Beef Magazine

Speak Out Against “Veg Out!”

Amanda Nolz February 9th, 2009

I was in the airport this weekend, and I picked up a magazine to read during my flight. I bought SELF Magazine, a publication for women similar to the editorial content found in magazines like Glamour and Women’s Health. I was flipping through the pages when I found a title that made me stop short, “Veg Out!” The article explained the benefits of becoming a vegetarian. It detailed the variety of options to try including becoming a vegan—eliminating all animal foods, dairy and eggs; a pescatarian—a vegetarian who includes fish in their diet; a fruitarian—an extreme diet of fruits, nuts and seeds; and a raw foodist—vegans who eat all food raw on the theory that cooking destroys a food’s living nature. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading!



The article continued to say, “In a poll at Self.com, 45 percent of women said they either were vegetarian or vegan now or had tried a form of it in the past. 71% of nonveggie SELF readers limit their meat intake. Ready to bring out your inner herbivore? Dust off your salad spinner and start harvesting the benefits!”

The next section of the article was titled, “Ethical Eating 101,” and it detailed ways to lessen your impact on the earth by minimizing your meat intake. The article said, “Transporting cattle, farming grain for feed and cows’ own emissions of methane and nitrous oxide (farts) are major greenhouse-gas producers. If every American had one meat-free day a week, it would have the same impact as taking 8 million cars off the road, according to the Environmental Defense Fund in New York City. In addition, conventionally raised animals often are restricted to crowded cages and pens that don’t allow the inhabitants to lie down. If you do eat meat, consider organic—the industry is held to higher animal-treatment standards.”

Flipping the page to the rest of the six-page spread, I was presented with vegan recipes, a guided one-day vegan eating plan and a portrayal of where the Hollywood stars align in their eating habits. Curious? Carrie Underwood was on one end of the spectrum for her vegetarianism and Jessica Simpson was on the other side wearing a “Real Girls Eat Meat” t-shirt. You go, Jessica!

I think it’s time for another serious letter writing campaign, folks. If you wish to write to the editorial staff at SELF to tell them about meat and dairy in a healthy diet, link here to share your thoughts with the editorial staff. Keep the comments to less than 100 words, and be sure to share your personal story to connect with the readers. While you’re at it, be sure to send me your letters, as well, so I can thank you for your efforts. It’s time we stand up and speak out against these taboo trends. Where will our industry be if we don’t?

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6 Comments to “Speak Out Against “Veg Out!””

1. Bonnie Orvedahl Says:
   

   February 9th, 2009 at 10:22 am

   PEOPLE!

   It’s long past time to stand up and be counted in the war against these special interest groups. I ask you to do your research, find out what they’re really up to, who supports them and then TAKE ACTION if you believe in animal agriculture. You can be sure that if you don’t, they will. And one day you’re going to wake up and find a valuable way of life……..gone………forever. And there’ll be no way to get it back.
   Bonnie

1. Wendall Boehlje Says:
   

   February 9th, 2009 at 10:50 am

   Dear Amanda,

   I know your intentions are pure and good and right in your eyes. But a letter writing campaign will not get to the heart of the problem as you see it. The issue is Self Magazine’s writer/editors world view. In their hearts and minds they believe in a different perspective of life. The most you will accomplish is a compromise in the publication of their beliefs and yours.

   The question is: What is truth? Their world view allows them to define truth for themselves and proclaim it for everyone. The question for you is; Why don’t you believe them?

   Have a wonderful week Amanda!

1. Ron Baron Says:
   

   February 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am

   Dear Amanda, I enjoy reading your blog.

   Mainstream media’s bias against meat and their attempt to tie meat animals to all that is wrong including global warming is breath taking. Their naive notion that meat is somehow toxic to the human body ignores all scientific evidence and certainly the wisdom of history. One must admire the faith required to take up such a belief system.

   Unfortunately, some of them in their arrogance are actually hurting themselves according to a recent study. (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/article1670895.ece) It turns out that vegetarians run the risk of causing their own brain shrinkage.

   Keep up the good work Amanda.

   Ron Baron
   http://baronfarms.com

1. jed dillard Says:
   

   February 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

   “I just couldn’t believe what I was reading!”
   Amanda, you’re not getting out enough!

   Your comment reminds me of the guy I heard at an NCA meeting some 15-20 years ago who was aghast that he had seen prepared in salad in a bag at grocery stores. How much of our lettuce is sliced at the point of consumption these days?

   There’s a LOT going on in the more densely populated parts of the country that bears little resemblance to what happens in the states with more cattle than people and more corn fields than concrete.

   I’m not saying there’s not bad information out there. I’m saying we need to not let that distract us from taking care of the things we can take care of.

   No, I’m not dissing South Dakota or the Plains, either. I worked a summer on a ranch in Highmore in ‘73 and I have more awareness than most folks in the southeast about what goes on in that part of the world.

   “cows’ own emissions of methane and nitrous oxide (farts) are major greenhouse-gas producers. ”

   This is a misconception we need to get out of the way if we are going to be taken seriously in scientific policy debates. You’re the latest of several folks who should know better I’ve heard say this, so you get the reaction on Monday morning.

   Methane is a product of the microbial digestion of cellulose in the rumen, and is released into the atmosphere by eructation not flatulence. Termites are also a source; again because they have microbes in their gut that digest cellulose.

   Methane is also produced in the anaerobic fermentation of stored manure. This methane is more easily captured and managed and has been used as a source of power. The nitrous oxide comes from manure storage and treatment as well.

   Yes, there are real concerns about public knowledge and perceptions of our industry. However, we need to address them with facts, action and advertising.

   We have wasted a lot of good will by circling the wagons to defend such things as stilbesterol and the old grading standards. We shouldn’t waste those lessons as well.

1. andrea mcelroy Says:
   

   February 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

   I am DISGUSTED by the meat and dairy industry. The blood is on your hands.

1. Kelley Coffman-Lee Says:
   

   February 19th, 2009 at 2:55 am

   Amanda - You recently lashed out at people who eat healthy, plant-based foods, claiming they represent some weird, scary fringe group. What a convenient way to get out of eating healthy foods and helping ease the burden on our environment and the confined, tormented farmed animals. I am a mother of 3 and a teacher. Not living on the fringe by any means, I assure you. I am a vegan, however, and I’m sporting a healthy cholesterol level that dips below 120. (We should all be reminded that cholesterol ONLY comes from animal products.) Why do fit, healthy people inspire so much fear and loathing? Denying responsibility for one’s health, the fragile environment, and the well-being of others is simply not respectable. Promoting the destruction of our planet and cruelty towards animals is anything but noble. Only looking out for “Number One” will no longer suffice in this day and age and it’s time you started branching out a bit with your reading materials. Perhaps something not funded and published by the beef industry would be a good place to start. Want to live without disease and have a great quality of life? Stop eating animals and everything squeezed from them. Easy enough. I’m a vegan, I’m healthy, and no…I’m not suffering in any way because I’m depriving myself of greasy chicken wings and bloody steaks. If you took a gander, you’d see that my arteries and colon are sparkling clean. To promote beef as a “healthy” food is deceitful and dangerous. Only those who stand to gain in some way ($$) would ever make such a claim. As Albert Schweitzer said, “Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” The video “Meet Your Meat” is a great place to begin. Not afraid of science? Read “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell. Go Veg!

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