The Former Vegan

 “Do what you can.” Those immortal words have been spoken by a great many people, all over the planet for hundreds of years in various dialects. Recently I read an article in the LA Times with Tal Ronnen about vegans who eat select meat items. He says “Be a ‘vegan’ who eats bacon.”  This has stuck with me since the article came out at the end of last month (find it here) because I used to be a vegetarian and vegan. My family is entirely supportive about my wanderings between vegan, vegetarianism and being a carnivore. We have other vegans in our extended family and there are always a couple dishes out when we have a party, but I am partial to meat and despite the many arguments that I hear because I am a fair weather veggie, I plan on continue to eat meat but responsibly and not for every meal.
In mixed company mentioning this fact, usually because someone asks if I’m still a vegan, has the effect of creating a HUGE debate about the ethics of meat and the affect it has on the planet. After so many years of trying to explain my views about these issues I find that I have finally come to terms with the fact that I can’t do everything, so I do what I can. I believe that people who enjoy eating meat will continue to do so, and should have the option of supporting humane and ethical farmers not factory farms. The current way we farm meat is unsustainable for a variety of reasons but if we can find a way to understand where our meat comes from and have a desire to treat those animals that will become our food in the best way possible we can become a people that really believes in our food system and make a change, because our food system is in disrepair.
 I think what really needs to be addressed is the fact that our food comes from somewhere. Whether you’re a vegetarian and a person picks those veggies on their hands and knees all day, or you’re a meat eater and that meat is slaughtered for you buy a tired factory worker, there is a story behind what is on your plate and we are separated from that.  When children don’t know that beef comes from a cow or that someone spends the daylight hours picking the veggies that end up in the store or that fruit and veggies come from plants then something is wrong.  I think we really need to understand that disconnect will not do any kind service to our children.
We should want to know where our meat comes from, who raises it and what the animals ate, how those workers are treated and not hide it behind a lot of jargon and packaging. If you buy from small farms if you can, or purchase more products that are made by companies who believe in how they raise their animals, you are making a conscious decision to vote with your dollar. Money talks and if you can change that purchase into taking a stand, why not? I’ll pay a little more to say I’ll opt out of factory farms. I’ll purchase eggs or chicken at the farmer’s market. I’ll buy milk in a bottle from a California company and I’ll make a change in how I look at my food. 
It's hard. I can promise you that making that change is really difficult and can be frustrating. You're not always going to be able to find what you want, and you just might go out to eat. My answer to this is always "So?" You can't always do what you want. When our microwave at work broke down I went out and got take-out. I had options but I chose to grab something quick, and THAT IS OK! No matter what anyone says, no matter how rigid you think you have to be about your principles, there will always be something  you want to do or buy or eat. To quote Forrest Gump "It happens!" There's no point in worrying about it, keep trying and eventually it'll be easier and easier. Someday I want to live my principles even closer to the land but for now I am doing what I can, because that is all I can do!