In Defense of Meat: The Rebuttal to the Vegan/Vegetarian Ideology

- We live in a time when meat-eating has come under fire and has received some harsh scrutiny.  Most of this has come from the vegans/vegetarians who advocate for a plant-based diet; because they believe (as do many others) that animal-based diets are unhealthy and can lead to heart disease or other illness. Well, now that we know saturated fat is healthy this community is slowly running out of ammunition in which they can use to push their agenda.

-  As a voracious meat-eater and self-fulfilled ‘Paleoer’ I have received few questions and a lot of criticism from animal rights activists, environmentalists and especially the vegan and vegetarian community-This post is for the rude vegans and vegetarians, the ones who have criticized me and have become angered with me; it's for those with misinformation and those who continue to spread it with their ignorance-. Many vegan/vegetarians feel they deserve a higher place on the humane as well as intellectual pedestal. To them, I say they deserve neither.  However, for those who do it and who do not wish to impose their eating choices on anyone else, nor do they agree with the radical, atrocious, ideology of animal rights and feminist extremists; and they simply want to eat a way they find meaningful and healthy- I see nothing wrong with that.- I am writing this in order to express my opinion to those who would only accept a rigid food paradigm.  I consider myself a scientist; I am open to new opinions and ideas, I am not closed minded or ignorant, I base my ideas and beliefs off of evidence. To those who would not listen to anyone that thinks differently than they do; this is my rebuttal. 

- The vegan/vegetarian agenda is a startling  "movement" and ideology.  Somehow, someone got the idea in their head that humans are not meant to eat meat. Somehow, someone thought that eating only plant based foods (or anything that isn't an animal, its by product or anything that involves animal labor) is the healthiest way to eat; and unfortunately people like myself have been the butt of much of the controversy.  In my opinion, this is one of the most dangerous and foolish ways to approach nutrition as well as environmental sustainability. Even for those who do it to protest the wrongful treatment of animals, they are doing those animals and the planet far more harm than good.

There are several routes that can lead a person to become vegan/vegetarian:

1.        Empathy for animals

2.        Disgust with consuming meat

3.        A moral quarrel with issues surrounding meat

1) Many vegetarians grow up humanizing animals.  This outlook takes hold by exposure to things like pets, stuffed animals, and even Disney movies (which can cause the Bambi-effect). Those who tend to have this mentality usually have spent little time hunting, fishing, or working farms; they tend to only ever eat meat that is sold and served in ways that masks the true origin of the animal.  Eventually, a realization comes to mind that the slab of meat has once come from an animal.  Since animals become humanized, they have a greater empathy for them, which then brings them to not consume meat anymore.

2) Vegan/vegetarians often use disgust to create, as well as reinforce, an aversion to meat. Since most people grow up enjoying meat (because it’s a natural desire), the disgust tactic is essential to make meat seem distasteful and revolting. Due to many vegan/vegetarian's lack of exposure to either Paleolithic meat (hunting, fishing) or even Agricultural meat (farming) many have an extremely sensitive disgust reflexes when it comes to meat.

3) Due to this disgust and moral judgments, eating meat has become not just a question of health but this issue has become a black-and-white issue of morality. Rejecting animal products becomes a form of physical and spiritual purity.

The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory

- There are undoubtedly more reasons than this as to why someone would convert to this lifestyle; however, I feel that those are the biggest causes.  Now, when it comes to misinformation or generating false claims and fear in the eyes of those empathetic towards animals no one does it quite so disturbingly as Carol Adams. In her book,  The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory a.k.a. “a bible for the vegan community”, Adams claims that meat-eating is a mechanism to enforce “patriarchy”, a state of being where men are primarily authority figures in society (and everything in her eyes are a man’s fault). In her book she talks of her path to becoming a vegetarian, like most she once ate meat but the traumatic death of her horse who was killed in a hunting accident scarred her for life. She described it as, “the dead body of the pony I had loved”, she later took a bite of a burger and she then realized she could never look at meat the same. Over time she somehow worked into the idea that consuming meat was a symbol of male oppression- and thus her book was inspired. Not only is that view unbelievably disturbing and ignorant but Adams does not stop there, she goes on to claim that meat-eating encourages rape. Adams pathetic excuse for not eating meat doesn't even not stop there; her mantra if you will is, “Eat Rice Have Faith in Women” is supposed to somehow undermine the male culture of meat-eating which in-turn undermines male power and thus reduces rape.  Yeah, you read that correctly, the author of a book that The New York Times called, “a bible for the vegan community” actually believes that meat-eating causes rape.  I guess she doesn’t know that India is predominately vegetarian (they go as far as believing cows are holy) but also has one of the most atrocious records in the world when it comes to rape, abuse, and sexual violence towards women.

