Why Veg?

For two years now, I've been a vegetarian. 

It doesn't happen too often, but occasionally someone will ask me why I don't eat meat.

It's not really a difficult question, but a lot of times I stumble over the answer. Food is a delicate topic - it brings people together, it's part of every person's daily life - and I certainly don't want to offend anyone by insinuating that the way they eat is wrong. 

But I would like to do a better job of eloquently explaining the reasons I no longer eat meat
because being a vegetarian is an important part of my life. 

So, why veg?

The simplest answer is that personally, I feel it's better for my body, for animals and for the environment if I abstain from eating meat. 

There's a lot of conflicting information floating around regarding the way meat in the
United States is farmed now and I won't even begin to claim
I can sort out all of the facts from the myths. 

But if you'd like to read more about some of the reasons I've chosen to eat a meatless diet, these are some resources I've found to be really thought-provoking:

• If you've got a lot of time on your hands, I found Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer to be captivating. Some of the book is difficult to read (he goes into a few very graphic accounts of factory farming). Some of the things he writes can strike a nerve. But he brings up many issues I think are important to consider, even if you don't agree with them. 
• One controversial issue with livestock farming is the use of antibiotics. I'm no expert, but here's what some experts say: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/02/21/147190101/how-using-antibiotics-in-animal-feed-creates-superbugs

And if you're wondering about the safety of a vegetarian diet, here are a couple of good articles on how to get all of your nutrients as a vegetarian (it's not hard, I swear). One of the best things I've found about going vegetarian is that it has encouraged me to try new foods and to be more conscious of what I'm putting into my body. If I was still eating meat, I may never have tried quinoa or greek yogurt or cous cous, all of which I now love. 

• Advantages of a Vegetarian Diet for Children 
• Vegetarian Protein (This is a blog post, but I think he's done a good job of compiling information from lots of resources. Plus, his blog is awesome.)

So, in a nutshell, this is why I'm a vegetarian. 

(I hope that was sufficiently explanatory, thought-provoking and most importantly, non-offensive!)