Vegucated

So, when we started this whole vegan thing, it was strictly for health reasons. Obviously, I knew animals suffered when they were used for meat, milk, or eggs. I became a vegetarian for nearly 10 years after taking an Environmental Studies class in college. But I guess I just chose to ignore it? Or thought that if I only bought organic, free-range animal products they were treated better?

Last night we watched Vegucated because we've been slowly adding more meat and dairy to our diet. Kyle and the kids have definitely been eating more eggs because they all love them and it's something healthier than cereal to eat for breakfast. We thought watching another documentary would kind of get us back on track and give us more info about healthy eating. Vegucated certainly did that, as it had some of the same information from The China Study in Forks Over Knives.

At the beginning of Vegucated, they started talking about vegan shoes and clothing. "Ugh," I thought, "come on...I am NOT buying vegan shoes! They have nothing to do with health!" By the end of the film, however, I was reminded of the disgusting, cruel, abusive ways that the animals are treated in the process. The definition of "free-range" is not what I thought it was...happy chickens roaming a farm. Even small, family-run farms usually use inhumane methods for raising and utilizing their animals.

There are also some Christian vegans who believe we were originally designed to not eat meat. Eating animal products only started after sin entered the world and we were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. I need to read more about this.

So, although a little meat and ice cream here and there won't kill me, it does lead to the brutal death of many animals. I feel like I have some processing to do!

*One thing I did NOT like about the movie was that they ate so many soy products. Soy is no good for anyone! But maybe for the people in the film, it was a good way to get started instead of going from "normal" diet to strictly plant-based, whole foods.