Eating For Life

To the Editor:
Today marks the tragic anniversary of the world’s worst natural disaster, when a giant tsunami obliterated the lives of nearly 200,000 people in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries on the Indian Ocean.
Yet, each year, seven times as many Americans die of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic killer diseases that have been linked conclusively with consumption of meat and dairy products. Meat consumption also dumps animal waste in our waterways, destroys wildlife habitats to grow animal feed, and tortures innocent animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses.
Because of the many benefits it brings to us and our planet, let’s make a New Year’s resolution to replace meat and dairy products in our diet with wholesome, delicious, vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains. With every supermarket featuring a large variety of these foods, as well a rich assortment of soy-based veggie burgers, soy dogs, deli slices, ready-to-eat frozen dinners, and soy milk and ice cream, it’s got to be the easiest resolution we’ll ever keep.
Lawrence Metteer
Bayside