COOKING WITH MEL
Leonardo Da Vinci
“My body will not be a tomb for other creatures.”
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE MEAT INDUSTRY
18%
of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by farming livestock
90%
of US water consumption is dedicated to agriculture production
99%
of meat production happens in factory farms, where ethical and environmental policies are relinquished to yield quicker production and profits
80%
projected increase in greenhouse gases by the year 2050 if we don't make a change!
VEGAN FAQ'S
WHAT IS A VEGAN?
Vegans avoid eating all foods of animal origin: meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, and honey. Veganism was originally defined purely as a dietary choice, but many vegans extend this ethic to shun animal testing and ingredients from all things they consume or wear, including clothing, shoes, personal care items, and cosmetics.
CAN VEGANS GET SUFFICIENT PROTEIN?
While many foods contain little or no protein, there are plenty of delicious vegan foods that are rich in protein. Including foods like beans, nuts, and tofu with most meals will greatly increase your overall protein intake.
IS A VEGAN DIET MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A NON-VEGETARIAN DIET?
It’s hard to make a definitive comparison since there is enormous variation in the cost and quality of the foods we eat. But generally, a cheap vegan diet will be significantly less expensive (and much healthier) than a cheap omnivorous diet. And even an extravagant vegan diet will never be as expensive as a diet based on high-priced meats and cheeses produced with the best animal welfare.
BUT PLANTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO?
Rarely is this asked in good faith. Anyone that expresses genuine concern over whether plants have feelings should watch a few minutes of a slaughterhouse video and a few minutes of video of grain being harvested.
On this point, it’s also worth considering how Alan Watts answered the question of why he chose a vegetarian diet: “Because cows scream louder than carrots.”
