a cow a HE! Cows are female, while the term generally used for males is cattle.
Male cattle include bullocks/steers raised for meat, and in-tact, grown bulls used for breeding. I do not suggest that you try to hug these, even if they stood still long enough.
(A little look underneath will tell you.)
Oh, and while I’m here, the reason so many male calves exist and are either used for veal or are put down is because they are not suitable as beef cattle (some breeds are better for dairy, some are better for beef production), but unless cows have calves, and continue to have them, then they do not procude milk, and, of course, the sex of the calf cannot be determined in advance. Think ‘human’ and it should make sense!
My husband (a Londoner) thought he knew all about the country, but he had to have that last point made to him!
Thanks Linda. Noted and changed. I did know but forgot….a common thing as of late
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I’m sorry they didn’t cover the opening of the Olympics in your part of the world but you can view it in whole or in part at the link listed at the end of this blog http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.com/2010/02/aboriginal-peoples-heritage-reflected.html
ooooh thank you Joyful!!!!
I was strict vegetarian for about a decade. I needed more protein when completing my MA, so I started eating a bit of fish (less than once a week), and that’s about where I am now. I eat some eggs, but really very little dairy. Good company and not putting people out is very important to me, so I eat the occasional bit of chicken when a guest at someone’s house.
I can sympathise with feeling unsettled after eating meat – I tend to feel discontent after the fact, which keeps me away. I could deal with organic and free-range, but I don’t have a reliable source for it, and it concerns me from the perspective of budget – I’d rather avoid meat altogether if I can.
That said, having been vegetarian for a decade I have a wealth of easy and inexpensive veggie dishes, so living on beans, fruit, and vegetables isn’t really that difficult, and the way that I go most of the time. This way, the only thing I think I really need to do is work on getting more organic produce, and sourcing organic and free range eggs.
Jenn, I too found vegetarianism easy although dare I admit I adore a chicken roast now too!
Even though God provided animals for meat, I don’t like to eat much of it either, I buy organic milk and eggs – but the organic cheese is too expensive for my budget and I don’t eat much of that either. I can’t afford organic meat either so I stick to just a little chicken now and then and fish. I like eating that way – a big piece of meat kind of grosses me out.
I think we are very alike FY, I too prefer little bits of the good stuff!
HI FT,
I have been mainly vegan now for a year. I went from eating meat to vegan overnight – mainly because meat simply wasn’t tasting the same to me any more (and I was the one who ALWAYS ordered steak at a restaurant!). It didn’t feel right to my body – and to me it was a hugely personal decision.
I am trying now to eat as a nutritarian – eating foods which are the most nutrient dense, I don’t eat meat, eggs or milk and once a week I will have some cheese. It is working for me and my body likes eating that way. You can still eat crap and be a vegetarian and vegan…I am trying to eat better.
Generally though I tell people that I am vegetarian – being vegan has a stupid stigma around it…I have been told that my ‘way’ of eating is very antisocial, so I now just say I am vegetarian and that seems to be more acceptable. Personally, I choose what goes in my mouth and I don’t really need to assign a label to it.
Go for it FT! It is awesome what you are doing and I wish you lots of success!
Oooh Neats, I’d like to read more about that. Thank you so much for sharing!
