Remembering the Reasons for a Vegetarian Season
Christmas is a season of peace, love and
harmony. It’s a time that brings families and friends together to reconnect and
find comfort and happiness being together. It’s also about respect for fellow
man, appreciating and embracing one another’s differences. Take some time over
the holiday season to reflect on the reasons for your choice to become
vegetarian, and enforce your commitment and dedication to the vegetarian
lifestyle. What reason, or reasons, helped you decide that vegetarianism was
the right choice for you?
Was it
Economic? A meat-based diet can be very expensive. Fresh
produce bought in season can be very affordable, and can be
prepared (dried, canned, frozen) so that it can be enjoyed later
in the season.
Was it
Ethical? Did you choose not to eat meat because of the meat
processing techniques are incredibly cruel to animals? Do some
research on the internet or the library, visit the PETA website,
and you’re very likely to find more credible reasoning that
affirms your choice.
Was it
Environmental? A vegetarian lifestyle is more environmentally
friendly – large ranching operations cause topsoil erosion,
coyotes and other natural predators are destroyed routinely to
protect herds of cows which are only slaughtered anyway later
on, and commercial fishing operations are damaging the ocean’s
ecosystems.
Was it to
Improve Your Health? Eating a vegetarian diet has been shown to
be a very healthy lifestyle, as it helps fight heart disease,
reduces cancer risks, lowers cholesterol, helps lower blood
sugar and reverse the effects of diabetes, lowers the obesity
risk, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, as meat consumption
has been shown to promote bone loss.
And
remember: just because it’s Christmas, it doesn’t mean you can’t
enjoy many of the same wonderful holiday treats you’ve become
accustomed to, as long as they are prepared with your vegetarian
lifestyle in mind. Breads, cookies prepared with vegetable
shortening, egg substitutes, whole grain flours and soymilks,
numerous choices for vegetable dishes and salads can all be
enjoyed by both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike during the
holiday! So remember the reason for the season, reaffirm your
reasoning for your life choice, and be proud of it, and of
yourself.
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