Veal or Vegan?

I leave for college in 5 days. Finally, I am finished with goodbyes. Now I just can't wait to get out of Baltimore myself. Everyone else has gone. I want to get started on my own college experience. I know I said I wanted this summer to last forever but it has to end. It's time for summer to end.

Last night we went out for a family dinner. We rarely go out to dinner as a family. It was a nice change. Everyone ate too much expensive food and my grandfather got sloshed. Everyone at the table ordered veal except for me. I almost cried just at the sight of so much baby cow meat. And it wasn't just small helpings of veal for everyone. They got veal shanks, the most meat I have ever seen on a plate. One for each person. The meat falling off the bone.

Ok, so I'm not a vegetarian but I am moving in that direction. And I try not to be preachy or anything about it but when every single person orders a veal shank, it really got to me. First of all, I don't like the idea of eating a dead baby cow or a dead baby anything. Actually I don't like eating dead animal meat in general. The thought of putting the muscles of a dead animal in my mouth is not appetizing to me. But I realize that people love meat and in general I say, "to each his own." I don't like eating dead animals but that's just me.

Secondly, I just have to object to how the food industry is run. Everyone has heard the horror stories. It has to make you pause and think about what you are supporting by grilling up that steak. However, there is the free range option. I respect people who eat free range. I think everyone, if they choose to eat meat, should make the effort to eat free range meat. Unfortunately that is not the case.

So, I didn't intend this blog post to turn into a discussion of vegetarianism. I'm not even a full vegetarian yet but I am planning on becoming one once I figure out an alternative, nutritious diet that I can eat easily.