The Ethics Of What We Eat?

With countless diets hitting the market each day, it can become impossible to know the best route in order to properly fulfill our nutritional needs without wreaking havoc to the world around us. The philosophical book The Ethics of What We Eat by Singer and Mason explores the lasting impact our dietary preferences pose on humans, animals, and the environment, as they offer suggestions on how to improve our ecological footprint through our choices. A lasting theme of the book puts a light on the multitude of positive aspects a meat-free diet offers. Singer and Mason puts an emphasis on the benefits of adopting a vegan diet and how it is the most ethical option. They acknowledge the fact that not every person may be able to do so under their
Rather than focusing on what vegan diets exclude, one should relish in the possibilities of variety that the diet offers. Some of the most versatile vegan foods include beans, rice, potatoes, vegetables, tofu, and pasta, all of which are relatively low in cost. A very important aspect to consider when eating vegan, as with any diet, is to incorporate a generous array of foods as to adequately provide sustenance. The Ethics of What We Eat also portrays this imperative attitude as Joann Farb confirms, "I just make sure to include protein foods in every day's menu. I just try to keep the variety there, that's the main thing" (Singer and Mason 192). Meals composed of plant-based ingredients such as vegetables and stable carbohydrates including pasta, rice, or noodles are filling for both the necessary nutrients and the consumer's satisfaction. As for the physical preparation of meals, vegan dishes tend to be much easier and less time-consuming to cook compared to their meat filled counterparts. By forgoing meat, the steps involved are too omitted, including thawing, preparing, and slow cooking, resulting in less clean up overall. The research put into The Ethics of What We Eat also acknowledges the great expansion in plant-based offerings as the authors reinforce, "there are now so many substitutes for animal products that becoming a vegan is far easier than it has ever been" (Singer and Mason 280).Based on the fact that the publication of this book was over twelve years ago, the number of vegan alternatives only continues to rise in rapid numbers. Plant-based foods such as meat and dairy alternatives have already topped over $3.1 billion in sales with forecasters predicting this growth to continue as the vegan movement does. With the copious amount of choices, it is becoming easier than ever before to choose the proven most ethical