Why I'm a weekday vegetarian - Graham Hill

We all know the arguments that being vegetarian is better for the environment and for the animals -- but in a carnivorous culture, it can be hard to make the change. Graham Hill has a powerful, pragmatic suggestion: Be a weekday veg.

Talk by Graham Hill.

[ItsDaisySofia]

Everyone here that is upset about how "murder is ok but only on the weekends" or "if you can do it weekdays why not weekends too" or whatever other reason you have against this diet suggestion need to remember that this is for meat eaters. The people that love and will most likely always eat meat. With this weekday vegetarian idea, it creates a way for people who never considered being vegetarian, a chance to start doing so without it being overwhelming. Thinking about never being able to eat something again is a lot more overwhelming and will most likely result in a failed attempt. However, knowing that you just have to wait 5 more days, 4 more days, 2 more days, until you can eat it again, is a lot easier. And after people try the weekday veg idea, they can discover that it's a lot easier than they thought, they feel a lot better, etc and become a full-time vegetarian.

TLDR; A little is better than nothing & that should be good enough. Small steps are important. Big changes don't happen overnight.

[zoe.h.nelson]

Love this! My family and are veggie except meat once a week and fish once a week. When you think about how many vegetarians and especially vegans eventually quit (and how few actually start it to begin with), I think a compromise will actually do more good than a dichotomy.

[makingasplashrescue]

I am Vegan, it was journey. First I switched to only white meat n fish, then I limited this to three days a week. Then I just ate fish 3 times a week and I added in a vegan day once a week. Gradual changes. Then fish once a week, 3 days a week Vegan. This gave me time to adjust. learn about my tastes. Budget was an issue, I couldn't afford to buy loads of things I wouldn't eat.I think if I had just tried to go vegan I wouldn't have achieved it. I admire people that can just switch. I needed to do it this way. Also now it is much easier, vegan products, nut milks, ice creams, desserts taste better than dairy, so it's not really a sacrifice. I think we should respect everyone's journey and acknowledge, praise and reward any behaviour that is working towards veganism. We should never criticize steps towards a more compassionate lifestyle imho.

[dollyhenao]

To all of the vegans commenting that he's lazy, keep in mind that this method appeals to most people who usually say "it's too hard" to excuse their very frequent meat eating habits. This appeals to the population more & I'm sure that if people started doing this it'd have crazy positive impacts but it would also incline more people to make the full decision to become complete vegetarians/vegans. ((Basically Vegans please don't hate on small methods like these because in turn it results in many converts))

[Olivman]

The most reasonable and realistic approach to that question I have seen around.

[debbie]

This TEDTalk was my first step of becoming vegan. When I first heard it, I picked up weekday vegetarian and ate seafood on the weekends. Later on, dropping off seafood and became a full vegetarian. Later did I learn that there’s a vegan diet which has the lowest carbon footprint and environmental impact and from vegetarian to vegan, it was a quick switch, but the entire transition took me around 3-4 years! I’ve been vegan for almost 4 years now and I’m loving it!

[zelkin]

Thank you so much ! A year ago I watched this video. One week later I was fully vegetarian. One year later I am now Vegan and I never felt so good :D

[wadepatton]

Neat, I did this 2.5 years ago. For health, not the critters. Instead of eating animal products two or three times per day every day, I only eat one to three meals including animal products on the weekend or holiday or other special social event--especially where traditional foods are made and consumed. Lost weight, got healthier, FEEL BETTER. WFPB! I'll keep on doing it. Also Michael Pollan is right.

[muddypalmsera]

I've been doing this for a week now, I'm just checking to see if I'm not alone on this..

[MichaelMa]

For the self-righteous vegetarians think about this: an extreme environmentalist might make the following argument, 'If you really cared about the planet you would stay home every weekend, not driving your car or using any electrical appliances.'  A vegetarian can't deny that this would decrease pollution but how many would actually adopt this strategy?  What excuse would a vegetarian come up with for not following this even though he/she knows there is some truth to the proposition?  The man's thesis is we don't have to follow something 100% in order for it to make a difference, a precept which we all clearly abide by when we aren't in love with our own sanctimonious image.

[ilaty_Shalabi]

This is how I ended my then-addiction to soft drinks ten years ago. It was small steps. I knew I wouldnt have the will to go cold-turkey so I switched to soft drinks only on the weekends, cup filled with ice. I then switched to sugary drinks only with real organic sugar (the side effects of artificial sweeteners are scary, yikes!) I now stick to drinking mostly water, or unsweetened tea on occasion. I know my health would be completely disastrous by now if I had continued my path on soft drinks. Anyway, going to try to consume red meat one a week, and eventually hope to make the switch. Good luck to all of you out there trying to make the planet a better place and your body happy and healthy!!

[BearWindAppleyard]

This is obviously not the most mindblowing video, it can maybe seem kind of lazy and halfassed if you're vegan yourself. But small steps like these are important, it's better for the invironment and our future if everybody cuts out most animal products than if only a few cut's out all animal products and the rest just doesn't really care, and just throw themselves in meat, because they don't wanna be like the "vegan cult".

[kavita]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I am encouraged by your thoughts.

[niallwaters]

Over a decade ago I taught English as a foreign language in Argentina and I was sometimes lazy about putting my lesson plans together. I came across this video and found that it was short, clear to understand and a good topic for conversation afterwards. I used it on so many classes that I can still, years later, recite it word for word. Thanks Graham Hill, I hate you, but thanks.

[jarrettpierce]

This is good cause it’s more balance than full on vegan and more sustainable, I tried vegan and I was tired all the time

[avacrawford]

honestly it's not hard to be vegetarian. I used to love meat and one day (three years ago) I just went vegetarian. Missed meat for the first month but now I don't desire any of it. I'm going vegan soon as well.

[Andyhoffman]

I’m no vegan. But I like this idea. The logical step is to reduce meat intake and try to buy from local farmers if you want meat.

[raq]

some people are still missing the point is not weather been an everyday meat eater or an everyday vegetarian. for everything is either black or white with most people. democrat or liberal, atheist or religious.... things sometimes are more complicated and you can share values and beliefs in both. seek a balance. ying and yang

[flameemperor]

Monday to Friday I eat Veges & Egg
Saturday & Sunday I eat Beef and make my own Pasta & Pizza.

[clararowe]

A step in the right direction for those transitioning :)