Vegans,then,arerighttosaythatweoughtnottousedairy
products.Theyarelivingdemonstrations ofthepracticality
andnutritionalsoundnessofadietthatistotallyfreefromthe
exploitationofotheranimals.Atthesametime,itshouldbe
saidthat,inourpresentspeciesistworld,itisnoteasytokeep
so strictly to what is morally right. A reasonable and
defensibleplanofactionistochangeyourdietatameasured
pace with which you can feel comfortable. Although in
principle all dairy products are replaceable,in practice in
Westernsocietiesitismuchmoredifficulttocutoutmeatand
dairyproducts thanitis toelminate meatalone. Untilyou
start reading food labels with an eye to avoiding dairy
products, you will never believehow many foodscontain
them.Evenbuyingatomato sandwichbecomesa problem,
sinceitwillprobablybespreadeitherwithbutter,orwitha
margarine containing whey or nonfat milk. There is little
gainedforanimals ifyougiveupanimalflesh andbattery
eggs,andsimplyreplacethemwithanincreasedamountof
cheese.Ontheotherhand,thefollowingis, ifnot ideal,a
reasonable and practical strategy:
- replace animal flesh with plant foods;
- replacefactoryfarmeggswithfree-rangeeggsifyoucanget
them; otherwise avoid eggs; - replacethemilkandcheeseyoubuywithsoymilk,tofu,or
other plant foods, but do not feel obliged to go to great
lengths to avoid all food containing milk products.
Eliminating speciesism from one’s dietary habits is very
difficulttodoall atonce.Peoplewhoadoptthestrategy I
support herehavemade a clear public commitmentto the