This table talk was actually rather difficult for me, as it forced me to face an issue I am very familiar with from a very specific perspective. I abstain from consuming any and all animal products for ethical reasons; I don’t support killing animals for pleasure. As a result, I’ve tried my best to educate myself on animal agriculture and its effects on animal welfare, the environment, and human health. The eco-anxiety table talk forced me to consider the issue of consuming animal products from a strictly environmental perspective, and it focused the discussion on one specific substitution: beans for beef. As someone who has completely eliminated animal products from my diet, it’s difficult for me to acknowledge that simply slightly reducing animal product consumption is also beneficial. In fact, it is probably more effective to convince more people to reduce their intake than to try to convince everyone to go vegan. People would be much more receptive to the idea of reduction, which would not negatively impact their social standing, or prevent them from ever eating their favorite foods again.

One important point that another scholar made during the table talk was that the “beans for beef” article in The Atlantic failed to account for individual financial considerations. Many Americans live in poverty, and simply do not have the time or the money to buy beans instead of beef. While beans are much cheaper than beef and are one of the cheapest foods in the world, many poor Americans are still forced to opt for beef. Because of heavy meat and dairy subsidies, fast food companies can sell extremely cheap beef-based meals. People working multiple jobs with very little finances end up buying these fast food options because they don’t have the time for anything else – even if beans are cheaper. It is easy to forget how difficult choosing plant-based options would be for the poor while discussing the issue in an all-you-can-eat dining hall at a prestigious university. Of course, the fact that the poor are unable to make this choice does not excuse privileged college students from making the right choice themselves, but it does make The Atlantic‘s idea of everyone making the beans/beef switch impossible.