Vegetarianism: 3 Reasons Why I Choose To Be A Vegetarian

My decision to not eat meat technically started a few months ago, but has been in the works for several years. Coming from a family that incorporates meat into every meal, you would think I'd be genetically programed to enjoy its fleshy consistency; however, my personal preference is quite the contrary. I have consumed my fair share of cheeseburgers throughout the years, but there are so many forms of meat that I have never enjoyed eating. As the years pass, I have slowly terminated certain meats from my diet. Earlier this year I made the decision to become a vegetarian—I suppose the correct terminology would be pescatarian because I would find life difficult to enjoy if I had to live without sushi. There are 3 major reasons why I decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.

1.) Let's face it, I am a crazy animal lady! The thought of killing an animal brings a quiver to my lower lip—whether it be for meat, skin, fur, bone, etc. I don't want to be responsible for any animal suffering pain or experiencing fear of being repeatedly tortured and/or killed. I will admit, I can't even watch most of the videos out there today. It deeply saddens me to see any animal struggling or in pain. In my younger years, my views were still the same, yet I was able to disassociate my food from the reality that it was once living. However, I am unable to maintain the same willful ignorance as I become more knowledgeable on the topic of animal rights. There are countless meals which can be prepared without meat. This encourages me to get creative in the kitchen and prepare tasty meals (that satisfy my carnivorous husband).

2.) The older I get, the more health-conscious I become—especially since we plan to get pregnant in the near future. I want to focus on being the best woman I can be and that includes being the healthiest woman I can be. Vegetarianism helps me hold myself accountable for what I am eating. Each time I put a piece of food in my mouth I have to think about what is in it. Last year I would have no problem dipping my breakfast biscuit into my moms infamous gravy without ever thinking about the ingredients. Her gravy is made with fried sausage, one—it's pork (and who knows what else?!) and two—it's fried and extremely unhealthy. Deciding to be a vegetarian causes me to become more aware of the ingredients in the foods I am consuming. This allows me to stop and think before I eat anything and question if it is a healthy choice of food. Being vegetarian also forces me to eat more fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Instead of eating an egg and ham sandwich for breakfast, I eat a fresh fruit smoothie or oatmeal. Instead of eating a turkey sandwich for lunch, I eat a salad. Instead of eating a steak for dinner, I eat a veggie burger. I am able to incorporate more nutritious foods into my diet, that will help me to lose weight and remain healthy, without including meat.

3.) Since becoming a vegetarian I have learned to become more patient and excepting of other people's opinions and beliefs. Daily, I want to pull up videos on my iPhone for my husband to watch when he mentions craving ribs or beef stew for dinner. And no matter how much I know it won't change his perspective, I have a burning desire to inform him anyways. But the fact is, he is educated. He knows and understands what happens at slaughterhouses and to him it is just "the circle of life". Now don't get me wrong—he is a great guy and an animal (or should I say pet) lover, but he whole-heartedly believes that God put animals on this earth to feed humans. As his wife, I have to respect his decision to eat meat—just like he respects mine to not. He is completely aware of the facts and has made an educated decision, which he is entitled to. I strongly believe every individual should live a life that makes him/her happy and fulfilled, but I also believe people should spend more time educating themselves on the horrific events that occur at slaughterhouses and the frightening circumstances these animals are forced to endure. If someone has educated themselves and continues to be a meat-eater, fine. I can't say I understand it or agree with it, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and lifestyle.

Not only has this change made a positive impact on my health, but also on my way of life. It gives me joy to live a more balanced lifestyle in which I eat more earth-based foods and use only organic & natural beauty products. I don't think I am quite committed enough just yet to live a completely vegan lifestyle, but I wouldn't rule it out completely for the future. I definitely enjoy vegan options of my favorite foods and snacks when they are available. This is a process and it has been a slow one up until now. I am always searching for new ways to better myself as a human and right now I feel like I am on the right track. J