It’s Not Just a Phase, Mom! I No Longer Eat Meat

“The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world”

— Paul Farmer

When I was around 10 years old, I told my dad I wanted to go fishing.

I remember the shop we went to and us getting in the car with the rod and equipment. I remember feeling bored because it was taking so long for the fish to bite and my dad preaching to me about patience. I remember the hook getting stuck on some rocks and Dad diving into the water to get it unstuck. Some core childhood memories in the making.

I also remember looking down into our little blue bucket of saltwater at the fish we’d caught. And I remember how sad I felt. I remember crying uncontrollably and begging my dad to throw the fish back in the water. He did, the sadness went away, and that was that.

Now there’s an origin story if ever there was one.

Except, that’s not at all how it started because this was an isolated incident. I went on eating animals for years without an ounce of sadness because I saw them as just an item on a menu. But all that changed almost 2 years ago.

All that changed on the eve of November 5th, 2021; when I saw a video of a cow, eyes filled with absolute terror, on its way to the slaughterhouse. I started crying uncontrollably. I started hyperventilating. My entire body froze. Because for the first time, I didn’t see an item on the menu. For the first time, I saw the suffering of a living, breathing, feeling incarnated soul. And I didn’t want to play a part in that horror anymore.

I immediately stopped eating beef and chicken but not fish to give myself time to do research, find alternatives, and ease myself into them. The transition was relatively smooth because I’d already been eating a mostly plant-based diet for some time for health purposes. I stopped purchasing any products tested on animals or any items of clothing or accessories made of or containing animal skin. It’s been a daily choice to live with intention.

“Is it because of yoga?”, is what I get asked, and the answer is a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

No, it’s not because of yoga; I’ve been practicing for 7 years and teaching for 4 years, and I just recently made this transition. But also, yes, it is relating to yoga because one of the main tenets is non-harming, in all aspects of life. Do no harm unto yourself. Unto others. Unto your environment. I understood this in theory, but it took time to appreciate the complexity and depth of leading a life with the intention of ‘‘doing no harm’’.

I’ve often found myself overwhelmed by my own conflicting convictions throughout the process though.

I believe in the natural cycle of life. I believe life sustains itself. I believe in the intelligence of nature and the universe. I also believe in kindness. I believe there’s a compassionate way of doing things. I believe that if you’re able to ease (or even prevent) another’s unnecessary suffering then it’s your responsibility, rather, it’s your duty to do so.

Daniel Quinn phrased it ever so eloquently when he said that “We can argue about it for a thousand years, but there’s never going to be an argument powerful enough to end the argument, because every argument has a counterargument”.

Making this decision has opened my eyes to the duality of the world we’re living in.

It opened my eyes to a world of kind, gentle, caring, and merciful individuals fighting for compassion.

It also opened my eyes to a world of wicked, violent, torturous, and merciless individuals unwavering in their carelessness.

It opened my eyes to the arrogance of mankind in deluding ourselves into thinking that the world and everything in it, is ours for the taking; that we own the world; that the world is our captive.

We’re welcome to the world, but we do not own it.

We do, however, own our story in the world.

And this has been mine thus far.

______________

(a collection of origin stories from others who willingly shared their own)

Rosemary T. — Vegetarian:

My dad’s family were all butchers and as a kid, we would summer in North Lebanon in our village where they kept cattle and ran the business. Seeing lambs and goats being led away from the herd and taken to the butchery in a pick-up truck really scarred me as a sensitive sweet kid. As far as I can remember, I have not eaten red meat. Its texture and appearance were very off-putting to me as a child and it’s been over 20-25 years that I haven’t touched it.

I went completely vegetarian in my teens but had to gradually reintroduce chicken breast and fish due to pretty severe anemia resulting from a poor diet and not getting adequate nutrition without white meat. As of my early 20s, having taken back control and educating myself better about my nutrition, I have stopped eating meat entirely. I switched to a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet in 2018 so it has been over four years. Now that I’m older, I eat really well and no longer require it as a protein source. For me, there was absolutely no adjustment period as this is the diet with which I am most comfortable and feel truly like myself. Vegetarianism is a natural and comfortable state for me and something I have leaned toward since my youth.

To me, eating animal flesh feels barbaric and deeply unpleasant. I come from a meat-eating family and am the ‘black sheep’ (no pun intended). As such, I have never judged anyone for their choices – my motto on this issue is to live and let live. I don’t mind people doing what suits them so no one is allowed to mind or judge me for my own choices.

As someone who loves the gym and exercise, weight management and adequate protein supplementation has bit a little bit harder and I am having to be a lot more intentional about my protein sources. Chickpeas are excellent as are some marinated tofu cutlets which are readily accessible in the supermarket. For variety though and to avoid boredom and bad nutrition, vegetarianism requires a bit more creativity and effort than a standard diet, but I truly wouldn’t have it any other way. Options have drastically improved over time and I am sure the best is yet to come.

I would never impose my beliefs on anyone nor do I bring them up unless asked. I never expect anyone to cater to me (happy enough with some lettuce leaves!) but if anyone were to ask for advice, I offer it very enthusiastically and passionately. I’ve learned so much on this journey and I absolutely love paying it forward.

For me, I’m never, ever, ever going back on this decision. Nil desire and as mentioned, this has been my preference from as far back as I can remember.

We have familial hypercholesterolemia so I know that this diet will pay dividends as far as preventing further issues relating to heart disease. I think any diet can be harmful if the correct balance isn’t struck. You need to give your body what it needs and focus on supplementation where you know you are falling short. I (and most women I know) am on iron tablets and take a women’s multivitamin; my nails and skin are very healthy and my hair has never been more luxurious and full.

