Adopting a vegan diet for health purposes has crossed my mind on many occasions. I always said that if I was faced with some major health crisis, including cancer, I would not undergo chemotherapy or intensive medication- I would adopt a 100% plant-based whole food way of eating instead. Veganism is mainly an idea in my head. I am the most enthusiastic meat-eater in the universe, not only because of the taste but also because of the magnificent texture of animal meat.

There is nothing better than raw beef, thinly sliced and dipped in soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. The flavor of salmon sashimi with pickled ginger and a dash of wasabi is incomparable. Medium rare pork served with BBQ sauce is just splendid. I could go on and on. I am also very aware that this passion for eating animals has made me the chunky woman I am today.

I am not wholly convinced that humans are not meant to eat meat, as so many vegan militants say – we have been doing it for thousands of years and across all cultures. The obvious thing is that the modern way of processing animals for consumption is not acceptable. We are eating meat from stressed-out, cooped-up, antibiotic-filled, and disease-ridden animals. This is not good for them, and not suitable for us.

Every effort counts, so I have been incorporating more plants in my diet by having avocado toast with tomatoes instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast. Eating curried chickpeas instead of curried chicken for lunch.  Making lasagna with Impossible Burger instead of ground beef. It is good for me and good for the planet.

In learning more about veganism, I have come across something that deeply disturbs me, though, and that is the vegan militant. I have rarely seen a group of people so hyped up and dedicated to protecting the lives of chickens, cows, pigs, and fish, among other creatures. The upsetting part is that they do not do the same when it comes to people of color. In other words, the life of a cow is more important than a black human’s life. 

Yes, I said it,  because it pains me when I hear the vegan activists speak so passionately about protecting the lives of the male chicks who are disposed of because they cannot lay eggs. However, some of those same individuals do not display such concern when actual people are eliminated by the police while minding their own business.

As a society, we have to get our priorities in order. Let’s take care of the people first – regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion, then afterward, let’s take care of the animals.

In the meantime, I will continue to eat more stir-fried tofu instead of grilled pork chops and adding chia seeds to my steel-cut oatmeal.

I am not ready to give up meat completely yet. Baby steps.

Watch this to ponder about….