With New Years only a few weeks away, I have been thinking about my life, and how I can make my daily actions better reflect my professed value system.  I am one of those people who look at the start of each year as the perfect opportunity to implement life changes.  I am also one of those people who consistently fail to live up to the grand plans of New Years Eve.  This year I am giving myself a head start to ensure that I am not derailed by a lack of knowledge or confidence.

My New Years resolution is to eat lower on the food chain.  When I began pursuing locavorism I quickly realized how much waste is created to support my lifestyle, and how many lives are sacrificed to sustain my body.  By eating more vegetables and less meat, I can further reduce my environmental impact and more fully appreciate the animals I choose to consume.

I have no intention of becoming vegetarian this year – I would like to stay happily married – but I would like to make sure that the meat I eat comes from as few animals as possible.  If I only buy whole chickens, and not chicken parts, I can use just one bird to sustain myself for a whole week.   A chicken a week adds up to just 52 per year – far better than the countless lives that made up the chicken breasts and ground chicken I used to buy plus the unknown quantity I consumed in restaurants.  I would love cut back even further, but for now 52 chickens is a number I can live with.  To add to the death count, I would be willing to buy locally caught wild fish whenever it is available.

On a daily basis this means that I will be selecting vegetarian options when dining out, and preparing more meatless meals at home.  I have found a good source for locally grown legumes, and have already started experimenting with dried lentils, and adzuki beans.  The more flavorful the dish, the easier it is to enjoy a meatless meal.  I have been successful with Indian and Mexican inspired dishes, and I look forward to experimenting the vegetarian traditions of other cultures.

I have decided not to alter my consumption of eggs, milk, and other dairy products.  I consider these foods to be the product of animal work, in the same way I consider a bell pepper the product of human work.  If the animal/human is treated fairly and lives a good life, I will gladly consume the fruits of their labors.

I recognize that a more vegetarian lifestyle is not ideal for everyone, but I urge you to consider the source of the meat you eat whenever possible.  A plateful of chicken wings is not an efficient choice.  If meat is an important part of your diet, try to buy local or organic whenever possible.  By purchasing quality over quantity you are making a more environmentally responsible choice.  I challenge you to consider the impact of the decisions you make, and be sure that your actions reflect your values.