I am unsure if this decision is solely values or preference-based; I believe it’s a combination of the two. While I don’t necessarily think about it every day (it’s such a natural state of being for me), I absolutely love knowing that my meal and sustenance have not involved the suffering of any living creature. I eat minimal dairy; I make sure my eggs are free range; I actively seek out products and dairy sources that are cruelty-free and family-owned, and where the animals are treated well. Fortunately, Australia is generally really great for that. Something that stuck with me (you may call me a snowflake for this one but I’m cool with that!) is that eggs and dairy are both derived from female animals – food for thought and something that really moved me! I am trying not to watch any disturbing documentaries about how these beautiful creatures are being exploited because I know it would be the final straw for me (I’m quite sensitive) and that ethically-sourced eggs and dairy sources are great for my health in moderation and they align with my values. More broadly and beyond vegetarianism, I try to live my life compassionately and with kindness – I’m absolutely imperfect but I intend to keep trying! 

Tracy N. — Pescatarian:

I’ve always been an animal lover, but I’d be lying if I said this was for the animals. It was more selfish than that.

I stopped eating meat just under 7 years ago and it just sort of happened. I was participating in a yoga workshop, and for 4 days I ate what they served which was all raw vegan. At home, Mom was fasting and had, as a result, cut out certain foods. Two weeks passed and I noticed my IBS symptoms had significantly been reduced. I’d had major heartburn prior which had disappeared (still to this day no more reflux or heartburn). I still suffer from other symptoms that come and go but my heartburn is completely gone, I’m much less puffy in my hands and face, and my skin looks amazing. So I thought let’s see how long that’ll last, and it has lasted. I always say if I crave meat or chicken, I will eat it, but I haven’t so far. Who knows what my body will need in the future?

The adjustment period was pretty smooth as it was something I was trying out after seeing benefits rather than actively thinking at every meal “I can’t have X what will I eat”. It’s actually allowed me to be more creative in food prep. I think what makes it super easy for me is I never say never. One day I might really crave meat, and I won’t stop myself from having it if that day comes. That day hasn’t come yet though and I think it’s partially because I’m always saying, “I will if I want to”.

I saw the benefits I was experiencing in my health, and I got to know how the meat industry treats its animals and I knew I was on the right path. I have since been less inclined to turn a blind eye to things. For example, I don’t see the need for fur or real leather purses or clothes or such. Unless it’s been passed down through generations in my family, I wouldn’t purchase one myself.

I’m constantly criticized by friends and family, especially when eating together, but I’ve learned to be more nonchalant about that. I don’t force my life choices down their throats so I don’t see why what I eat would bug anyone else.

Fares M. — Plant-based:

I basically woke up vegan. What was supposed to be a trial period over 3 years ago ended up becoming a way of life. Oddly enough, the pandemic helped as I had more time with Mom to experiment with different recipes and find alternatives. I’ve always loved animals and would stay informed, by reading and watching documentaries, about how the food industry unnecessarily exploits them. I guess the idea of switching to Vegan was always in the back of my mind until one day it just manifested and the catalyst was an Instagram post that made me realize “I could continue living the same way (without feeling involved in harming animals)”?

I’d developed kidney stones (caused by consuming animal proteins) so when I made the switch, my body reacted quite heavily at first because of how abrupt the shift in my diet was. My skin went crazy and my dermatologist explained to me that my body was detoxing all the impurities; a few weeks later, I had porcelain skin. This decision has so far cleared my kidneys, made me more energetic, and well, directed me toward yoga (the love of my life). I think that I am one of the rare people who became vegan before becoming a yogi.

I’d never go back on this decision unless it’s a medical emergency. I keep my tests in check and take B12 supplements to make sure I’m alright. I don’t consider going back for a burger or a steak that’s just absurd for me; the smell of it all just sends me spinning now.

This decision goes beyond food. I consider myself plant-based more than vegan as I do own some leather goods (purchased before the shift or through conscious brands). I do not buy mass productions with no ethics. I keep my consumption minimal and my brand choice in check. I am a fashion enthusiast so for me it’s all about balance. I contribute to my best capacity but I will not deny myself the small pleasures of life

Sarine T. — Mindful Pescatarian

I haven't eaten meat for 11 years now. I traveled to Asia many years ago and saw an Asian version of the roasted chicken we eat in Lebanon. I saw the chicken hanging in the window and got put off and disgusted from anything chicken related. When I went back to Turkey (where I was living at the time), I stopped my chicken consumption completely and I liked how light I started to feel in my body and mind. That's why I started to become more mindful about my meat consumption as well and started reducing it first to twice a week then once a week to once a month to once a year and ultimately I cut it out. For about 6 years, I stayed on a pescatarian diet. However, for the last 2 years, I've been exploring veganism. By exploring I mean in the sense that I didn't completely stop everything but rather reduced and introduced substitutes over time. Since moving back to Beirut 7 months ago, I have been eating dairy and occasionally fish, but my concept of mindful eating has completely changed. For the last few years, I've been taking my body as my temple without labeling my diet. For example, I would eat cheese and meat if I know that the animal is mindfully taken care of rather than butchered. In my head, I always picture the farmer singing to the cow which makes it easier for me to accept. With all of this, usually people practice yoga and then make a shift in their diet. For me, however, it was the other way around. I started mindful eating which led me to take care of my body and mind more which led me to yoga. When I got introduced to yoga, mindful eating was more about non-violence for me. Although my journey started out of disgust, it turned into understanding the body, listening to the body, and treating it as a temple. I really believe that we can all inspire each other because when others see us caring, the impact ripples.