As a *very* new vegan eater, I salute you. Before I gave it up for good, this is the route I went down with my meat, eggs, and dairy. Meat and dairy are no longer an option for me, based heavily on lots of things I’ve read/my spiritual/environmental beliefs. That said, I don’t think it’s right to push them onto someone else. We all have free will, and must do for only ourselves (and our families) what we think is right. I’m sure you’ll find you feel much healthier because of this decision … in both body and heart. Feeling healthy in your heart and peace in your mind goes a LONG way toward having even more health in your body. peace, FT. <3
“Feeling healthy in your heart and peace in your mind goes a LONG way toward having even more health in your body” -AMEN! Thanks for sharing your choices Karen, always helpful
Loved your post. I agree with you and had similar thoughts when I saw whole roasted chickens on sale and my local market for like $5. How can an entire sentient being be $5? Someone is paying the price for cheap meat-the animals themselves. I can’t eat food like that an enjoy it. I too am a ‘flexitarian’-I only eat meat that is humanely raised-and let me tell you, it’s hard to parse out just what IS and ISN’T humanely raised do to all of the misleading marketing jargon like “cage free” “grass fed” “organic” etc. Being a flexitarian also means that we often do not have meat as it is more expensive-so, more vegetarian meals in this household! I just do not want any part of that evil enterprise (I think it was Michael Pollan who said there really is no disputing the fact that factory ‘farming’ is evil). I highly recommend the book Dominion by Matthew Scully. His argument is that when God said we had dominion over the earth, this was NOT what he had in mind.
A new hobby of ours is visiting family farms here in the Hudson Valley, visiting different farmer’s markets and u-pick farms, etc. Life is better for all when we are more conscientious about our food. You really are what you eat.
sooo nice to hear I’m not the only one who struggles during the shop
That is a neat expression never heard of that.
This post of yours gives me food for thought…..
Gill in Canada
lol I like that pun Gill
I do eat meat, although quite rarely, and try as much as possible to buy organic meat – not always possible where I live.
Left to my own devices (ie, sans my partner), I’d probably become wholly vegetarian. He’s been away for the past few days and I haven’t eaten one bit of meat during that time. And have I missed it at all? – absolutely not. For really cheap and inspirational veggie recipes try getting hold of a Rose Eliot cookbook – her recipes are excellent.
ooh thank you Elizabeth!
Currently, I don’t find eating meat inherently objectionable. I do find the things done to animals in factory farms highly objectionable, so I eat little meat and I try very hard to get both it and the dairy I eat from humane sources. This year’s project has been watching how much dairy I eat. At the moment I’m sort of vegetarian by default, as I just haven’t bothered to go get any meat from the farmers’ market.
Agred Aydan, it’s the factories for me too, which is why I’m settling on Flexitarian rather than going back to being veggie! lol I like that “vegetarian by default”
Another wonderful post. I’ve been a veggie for 14 years now (although my complete cutting out of meat happened over about 2 years initially and then as an exchange student to Argentina I would try what they offered as a cultural element). I became a “quasi” vegan at 20 (meaning I didn’t eat dairy unless it was in baked good and I still wore leather) and remained one until spring of last year. When I got married (to a carnivore) I decided it’d be easier to add dairy back in, and so now I’m back to being veggie. After watching Food Inc my husband is on board w/ our organic free range eggs and he would really like to find a butcher around here for his meat (eventually we hope to do this ourself although years down the road). I still drink soy milk and the rest of our dairy is regular, except I’ll only do organic yogurt too. We’d love to do all organic, but its sort of a price issue right now.
I just offered this resource on the Green Phone Booth, but another fabulous book as you’re thinking about long term outcomes is Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber…it’s one of the bigs that I suggest to all women of child bearing age…
ooooh did you looooove Food Inc? Thanks for the book suggestions!
YES! Food Inc was incredible. A lot of it was stuff I was fairly aware of (due to the MPH progam and a Sustainable Foods course) but it’s always great to have a reminder AND to be able to have my husband learn stuff from it too. It really seems to have opened a lot of people’s eyes to the food industry etc and has changed eating habits in several people I know. Always great to have a film, book, etc that can really make an impact!
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Really interesting
I’m a vegan myself, but I read your blog because I like a lot of the message I feel is behind it.
One of the great aspect of the vegan diet (aside from the ethics) is that generally speaking, you can avoid taking in a lot of hormones etc from your food.
I wish you lots of luck in cutting down your meat/dairy consumption, and I’m sure if you have any questions on how to do that there will be loads of us willing to help
This is a really smart post and definitely made me think–especially the point where you talked about why we are putting off for when we have kids. I often find myself doing the same things, on this very same issue, too. This has me thinking…always a good thing!!
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