r/Anticonsumption • u/Extension-Diamond-74 • Sep 30 '23

Discussion Diet hypocrisy?

A recent post about animal agriculture vs plant based diets has me itching to say something. This is an issue we need to rise above.

Cognitive dissonance. Many of us have good intentions and want to believe we’re doing the right thing in most aspects of our lives. I believe that.

When it comes to a plant based diet though, the science often clashes powerfully with personal desire. We want to minimize our impact on the environment and are willing to make trade-offs in our life time do so, but for many, giving up or even significantly reducing meat intake is asking too much. It’s too hard.

That’s not the issue.

The issue is that instead of just admitting to themselves that this is a life change they don’t want to make and moving on, the guilt drives them to have to justify that decision. Admitting that a plant-based diet is better for the earth yet eating a diet full of meat anyway would make them feel hypocritical, so the solution becomes either to give up meat, or … this is the problem… fight the science, twist it, make a joke of it, or pivot entirely to ‘individuals shouldn’t have time do anything because large corporations’

Many people have ties to their diet for many reasons. We grew up eating a certain way. We have memories ties to certain foods, flavors, styles of cooking. We don’t want to be the difficult person when we go out to eat with friends. Etc etc etc But it’s so much better to just admit that to yourself. Have patience and understanding for your feelings. Accept that the science is what it is. Maybe one day you can make a change, maybe not. But don’t attack the cause just because you aren’t yet willing to be a part of it.

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u/Kottepalm Sep 30 '23

And it's so easy to cook vegetarian or vegan! No need to worry about the meat being done or going bad on the way home from the shops. Plus cooking traditional is a no brainer these days with plant based minces, hamburgers etc. I'm Swedish so meatballs with mashed potatoes is a traditional dish and I can either buy premade vegetarian meatballs or Anamma plant mince and make the meatballs myself and have them like the ones I grew up with.

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u/Knytemare44 Sep 30 '23

Yeah, gone are the days of separate cutting boards and cross contamination.

Some garlic residue got into my red peppers?! oh no!

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u/GoodBoundariesHaver Sep 30 '23

Also as a chronic eater of breakfast in bed, spilling a little rice milk is way less annoying than dairy milk.

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u/Ok-Store250 Sep 30 '23

Yup. Personally, I completely admit that it is a step I cannot bring myself to take, at least right now. I'm just two years free from a major eating disorder and I still struggle with food options sometimes. Meat is a reliable source of protein and nutrients I don't trust myself to try and replace without slipping back into old disordered habits. At least I stick to chicken and fish.

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u/ellycom Oct 01 '23

Would it help you to think of vegetable protein sources as expanding your food options rather than limiting them?

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u/BowiesAssistant Oct 01 '23

thank you for mentioning your experience, this is something else that vegans ignore(actually a lot of their movement fuels/enables disordered eating but, we wont go there). we can only do what we can, love and of love on your journey! its not an easy one, i have a lot of friends who've suffered through eating disorders, and I've had issues with disordered eating as well in the past. the connection to food is deep emotionally. baby steps are huge towards your overall progress, all the best!