I have always eaten meat. Steak, pork, chicken, turkey. Bacon in the morning chicken on a salad in the afternoon steak or burgers for dinner. That's a typical day for me ( steak is rare let's face it, I'm not rich enough to have steak every night haha). Recently though I've been feeling really guilty about turning a blind eye about what is happening in our food industry and how these farms and companies are treating the animals that we eat. From not letting them graze grass to pumping them full of antibiotic and how female cows are forced to get pregnant.
It isn't like I meant to turn a blind eye, I just was living my busy life and shopping on a budget. Well, recently every time I eat that meat from the store I felt guilty and I didn't know why. So I stopped eating meat just because I didn't feel like it any more. It had officially been weeks since I had eaten meat. After some self discovery I figured out what was going on in my heart, head and stomach.
Although I am fine with eating meat I didn't like what was going on in the industries and how the animals were being treated, with no respect and appreciation. I also, found that without eating meat 1-3 times a day it gave my body a break from having to work so hard to process and digest this meat all day long every day.
Even though I wasn't eating meat I was still enjoying things like big green fresh salads, some tasty bruschetta, yummy fruits, spaghetti, smoothies, veggie taco salads with delicious black beans that were slowly cooked with roasted garlic and red onions *mouth watering*, sorry getting a bit carried away. Not eating meat for one week saved me approximately $30.
I think that I will still eat meat but be more mindful about where it comes from, how it was treated and fed and also who I am supporting when I buy it. After those couple of weeks I paid for good quality happy chicken and enjoyed it on top of my big salad with my husband and son. I had a lesser quantity of meat but a higher quality. So in conclusion I found that:
1. My budget suffers less even though I still eat plenty of food.
2. I am giving my body a good source of food instead of just cramming useless random antibiotic fed meats into myself.
3. I am able to enjoy my food more knowing where it comes from and knowing that I am nourishing my family and myself.
Hear is my bible references about this topic that I studied to find some guidance for the issues I was going through.
Genesis 9:3 ESV
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
Romans 14:1-23 ESV
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind...
Check out Netflix for some good documentaries: http://www.thekitchn.com/5-food-documentaries-to-stream-on-netflix-tonight-184096
For more information on animal cruelty click here: https://www.aspca.org/shopwithyourheart?gclid=CjwKCAjw3f3NBRBPEiwAiiHxGEfve5akj3zizSG9DWNLTGhtTWbMOV-1WlMzUFo6ucr-ltKsBVtLhBoCVEYQAvD_BwE
If you would like to learn how to read meat labels click here: http://www.lepainquotidien.com/editorial/how-to-read-meat-labels/#.Wb_KIUEpCaM
If you are a vegan or vegetarian or are just trying to be more mindful of what you eat and where it comes from we would love to hear from you. Please let us know what you think of this article.
- Rachel
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