Looking for a new way to celebrate spring this year? Join over two dozen countries in the Meatout, an international day of observance dedicated to helping people learn more about diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. This event is coordinated each year by FARM (Farm Animal Rights Movement), a nonprofit, public organization, headquartered in Washington DC. FARM, founded in 1981 by Alex Hershaft, PhD, advocates plant-based (vegan) diets to save animals, protect the environment, and improve health.
Choosing a Vegan Life Style
People choose to avoid eating meat for a variety of reasons including health, animal protection and environmental conservation.
- According to Vegan Outreach.org , the number of mammals and birds farmed and slaughtered in the U.S. each year is approximately equal to one and two-thirds the entire human population of Earth.
- Animals used for food, medical research and items such as leather and clothing are often subjected to caging, crowding, and drugging. California's Prop 2, passed in November 2008, prohibits, with certain exceptions, the confinement on a farm of pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal, and egg-laying hens, in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.
- By freeing up grains and other foods currently used to feed animals, more of the world's hungry people can be fed.
- Our topsoil, water, and other food production resources can be preserved for other needs when not required for the farming of animals.
Health Benefits for Vegetarian Diets
The American Dietetic Association has taken the stance that "planned vegetarian diets may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.
- Eating less meat has been linked to a decrease in our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases
- A meat-free diet decreases our exposure to infectious pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli.
Help for Eating a Meat Free DietEach year, on the first day of spring, The Great American Meat Out brings people together through community events to host festivals, lectures, public dinners, cooking demonstrations, food samplings, and information tables. Meatout will supply an action guide, event planner and phone and e-mail support to any groups or individuals looking to plan a community event. Meatless Mondays, throughout the year, are also encouraged by the organization.Many US state governors and city mayors issue proclamations acknowledging Meatout events. Schools celebrate with vegetarian options available in cafeterias. Celebrities, such as Mary Tyler Moore, Jennie Garth, Bill Maher, and Tony LaRussa publicly support a meat-free diet.Reducing or eliminating meats in the diet may offer better health and may protect our environment. Consider getting involved in the meatless movement by supporting events that promote an emphasis on diets rich in fruits and vegetables.
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