When it comes to everyday activities America’s No. 1 concern seems to be convenience. From fast food to online shopping it seems like people have eliminated almost all need for effort.
However there is a growing population of students at Pepperdine who are bringing back thought and consideration when it comes to their diet. As vegans and vegetarians these students hope to shed light on an injustice that often goes unnoticed while enjoying the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. They are not crazy activists but considerate individuals who believe change is not impossible – and it can start in one’s own kitchen.
“Vegetarianism is the practice of nonviolence said sophomore Jenna Saulnier, a vegan of ten years. We see each life on this earth as valuable and worthy of respect.”
What sounds like a peaceful mindset that deters animal abuse can often be misinterpreted as a “diet with an agenda” or a complicated lifestyle. However vegans and vegetarians argue that should the cruelties that animals endure for food and entertainment be exposed everyone would follow a vegan diet. “Unfortunately not many people are aware of the things that they support when they have a meal of meat and dairy Saulnier said. I don’t support the torture of animals on factory farms. That is so explicit and disturbing that almost anyone would become vegetarian after one visit to one of these places.” Senior Megan Huston a vegan of two years said she had no idea what went into the food people consume before she became a vegan. “Once I did my research I didn’t want to put that stuff in my body Huston said. You learn how great or horrible food can make you feel.” So it is used by many as a platform to protest animal cruelty but is it really healthy to completely eliminate meat? Pepperdine nutritionist Katherine McCune that if approached the right way being a vegetarian or vegan is one of the healthiest dietary decisions one can make. “People tend to use a vegetarian diet as a way of restricting and eliminating calories which isn’t healthy McCune said. The motive has to be examined. If it is used for the right reasons it can be very healthy and delicious.” According to www.GoVeg.com a Web site that aims to inform and help the public maintain a vegetarian lifestyle there are numerous statistics available that prove the benefits of the diet. It has been proven to extend life expectancy and decrease cancer rates by 40 percent for example. As such it quickly becomes harder to order a steak dinner. “I feel invigorated and hardly get sick Saulnier said. I don’t experience colds or stomach aches like I used to when I ate dairy and my cholesterol levels are excellent.” Vegetarians are also less likely to suffer from heart disease and obesity according to the American Dietetic Association.
“Each year a vegetarian saves more than 100 animals by refusing to eat meat Saulnier said. As a vegetarian I have saved approximately 2800 animals in the past ten years.” Sophomore Ashley Ross who has been a vegetarian for almost a year also thinks the diet can result in huge improvements. “I think that the treatment of animals won’t really be changed until the demand for meat goes down Ross said. While I am sure that there are some animal friendly farms mistreating and killing animals for the sole purpose of consumption should be seen as wrong on at least some level to everyone.” Many vegetarians and vegans keep their lifestyle in the hopes that their testimonies will be a wake-up call to those who overlook the repercussions of a simple trip to McDonalds. While many vegans and vegetarians adopt the lifestyle as a protest against animal cruelty others have a different experience.
For example Saulnier gave up animal products when she was only ten years old but her religious beliefs now play a huge role in her decision. “When creating the animals in Genesis 1:21 and 22 God blesses his creations and calls them good Saulnier said. How then can we forcibly abuse God’s precious creations? Instead we should treat them in the same way that God treats us.” Regardless of the health benefits and animal rights activism a vegetarian lifestyle for college students can be inconvenient. It takes time to plan meals and think about every ingredient that goes into the food we consume. But Pepperdine is taking steps to ease the burden. “The cafeteria offers some great vegetarian alternatives McCune said. We are also in the process of making a vegetarian cookbook with a lot of easy and delicious recipes that students can buy.”
