Greenblade - creation - faith - justice

An embarrassment of reasons

The UN, not known for being a radically progressive organization, delivered a report recently that was hardly noticed in the American press, but got some good coverage in (of course) The Guardian.  The reasons for recommending a global move towards a vegan diet are not new, but to see them articulated by a cosmopolitan body that aims to speak for and to the entire civilized world is striking. 

Add to that the fascinating and disturbing article in today's Times about the collapse of Atlantic bluefin tuna (exacerbated by the Gulf oil spill) and my enthusiasm for animal protein alternatives is renewed. 

Last night, a Quorn fillet sauteed over a campground fire tasted just like (what else?) smoked chicken.


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Wasted

I rarely cook and am coming to terms with that fact (see previous post).  One of the things I thought I could celebrate about this is that I never waste food.  Instead of over-shopping every Sunday afternoon and then tossing most of the unused items out on Saturday before starting the cycle again, I now (or at least during the school year) keep a minimalist refrigerator: condiments, alcohol, ice, a few frozen goods, just in case I have to fire up the microwave and cook something on a midwinter's evening when Thai Express isn't delivering.  When I go out or order in, I make a point of finishing everything I'm served, or wrapping it up and finishing it later.

Thanks to Jonathan Bloom's blog and this recent coverage at Slate, I realize that I'm *still* indirectly contributing to massive foodwaste by patronizing most restaurants, even if I consume everything on my plate.

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Akratic eating

When I am completely honest with myself, I recognize that what prevents me from "eating justly" is a lack of time or, perhaps even more honestly, an unwillingness to spend whatever time I do have on the quotidian chores of shopping, cooking, and cleaning. 

Look at how long it takes this vegan athlete to make his healthy morning smoothie!  His example, and that of various other very impressive vegetarian/vegan athletes and moms, refutes the misconception that animal protein is necessary for health, vigor, strength, or reproductive success.  But watching him make the smoothie confirms my conception that being a vegan -- or just eating in a localist, plant-focused, co-op-centric, CSA, greenblady fashion -- is incredibly time-consuming. 

Cooking is hard work, conscientious shopping takes ages, compassionate eating is of slow food, washing dishes is tedious, and gardening, while attractive in some utopian way, is always not quite ... MORE