The Vegetarian option

Are you a vegetarian? If not, have you ever killed an animal to eat it? Perhaps you should!

I love meat and I have done so for as long as I remember. A few weeks back I went hunting with my dad and for the first time I was part of the ritual which puts food on the table of so many. I saw the life leaving the eyes of a one year old deer and I realised for the first time the magnitude of the moment. We took a few minutes to thank the animal and paid our last respect by placing a branch of one of the four holy trees in its mouth.

I am still enjoying meat (especially if from our own forest) but I hope I will not forget the sacrifice the animal gave. The least we can do is remember and enjoy every bite with respect (and cut down on farmed meat which is uneconomically and often involves disrespectful methods).

For more info on what lands on our daily dinner table check out one of the new shows on BBC “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It“.