Eating Animals: A book I’d like for Christmas

I was doing some  Christmas shopping in Chapters today and stumbled (quite literally) upon this book. I picked it up and started reading. I didn’t stop reading for about an hour, when I realized I should probably be somewhere else.

I tore myself away from the book begrudgingly. I would have bought it then and there but it was $40, which seems like a lot to be spending on myself four days before Christmas. I have realized that I’m going to need to buy it though, Toronto Public Libraries have about 40 copies and all of them are on hold or out. And I need to read this book.

Jonathan Safran Foer tells his story of seeking out the answer to what “meat” is. His quest starts because, as someone who has been an on-again-off-again vegetarian, he really needed to decide how to feed his soon-to-be-born son.

His story seems to be plentiful in terms of both research and narrative (at least from the first few chapters that I read at Chapters) and his website has both information and discussion boards. He said in an interview that he wants to start a conversation and I’m really optimistic after this and the documentary Food Inc. that a mass conversation is on its way.

Here’s an interview with the author on Ellen:

I will update after I’ve fully read the book!

Food issues don’t stop with meat

I watched the documentary Food Inc. a few days ago. It started with some feel good info for me, as a vegetarian. You know? Meat is pumped with hormones and factory farmed, same old. I was really feeling good, and then I really got some food for thought when I was reminded that food issues don’t stop or start with meat. It’s almost more like it starts with corn and soy. It’s also a good reminder of how powerful the food industry is.

Definitely check it out.

Why hate veggies?

I was out for dinner a few nights ago with my masthead and we ordered some nachos. There were three plates, one plate with chicken at one end of the table, veggie nachos in the middle and beef nachos on the other end.

I was, of course, well placed in the middle of the table with vegetarian nachos sitting in front of me. The only other vegetarian on masthead was beside me. The amount of fuss other people created about having to eat vegetarian nachos before the others were rotated through really astounded me. I get that people want as much as possible and that they don’t want to miss out on anything. But people were acting like the exact same nachos without beef or chicken were disgusting… and they’re exactly the same minus the meat. Maybe they’d seem a little incomplete to some people but I don’t understand how they seem disgusting. Come on, they’re nachos!

If someone has an explanation, please let me know.