“The Vegetarian’s Guide to Eating Meat”: Book Review

Can a carnivore appreciate a vegetarian-turned-carnivore book?

At first, I was unsure if “The Vegetarian’s Guide to Eating Meat” by Marissa Landrigan would speak to me. But after reading it, I realized that it’s meant for anyone who wants to live a bit more ethically.

The vivid recollection of Marissa’s journey for just food is both inspirational and heartfelt. She takes you through stories of her past which ultimately molded her into becoming an activist meat eater, who loves to cook.

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Having been raised in a family of Italians, Marissa was no stranger to homemade food. However, she never felt as strong a connection to the process of creating homemade pasta or cooking as her sisters and mother did. She spent her young adulthood on a quest for her true identity, which led her to become a bit of an unconventional foodie later in life.

At the beginning of her book, Marissa explains how she became a vegetarian as a result of watching a PETA film. Once staunchly against consuming any type of meat, Marissa found herself questioning if vegetarianism was really the most ethical way to eat. She wondered if her choices were still making a positive impact if the process of creating her meat alternatives was often just as bad, or worse for the environment than actual meat.

Many brands which target the environmentally conscious, such as Kashi, Boca Burger, and Cascadian Farm are actually owned by large corporations. When this kind of merge happens, it makes it difficult for the smaller brands to make choices that are best for the consumer.

Marissa saw this huge disconnect between producer and consumer, which is the real problem with the food industry. This discovery was a turning point for her. After visiting small, sustainably owned farms, and eventually an ethical farm, she decided to turn from vegetarian to locavore meat eater. Marissa realized that she could make a greater impact on the planet by consuming food produced locally by farmers who avoid pesticides and GMO’s rather than simply abstaining from meat products.

My Thoughts

This book is for anyone who wants to eat more ethically, while keeping an open mind about the options available to do so. Eating ethically isn’t necessarily just eating less meat; it’s knowing where your food comes from, how many miles it was transported to get to you, and what big name corporation may own the brand you’re buying from.

Although reducing the amount of meat we consume as a nation would be for the better, there are many ways in which we can decide to be more sustainable. Choosing to eat locally is one of the ways we can do this. Dietary preferences are always a personal choice, but the argument that Landrigan lays out is very important and offers a less discussed perspective. To anyone who feels connected to these points, I definitely recommend this book.

Where to find The Vegetarian’s Guide to Eating Meat

“The Vegetarian’s Guide to Eating Meat” is being released to the public on April 29, 2017.

Photo of Marissa Landrigan: Heather Kresge

Bianca Scherrei

Bianca is a recent Temple University graduate who finds happiness in the greener things. Her experience at a cancer research association has led her to become passionate about keeping the world a little cleaner and less toxic. In her free time, you can find her drinking La Colombe coffee while taking in the city views.