Going meatless had a very big (and recent) impact on my life. I only recently discovered the proper term for my diet is "Flexitarian/Nutritarian". I am eating some meat, but only that which has been hunted/harvested from the wild. I'm attempting to omit modified corn ingredients from my diet, which is turning out to be pretty tricky considering that's glucose/fructose and basically all those unrecognizable ingredients on any given label! When it comes to eggs and dairy, we get eggs from a local Mennonite farmer and purchase organic milk/cheese whenever possible.
A big part of what kicked off my recent lifestyle change (aside from acquiring a "muffin top" belly) was a 'documentathon' I subjected myself to over the past week. It included such titles as "Food Inc.", "Super Size Me", "Manufacturing Consent", "The Corporation", and "Walmart - The High Cost of Lower Prices". Originally, I designed this movie agenda simply to help encourage myself to eat healthier and live in a more sustainable manner... but it did more than that.
This is no longer just about me and my gut, but about you... and the children... and the grandchildren. There was a line in "The Corporation" that talked about the legacy we are leaving for the next generations and how it can be viewed as taxation without representation - that really flipped a switch in my brain. We're collectively destroying the planet so a very small minority of people can be grotesquely wealthy. Realizing this made me want to help initiate change somehow - not just for myself, to be healthier, but globally to help... well, the planet.
I'm not saying I want to be an extreme left-wing activist blowing up the Death Star in my X-Wing - I'm a little too selfish for that, but I want to do something to help further expose the corruption and tyranny that surrounds us and educate people so they can make informed decisions - educate people to the reality that our "freedom" exists only within very tight boundaries created by government, religion, and (the big one) corporate structure.
I guess I just want everybody to learn... to educate themselves on purchases before they swipe that debit card - ask questions - Why are these chicken breasts the size of turkey breasts? Why is this pillow from Walmart selling for obviously less than the cost of materials (let alone the manufacturing)? Why do all the apples/peppers/potatoes/et al. in this bin have EXACTLY the same proportions? Why is "Great Value" food cheaper than any domestic brands, and why won't they disclose where it comes from? Ask the questions... find the answers... make informed purchasing decisions.
I don't want to be preachy though... I want to just say it. I guess I just did :)
I recently read a book by Dr. Joel Fuhrman who advocates a total nutritarian diet. I always have a good start every morning, but sometime during the day it all goes to out the window somewhere and I think that I'll start fresh again tomorrow. I agree, it is not easy to make a change like this in your life.
ReplyDeleteIt was easier for me than I thought it would be. I'm drinking 4 - 6 liters of water a day, and that seems to be helping. Also, doing research on factory farming and Monsanto's empire helps with the psychological aspect for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I read a book about mad cow disease and didn't eat beef for about two years...until I got pregnant and a craving got the better of me :)
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