Editors in chief discuss animal rights; soy-based foods

Sydney Gard and Trenna Soderling|April 5, 2016

Ali Dodd

Vegetarians Trenna Soderling and Sydney Gard pose with tofu.

Sydney Gard

Since the day I was born, I’ve never purposely eaten meat. Yes, I once accidentally took a bite of my beef taco that was supposed to be bean, but I didn’t swallow it, and Taco Bell beef probably doesn’t totally count as meat anyway. I’m also pretty sure I had a slice of pepperoni pizza in preschool, when I was too young to understand that it wasn’t fake.

I’m extremely lucky to have parents who raised my siblings and me as vegetarians. My mom somehow managed to become a vegetarian in high school in small-town Nebraska and refused to marry my dad unless he converted. We were fed tofu and soymilk at home and raised to love all animals.

In elementary school, a friend tried to slip a slice of ham into my fake meat sandwich during lunch. It was hard being so different, and many elementary school kids don’t have much empathy for those sorts of things yet anyway. That same girl is my best friend today, and she decided to become a vegetarian a few months ago.

In addition to not eating sentient beings, vegetarians and vegans have many personal health benefits. Our choices have a global benefit as well. Animal agriculture uses more than its fair share of water and land. Technology to create new, cruelty free foods is getting more meat-like every day. I think that someday, eating meat won’t be such a big part of people’s lives.

Despite the fact that I’ve never eaten an animal, I feel guilty. Unlike many of my veg peers, I’ve never had to choose to be different and face misgivings from my family. I’ve never been the odd one out at home, the place where we should all feel included. Many kudos
to my peers who have the immense motivation and bravery to stop eating meat.

Now veganism? While a life without meat seems easy to me, not being able to eat pizza or grilled cheese, the usual options at most meat-heavy restaurants, really freaks me out. Vegans deserve HELLA respect.

My love for cheese despite the hell cows go through makes me pretty similar to the meat-eaters I wish would understand my point of view. Every time we watch a documentary about animal agriculture in AP Environmental Science, I convince myself I’m going to go vegan. I’ll try in college when I have control over what’s in my fridge.

Then, I’m absolutely going to be filling my fridge with vegan food. Until August, though, I’ll stay my hypocritical veg-head self.

Trenna Soderling

Tofu, PETA and hippies may be what you think about when you hear “vegetarian.” However, for me, the definition is not so simple. Throughout my 18 years of being a vegetarian, I’ve found that not only is it a lifestyle choice, it also means answering a ton of questions. Over and over and over again.

“Meat is so good. How can you live without it?”

I don’t know. I always have and always will. Because I’ve been raised in a household without meat, I’ve never thought of it as the norm, even if most of the world does. Honestly, I didn’t even realize animals could be eaten until I watched Chicken Run at four years old. The plot really doesn’t make sense if you don’t understand why chickens would be made into pie in the first place.

“But just look at it! It’s delicious! Don’t you want some?”

You do realize you’re pointing at a hunk of flesh and asking me if that looks good? There’s nothing inherently appetizing about the muscle, blood and fat of animals.

“Okay, so even if it doesn’t look good, it smells amazing right?”

NO. Ham smells like a retirement home and bacon only smells good because you associate a taste with it.

“Doesn’t it make life harder?”

If we’re being honest, no, not really. I mean sure, you might not be able to eat at the steakhouse that’s conveniently located near you, but it’s just like anybody else choosing what restaurant to eat at. Ev- eryone has their preference of where to eat, and it just so happens I choose restaurants with vegetarian options. Additionally, I never had to give anything up. Is that cheating? Maybe. Yes. Probably. But I’ve never found it hard to not eat an animal.

“So then what do you eat?”

Everything else that wasn’t once a breathing creature with feelings. Do you only eat meat? Tofu is a seriously underrated food. Also it’s wildly photogenic. Just look at that picture! Why wouldn’t you give it a chance?

Honestly, I don’t mind answering these questions. I understand that I’m the anomaly in our society, and people wonder how I can live without such a large part of the American diet. But as I’ve grown up answering these questions, I’ve also noticed more and more peo- ple around me answering these questions too. I think that as a group of individuals, we are realizing that eating meat hurts the animals, the environment and ourselves. Even a small number of people are realizing these things leads to a larger discussion. It brings me hope that in the future, someday carnivores will be the odd ones out.