Do you feel bad eating meat and animal products?

[Barmybuckle]

I was a big meat eater and dairy drinker until this year. I did Veganuary this year, which opened my eyes to how great the vegan food alternatives are. I went back to eating meat and drinking dairy after but started to educate myself on how our meat and dairy is produced as well as continuing to try a lot of the vegan alternatives (if anyone wants any recommendations let me know). To the point where I just couldn't justify the suffering caused by my own sensory pleasure, going fully vegan 2 months ago.

Even if the animal has a great life, which they rarely do, they're still killed. None of the methods of killing I've seen has been humane.

You often hear that peoples dietary choices are their own and that they hate vegans/vegetarians preaching. The problem with eating meat is that it's not just a diet choice that only affects them, for example being gluten free, it causes the suffering and deaths of hundreds of animals a year.

I highly recommend Earthling Ed's and Joey Carbstrongs YouTube channels.

[LostPrincess]

Originally Posted by Barmybuckle

I was a big meat eater and dairy drinker until this year. I did Veganuary this year, which opened my eyes to how great the vegan food alternatives are. I went back to eating meat and drinking dairy after but started to educate myself on how our meat and dairy is produced as well as continuing to try a lot of the vegan alternatives (if anyone wants any recommendations let me know). To the point where I just couldn't justify the suffering caused by my own sensory pleasure, going fully vegan 2 months ago.

Even if the animal has a great life, which they rarely do, they're still killed. None of the methods of killing I've seen has been humane.

You often hear that peoples dietary choices are their own and that they hate vegans/vegetarians preaching. The problem with eating meat is that it's not just a diet choice that only affects them, for example being gluten free, it causes the suffering and deaths of hundreds of animals a year.

I highly recommend Earthling Ed's and Joey Carbstrongs YouTube channels.

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I completely see what you mean. I also feel like there will be a time in the future when we will have no choice - we will have to reduce meat and animal product intake, because the way the west consume it now is just not sustainable.

I think veganuary is a great idea having done this little vegan experiment myself. Like you say it really opens your eyes to the alternatives that are actually great. A lot of people probably think they would miss things that they would be fine without.

I maybe wish I'd received more education on sustainability and the milk industry at school but I would have found it quite traumatic as a teen I think.

Just to clarify though, I don't judge anyone for their choices, and I'm so glad that this thread has stayed so friendly given that people can feel quite passionate either way!

[Nicksgirl]

Originally Posted by Barmybuckle

I was a big meat eater and dairy drinker until this year. I did Veganuary this year, which opened my eyes to how great the vegan food alternatives are. I went back to eating meat and drinking dairy after but started to educate myself on how our meat and dairy is produced as well as continuing to try a lot of the vegan alternatives (if anyone wants any recommendations let me know). To the point where I just couldn't justify the suffering caused by my own sensory pleasure, going fully vegan 2 months ago.

Even if the animal has a great life, which they rarely do, they're still killed. None of the methods of killing I've seen has been humane.

You often hear that peoples dietary choices are their own and that they hate vegans/vegetarians preaching. The problem with eating meat is that it's not just a diet choice that only affects them, for example being gluten free, it causes the suffering and deaths of hundreds of animals a year.

I highly recommend Earthling Ed's and Joey Carbstrongs YouTube channels.

See more...

You are amazing, I hope to be as strong as you. xxx

[TigerMom]

No. I try as much as possible to buy meat and poultry from ethical suppliers but I never feel guilty eating meat. However you believe humans came to be we are designed to be omnivores. We as a family eat very little red meat and mainly poultry and fish. I have never hidden from my children where meat comes from either.

[Fluffypenguin]

I wouldn’t say I feel guilty, but it is something I am aware of and that I do consider when choosing what to eat. I am also gluten free (not by choice), so I am already aware of what I am eating and I do obviously read all labels. Plus if we go to places like McDonald’s for example, I’ll get fries or I might get veggie dippers or for breakfast I’ll just have hash browns, this is because they are suitable for my gluten free diet, but obviously it also means that I’m not consuming meat.

I don’t eat much meat anyway because I don’t like it. I will only eat chicken, bacon (very very rarely, maybe once a month at most), mince meat and beef (also very very rarely, I’ve had it once this year). I also don’t eat eggs and I don’t consume a large amount of milk.

We do try to have 2/3 meat free days a week. We might have jacket potatoes and beans one day, a tomato soup another day and then maybe homemade pizza another.

[Rac20]

I became veggie in about 1992 when I was 12 or 13. I did it because I couldn’t face eating animals. It was a lot tougher in those days. Even the cheese wasn’t veggie. Today, there’s so much choice and a lot of meat alternatives which I’d rather not eat. For example, I’d rather eat a vegetable curry than a fake chicken curry.

[2point]

Never have felt guilty and never will. I strongly object to the word guilt being applied to food, it's a divisive word and implies a mindset that is 'wrong'.

If I posted 'Do you feel guilty having sex' I'm pretty sure the thread would be closed.

There are very few foods I won't eat and I only don't eat them as I don't like the taste.

[MrsBC]

I don't feel guilty, i do try to buy organic, local, free range meats / eggs as much as possible. Our diet is varied but we eat meat - mostly chicken, beef, fish 5 days a week.
I don't think anyone should be made to feel guilty about dietary decisions - we should enjoy our own, and accept each others choices.

[LostPrincess]

Originally Posted by 2point

Never have felt guilty and never will. I strongly object to the word guilt being applied to food, it's a divisive word and implies a mindset that is 'wrong'.

If I posted 'Do you feel guilty having sex' I'm pretty sure the thread would be closed.

There are very few foods I won't eat and I only don't eat them as I don't like the taste.

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I'm genuinely sorry if my phrasing has upset you, I did put in my first post that there was no judgement on anybody, and I never intended to make anyone feel like they should feel guilty. My intention was only to try and discuss my own current feelings and I can't think of an alternative word.

*edit- I've changed the title and my first post to take the word guilty out of it but I'm not sure it helps, I'm struggling to express it without implying negative feelings because that's how I'm feeling

[SussexFamily]

I don't feel bad at all, its all part of the food chain, that sustains us.