‘I’m an ex-vegan who now eats raw meat’

Cat was a full-blown, committed vegan for two years before she got too exhausted of people telling her how to live. Now, she eats raw meat for lunch.

I am a conscientious eater.

I care about eating sustainable, seasonal produce and I care about the impact of my food choices on the planet, on my body and the processes which went into that food arriving on my plate.

And I’m not vegan.

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I was, though. For almost two years, I ate no animal-derived products and wore my “Vegan For The Animals” tank top. I briefly joined Facebook groups that devoted themselves to veganism and wholefood eating, but the moral policing of other members, and, well, everyone, made me enormously uncomfortable. There is nothing more exhausting and unwelcome than strangers telling me how to live: how to eat, train, make money, look after my dog, structure a sentence, align my conscience with my actions.

Get your nose out of my business and certainly, out of my kitchen.

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I am a yoga, pilates and barre teacher. I am dedicated to a life of moving and training towards my optimal fitness and health. I am dedicated to teaching my students how to love their bodies, to be strong, healthy and well. I am far from obsessive or extreme in my methods. Balance and diversity are my ruling pillars of living.

"The moral policing of everyone made me enormously uncomfortable." Image: iStock

At 37, I’ve had a long time to experiment and explore with food and movement, to the extent that I understand what works to make me feel good and function well. When I’m in Bali, I eat purely plant-based meals and completely drop coffee from my routine. I practice yoga for hours daily and walk in the sunshine and feel enormously connected to the living world.

In Melbourne, real life gets in the way. I work for a couple of cafes in marketing consultancy and I love coffee. Even though I can reduce my intake, I don’t cut espresso from my days. I eat mostly plants, mostly raw, but I also eat meat. Not just meat, but raw meat.

Before you imagine blood dripping from my fangs and a plate full of livers and brains, let me clarify exactly what raw meat I eat. Kangaroo. Purely kangaroo. I don’t have a death wish so I definitely don’t touch raw chicken or beef, pork or lamb. No way.

How do I do this and still make peace with my conscience?

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Kangaroo is a high protein, high iron meat with very little fat at only 2 per cent. It is high in B vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids (for optimal brain and heart health). Because it isn’t farmed, you can be sure it is not contaminated with antibiotics, growth hormones or chemicals. It is the ultimate diet-friendly protein but difficult to cook to the right degree. With so little fat, it easily becomes ropy and dry when cooked. I began by just cooking it enough to brown the outside and leave the inner semi-raw. Then, over time, I cooked it less and less, until I didn’t cook it at all.

Raw Kangaroo, anyone? Picture: Supplied

Kangaroos forage in the wild. They’re native to our environment and thus, have very little destructive impact on the land nor is there any question of farming processes that waste huge amounts of resources like water, energy and poison the land with chemical fertilisers and pest control. There’s no cages or enforced breeding as is still the case with chickens, pigs and sheep. While there are farmers doing the right thing and providing free-range life for chickens and their other animals, there are many who see the bottom dollar and get blinded by it. Unless I’m certain of the source of my chicken and its approval by the RSPCA and verified organic, I won’t touch it.

Kangaroos are killed for commercial purposes in Australia under state-based nature conservation legislation, according to the National codes of practice for the humane shooting of kangaroos and wallabies.

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While there is still a major issue of hunters killing female kangaroos with joeys in the pouch, which are then left as orphans, the majority of hunters focus on male kangaroos in areas in which their population is in excess and impacting on resources and land.

I know I won’t be embraced any time soon by the Moral Vegan Police, and that’s cool. I believe my choice to eat raw kangaroo meat aligns with my ethical and moral conscience and while it’s not served up in some fancy carpaccio, the growth of raw meat as a gourmet meal and, especially, indigenous meats and foods is great for all Australians and all food lovers. You can find ethical meat suppliers here, including kangaroo sellers. Paroo Kangaroo only source male kangaroos. K-Roo meatballs are my absolute favourite, but please note these brands do not advocate eating raw meat. This is purely my choice and I do take a risk to my health in doing so.

Melbourne dietitian Amy Giannotti says “most meats need to be cooked for food safety reasons”.

“I wouldn’t promote raw meat at all, but definitely some fish when it’s very, very fresh and high grade is a delicacy, like sushi and salmon. Some people have red meat on the raw side, but definitely if there’s pregnancy or low immunity, this isn’t appropriate. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend eating raw meat,” she said.

The Australian Institute of Food Safety recommends that kangaroo meat is always cooked thoroughly and should never be eaten raw.

— Cat Woods is a freelance writer and contributor

— This story originally appeared on whimm.com.au and is reproduced with permission