Eating meat has recently become a common question of daily lifestyle choices of Americans while other major cities around the world seem less interested. People change their diets for a variety of reasons, but an overarching theme is an acknowledgement of personal responsibility. With awareness of this social issue being a clearly slow-going process, the feasibility for change is likewise limited.

First, I would like to clarify the meanings of these dietary terms. People takes them to mean a variety of things, but for the purposes of this introduction I will specify one set of terms that will herein be referred to. Vegetarian[1] refers to the entire group of non-meat eaters including poultry and seafood. Semi-vegetarians are meat-limiters, or those who chose not to eat at least “red” meat. An ovo-lacto vegetarian does not eat any meat products but does eat dairy, such as eggs and milk. I would consider myself to be in this category. This can be separated out into two more categories depending on whether the person consumes only eggs or milk, but not both. Vegan is the strictest or the vegetarian categories, including those who consume no meat or dairy products. Some vegans include in this category any products from animals, such as honey.

Vegetarianism and other similar diet choices come on a range of limitations from eliminating only “red” meat, to the exclusion of all animal-based products. I chose to be an “ovo-lacto vegetarian” last year after learning about the environmental impacts of the cattle industry in a Religion class.[2] The UN article detailing the huge methane production and limitless deforestation from the cattle industry is a great source for real data about this issue. Not only was I shocked that I hadn’t heard about this before, but I was moved to change my dietary choices.

I decided to be a vegetarian (who eats dairy) only after discovering how inconvenient other better options would be. In terms of the environmental impact of our food supply, the list goes on and on. Imagine if we, at least in Hawaii, were to eliminate another methane-producing giant, rice, from out diets![3] “No Spam? Okay. No eggs? Fine. No rice? No way!” My dietribe still seems impossible, and for many, I believe it is.

To get a little personal about this, my opinion about vegetarianism focuses on the environmental impact it has and not about the morality of animal slaughter. This being the case, I am left with two problems. First, if I follow my own principle of environmental conservation, I should not eat dairy or rice either. Again, if sticking to my guns and realizing the feasibility of world-wide change, I should support alternatives in meat and dairy production by supporting sustainable ranching and agriculture. I would if I could; and, at this point I have no doubt I should be a rice-less vegan.

Here I am, though, writing this months after my denial of meat, still not walking my own talk. Again, I chalk this up to general laziness and the inconvenience of resources. Even the addition of Whole Foods market has not alleviated the problem. Sure, they provide vegan and vegetarian options, like others around town, but miss the mark when it comes to responsibly procured dairy and meat options.

After a friend’s recent trip to Portland, Oregon, she commented on the accommodation of these special diets exclaiming, “I was an accidental vegan!” As one feeling limited by the inconvenience of dining and shopping options here in Honolulu, let’s just say I was jealous. Eating this way was so convenient and accessible to the general public that her diet unintentionally adhered to the restrictions I, regrettably, am not.

Portland has been known for its appeal to new-age and alternative lifestyles for quite some time. Why not Hawaii? Although Honolulu does not fit the typical description of a college town, the student-aged population in the tens of thousands, I don’t imagine there isn’t a demand for these types of eateries. There are a few on-campus options to choose from at UHM. Govinda’s and Da Spot offer daily vegetarian and vegan meals.

I want more. I will find more. Stay tuned for Part II documenting my week of veganism, the search for methane-free meat, and the (anticipated) struggle to live the dream.

1 http://www.vegetarianvegan.com/Vegan_Vs_Vegetarian.html
2 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=warming
3 http://www.pnas.org/content/99/19/11993.full