AntiFactoryfarmitarian

A couple months ago, after learning and researching about factory farm practices (horrific), and reading Collin T Campbells, The China Study (to name one of many books I’ve read), I decided to conduct an experiment.  I called it “The Vegan Experiment” and fueled by the desire to no longer support factory farms, and to get healthy, I maintained a vegetarian diet for a month.  That month has since turned into a few months but though I maintain a mostly vegan diet, I can’t call myself a Vegan… why?  Because I sometimes (albeit very rarely) eat animal products.

I’ve come to a place where there is no word to describe me.  I can not be labeled a Vegan because I sometimes eat beef (grass fed locally raised beef, and slaughtered Islamically), I sometimes eat fish and shellfish and a bit of cheese. I eat honey, feed meat to my cats and don’t always know if what I wear comes from animal sources or not. 

I don’t want to be called just a “Vegetarian” because it’s such a generic word used for someone who eats only plants…“Vegetarian” unlike the awesome label of “Vegan” doesn’t imply a whole philosophy.  I understand that my animal food choices effect the environment and either support animal suffering or oppose it, I understand the importance of not eating factory farmed animals for reasons of animal cruelty, disease (in the animals and in what gets passed to us), and environmental pollution and I choose to opt out to the best of my ability and to seek out sustainable and cruelty free alternatives when ever possible.

The reality is…I believe I have moral and religious justification and duty not to partake of factory farmed animals for food to the best of my ability.  I feel I am justified by numerous scientific studies to limit my intake of animal proteins and that of my family, since studies show consumption of all animal proteins in excess of what our body's need (more than 10% of total calories from protein) lead to diseases of affluence (Type II diabetes, heart disease, some cancers etc.) and can be avoided and reversed by adopting a plant based diet.

So, what am I?  What word do I use to best describe my feelings and philosophy on animals for food and my belief in plant based diets for health?  I have invented a word… I am an ANTIFACTORYFAMITARIAN!

Welcome to my blog… I hope to share many yummy plant based recipes and pictures, information on plant based diets and links to all things AntiFactoryfarmitarian and share my successes in plant based world of eating.

Enjoy J