Are Organic Vegetarians Elitists

The Organic Vegetarian Lifestyle

When answering the question, "Are organic vegetarians elitists?", we need to define some terms.

A person who chooses organic foods is picking foods that have been raised without chemical pesticides, herbicides and other unnatural ingredients. People who eat organics may choose to buy all organic foods, or they may stick to organic produce, meat and dairy products, paying less attention to buying organic grains since these seem to hold less pesticide after processing than other foods.

Those interested in an organic lifestyle may shun processed foods and foods containing genetically modified organisms or human-injected hormones. They may also extend their organic lifestyle beyond food to buy organic clothing, bedding, and even furniture.

A vegetarian may or may not choose an organic lifestyle. This term refers to people who don't eat any meat: no beef, pork, chicken, lamb or seafood of any kind. While some vegetarians will make exceptions and occasionally eat fish, others are even more strict, avoiding any food products that come from animals, including honey, eggs and dairy products. (These people are called vegans.)

So, an organic vegetarian is a person who doesn't eat meat and may not (or not often) eat other animal products; those foods he or she does eat are usually if not always certified organic.

Are Organic Vegetarians Elitists?

It could probably be argued that some organic vegetarians are elitists in the sense that they may think they are better than people who don't choose to be vegetarians or live an organic lifestyle.

They may believe that people who don't choose to live this way aren't really interested in the health of the planet or the welfare of animals. They may say that you're not allowed to call yourself an environmentalist if you don't choose organic food.

The reality, which a lot of vegetarians who eat organically understand, is that it can be really expensive to eat organic foods. Not everyone is equipped to choose organic foods all the time. Many people don't live near organic food stores, and driving a long distance to shop for organic foods isn't all that environmentally friendly, either.

Most people, whether organic, vegetarian or both, understand that the way we eat is a very personal choice. If you try to convince people that your way is better, you won't change people's minds and you probably will get labeled as an elitist.

Transitioning to Organic Vegetarianism

If you'd like to become an organic vegetarian (hopefully not one of the elitist ones), it's a great idea to transition somewhat slowly into your new diet and probably to try one part before the other. For instance, you might try making more organic choices first, then cut back on meat eating until you're choosing organic and vegetarian options most of the time.

When you transition in this way, you won't really notice that you've given up meat and won't feel it as a deprivation. And, don't be too hard on yourself if this transition takes a long time. You're trying to make a lot of changes, particularly if you've been a big meat and processed foods eater in the past. (There are a lot fewer choices when you're choosing organics.)

But, if you do decide to make these changes, or even more to a more organic and more vegetable-based diet, know that you're making great strides both for yourself and the health of the planet.