My Journey Converting To Vegetarianism

What if I told you that the flawlessly grilled, mouth-watering steak individuals devour associates with an industry that abuses animals? I lived a predominately omnivorous lifestyle for most of my childhood and relished the myriad of dishes that incorporated meat. Treasuring animals since I was born, I envisioned this fabrication that animals lived in a utopian society; that only when they peacefully departed consumers would receive their produce. I was naive and assumed animals were treated with compassion and tenderness. Never in my childhood would I have anticipated how ludicrous this vision was and how much it would impact an extensive aspect of my lifestyle.

Each annum, millions of baby chicks are born into this vile practice, where their sex determines life or death. Being female gives you a chance at life. Like many others in the meat industry, female chickens are "spared" and abused/only seen as a tool for procreation & earning profits. Unfortunately, male chicks are subjected to the inhumane practice of being ground alive in industrial macerators; this practice applies to many meat and dairy enterprises. In 2019 the global market for meat and dairy was worth 11 billion dollars; In my firm opinion, an industry that inflicts damage on guiltless animals is not worthy of a single penny.

My parents were not traditional Hindu parents; they opted for a more flexible diet that consisted of poultry. I became aware of the atrocities behind meat production when I watched a VICE documentary on animal advocacy groups staging a protest outside of a chicken farm. Before this event, I had no knowledge of the polluted and contaminated environment these animals had to suffer. How could the world or I ignore such an atrocity? Around this period, I committed to being a vegetarian and standing up for these voiceless creatures.

Altering a diet that I have followed for epochs was not effortless. My parents and numerous other companions saw the industry as a way of life and said this massacre was destined to happen. They chuckled at the idea of being vegetarian, calling it unrealistic and not achievable. Admittedly, I did struggle initially; whether it was my family's helper cooking poultry daily or the limited cafeteria menu in school, it would have been of great convenience to reverse back into my original diet. My perspective on poultry significantly shifted to the dismay of my numerous colleagues who knew my love for a good authentic, fresh and handcrafted beef burger. What I used to view as an essential part of multiple individuals' diets, I now view as optional and unnecessary. What my family viewed as tasty and irreplaceable, I viewed as a despicable act of carnage. While I state this, however, I never forced my beliefs on anyone or held grudges. Instead, I took the time to educate myself on this industry and educate others, something I would have never done if I had not seen the documentary.

The world is diverse with numerous cultures with distinct beliefs and traditions, significantly in the food sector. With this experience and significant change, I have grown as an individual. I have learned how to adapt to different people while staying true to my beliefs. This experience has shown my dedication and commitment to something and how much I am willing to fight for it. I hope that more individuals will be able to understand the influence they can cause by omitting meat in their diet in the future.