LAUREN FINKE
Business Manager
I have always been a very health conscious person. Throughout middle school and high school I swam on the swim team, danced in school musicals and ran in my spare time, all while maintaining a balanced diet. I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian but could never commit because it just didn’t seem right for humans to not eat meat. Humans are omnivores, right?
I dismissed the idea until I read an article my freshman year of college on the human digestive system. We don’t have jaws that open wide enough for animals to fit inside or thick claws to catch and tear apart prey. Humans have wide, flat teeth, long intestinal tracts and low levels of acidity in our stomachs. All of these are characteristics of herbivores. Every aspect of our digestive systems is characteristic of herbivores.
This was shocking to me, as a person who thought I knew so much about health and nutrition. I spent nearly a month typing every question I could think of into Google, trying to gain some clarity. In the meantime, I discovered the terrible effects dairy has on our bodies. No other species drinks milk past infancy, and no other species drinks milk of another species. Cow’s milk is designed to turn a calf into a 1500-pound giant in as short a time as possible, and it has many adverse health effects when consumed by humans.
I also learned that animal agriculture is a major contributor to many environmental issues our planet is facing, including climate change and species extinction. This was very upsetting to me, as a self-proclaimed tree hugger.
On a more positive note, I learned that humans are able to get everything they need to thrive from plants (yes, even protein). Some of the largest and most powerful animals in the world are herbivores, like gorillas, elephants and hippos.
After this research, I decided to go vegan. It was an easy decision and, from that moment, I have vowed not to consume products derived from animals.
Being vegan is not at all what I thought it would be. It is not limiting, boring or difficult. I eat so many delicious meals every day and there are a plethora of recipes available online. There is also a vegan alternative for nearly every single food. I eat french fries, veggie burgers, pasta, tacos, pizza, salads, soups, cookies, candy and a variety of other foods.
I have been vegan for two and a half years now, and I get to feel good about what I put in my body and the effects it has on the planet. I would encourage every person to be open to trying more vegetarian and vegan foods, even if it is something as simple as participating in “meatless Mondays.”