WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
Original text/ Recipe text by Beantpal Kaur
@beantpalbere @cozinha.ser.viva
The theme of vegetarianism has crossed the history of mankind since meat became present in the human diet, which happened in the last 9 days of a 70-year-old humanoid’s life, according to an analogy created by Colin Spencer in his book on the history of vegetarianism.
Being a vegetarian speaks of excluding animal meat from the diet, in search of both physical well-being and on a more spiritual level, by not including death in the diet.
Nowadays, with serial food production on the rise, on top of posterior climate issues, veganism, being the restriction of any animal product use, surfaces and gains strength as a political action, along with the issues mentioned.
On the 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society, which took place in 1994, World Vegan Day was created and is celebrated every November 1st.
Veganism promotes and seeks a cruelty-free lifestyle. Therefore, vegans do not consume anything of animal origin, which includes any type of meat, as well as dairy products, eggs and honey. Added to this are the non-use of fur, leather, wool, besides not using cosmetics or chemicals tested on animals.
The vegan lifestyle can provide various benefits for animal life, the environment and health itself. Through a more varied diet rich in natural foods, vegans can balance their diet meeting their physical demands. But the main impact of veganism is on the environment, respecting life and the sustainability of human existence on planet Earth.
Several reports have already been issued by international institutions, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, noting the environmental impact that large-scale agriculture generates for the environment, with global consequences. Among several points we can mention are deforestation (removal of forests to give way to pastures), contamination of soil and water (a consequence of fertilizers and pesticides use) and the emission of greenhouse gasses (meat production currently emits the same volume of greenhouse gasses as all cars, trucks, planes and ships of the planet together).
We need to reflect on the limits of this type of production, seeking to balance the current large human food demand with the preservation of our forests, incentivizing family farming and global climate maintenance. One way to do this is by looking for more responsible and less impactful production models. With this in mind, today, there are several initiatives to encourage reducing the consumption, and consequently the production, of animal meat.
One example is the famous "Meatless Monday '' or "Monday without meat" that proposes that we try at least one day a week without consuming it. If everyone were to adhere to this simple proposal, we would have an impact of almost 15% reduction of global meat production and consumption. We can also expand this thinking and make the projection that for each person who adhered to a completely vegan diet a result of saving 200 animals per year, in average, saving 5 million liters of water and avoiding the emission of 1.5 tons of carbon.
Rethinking how we feed and consume is also a way to serve Mother Earth. In the face of all the transformations that are happening in the world we can look at our food as something that constitutes us and that can support us in profound changes.
Our attitude towards food makes all the difference. Seeking to cook in presence and full consciousness, knowing what we eat and the quality of where it comes from, are ways to bring more meaning, connection and healing through food.
In this direction, aligned with the proposal of the vegan lifestyle, we share an easy and delicious recipe (because it is wrong to think that vegan food is not tasty and nutritious), so you can enjoy a light and creative snack.
Chapatis with cornflour:
1 cup organic cornmeal
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 tablespoon Gum Xantana
2 tablespoons turmeric
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup water
1 pinch of salt
Mix to a dough. Divide into 4 portions and stretch gently.
Cook each side until light golden brown.
Fill them to your liking with natural ingredients, homemade jams, or fruits of your choice for the necessary healing to take place.
By/por Beantpal Kaur of the/ de la @cozinha_vegitamambuca
