OPINION: Charlotte Gollogly’s Journey to Becoming Vegetarian

I've been vegetarian for about 7 years now, and it's been the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made.

As a teenager I was a massive fan of 80’s movies, always digging into my mum's old VHS tapes. My favourite was Stand By Me starring River Phoenix. Like any teenage girl, I became disturbingly obsessed with River, watching every single movie, TV show and interview he had ever been in. After intense stalking I stumbled upon his views on animal rights and a plant-based lifestyle, which prompted me to explore the world of vegetarianism.

As I delved deeper into documentaries and literature on the subject, the harsh reality of animal exploitation became overwhelmingly sickening and the unnecessary suffering of these sentient creatures seemed so compassionless, completely altering my views on meat consumption.

Growing up as an animal lover, eating meat simply for the sake of taste and pleasure made me feel so ignorant that I didn't make the switch earlier. I believe that animals are gentle and affectionate creatures who don’t deserve overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions, routine use of antibiotics, and inhumane treatment.

Around 1.7 billion animals are slaughtered every year in the UK and 79 billion worldwide, which I feel really puts into perspective the lack of morality concerning mass-produced meat.

This quote from Viva, the UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity, epitomises this: “Selective breeding for maximum production causes animals immense suffering as they struggle to move under the weight of their oversized bodies or udders. Disease and injury run rife meaning that animals need to be propped up on a cocktail of antibiotics and drugs just to keep them alive long enough to slaughter, or take their milk.”

I think the production of animal products and its increasing commodification of animals suggests it is only concerned with profit and ultimately disregards the welfare of animals and the planet in general.

Having a plant based diet also has amazing climate benefits. 85% of British land is used for animal agriculture which results in unnecessary destruction of precious land and vital habitats. Raising livestock also emits vast amounts of methane and other greenhouse gases, more than cars, planes and other forms of transportation. Other ways meat consumption contributes to climate change include deforestation and water and air pollution. The easiest and cheapest way to limit our impact on the environment is to switch to a plant based diet.

This doesn't need to be a full time commitment, cutting out animal products even if it's just for one day a week has significant benefits to both the environment and individual health. Rather than making an abrupt change, you could start by slowly exploring plant-based foods and experimenting with different recipes. My personal favourites are tofu recipes and meat alternatives like the Beyond Meat Burger and Quorn Southern fried bites. If you're not a fan of meat alternatives as I know a lot of veggies and vegans who aren't, experimenting with vegetables is just as tasty. I’m obsessed with making vegetable curries, throwing in tons of chickpeas, cauliflower and lentils.

The average British meat-eater consumes more than 11,000 animals in their lifetime, which contextualises how extreme the UK’s meat consumption is. Although the UK claims our standards of animal welfare are some of the highest in the world, 85 percent of UK farmed animals are kept in factory farms.

I'm not saying giving up meat for your celebrity crush is the most profound reasoning, but I strongly believe the exposure to the unethical practices of the meat industry is a transformative journey which changes your perspective on our interconnectedness with the planet and its creatures.

Now I proudly wear my ‘kiss me I’m vegetarian top’ because anyone who cuts out meat even if it’s only for one day a week deserves a big smooch.

Edited by Faith Suronku-Lindsay