The only animals I eat are crackers.

Since I was 8 years old I've wanted to be a vegetarian. Unfortunately my parents would not allow it when I was younger, mostly because I was too young and already a picky eater. As I got older, I became more adventurous with my food and decided that I didn't want to give up meat just yet. I didn't want to give up my favorites- lobster and crab, fillet, hot dogs and of course BACON (who doesn't love bacon?!). But after some serious research, the reasons I've found for living a vegetarian lifestyle are too numerous to ignore.

My motivation for adopting this lifestyle comes from my love for animals and mother earth. Most animals killed on "factory farms" are neglected, tortured, kept in filthy conditions, and often slaughtered in painful ways - such as having their throats cut while fully conscious. And sea animals caught by the fishing industry are also subject to torture such as being impaled, crushed, suffocated or sliced open and gutted, all while they're fully conscious. I refuse to support such cruelty! And these modern practices of raising/catching animals for food contributes to air and water pollution, land degradation, climate change, and relatedly the clearing of rain forests, resource depletion, and species extinction.

Initially, I turned to products labeled "organic", "natural" and "free range" thinking it would be a more humane option to still consume meat and animal by-products. I was shocked to discover that even farms promoting these products cram thousands of animals together in fifthly enclosures to increase profits. Just like factory farms, the animals often suffer the same mutilations and unethical treatment.

I am now what you might call an ovo-lacto vegetarian: a person who does not eat animal flesh of any kind, but is willing to consume eggs and dairy products. "Willing" is the key word however in deciding to eat eggs and dairy. Preferably I would like to consume these by-products from places that have humane standards and practices, such as local, family operated farms.

So this is my way of trying to making a difference, "being the change I want to see...". With so many ethical and environmental reasons - not to mention the countless health benefits - I can't consider living any other lifestyle.

*This video is something I think everyone should see. Please watch

with caution, it contains extremely disturbing and graphic images.