Buy Walking VideosWhen Food Snobbery Goes Beserk
What happens when being a vegetarian isn’t enough? When there are so many people out there who are also vegetarian, it doesn’t make you feel special enough, so you need to take it one step further.
You become a vegan.
But what happens when being a vegan isn’t enough? When there are so many people out there who are also vegan, it doesn’t make you feel special enough, so you need to take it one step further.
You become a raw food vegan.
But what happens when being a raw food vegan isn’t enough? When there are so many people out there who are also raw food vegan, it doesn’t make you feel special enough, so you need to take it one step further.
You become a freegan.
At this point, you find yourself rummaging through a dumpster to find your daily meals.
Maybe it’s time to reconsider the idea that your diet is supposed to make you feel unique, special or superior. When they said that you are what you eat, I don’t think they meant that as a judgment of your personality, just as a guideline for food choices.
Using your diet as a statement of your political beliefs is just as disordered eating as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. If you need to feel good about yourself, your diet isn’t going to make you feel any better than earning a lot of money, wearing the coolest clothes or exercising a lot. There is ALWAYS someone out there doing more than you and you cannot outdo the crazy people of this world.
If you feel some sort of superiority from your diet of choice, it’s time to re-evaluate your emotions and find a way to aid your self esteem that doesn’t involve being better than other people.
Otherwise, you’ll find yourself eating out of a dumpster.
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March 2nd, 2010 at 5:25 pm
This was a fantastic article. Do you mind if I copy a link to it in my facebook? I have a lot of frineds I can think of that are always on the fence vegan-wise. You have basically put into words what I have been thinking for quite some time…
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:52 am
Angelique,
You are always welcome to link to my articles on Facebook or anywhere else. I’m glad you enjoyed it. This idea has been festering in my mind for quite awhile.
Laura
June 13th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
I am offended by this article. Has it ever occurred to you that people might be become vegetarian to help the environment or animal rights?? As a vegan, my diet is NOT a way to express a political belief…it is a way of life that protests the killing of innocent creatures for the sake of taste.
I encourage you to respect all ways of life and I expect the same in return. Please do not call my efforts for a more humane Earth ‘food snobbery’. Thank you.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Nikki,
Umm… Protesting the killing of innocent creatures IS a political belief.
We humans have CANINE teeth for a reason. We’re omnivores, not herbivores. When you deny your body meat to create a more humane Earth, you ARE eating for political reasons.
Laura
July 18th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
that was so awesome. Thank you. I’ve lost “friends” because of this same attitude. If someone wants to be eat as a political/social statement, that’s their business, but they always want to foist that statement upon everyone around them. Thats where the “snob” comes in.
July 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
of course, people who get to the snobby point are never going to admit that they feel superior about their eating habits. That’s akin to admitting to racism or something.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I feel superior to the author of this article… because I am. 😉
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Remember the superiority that Rosa Parks exuded when she felt like she was “better” than all the other African Americans who remained at the back of the bus? Are you going to tell me that she should have found a less “political” way to work out her own “self-esteem” issues?
What a joke this article is. Are you an American, Ms. Moncur? At what point in your life did you become so cynical towards individuals trying to make a positive change in themselves, and in the world?
No one is shoving carrots down your throat. Have a little respect. Karma catches with you.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
July 29th, 2011 at 7:48 am
Natalie; that’s exactly the snob coming out. People know where food comes from. You’d have to live under a damned rock to not know at least SOME of the politics of food.
Guess what? All your non-freegan friends? (If you have any I don’t know) are well aware of the politics of food BECAUSE YOU PREACH IT AT THEM yet they somehow choose not to be freegans. Huh. Maybe its not because they’re ignorant then huh?
Or maybe you don’t have any non-freegan friends? Then how in the world would you know what non-freegans know or think? Assuming you do is patronizing, another form of snobbery.
If you’re going to be a snob, be honest about it.