- Adams gross comparison of rape, male dominance, and meat-eating only exists because of agriculture.  Hunter/gatherer communities were not a feminist heaven but there were very few imbalances in power and far more equality between the sexes. Adams wants to claim that our diet is somehow linked to this patriarchal society of male dominance; well sorry to break it to you but Adams has it backwards.  The shift from an animal-based Paleolithic diet to a plant-based agricultural diet is what led to what she believes to be that patriarchy. Wheat and corn are a far greater symbol of oppression than meat.  Hunter/gatherer woman did most of the gathering which makes it highly likely that it was the innovation of women that gave rise to the domestication of plants, which in-turn caused the agricultural revolution, which led to said patriarchy.

- Like Adams, many vegans/vegetarians try to elicit an aversion to meat by using certain triggers of disgust, things like, bodily fluid, corpses, rotting flesh, and the risk of infection.  Even though eating a well-done steak pretty much eliminates the risk of a food-borne illness (veggies are the real risk), these tactics causes a person's immune system to respond to an imaginary threat. These triggers then become almost an obsessive habit. The sensitive disgust reflex can make one very close to someone with OCD; constantly "gaging" or experiencing revulsion at the simple sight of meat.

- These tactics lead us to what is called the Bambi-effect, people become squeamish about killing animals that “cute” in their eyes (deer, rabbits) but not about killing animals that they find “repulsive” (rats, pigeons).  There is no reason to think a rat values its life any less than that of a deer or that it somehow feels less pain, yet continually most people treat them as such.  Both are mammals, both are equal. Many animal rights activists or vegan/vegetarians try to make up moral judgments about wild animals, they both often experience a bad case of “Bambi Ethics” or “Bambi Environmentalism”.  They give human morals and traits to nature in an extremely superficial way; they do this without considering the actual ethical or environmental consequences of their actions.  Nature is not a Disney movie.  I don’t know how many Disney movies you have seen but they are never like what we see in, Plant Earth, Life of Mammals or any other nature program for that matter.  Vegans/vegetarians fail to acknowledge the ecological effects that would occur if we stopped eating meat or hunting.  

- Hunting is not only an ethically sound activity, but also an imperative for not only the health of an ecosystem, but also for the population of the species being hunted. Humans have killed off most of the natural predators (e.g. mountain lions, bears, wolves), which has caused an over population of prey species. Using deer as an example, when food begins to run low due to overpopulation infant mortality amongst deer begins to rise. More deer, less food = less milk production by the doe, which leads to a starving fawn. The shortage of predators (including humans) means that many of those cute Bambis die a slow and painful death via starvation.  Hunting is not only an ecological imperative for the health of the ecosystem and species, but also an ethical way to kill an animal.  Deer have a few options when it comes to dying…

•       Killed by a predator (e.g. getting torn apart by coyotes or wolves)
•       Starvation
•       Freezing to death in a harsh winter
•       Disease

Hunting gives the animal a chance to live the life it was intended to lead, a shot to the heart from an experienced hunter would minimize suffering as well as continue to support life’s intended cycle of predator and prey. One has to understand the dynamics of the species and the habitat in order to be rightfully objective; while this is true for some, most vegans/vegetarians, animal rights activists are too stuck in the paradigm of the Bambi-effect. To look at it from a holistic perspective, the health of the ecosystem is different and far more essential than that of a single organism. Predators play a vital role in the health of an ecosystem, and we humans are the apex predator.

