Is It Okay to Treat People to Nonhuman Animal Based Food?

Typical 1950's Farm Family — Typical 1950’s Farm Family

I feel sometimes like the “my advocacy is working” stars align. I will tell you my little story and let you be the judge. My husband, who grew up on a farm, has been, like most of us, a consumer of nonhuman animals for most of his life. Like others mothers of this generation, his mother raised her children on the idea that animals as food is a natural and normal and healthy way for humans to live. She” raised” chickens, used the eggs and the chickens for family meals and sold some of them for profit, if I am not mistaken. His father “raised” cows and there was milk and flesh for everyone. There were plant staples too, such as potatoes, beets, and carrots which, during the winter, sat in big 50 lb bags in the basement of their home. This was all pretty standard fare for Canadian farmers in the 1950’s.

Suffice it to say, when I became vegan, my husband was not on board with giving up the flesh and secretions of nonhuman beings. I was a newbie at this and did not see, at the time, anything wrong with buying and sometimes even cooking animal flesh for my husband. After all, it is not like I was eating or drinking it myself. Of course, I also purchased the standard cow products and chickens’ eggs for him. I wish I had understood at the time, that I was being complicit in harming nonhumans by taking out my wallet and buying the products of such cruel industries. I had the silly notion that my husband should not feel deprived because of my choices. I am not proud of it, but there you have it. That is the sad way it was.

A small amount of time went by before I started to make the connection between my husband’s food and my complicity in supporting the very cruel industries which I abhorred on a very visceral level. I had to tell him that I could not longer buy or cook such food. He started bringing home the bacon himself and cooking it. Another amount of time went by before I asked him to keep, in the fridge in the garage, what passes for said food. Some more time went by and after attending a speech given by Dr Tuttle, my husband announced immediately that he could no longer, as he put it, “eat meat”. Hallelujah, our home became a sanctuary of sorts for 100% plant based food. It felt, and still does, like a miracle to me.

Fast forward to today and I tell people kindly that our home is nonhuman animal friendly, and respectfully request that no nonhuman animal food products come in to the house. Everyone hears this-family, friends, tradespeople. If friends are coming over, I use this as an opportunity to tell them that many brands of wine, beer and alcohol are not suitable for vegans and to check this out before making their purchase.

Nature's Plant Candy — Nature’s Plant Candy

But what about outside the home? Where does one draw the line about going to other people’s homes, about eating out and particularly about treating people to food? After much introspection, I have decided that I cannot, in good conscience, treat people to food if it is not 100% plant based. I do not want our hard earned cash going to fund industries which bestow such atrocities on the innocent.

So, when the occasion came up recently, my husband and I decided that the office staff after Christmas, Christmas party needed to happen at what is referred to as a “Vegan Restaurant”. I am way past worrying about whether people will be happy about it or whether they will like the food. We make the invitation in good faith, find a wonderful place to eat and I head off with a happy heart, knowing that I am not intentionally contributing to the enslavement, abuse and murder of fellow beings, just for the sake of fitting in or pleasing others.

So, this past Saturday nite we went to Invitation V. We had been there once before and found the food to be varied

and delicious. The wine and beer they offer is organic, which means it is suitable for vegans. I was super pleased to see all the tables filling up as the night went on. The energy in the room was upbeat, yet peaceful, playful and kind. The servers were personable, approachable and accommodating. And that is when I felt the stars align. Not only were the wonderful people at our dinner party open to trying new plant based foods, so, evidently, were all the other diners. I don’t know how many of them were vegan, but I am pretty sure not all of them were. It makes me feel like we are being heard. Folks, there is a way to eat and to thrive- a kind, compassionate and just way.

Annie’s Vegan View

Set your intention to be kind, compassionate and just in this world.

From this commitment will flow the means.

Be proud of your conscious decision to bring your daily life in line with your ethics.