Abstaining From Animal Products

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“I’m allergic to meat.” Well this is not exactly true, but I will occasionally say this to a waiter at a restaurant just to make sure no animal products end up in my meal. I have been a vegetarian since I was 11 years old and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

There has only been one time in all six years that I have eaten meat. After an unfortunate encounter with “Tofurky”, a substitute meat product, I ate real turkey for a day. But other than that, I have been meat, poultry, and more recently, egg free.

People ask if I do it for health reasons, and although that is an added benefit, that is not the real reason. I just love animals and after watching PETA videos of animals being violently slaughtered, I just knew I would never again eat meat. It was difficult to be committed at first, but I soon realized that it was more important for me to stand up for what I believe in than to cave to a cheeseburger.

Some people may think my views are extreme, especially since I am now almost a vegan. In order to be vegan I would have to give up all dairy pro...

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