What is responsible eating? For starters, it’s not just being a vegetarian 36 BELLA RMINE MAGAZINE tion is vegetarian, while 10 percent eat no red meat, according to Vegetarian Times. Ask almost anyone why we need to eat meat and the answer is invariably “protein.” But where did this idea that meat is the best source for protein come from? According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians and vegans (people who eat no animal products whatsoever) meet and exceed requirements for protein (even for athletes). While meat is not the only source of protein, it has been made arguably the cheapest and most readily available source of protein in our society. However, the ADA’s summary also implies that “excess animal protein is linked with osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract and some cancers.” Not only is animal protein not essential, it is potentially harmful. Most of my protein comes from tofu, rice, beans, eggs and nuts, which are healthy sources and keep me strong. While eating meat ensures a high protein content, the practice also all but guarantees a higher cholesterol level. The documentary film Forks Over Knives reports that about $50 billion are spent on heart bypass surgeries annually in the United States, and more than 500,000 patients undergo this procedure every year. I became a vegetarian in 2005, but it wasn’t exactly for moral, ethical or health reasons. My sister had converted a year prior, and my mother had been a vegetarian for many years and knew how to cook excellent vegetarian food. Therefore, the switch was easy for me, and I spent a year cutting back on my meat intake. I distinctly remember my last burger (from Ginny’s Diner) and my last meal that included meat (my grandmother’s pork chops). I didn’t realize the extent to which my choice would change me, my health, and my view of mainstream farming and eating practices. Society and government play some role in defining what responsible eating looks like, but these suggestions aren’t impartial and have influence from many outside sources. Money plays an extensive role when it comes to the suggestions we receive concerning our health and food choices. Accepting these opinions, regardless of how credible the source seems, and basing our food choices on these alone does not foster responsible eating. Responsible eating doesn’t manifest itself through any particular diet; being a vegetarian doesn’t make you more responsible than being a meat eater. By Grace Mican gmican01@bellarmine.edu Being informed about your options and making choices that you feel good about is responsible eating. If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “I could never do that; I love bacon,” I could go out for a very expensive vegetarian meal. At first it was an adjustment, as any lifestyle change would be. I missed chicken, not bacon, and even then my cravings were all but gone before the year’s end. But after years as a practicing vegetarian, I typically don’t think about it. I never feel deprived. In the process of conducting my research and becoming more informed about my choice to refrain from eating meat, I feel stronger about it. I have had to accept that common eating habits don’t necessarily look like mine. Most people eat meat. In fact, only about 3.2 percent of Americans practice a vegetarian diet. European countries report that about 6 percent of the popula-
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