 - Traditional agriculture was not exactly the paradise and harmonious utopia vegans/vegetarians believe it to be. A traditional “organic” farm was a complex and productive synergistic ecosystem of species. Manure fertilizes the soil. Crop rotation harnesses the power of cover crops (usually nitrogen-fixing legumes like soy), which is needed to renew the fertility of the soil, due to continual farming.

- Pigs can convert just about anything that is edible or even inedible to delicious bacon; while sheep, goats, cows and other ruminants can graze on land that is unsuitable for crops, which in-turn, creates a biodiversity that is a true beauty to behold. The species and genetic diversity among both plants and animals provides diversification against insects, pests, as well as maintaining the quality of the food and ecosystem. Domesticated animals (i.e. chicken, pigs, cows) have always been a crucial and inseparable part of traditional farming.  It is possible to herd without domesticated plants, but it is next to impossible to farm without domesticated animals (sorry vegans).

- When industrial farming replaced traditional farming the great industrial machines removed the burden from animals. Horses or Oxen, that once pulled plows, were then displaced by machines, and chemical fertilizers, displaced animal manure. The only thing that animals seemed to do better than machines, was to convert grass and grain into meat, milk, and eggs. Large industrial farms began to grow mass amounts of a single crop (corn, soy, wheat), or began specializing in raising a single species (cows, pigs, chickens).  The once pristine, self-sufficient, synergistic, model of Mother Nature’s perfect design came to a halt.

- These factory farms which slaughtered these animals were (and are) pretty cruel. The largest and most outspoken critics of these new industrial food methods were vegans, vegetarians, and animal rights activists.

- Meat is probably the most important food source for humans.  Calorie for calorie nothing can match meat as far as nutritional benefits on both the micro and macro nutrient level. If humans were meant to eat only plants our teeth would not be able to tear flesh (our canines do not need to be as large due to our ability to make tools that can kill as well as cut flesh) nor would our digestive tract be assembled how it is (or like many herbivores we would be regurgitating our food to try to extract more nutrients from it)- Plants have very few calories, which is why we see herbivores eating constantly and many times have multiple stomachs or even large guts; while carnivores on the other hand can go several days without eating and have a single stomach, just like humans- Protein from animal sources not only help us feel satiated for a long time but meat is an important building block for muscle growth, hormonal health/production and overall health.  

- Additionally, it is well known that vegans/vegetarians suffer from deficiencies and have to take  supplements.  Those deficiencies include: B12 (found predominately in meat), calcium, iron, zinc, the long-chain fatty acids EPA & DHA, and vitamins like A & D. Meat is such a crucial element to the human diet, we as the apex predator, hunted many species to extinction (and we did it with only our feet and stone tools), humans are the best runners in the world and it is not to out-run predators, (even Usain Bolt can’t out sprint a tiger) we are the best runners when it comes to capturing our prey; and damn were we good at it. We were so good, in fact, that not only did our ancestors hunt many species to extinction on the great grass-lands but also made prey and predators alike disappear. It was once believed that the ice age gave rise to a great extinction of approximately 177 species, however, new evidence has been brought to the table suggesting that humans played a greater role than that of the climate. No plants = Meat is the only option. Hunting activity is believed to be the root cause of the animals’ extinction, through both direct and indirect methods. Humans either hunted the animals themselves, or competed with them for smaller prey. With the predators food source gone, they wouldn’t be able to sustain their populations.   

- Few calories, lacking in protein, and high in carbohydrates, eating plant-based food ONLY is a great way to starve the body.  Your body uses the sugar from the low calorie plants very fast (which is why vegans/vegetarians tend to be hungry) and coverts it to glucose for fuel.  Well, if you eat a protein heavy meal you will have glucose throughout the whole day.  When we eat a grass-fed steak for

example, our liver SLOWLY turns that meat into glucose- in a process called Gluconeogenesis- which gives us steady energy throughout the day. If you ate only a salad for a whole day, you're going to be energy and nutrient starved as well as cranky and malnourished.  However, with a healthy hunk of meat, you will be able to function, feel satiated, and it won't be detrimental to your body or mental health/performance to not eat for hours or days (intermittent fasting is a far different experience on a vegan/vegetarian diet). If that isn't enough, just know that carbohydrates are not needed to support our bodies. 

