The new vegetarianism

Christine Lennon’s article, “Why Vegetarians Are Eating Meat” exposes a new shift away from vegetarianism. As the number of vegetarians reconsiders their food decisions, they turn to humanely raised meat as an option. Vegetarianism isn’t just a dislike of meat; it is a way of life focused on ethical beliefs and moral consciousness. But maybe removing meat totally from one’s diet isn’t the best option for one’s health and the environment. Lennon highlights the benefits of eating sustainable meat purchased from local farmers.

There are many different ways to raise cattle. One way, which is the reason for many vegetarianism beliefs, is the factory farm. These farms are characterized by overcrowded, unsanitary and “inhumane conditions that produce innumerable tons of environmentally destructive animal waste.” The distrust of these factory farms connects vegetarians nationwide. But there is another option to farming, the local sustainable farmers. The local farms that don’t care just about profit, instead they see their farms as an example of their life values. They believe in “grass fed” cattle, because it’s natural and easy to digest for the animals. Lennon discusses her interactions with Greg Nauta, a small-scale organic rancher who prides himself on sustainable farming. Nauta explains how he has met many vegetarians who are starting to see his type of farming as a better option than removing meat from their diet completely. In what ways was Lennon’s interaction with Nauta similar to Pollan’s visit to Salatin’s farm? He refers to the grass-fed beef as “beef with benefits.” This meat has been associated with less fat, higher omega-3 fatty acids and helpful to the environment. For these reasons, even Mollie Katzen, famous vegetarian author, is turning towards sustainable meat. There are many reasons people remove meat from their diet, but if sustainability and industrial farming is of any importance to them, they may want to consider this other option. What are some reasons traditional vegetarians will not consider this new diet?