I totally agree with you on every point, except for the one about heralding veganism being ridiculous. I don't think it's ridiculous at all, especially when I look around at the average morbidly obese guy here in Northern NJ, and then go to Thanksgiving out in Michigan with my wife's family and the meat eaters are in the minority. Everyone at Thanksgiving looks amazing and healthy. I think the greater and more meaningful challenge would just be to get more people to think about what they're eating at all, regardless of what it is. I think reduced meat consumption would happen automatically if people actually mentally connected the animals in this story to the burger they're putting in their mouth. I think veganism is the logical conclusion to becoming truly aware of what you're eating, personally.
Morbid obesity is likely due to overeating plant-based carbohydrates. Hi Fructose corn syrup is basically vegetarian. As are Pringles and coke. Doritos and guacamole. Don't forget Beer and Margarits! Snickers really satisfies your vegetarian cravings too. Nuttella tastes great but is mostly hot choclate made with palm-oil rather than milk, which makes is closer to a vegan health-food, but there are traces of powdered milk in it. Pop-tarts are a great vegetarian breakfast, too at 400 calories per pack. Not to mention the greatest caloric density in snack foods, the humble almond at 180 cal/oz. You can find those in your grocer's health-food isle, tho. Not too far away from the 250 calorie cliff bars and the the sucrose loaded "vegetarian" gatorade. =D
I said it was ridiculous from a practical standpoint. My hyperbolic language probably muddied my point. I'm only saying I see much more value-leverage in putting energy into reducing meat consumption than eliminating it. If nothing else, it's an obvious first step.
There are a lot of problems with pushing an agenda as extreme as veganism. It defines itself prohibitively, instead of positively. It says "I don't eat meat" instead of "I eat vegetables". That's off-putting and turns the conversation quickly into one about absolutes and morality. I think that's a super high-cost, high-friction path to changing behavior from a practical standpoint.
Further, I worry about the constant association with veganism and health. It's far from my field of expertise but it seems to quickly lead to pretty boolean discussions about whether meat is good or bad for you, and those discussions don't resolve very clearly. I'd rather we talk more often about the fact that the modern meat and dairy industries are completely and irrefutably destructive to the planet.
[Edit: See Zike's excellent response to your comment for a perfect example of what I'm talking about above.]
I think your anecdote is a flawed positive correlation. Your wife's family may be largely vegan, but that doesn't strictly account for their health and wellbeing vs your average obese person.
I think that their veganism is part of a broader health consciousness, where they most likely pay more attention to their nutrition and exercise than do the average "morbidly obese guy" in Northern NJ. I've no doubt that if they were to practice a similar lifestyle but include meats they would look and be equally healthy.
And for an equally anecdotal counterpoint: look up Crossfitters and the paleo diet, of which meat makes up a key proportion.
I agree with the substance and that's why I said "I think the greater and more meaningful challenge would just be to get more people to think about what they're eating at all, regardless of what it is." I don't know and have never heard of anyone who was "accidentally vegan" - it's a choice brought about largely by an awareness, just like a Crossfitter, or anyone who makes being conscious of what they're eating a cornerstone of their lifestyle.
> I think veganism is the logical conclusion to becoming truly aware of what you're eating, personally.
You said you're married to a vegan, suggesting you're not vegan yourself. So by you're statement you're not truly aware of what you're eating? Or are you vegan as well?
Not a vegan, and I can say yes - I perform the mental disconnect in my mind that I think happens with most people when they eat meat that I don't really think about where it comes from. If I did/when I do think about it, I generally don't eat it.