Chimps with large gut vs Humans with slim gut

- Not only that, but there has been a link made between meat-eating and an increase in the size of our brains. Meat is such a beneficial resource in terms of a compact source of calories and nutrients, that instead of having big guts - like a lot of our living primate relatives do, such as: chimpanzees and gorillas - that we didn’t have to invest as much energy into these big guts (being that we came from a common ancestor as chimps we both a have similar guts as far as acidity, and chemical composition- evolution does not work backwards- our stomachs simply became slimmer due to more protein). It takes a lot of time and energy to digest wild plants, and we could instead invest energy into growing big brains, running, learning, hunting etc.  Our brains needed that fat and protein and over time our brain and bodies became more and more adaptive to a high-fat/high protein-diet. 

- You know how many people believe they need supplements to get everything they need because it's so hard to get it from food? Well, the vegan/vegetarian community need to supplement for obvious reasons discussed above, but lets look at this issue logically.  Evolution in all of its beauty, grandeur, and mystique gave us these bodies for a reason.  Why would evolution give our bodies nutrient requirements that are not met in the real world? Hunter/gatherers didn't have access to supplements so why would it be any surprise to realize that we can get everything our body’s need from food?  This is where the vegan/vegetarian mentality fails miserably.

Meat, fat, muscles, organs, bones

- We can meet every single nutritional requirement our body needs by eating an animal. I love kale as much as anyone you're ever going to meet, but it does nothing when compared to healthy meat consumption.  Eating an animal nose to tail will give your body EVERYTHING it needs to be healthy, strong, resilient, and nourished. Nose to tail means eating everything, nothing is ever wasted in a hunter/gatherer community, everything from brains, organs, and bones are consumed. Vegans/vegetarians like to use the argument that carnivores must produce vitamin C in their bodies because they cannot get it from plants; and since our bodies don't produce vitamin C we must be only designed to eat plants! Well, not only is that one of the most illogical arguments I have ever heard- humans are omnivores not carnivores so the comparison is utterly foolish- but guess what, since our bodies do not produce vitamin C we can get it from our food (duh) these foods include fruits, vegetables and. . . meat! Cooking meat too much destroys vitamin C, but eating meat raw has vitamin C -Ever here of Beef tar-tar?- Eating another animal has all of the nutrients required to build and support another strong, healthy, animal. That is how life works.  

-Furthermore, we know that our hunter/gatherer ancestors consumed a lot of meat from not only bone mineral samples (they have yet to find a vegan/vegetarian hunter/gatherer) but through obvious situations in which animal protein would of been the only option. Being of European descent, my ancestors would of been hard pressed to find fruits and veggies in the harsh winters of Europe.  Hmmmm, so if they could not find plants to eat -due to them being covered in snow- what else did they eat to survive? That leaves us only with animal protein. So, if humans were not meant to eat meat why is that we have flourished for thousands of years on a meat heavy diet? I mean just look at modern day Inuit Diets that eat predominately meat and fat throughout their lives. Not only that, but I don't know if too many vegans/vegetarians have ever seen wild fruit or vegetables; they are not only low in calories but they're small, tough, gross, and full of toxins.  The plants that are consumed by the vegans/vegetarians today are domesticated versions of the tougher wild species of: kale, celery, broccoli, bananas, everything. These foods provided little nutritional and caloric value and were mostly consumed when meat was scarce or used as a snack; today, we see vastly different fruits and veggies at the supermarket then we used to find in the wild.  To suggest that humans were meant to eat a vegan/vegetarian diet not only demonstrates vast ignorance of biology, evolution, nutrition, but also a lack of understanding of ecological-systems and the circle of life itself.

