PETA's Guide to Compassionate Living

While it’s better to pay extra for an egg from a chicken who had a marginally less hideous life than one who suffered more, we must do better by animals. In fact, we have yet to find a “humane” factory farm where animals’ tails aren’t cut off and their ears aren’t painfully notched; where they aren’t debeaked, dehorned, or castrated without anaesthetics; where they aren’t kept in crowded conditions without sunlight or fresh air; where their beloved offspring aren’t taken away from them; where they aren’t denied the companionship of others; or where they are instantly killed without the trauma of capture, the horror of transport, and the terror of seeing other animals slaughtered before experiencing the same fate. Animals deserve to be respected, not treated cruelly and then eaten. With so many vegan cookbooks and meal options available – in addition to our wildly popular vegan starter kit, which you can order from PETA.org.uk – we can all help animals and not miss a thing. This guide offers some suggestions, but many more free resources for vegan eating are on our website.

Many restaurants now include vegan options on their menus, and 100 per cent vegan eateries are popping up across the UK. The following are just a few of the wonderful plant-based options that many restaurants offer even if they don’t have their own vegan menu: Houmous, falafel, and dozens of other meat-free Middle Eastern foods Grilled vegetable or bean fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, and tacos at Mexican restaurants Sushi with avocado, carrots, or cucumber in place of raw fish Vegetable spring rolls, fried rice, tofu (sometimes called “bean curd”), and noodle dishes at Asian restaurants Thai and Indian vegetable curries Pizza (just omit the cheese and load up on vegan toppings) Pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables at Italian restaurants

There is no such thing as “humane meat”. Killing animals to eat their body parts is patently cruel. And “humane slaughter” is an oxymoron used by industries that kill animals. Our website PETA.org.uk has videos that reveal shocking cruelty on so-called “high welfare” farms. Society is at a turning point. Many people – including film and TV stars, politicians, and athletes – have said that going vegan has given them a boost in energy and kept them slim, trim, and heart-healthy. Today, all supermarkets are packed with tasty vegan foods. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and pulses, there are vegan meats, including chicken and steak, that will satisfy any taste as Compassionate Eating

Animals are dismembered

while fully conscious.

well as dairy-free products such as almond milk, rice milk, soya cream cheese, vegan butter, coconut based ice cream, and nut-based cheese. At restaurants, it’s easy to request a plant-based meal, and there are now vegan options in many schools across the country.

© KARREMANN/PETA

What to eat

Overhaul your shopping list by adding a few vegan meats and non-dairy delights. Many of these can be found at supermarkets in your area. Many supermarkets have a natural- or health-food section where numerous vegan items can be found. Some products are located in other areas, though. Vegan butter and soya or almond milk are frequently kept right next to the dairy varieties. Just ask a shop assistant for help if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

PETA has pushed hard and will continue to do so in order to reduce the sum total of suffering caused by the meat, egg, and dairy industries – because that makes a huge difference if you are a pig or a chicken on a factory farm. PETA and other animal advocacy groups continue to challenge regulations, and we have successfully mobilised the public in order to stop proposed factory farms.