Becoming the Devil's Advocate for Non-Vegans (Link post)

Link to: Popular Science Article https://www.popsci.com/united-states-vegan/ 

 

Never thought the day would come for having to go against a topic I am so passionate about. On today's blog post for Nature's New Nook, we will be analyzing an article blog post from Popular Science called "Stop pretending that all Americans could ever go vegan" written by Sara Chodosh. I have included a link to the full article post above. For many of my subscribers whether you just discovered veganism or are trying to push yourself to convert fully to the lifestyle, please do not let this post discourage you or be a turn off for veganism. Sometimes we need to become the devil advocate to understand why it is so hard for some people to not be able to fully convert to this lifestyle. 

Chodosh first reasoning she states in the article was "It's an unattainable goal, plain and simple, especially in America...most lapsed vegetarians disliked the way their choices made them stand out from the crowd." 

        I am getting two different reasonings from what Chodosh is saying here, the societal/social perspective and cost of being vegan in America. I agree with what Chodosh is saying here, it can definitely be difficult to be vegan in America for these reasons. Produce is important for a healthy-balanced diet, but Americans aren't eating enough of it and part of the problem has to do with the cost. Although it is possible to be vegan for cheap, the pricing strategy for healthy food in America is botched. For example, at Mcdonalds in the US you can buy a McDouble with medium fries and a drink for $2 while the Southwest Salad is $4.80. Government subsidies play a role in these cost differences. The USDA does not subsidize leafy vegetable crops in the same way it subsidizes wheat, dairy, meat, and soy. When it comes it cost the less nutritious "junk" food will win out. When it comes to the social aspect of being vegan it can be really tough. I can attest to this from numerous personal experiences, anytime the conversation of how I eat comes up people tend to try to argue, debate, and making several judgemental comments. As humans, sometimes these hurtful comments can take a toll on our emotions and the "need-to-fit in" paradigm that society has built. I also agree on it can become unattainable lifestyle especially when out to eat with others who are non-vegans, many restaurants still have yet to implement vegan options on their menu. 

Chodosh also states the reasoning of "We can't abide by such strict rules forever unless our convictions are really strong, because things we're denied feel ever-more appetizing. Your body is simply not wired to reject an entire food category, especially not one that you enjoy." 

            Chodosh reasoning here although not scientifically backed, does have some truth to it. Since most of us were children, we have been taught about the healthy eating plate and how meat, eggs, and fish are essential proteins. It can be very difficult on our bodies when changing to a brand new life style and it does take a toll on your body. Many people can't fathom the concept of not having things like meat and eggs included in each meal we consume. The mental game we battle with ourselves can make being vegan much more difficult. I can also agree with this in the circumstance that those with certain conditions, like people allergic to majority of the plant-based foods that gives us protein, may want to stick with a non-vegan lifestyle.

Chodosh further explains that "Most Americans are meat-eaters, and no study is going to change their minds, let’s invest in realistic solutions to our problems....eliminating animals as food isn't a feasible solution to our greenhouse gas problems" 

Although in some parts of the article Chodosh agrees on the fact that, eating less meat and dairy can help cut down on carbon emissions and help out the planet. Meat is marketed as being healthy for us and as an essential source of protein. It’s accessibility, convenience, and low cost leads us away from the idea of ever eliminating it from our diets. On top of that, climate change is a very complex problem. Society feels helpless in some sense when it comes to climate change, as if they can’t make a difference. We continue to think of climate change as a distant problem and that the impacts won’t be felt for a generation or more. The consumption of meat is projected onto each generation as part of the food pyramid and healthy plate which makes us believe it to be a necessity in our diets. Money, traditions, Cultural beliefs, power, & political impact are just some of the factors that create this environmental social pressure barrier in our society which is understandable. Some non-vegan realistic solutions that can help fix this problem are things like adopting certain diets that don't cut out meat completely but limit the intake of meat consumption. Among these diets are paleo, Mediterranean, and Pescitarian. One interesting way scientist decided to approach the growing unsustainable demand for meat is lab grown meat.