‘Tis the season most people eat their weight in turkey, ham, or other holiday meats. Not all, however, choose to partake in this tradition.
Turkeys don't enjoy the cuteness of say, lambs or even piglets, but as such they can be subject to cruelty that goes unnoticed. Turkeys are often kept inhumanely and may be abused before they reach your table. They may be crammed into sheds with little room to walk around, and some are engineered to have over-heavy breasts, limiting their natural motions.
The good news is more and more people are choosing animal alternatives like Tofurky during the holidays.
My rule is: if I wouldn’t do it to my dog, I won’t do it to any other animal (and this guy agrees with me). That means especially no eating!
Some animal lovers have gone so far to adopt turkeys that were destined for slaughter. If you have the opportunity, any turkey would be thankful for adoption at this time of year.
For more information, visit the Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-a-Turkey program. This is a short-term solution though, and farmers are still paid for the bird.
The best way to celebrate the holidays is to spread the word about meatless living and help to open the eyes of others to the world of animal cruelty and humane, herbivorous eating.
Links:
- Vegetarian Holiday Recipe Index
- Cooking for Vegetarians
- Vegetarian Thanksgiving (includes holiday meal ideas and tips)
