What Have Vegetarians Actually Done to Help?

Becoming a vegetarian or vegan was never an option for me, I may have thought about it once or twice in life but I love experiencing food. Textures, flavors, temperatures and even the sound of different ingredients put together make me love life even in the darkest moments.

The thing is that I used to feel guilty about what I ate. I knew innocent, living beings were sacrificed in a... how to say it? Unpleasant? Cruel? More like inhuman kind of way. I would never agree with that.

Many of my vegetarian friends tried to convince me of their lifestyle but I didn't think it would make a difference. I considered it useless and pointless to give up meat to end the slaughter; I mean, so many other people will still eat it no matter what.

I was wrong.Veggies became such a trend that it startedraising awareness about what we eat, how we eat it and where it comes from.

What would happen if everyone became a vegetarian?

Let's be honest, if everyone became a vegetarian or a vegan, world economy would burst in flames, well maybe not so drastically but it would mean a major disruption. And that's only one of the many consequences...

There are certain places in our planet where it is almost impossible to survive without the protein that comes from meat. One of the drawbacks would be cultural, without their livestock some people would lose their cultural identity.

On the bright side, contamination would be reduced, less water would be used or wasted and a healthier planet would lead to healthier and longer life spans.

It's not about not eating meat at all but reducing our consumption habits to make things better for the entire world.

So... what now?

The interest in eating healthy and organic started out as something hipster, maybe something obnoxious (just as becoming a vegetarian). In many cities around the globe it has stopped being a silly trend or something to follow for a few days. It's now a necessity with so many benefits to our lifestyle.

Industries have convinced us to make things easy, to buy and cook what is already pre-cooked with hundreds of substances that rest nutrients and flavor to our meals. But caring for the origin of the food we eat, by making sure that animals have a dignified life and sacrifice, for example benefits our body enormously.

We are changing. Maybe not all at once and certainly not overnight but I, for instance, rather go to places that believe in "slow food" and get their ingredients from small, local producers that actually care for quality instead of quantity.

I decided to stop eating meat during couple days a week and I also stopped teasing my vegetarian friends, for they have improved the way we perceive food at least a little bit.

Maybe there's hope for us renegades after all.