- Not only are wild veggies vastly different from their domesticated cousins but

All of these veggies have the same ancestor

they also are extremely tough because they DO NOT want to be eaten. Plants feel pain-and here is the study that supports it- the idea that plants either want to be eaten or don't care is a wildly absurd, narcissistic, and sickening notion. Plants respond to threats and pain, and the idea that vegans/vegetarians have that eating only plant based diets is somehow guilt free is absolutely absurd. Why are plants tough? Why does wild celery produce toxic levels of nitrites in the wild? Why does wild kale produce a gross amount of oxalic acid? THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE EATEN. Poison Ivy, poison oak, and countless other wild plants that can harm us are that way because it is a defense from getting eaten.

Wild Banana

- Fruits on the other hand, want to eaten because they use this as tactic to spread their seeds, however, if you want to eat a fruit only diet that is guilt free you'll have to eat wild fruits and to be honest, coconuts are really the only fruit that resembles what you will see in a supermarket (bananas are full of seeds and are really small, avocados are mostly pits). The reason that eating wild fruits is guilt free where as fruits from agriculture are not, is due largely to the industrial food system (yes, even organic), which harm the grub, soil, fungi, bacterial and surrounding ecosystems as well as small mammals.  Not to mention pesticides and soil depletion (really the only way to eat guilt free is grow fruit in your backyard) which in-turn destroys many forms of life and damages the ecosystem.

Tardigrade

- Being a vegan/vegetarian is not a guilt free way to eat and to think it is only displays a high level of ignorance. Life feeds on life. It's that simple. Yes, many vegan/vegetarians claim to feel guilt when looking at a plate of meat but to narrow life down to the simple classification of it has to walk around or it must be visible is astonishingly selfish and ignorant.  As people who claim to care about life so much that they do not want to eat what was once for instance a cow, they sure seem to have a very narrow definition of life. Animals, insects, plants, bacteria, fungi, tardigrades, all have the same amount of claim to life on this earth just as much as us humans. It is a profound spiritual truth that you cannot have life without death. When you chomp down on a leaf of kale, that kale is being sacrificed in order for you to have life (just like a cow or any living being).

-Everything on the planet is eating and being eaten. If you don’t believe it, just lie naked in a flowerbed for three days and see what gets eaten. That sacrifice is what feeds regeneration and continues the circle of life. In our very narrow, selfish, sheltered culture of today, people don’t have a realistic understanding of life and death. Life feeds on life.  Without death the humus in the soil could not exist, without the humus there would be no plants to grow, without plants there would be no life to be sustained from it.  The soil needs dead insects; fungi, bacteria, manure, and hosts of other beings both dead and alive to thrive and in-turn support all other forms of life.  Without death, life cannot exist.

- The most outspoken vegan/vegetarian does far more harm to the environment than that of an environmentally conscious omnivore. Now, when I say "environmentally conscious omnivore" I do not mean the average person who will devour factory-farmed meat (or essentially anything that is on their plate) I am referring to those who chose to not support factory farming, those who chose sustainable farmers over the factory farms.  I love meat as much as anyone can, however, I am extremely disappointed, disgusted, horrified, and appalled with the factory farm meat system and I choose not to participate in it (like vegans/vegetarians) but here is the kicker: 3.2% of Americans are following a vegetarian diet and 0.5% identifying as vegans now with those people not buying meat it does almost no damage to the factory farming system.  These practices go on just fine without the vegan/vegetarian community, where the real difference is made are by those (like myself) who choose to support the farmers who are ethical, kind, and farm sustainably. I eat free-range pork and chicken, I buy grass-fed beef and support the farms that acknowledge that nature provides all.  

- I eat a pig that lived its life as a pig, a cow that lived as a cow- grazing happily and care free- a cage-free chicken that got to run around, peck, and eat worms. Honoring the pig-ness of the pig establishes a moral and ethical framework on which we build respect for the environment and the millions of years of evolution it took to perfect the beautiful cycle of life. A culture like ours -that views plants and animals as inanimate piles of protoplasmic structure - Joel Salatin inspired that phrase- (like the industrial food system) that can be manipulated however cleverly our great hubris, can imagine—will soon view its citizens and other cultures in the same kind of disrespectful way (I mean we treat the planet like that, so who is to say otherwise?). The average person does not support these farmers, they would rather buy the cheaper factory farmed meat; but people like myself or other environmentally conscious individuals are the biggest impact on these kind of farmers and it is not only because it’s healthy, but because we believe in environmental health, ethical treatment of animals, sustainability, a guilt-free conscious, and damn delicious meat.

