Okay, a few people have been asking me questions, which I am more than happy to answer! Where is NOT the place to talk about why I'm doing this? At the dinner table. Kinda awkward.
1) So hang on, you say in your blog that you’re a locavore but you can eat an avocado. That comes from Mexico. How is that local? Explain.
Well, I’m not a locavore in the sense that I will ONLY eat food raised within a certain proximity to my house. In the Yukon, it is possible that I would develop scurvy if I tried to do that! Well, unless I harvested a freezer full of cranberries.
To me, being a locavore means that you’re interested in eating locally produced food as much as possible. So, if I had to choose between going down to the farmers’ market to pick up a head of locally grown romaine versus going to the grocery store and picking up one that was grown in California, I am going to head to the farmers’ market. I look forward to having that option in a couple months time!
I will buy anything Yukon made or Yukon grown first, provided it is a comparable product. Even if it costs more money, it’s worth it to me. It supports Yukon growers, it’s better for the environment because it hasn’t been trucked in, and it’ll be, without a doubt, fresher and therefore more nutritious.
When it comes to meat, dairy, and animal products, I want to know that the animals I consume have been treated humanely. I cannot know if this is true unless I have some knowledge of where the animal is from and how it has been cared for. If I buy meat raised in the Yukon, I can talk to the farmer. I can visit the farm. When traveling I would also endeavour to support producers from the places I am visiting. And of course, fill my suitcase with whatever local specialty products I can get!
2) What’s the difference if an animal is raised humanely or not? If you eat it, it still dies.
To me there is a big difference between a life of suffering, fear and abuse and a life that is happy, peaceful and quickly ended.
I think it is insane that people are so out of touch with where there food comes from. I've had people lecture me about how hunting is so awful and cruel when the meat they eat comes from a feedlot. I think it's also bizarre that people will eat meat but they can't deal with handling it raw. Or people that only eat boneless, skinless chicken breast because it in no way resembles the animal it once was.
This animal is giving its life to give you nourishment. The least you can do is show some respect and ensure that it has lived a good life. I would even go so far as to say that
if you are going to eat something, you should be prepared to kill it yourself. I look forward to having the experience of harvesting my own moose one day.
3) You have vegan recipes on your blog but you’re not a vegan. Explain.
If I can’t source out ethical animal products, I don’t want to use unethical ones. So you look for alternatives, which means sometimes they are going to be vegan! Even if you have ethical animal products, it doesn’t mean you have to eat them all the time. North Americans, in general, eat a crazy amount meat, cheese, milk, etc. That is not good for your health, ethical or not. There’s no harm in cutting back a bit.
4) So what do you do when you go to someone’s house to eat? Or out to a restaurant? How strict are you?
I am not 100% strict. It’s impossible because unless all you ever do is eat at home, you are never going to have total control over your food options.
Since I took on this little experiment, there have been several occasions at friends' houses where I have had to make the call on whether I was going to eat or not eat certain foods. Generally speaking, I try to stick to my guns. Lots of my friends are aware of my new eating habits now and lots of times there are several different dishes so there is something I can eat.
Eating at someone’s house is a situation where you do what you can but you’re not going to be perfect. I feel like, every effort you make to eat ethically counts and you can still make a difference without being a militant extremist about it. There’s no reason to feel bad if you end up eating something that is unethical. To be perfectly honest, I would feel a hell of a lot worse if I made my friends feel bad or uncomfortable because I was being totally h-core about it.
Eating in a restaurant, you can be more discriminating. They should be thrilled to make substitutions and omissions to dishes. It is their job, after all, to make their customers happy and satisfied. Right? Well, I’ll let you know... I’m have NEVER been a picky eater. Those annoying people in restaurants that ask a million questions... I can’t stand those people. Now I’m one of them? Well, not entirely. Although, I worked up the courage last week to ask one question about the menu...
Quotes from the past week that have kept me motivated and inspired:
“You might have to make some more almond milk. It’s better than milk actually. It tastes better. No puss.”
“Love you for knowing what is right. We better get fishing n hunting n berry picking. No, I’m not drunk.”
It’s reassuring to know that the person who is most affected by my shenanigans, my husband, has been happily along for the ride. Le sigh.
PS- He’ll have his own blog out soon: The Reluctant Ethical Omnivore. Lol
