Barbacoa, Carne Guisada, Carne Picada, Hot Dogs, Sloppy Joes and Frito Pies are just a few of the meat entrees I used to eat.

Growing up a Mexican/Filipino American, I was used to eating many plates with tons of meat on it. I never really thought that there was much to it.

My aunt and uncle have a chicken farm in New Deal, and I never put together the fact that these poitos would grow up to be my dinner or that when eating seafood, I was eating Flounder.

So I’m sitting in AP Biology one day in high school, and we watched this video about cows and how they inject steroids into them. I was appalled.

Who are we to determine whether or not we should inject steroids into an animal for the benefit of our own consumption? Yes, we are at the top of the food chain, but does that give us the right to chemically alternate these creatures?

If we didn’t have farmers who took care of cows they would be extinct. Who are we to determine whether or not they should be massed produce like a line of tennis shoes?

It’s not only the cows, though; it’s the chickens too. How do you think they treat the chickens when huge corporations for chicken nuggets are manufacturing them? Not too friendly, I’d imagine. Again, there are articles stating how certain major conglomerates have genetically altered chickens so that they would not have feathers or beaks. The ideal chickens to breed when chicken salad sandwiches are on the rise are the kind without their natural characteristics.
I immediately looked into this problem and wanted to take action.

I became a vegetarian.

I stopped all consumption of meat: cows, pigs, and chickens. I still ate some seafood, but soon after cut that off as well.

I still get a lot of feedback from family members and strangers about my choice of lifestyle. (I suppose that comes with the outfit). They started off thinking they would be able to sway my opinion, by constantly having cookouts and making deer jerky or bringing home my favorite Carne Guisada burrito. Now they just kind of shrug and reply, “You’re still on that, give it up.” But I will not, until something is done about this. I urge everyone, especially here in Texas, to do research on the treatment of these animals.

Yes, there are still ways to get your protein without eating meat. There are many products now that use soy protein as a substitute for animals. You get the same amount of protein and lead an even healthier life by ruling out the factors of contamination.

Yes, I am a vegetarian, and yes I care about animals.