No Meat ≠ No Difference

By Brie Roche-Lilliott, staff writer

Over the last few years, the rise in popularity of the Green trend has also created more vegan and vegetarian converts. However, many people are unaware of the effects eliminating meat can have on our environment. Even if you don\’t choose to become vegetarian, there are other eating techniques you can adopt to support the Green cause.

So, what are some reasons someone would want to remove hamburgers, steaks, and fried chicken from their diet?

To begin with, many animals are killed for their meat in inhumane and cruel ways. Meat producers often slaughter animals in the most simple way possible, which can be long, painful, and unendurable.

Also, meat created from this process is extremely unhealthy for you. Cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals are fed chemicals and steroids to fatten them up. Some medical studies attribute diseases, disproportional body growth, and abnormal learning development to these chemicals.

Most importantly, if we continue eating meat at this rate, there won\’t be any animals left to produce in the future. On average, 660,000 animals are killed for meat per hour, and our population already severely outnumbers that of the animals.

But for those of you who just can\’t live without your In N\’ Out or chicken tacos, the key is not about elimination, but moderation and selection.

Many supermarkets and restaurants offer organically grown meat products. Although their prices tend to be a bit higher, these brands (Greener Choices) assure that the animal you\’re eating was treated humanely and not fed with any harmful materials. Some markets, like Mother\’s, Trader Joe\’s, and Whole Foods, have only organically grown meat and produce.

Try limiting your meat intake each week. If you eat meat daily, try cutting down to three or four times a week. Although it may not seem like much of a difference, those little changes lead to a huge difference. Substitute meat for veggie burgers, faux meat, or tofu. If prepared right, all of them can be great replacements. Check out Cyber Parent for recipes!

Other than altering your eating habits, you can take it to the next level and work to change harmful animal treatment. Organizations like Viva! let you donate or give you tips to stand up for the rights of abused and inhumanely treated animals.

I\’m not trying to convert you to the vegetarian party. I’m  just asking you to think twice before chowing down your double-double and practice limitation.