# Pragmatic
It is interesting to look around at different food choices out there. Some people are led by advertising and buy into the shiny packages. Some people are led by convenience and eat what corporations want them to eat. Some people signal their desire to save the planet by becoming vegetarian or go hard core and eat vegan. I know for my father-in-law it isn't a meal if there is meat. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23wMaocBMJwLgnSTrNoThkFaUMMZFXLFavTzewwuMzJQuLZsfCYwPY6a9Lpik1Z2qHbdh.png) _{Dall-e image. Many choices but what's the pragmatic one?} If looking a little deeper I remember a line from "The Devil" in the TV series "Reaper". In the scenario the Devil is laughing at the food situation in the world. Half the world is suffering from hunger due to lack of food. The other half of the population is suffering from being overfed due to excess. Of course that is an exaggeration but at its core there is something very off with the way that food and nutrition is treated these days. If you see my picture in some of my posts you will know that I'm certainly not above the whole "food chaos" and inequality thing. I obviously eat too much and not always the best quality foods. Much of that is because of time constraints or palatability constraints with teenage children. However, it is my New Year Goal to make my diet much more intentional. ... and it won't get a carnivore diet. ... it won't be vegan or vegetarian. ... it won't be Mediterranean, Atkins, etc, etc, etc.... It goes by a name: Flexitarian. Which basically means I'm pragmatic in my food choices. Whatever makes the most sense is what I'm going with. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23yd85d6ZzyrngCLhSpXYcvBJGGSVjQBhobpVqfx3M7tUaJWcQjZnP18UD2fNxfvR7frw.png) _{dall-e image. Plant based front and center. Meat in the background to fill out the nutrition}

# Meat isn't murder
You may have heard the slogan "Meat is Murder" and that animals are friends not food. I think that viewpoint is very narrow. Every wolf, bear and cougar will absolutely tell you that other animals are absolutely food! Even my dog would agree that rabbits and squirrels are absolutely on the food chain. Any human who has removed themselves from the food chain and cycle of life is missing out on the big picture. Indeed, if humans don't consume *any* animal products they will be hard pressed to get Vitamin B12 which is absolutely required to keep them healthy. I'm not giving a free pass to those people who love their meat either! Massive deforestation in order to fill an insatiable desire for beef is a natural disaster. Inhumane treatment of rabbits for meat, cage kept chickens and any other inhumane animal treatment practices also make me just as angry. Animals are living feeling being which deserve respect. However, I believe that there can be a symbiotic relationship between man and animals. As an example: I have raised rabbits. In nature? Very few make it to one year old and they rarely live long lives. It is simple creature math. Rabbits have a half dozen babies every couple months to replace what is lost to predation by carnivores and natural losses. In captivity though? Rabbits can lead a much happier life with abundant food, comfortable conditions, and no fear or predation. Indeed, a rabbit kept as a pet can live a much much longer lifespan than wild. In my opinion if I can offer an animal a long happy life and at the end ethically harvest the meat? Why not? Better to live with me and live a good life than live in the wild and have a short brutal one. Of course not everyone will agree but I think its defensible.

# Feeding a hungry planet
Here is something to think about. There are a large number of people on this planet and every single one of them needs food to survive. Another thing to think about. The lower an animal is on the food chain and the smaller it is .. the smaller amount of space and energy it needs to be harvested. As an example: Grain, legumes and vegetables produce far more food per acre than small animals like rabbits and chickens. Larger animals like cows? Far less food per acre than vegetables or small animals. I will also assume that larger carnivores like bears would be even less efficient than moose or cows. Now bears aren't typically eaten but still, I think the logic holds. Follow that logic and if you want to feed the most people with the least environmental damage and smallest footprint for food production? Go vegen. Eat plants and vegetables. If you don't want to go vegan? Egg production and milk production is actually pretty productive on a per acre basis. Almost as environmentally friendly as vegan but way easier to get your B12 needs. However, I hate waste. If you are ethically raising chickens for eggs then when they get to be too old to lay...better to eat the eat than bury it or give it to the dog. Same thing with an elderly cow. I'd rather put it into a stewing pot than waste the meat that is there. Even bear. I would never try to kill a bear for meat. Ever. However, if I was attacked by a bear and had to kill it in self defense? I would absolutely ask the conservation officer if I could honor its sacrifice by harvesting the meat and hide. I absolutely hate things going to waste. If pressed I'd absolutely advocate for Flexitarian, which is simply focusing on plant based foods but also eating meat when it makes sense.

# My food, My choice
I have absolutely no desire to preach to anyone else about what they should or shouldn't eat. Even if everyone else eats copious quantities or burgers and steak I will make my decision based on my design. I only have one life to live, my own, so I'll live it by my rules. Hive Learners asked "What if I must avoid meat, even if others do not". My quick answer to a qualified "Why not?". I'm actively looking for ways to incorporate more fruit, vegetables, grains and legumes into my diet. It is cheaper. It is less fattening. It stores better (on average) and is better for the planet. There is a reason I've learned to make sourdough bread, make hummus, make kimchi, make tofu, make soy milk and more. Reason: I want more plant based foods. Will I avoid milk and eggs? Probably not as I want to make sure I get my B12 from somewhere and honestly milk and egg have high quality protein. Skipping on protein is really bad for people ... and I can only eat so many beans before my wife gets upset :) ... But would I reject meat altogether? No. As I mentioned. If I kill a bear in self defense I would expect to eat it. If I raise chickens for eggs I would expect to eat the chickens (likely in soup) when their time came. If I raised a cow for milk? Same thing. I may even raise rabbits as wonderful rototillers for the soil and manure makers for fertility in the land. They are also great at recycling vegetable scraps. However, when the rabbit becomes aged? I refuse to waste food and rabbit stew maybe on the menu. ***I'll never raise rabbits specifically for food....but when their time comes I refuse to be wasteful***

# Choose what you think is right
Food is a very personal choice. I've thought about it a lot and I want to do what is best for my wallet, for my nutrition and for the environment around me. I respect the animals and their right to be treated ethically. I just refuse the idea of being wasteful. Could I live a life without meat? Of course I could but I also believe it would be diminished. Having access to the widest variety of food products makes for great variety and I absolutely enjoy meaty chilli as one of my favorite foods. I also believe that meat is a luxury and should be treated accordingly and hope to treat it as such. Just like I love ice cream I understand its not an everyday food. I'll treat meat the same way. Special. Of course that is just my take on things. Thanks for reading this far and I'd love to hear comments if you feel like sharing. :) Final note: Merry Christmas everyone!

고기파티~~^^