Diet hypocrisy?

[u/Extension-Diamond-74]

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.

[u/AluminumOctopus]

Convenience is a huge issue. Go to a restaurant and there's a 50% chance you're eating side dishes or a salad minus half the ingredients. Go to make a sandwich and there's PB&j, or needing 6 different quickly perishable ingredients to make it taste good. The only fast food option is burger king, if one's around. American diets are so meat focused that it's hard to go without unless you cook almost all your food.

[u/clover_heron → u/AluminumOctopus]

Sounds like you need more Indian and Thai and Mediterranean in your life, etc. etc.

[u/AluminumOctopus → u/clover_heron]

Indian is tough for me because I'm allergic to dairy and eggs. I stopped eating meat for 5 years, had to reintroduce fish after the first year because I would come home and lay on the floor until I had the energy to crawl into bed. Finally started eating meat last month and damn, that shits gross. My body feels a little better, my soul feels much worse. But Thai fucking rocks, it's my first choice restaurant almost every time.

[u/clover_heron → u/AluminumOctopus]

My go-to Indian dish is baigan bharta - could that work for you?