Interested in knowing more?

• I learned of Emily's story in the book "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" by Melanie Joy. This book helped me understand how the suffering of animals raised for food is permitted within a society of people who love animals. It is an eye-opening book which clarifies how we (myself included) have become blind to the brutal treatment of farm animals in industrial scale agribusiness and how we've been conditioned to do so. I learned more about Emily on her Wikipedia page. Yes, she has her own Wikipedia page, learn more about her and her journey here.
• If you want to enjoy the taste of meat without being part of the suffering and slaughter of animals, here are some brands that imitate meat in ingenious ways.
• Instead of beef burgers, try these plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste, texture, and juiciness of hamburgers. They seem like hamburger meat, so you can use them for burgers, meatballs, tacos, and more.  You can even grill them. Find them right next to cow meat in the refrigerated meat section or freezer section of grocery stores. Emily would thank you.
  • The Impossible Burger - Made from soy and potato proteins but somehow tastes like a burger. Complete source of protein. Gluten free. Currently available in some grocery stores (use this IB store locator to find them) and some restaurants, use this restaurant locator to find them.
  • Beyond Burger - Made from peas, mung beans, and rice proteins but also tastes like a burger. Complete source of protein. Soy free, gluten free, and GMO free. Currently available in some grocery stores, use this store locator to find them. 
  • There are more brands popping up every day. The burgers are usually in the refrigerated meat section but try the frozen alternative meat section too.
• Instead of milk, try plant-based alternatives like oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, hemp milk, and so on. Obviously these are not the secretions of a mammal, but they do the job of traditional milk surprisingly well.
• For those of you interested in eating more plant-based foods instead of animal-based foods, we are living in a golden age. There are many choices beyond these.
• “Like Emily the cow, we have been herded into a lineup, taught to follow a course that’s been laid out for us. But like Emily, we can choose to break from the line and shift the trajectory of our lives.” - Melanie Joy (author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows".
• The Real Emily: