Reply #64: Sanctimony is the reason why the message falls on deaf ears.

[AllieB]

What do you suggest that the small farmers who have been involved in animal husbandry for generations do? Most of the farms where I get my meats and produce are well over 100 years old (typical for New England). I understand your arguments, but the small, traditional farms have been around for thousands of years. They're not going away, unless agribusiness has its way.

Here is a personal example. I was a vegetarian for 10 years, eating what I was allergic to: soy, grains, legumes, wheat/gluten. At the time, I was a competitive runner and triathlete. I became very ill, and borderline diabetic, though I didn't eat sugar. My B-12 was always low, despite supplementing. Before you start lecturing me on my diet, I was under the care of a vegan nutritionist and I live in Boston, where our doctors are among the best in the world. They diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and a dozen other things before I changed my diet. BTW I was only 30 at the time. How old are you?

I eat locally-produced food now, including eggs, grass-fed, free-range meats, organic produce, and locally-caught fish. I do not eat soy, grains of any kind, or beans of any kind, and very little dairy. I've never been healthier. Like you said, to each his own. We are omnivores, but if you're healthy being a vegetarian/vegan, more power to you.