Ecological Dietary Anxiety

While one out of five Canadians wants to reduce their meat intake, only six percent follow a vegetarian diet. An increasing number of studies show the value of vegetarian and vegan diets including health benefits, fewer expenses on groceries, and an active fight against climate change. On September 23rd, I attended a strike against climate inaction along with 130,000 other students in Montreal. I interviewed some with questions regarding their possible new diets in response to the worsening climate crisis. Thank you to all the interviewees

Many confessed that they do not follow a restrictive diet but carefully choose their products’ origin: “I eat local. I try to favour dairy and vegetables from Québec. It helps the ecology and the economy, ” claims a young McGillian. Others have considerably decreased their meat and fish intake. From my conversations and experiences with fellow-students, we usually keep meat at arm ' s length because of our inability to afford or cook it. Nonetheless, removing meat–specifically beef–from our diets has been proven as one of the most effective ways to limit our CO2 emissions.

Some students advised me to buy in bulk in order to limit disposable plastic packaging. Additionally, buying longshelf life items–pasta, rice, chocolate, canned foods–is incredibly cheaper in the long run! This is considered a favourable option for many living with three or more roommates. McGillians recommended Ségal’s, an in-bulk grocery store on St-Laurent (bring your own bags).

I also interviewed someone with a longterm commitment to the cause. A twenty-two-year-old McGillian revealed that she converted to vegetarianism when she was sixteen: “that’s the first time it clicked! I have to do something about climate change. It starts with me. And obviously, I was right or else I wouldn’t be at a climate inaction strike.” She did not recommend any meat alternatives; she stated that such products are made by “capitalist companies making money off of genuinely terrified people like me. ” By the end of my discussions, I asked a somewhat provocative question: “Do you believe that encouraging actions at the individual level reduces the responsibility of governments and transnationals?” Unanimously, all participants answered that they were striking against climate inaction at the governmental level: “This is not a protest against non-vegans. I take action at the individual level to ease my ecological anxiety. It helps me grow an ecological consciousness. When you make efforts to stop eating meat, it makes you angry that the government elected by you makes no effort to slow down climate catastrophe,” stated a frustrated McGill activist.

If you are looking to actively and pleasantly transfer to a greener and more sustainable diet, you are in luck! Next semester, On The Table’s team, is starting a new vegetarian and vegan section. We hope to shed light on Montreal’s best, most affordable, and tastiest vegan and vegetarian options, all while offering our own recipes and tested alternatives. Stay tuned!

ARTICLE BY AGATHE NOLLA PHOTOS BY MARGAUX THOMAS