- If every vegan/vegetarian gave up their crusade and began to support the farmers who do it right we would see a drastic change in how meat is produced in this country.  Everything boils down to supply and demand.  Ever since the Paleo lifestyle has become popular more and more grass-fed beef has been showing up in stores, more people are buying it and asking for it, so the stores want to sell it. If, say, 5% of the population that is vegan/vegetarian, that means that the factory farmed meat industry is only 5% smaller.  To any big agri-business 5% is not going to put them out of business.  Rather, they now know their market is 5% smaller, so instead they make veggie burgers out of industrial, government subsidized soybeans. However, the same 5% would have a HUGE impact on the farms who ethically raise animals and are innovators in alternative food systems.

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms

- This means that one can have a far greater impact by contributing their money and resources to those whom are doing it right, rather than abstaining from those who are doing it wrong. If everyone decided to eat ONLY grass-fed or free-range animal products we would see a huge shift in the factory farming industry to a more ethical and sustainable approach to farming.  The reason that factory farming exists is because people continue to support it directly by either buying it or indirectly by not supporting its competition (i.e. ethical farmers).  If you have a problem with the industrial food system (like I do) don't just say "Ugh I just won't eat meat anymore." all that does is harm your health and it puts the people who are doing it right out of business.  Rather than support the good guys, vegans/vegetarians chose to opt out which in-turn supports the bad guys (factory farms, industrial food systems). Once the big business of factory farming sees that there is money to be made ethically, they will then begin to ethically raise animals as well.

- Many like to point fingers at the cow for its contribution to the warming of the

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, i.e. CAFO 

planet and the changes in the climate.  Firstly, don’t blame the cow for the negatives of the industrial food system. All of the data that the anti-meat people use assumes an irrigated, concentrated animal feeding operation (i.e. CAFO). Over 50% of the annuals that we grow in American agriculture are to feed cows (Corn, soy). Cows aren’t supposed to eat corn. They’re supposed to be nature’s lawn mowers. It’s completely inverted from nature’s paradigm that it has perfected over millions of years of evolution- I mean come on! The rumen is probably the most sophisticated digestive organ to ever evolve- and by feeding these animals’ corn, soy, antibiotics, grains, hormones, we begin to undermine the role of nature. 

- Secondly, vegans try to use that inverted paradigm to demonize grazing, one the most important, effective, sustainable, and ecologically sound mechanisms for planet restoration, is either consciously antagonistic to the truth or is ignorant of the kind of synergistic models that are present in nature.  

- Synergy is one of the most important concepts when it comes to sustainable, ethical farming.  There is a synergistic or symbiotic relationship that occurs in nature and that relationship is mimicked in ethical farming. Here’s the thing; there’s no system in nature that does not have an animal component as a recycling tool. Doesn’t exist. Fruits and vegetables do best if there is some animal component (i.e. manure, disturbance). Manure is like magic; it’s nature's stinky, disgusting, pile of fairy dust. Yeah, I said it.  

Pasture Raised-Happy Cows

- Now, we could argue about how many animals we should be eating. I really don’t think Americans should be eating so much chicken. Because chicken requires grain; it’s an omnivore. Historically, herbivores—beef, lamb, goat etc.—were every man’s meat because they could be raised on perennials. The kings ate poultry because they’re the only ones who had enough luxury of extra foodstuffs for birds. So perhaps the mundane skinless chicken breast that everyone likes to eat to help lose weight isn’t really the way to go. Poultry used to fill a recycling niche. Today, if every single kitchen had enough chickens attached to it, there would not be an egg industry in America. All the eggs could be produced from kitchen scraps which in-turn creates more food. There’s no excuse for an egg factory.  I would love to raise several chickens (I mean a free egg a day, how can you beat that?!) However, in my current state of living it is not possible (so I support the farmers who do it right). 

