While the rise in a protein era focused time in the fitness community has given way for extreme opposite ends of the eating related issues spectrum, it’s also been the decline of plant based products being sold on shelves and being offered at restaurants. With the current discussion on eating plant based has been subject by a moral discourse, the argument that those who don’t eat plant based are inherently wrong to be exact, while leaving out the ethical and environmental harm capitalism is causing Indigenous farmers who harvest these plant based goods just as much as capitalism is aiding in animal suffering by mass production of meat and dairy products.
This conversation leaves out the political and economical aspects. Politically the discussion on veganism has been made into a joke of the “blue haired liberal”, a strong distain for someone eating plants and their reaction to tofu alone directly mirrors their political stance especially towards racial, gender, and sexual orientation based political and governmental issues. The blatant racism that’s attached to the veganism discussion, leaves out Indigenous communities who have and use ethical hunting practices for food, and ignores the abuse indigenous farmers go through to produce mass amounts of vegetables and grains for big box companies who get paid pennies in return. Economically the people agreeing with the statement of meat consumption being inherently wrong , conveniently leave out those who are forced to survive off grains and beans and those who only have access to animal based products due to money, restrictions, or food deserts.
Trying to dictate and guilt trip what and how people eat is incredibly privileged, tone deaf, and wrong. It is a privilege in this political climate to even be able to afford food and have access to stocked grocery stores. It’s an even bigger privilege to be able to CHOOSE how you eat and the diet you follow, veganism isn’t suitable or sustainable for many people from health, income, or accessibility issues. If you truly care about ending suffering of living things, you would be calling out capitalism not dictating someone’s plate just to make yourself feel important.
