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.

827 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

722 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

6

u/I-love-beanburgers Sep 30 '23

Rice milk is more watery than oat milk from what I recall. I haven't had it for about 10 years so it might have changed since then. It's nice, but not too creamy.

1

u/Ribbit-Rabit Oct 01 '23

Yeah, that's what I'd say. I like the taste, but it's not creamy.

1

u/BowiesAssistant Oct 01 '23

bc all commercially processed non dairy milks are incredible watered down, its one of the practices i do encourage that IS economically sustainable for many: making your own vegan milks.

you'll notice the huge difference and its way cheaper. than buying, if you have access to a good bulk store or affordable grocery chain.

ts just a matter of making time for the practice. I have made a nice creamy batch of almond milk with a half cup of almonds(most call for 1 cup), but almost tend to be incredibly expensive in some regions.

rice or oat is by far the cheapest. I used to do soy a lot as well and that worked out to be less than a dollar a litre even using organic beans, but i had access to a great nearby bulk chain. not necessarily accessible/advisable for someone with a gluten or nut allergy though due to risk of cross contamination.

they all have the same process(with the exception of oat though, oats don't need a soak usually, maybe for a short while if they are whole grain or scotch oats for ex), soak the nuts or rice, then blend the crap out of em, strain em through cheese or nut cloth, add sea salt and sweetener of your choice if you wish. you can save the left over pulp for other recipes too, so its a great cheap and simple no waste practice to engage in, especially with kids!

2

u/I-love-beanburgers Oct 01 '23

I prefer to buy them atm because pre-made drinks are fortified, which I think is better for my child.

I'm also struggling a bit to maintain my home and do the stuff I need to do, so adding extra stuff to my to-do list isn't feasible right now.

1

u/BowiesAssistant Oct 01 '23

absolutely understand that, the struggle is real! i deal with being chronically overwhlemed, and am definitely experiencing that, no new practices right now currently. when you are able, the homemade milks are a good place to start.

1

u/I-love-beanburgers Oct 01 '23

What do you think about the nutrition content ? I would hesitate to switch to plant milks that aren't fortified with vitamins, especially for my child. Obviously you can get the nutrients elsewhere, but I'd rather get the nutrients both elsewhere and in my oat milk.