- Suddenly all of the "data" that the animal demonizer’s are using just crumbles like a house of cards due to their sheer amount of ignorance.  Support the good guys; don’t just boycott the bad ones.

- Eating a vegan/vegetarian diet supports much of the industrial food system, whether you’re eating soy or organic veggies (yes, there is such thing as industrial organic).  All

Industrial Farming

of the lands used to grow crops were once ecosystems for all hosts of life, the work done to farm all of those soy plants to convert into tofu inevitably kills thousands of insects, small mammals and don’t even get me started on the soil.  Not only are people brainwashed by the government subsidized grain industry (corn, wheat, soy) into thinking that this crap is actually healthy for them but they are continually feeding the machine that is the industrial food system by consuming and purchasing these foods.

- Let’s talk about tofu or the vegetarian chicken, beef, or faux meat that is found commonly in today’s supermarkets.  Not only is that highly processed, sad excuse for food terrible for you but a vegan/vegetarians own hypocrisy is starring right back at them when they eat it.  So you mean to tell me that eating meat is either: wrong, unhealthy, unethical, murderous; but yet they chose to buy and eat an item that is supposed to mimic meat? I’m sorry but is wrong with people? If you truly go that far when it comes to not eating meat, one must look in the mirror and rethink their life and life choices.  Even though consuming meat is oh so terrible in their eyes, there is an evolutionary and biological longing to eat it that they will turn to something that is supposed to fool them into thinking it's meat? Why? Because we are supposed to! Because it is healthy! Because it is a biological imperative! If the most hardcore vegan/vegetarians cannot acknowledge that simply contradiction of consuming foe meat than the lack of fat and protein in their diet has truly taken hold.

- Now, from a person who was once a vegan and now critiques the vegan arguments, Rhys Southan, offers tips on his blog (LetThemEatMeat.com) to those vegan/vegetarians who want to try meat again.

• Don’t believe the horror stories. Ex-vegans/vegetarians getting sick for the first time they eat meat again is a myth.  Part of the confusion comes from how it feels to accidentally ingest meat as a true-believing vegetarian. This can lead to severe queasiness, but most likely this is a psychosomatic response.
•  Ease into it. Try eating a little bit of meat with lots of veggies.  Sushi is a good choice- the rice and seaweed are like training wheels.
• Eat meat you’re craving, or meat that is not too intimidating. Some go straight for red meat or bacon, because many obsess over steaks, and bacon has been called, “the gateway meat”.  For others, go with fish for a smoother transition. 

- In the end, I understand the vegan/vegetarian mentality, I truly do, I love animals whole heartily and that's why I believe they have a right to a happy, healthy life and an honorable death; when it comes to that love we must be objective and think of the whole rather than the individual. Yes, it sucks killing an animal, but for ourselves as well as the environment to thrive it becomes an ethical and humane act as well as an imperative. For 1 week in my life I gave being a vegan a shot (a real vegan) I didn't eat any processed foods (no bread, junk food, faux meat, or vegan cheese, drinks or snacks; only food found in nature) I ate fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and grain. It was one of the worst weeks of my life; I felt weak and tired, I constantly was thinking about food and couldn't focus. Given the fact that being a vegetarian is purely fulfilling the gatherer side of our genes it should come of no surprise why so many find issue with the practice and ideology.  We are also hunters.  Thanks to the world we live in today not all of us need to fulfill our roles as hunters/gatherers, which is what nature originally intended. However, if we are to continue on that path we need hunters, we need people to do the dirty work: hunt wild boar, gut deer, hunt/kill/eat invasive species, raise animals ethically, and buy ethically raised meat.  That role falls to us, the environmentally conscious omnivore.

 Other than the link references I have provided, my other outside sources were:

• The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan 
• The Paleo Manifesto by John Durant
• The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by Joel Salatin