It never hurts to see one’s own views being shared in a prominent journal, such as Time magazine. The article is called “The Growing Case Against Red Meat” Here’s an excerpt:

The analysis of more than half a million Americans between the ages of 50 and 71 found that men in the highest quintile of red-meat consumption — those who ate about 5 oz. of red meat a day, roughly the equivalent of a small steak, according to lead author Rashmi Sinha — had a 31% higher risk of death over a 10-year period than men in the lowest-consumption quintile, who ate less than 1 oz. of red meat per day, or approximately three slices of corned beef. Men in the top fifth also had a 22% higher risk of dying of cancer and a 27% higher risk of dying of heart disease. In women, the figures were starker: women in the highest quintile of consumption had a 36% increase in death over a 10-year period compared with women who ate little red meat; eating lots of meat was associated with a 20% higher risk of dying of cancer and a 50% higher risk of dying of heart disease. (Read “A History of Beef, Times Two.”)

Unfortunately, there is also mention of white meat consumption being associated with lower risks of death. So, though this article may decrease the amount of red meat consumed, meat-eaters might simply replace that red meat with white meat and still end up eating the same amount of meat as before. So, better for the cows, worse for the chickens.

However, the article goes on to say that consuming less meat is beneficial to the Earth. So hopefully, for the environmentally conscious, this will be motivational. Author Mark Bittman stresses the importance of a gradual lessening of meat consumption so the lifestyle change will be more sustainable. This makes sense to me. As much as I would like people to drop everything and stop their meat consumption today, I don’t want this to become a fad diet that people are on for two weeks only to make up for it later on. We must work towards longevity. It takes a long time to alter the diets of entire countries. But I’m confident we’re making progress.

Me flying a kite. Photo by Emory.

So, as you probably know, my main reason for being vegan is ethics. I think the factory farming in the U.S. is wholly corrupt and cruel and disgusting. Secondly, my reasons involve health. Dairy products are so packed with hormones and antibiotics. And the whole thing just sickens me.

But WHAT IF you had the opportunity to go somewhere where this was not the case? Where farm animals were treated very well, the people were very concerned about animal welfare, and the products were very natural and fresh?

Here comes my confession: While in Denmark, I ended up trying a couple of vegetarian items. As in not vegan. I tried wedding cake (which was amazing), a veggie sandwich with brie (not so amazing), and chocolate (amazing). My thinking was, if I ever had the urge to stray from veganism, this is the place to do it. As I mentioned in my last post, animals in Denmark seem so much happier. The family farms are adorable and it’s clear that the farmers treat their animals more like companions and less like products. The food is local, and Denmark is very into organic and eco-friendly methods. It’s a whole different mentality there. They really genuinely care about these things, unlike the U.S., where I feel like many people hop on board because it’s trendy. I hope that’s not true but it certainly feels that way sometimes.

People often ask me- if you had your own farm with a cow and some chickens, would you eat dairy and eggs? My initial response is that I actually prefer soymilk over cow’s milk, and that cow’s milk is for the cow’s babies, not me. And the idea of eggs kind of grosses me out when I think about it. And dairy isn’t as healthy as people give it credit for. So there are many reasons I would not. But if I ever had the desire to use dairy and eggs, and I had my own cow and some chickens, then, yes, I believe I would. But I’m back in the U.S. now, where this is not the case, and I’m wholeheartedly back to my vegan ways. If I went back to Denmark, would I stray again? I doubt it. I’m sure the dairy industry there has its flaws, too. I think this was a one time deal. I actually feel sick about the fact that I ate those things now and am not proud of myself. I’m happy with my choice to be vegan, and it’s very rare for me to desire dairy and eggs.

Some of you may get upset and feel betrayed by my brief lapse in veganism, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, nonetheless. Have you ever strayed from veganism?

I just got back from Denmark, where my sister lives now with her family. I went there for her wedding. She and her husband were already married but they didn’t have time for a real ceremony then, so they decided to make up for it with a traditional Danish ceremony. Her husband and his family are all from Denmark and it was really great meeting all of them and attempting to learn some Danish in the process. We were so fortunate to stay at their adorable family summerhouses, right along the Atlantic. Talk about a beautiful view!

Here’s the summerhouse we stayed at. Looks like it’s straight out of a magazine.
Gorgeous photography, courtesy of Emory.

And here I am with an odd expression, recovering from the freezing cold Atlantic.
Gorgeous photography, courtesy of Emory.

I can see why Danes are said to be the happiest people in the world. Denmark is absolutely beautiful, the food tastes better, the beer and coffee are smoother, there seems to be a stronger family bond there, and people are just so nice! Even the animals seem much happier, with all the cute family farms that exist there.  The only downside is how expensive it is. So, if you’re planning a trip there, start saving now!

I got to spend some time wandering around Copenhagen with some very dear -and newly engaged- friends. One of the highlights of our day was stopping for lunch at Rizz Razz. This restaurant had a fantastic buffet that was almost all vegan! And the food was so good. And very affordable! I must stress how difficult it is to find affordable restaurants there. Danes don’t go out to eat nearly as much as Americans, due to the high cost. I also should mention how rare it is to find vegan-friendly restaurants. We really struck gold here.

That was my delicious plate. I was all excited to go back for seconds, because they had so many other great dishes to try, but after finishing this plate of goodies, I was stuffed.

So if you’re itching to travel to a beautiful Nordic country, Denmark’s the place. And if you’re ever in Copenhagen, do check out Rizz Razz. You’ll be filled with good eats.