The Pleasures of Eating – Wendell Berry
“If they think beyond that, they recognize that they are passive consumers. They buy what they want – or what they have been persuaded to want – within the limits of what they can get. They pay, mostly without protest, what they are charged. And they mostly ignore certain critical questions about the quality and the cost of what they are sold.”

“The passive American consumer, sitting down to a meal of pre-prepared or fast food, confronts a platter covered with inert, anonymous substances that have been processed, dyed, breaded, sauced, gravied, ground, pulped, strained, blended, prettified, and sanitized beyond resemblance to any part of any creature that ever lived” (2).

Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser
“The typical American now consumes approximately three hamburgers and four orders of french fries every week” (5).

The Eat Right For Your Blood Type Diet - Peter D'Adamo
"Peter J. D'Adamo, ND, the author of Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight, believes blood types affect the digestive system and that some foods good for people of one type are "dangerous" for another" (1).

Like our religious beliefs, our diets are often based on a personal choice. For some who were raised on a vegetarian diet, the choice was made for them at an early age by their caregivers. For others they've made a conscious choice to eat this way. Still others throw "caution to the wind" and eat as they damn well please.

For me I enjoy my protein in the form of meat. I've been raised in a family of "meat-eaters" and never gave it much thought until now. After viewing the movie Food, Inc. and reading materials that I've researched, my views on a vegetarian diet have changed tremendously. I suffer with acid reflex that at times can't be controlled. After reading the research stating that your blood type can effect your digestive tract I'm beginning to think it could be a possibility. For me this has been an eye-opening experience and one that will leave an impact on my personal life.

For our oral history project our research topic focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian. To find this out we conducted two interviews, one with a health food store owner and another with a dietitian. Melissa Pickell, R.D is a registered dietitian who owns her own practice in Stockon New Jersey. Her main focus is weight loss, special diets, and health coach. Our interview was conduct at the home of Melissa Pickell in Flemington New Jersey on April 12, 2011 at 6:00pm. Our interview consisted of questions about her being a vegetarian, cures for illness/diseases, different types of food, and the diet of a vegetarian. The goal for our interview was to get knowledge from a professional perspective regardless to vegetarianism. Mainly we stayed on topic, but there was one incident when Leo, Melissa’s cat interrupted during the interview. Overall the interview was successful and we completed the necessary task. 

Our second interview was conduct with a health food store owner, Dorothy Boody, one of the co-owners of Health Now, a health food store in Vineland New Jersey. The interview was conduct on April 9, 2011 at 4:00pm in the setting of her store at a table near the entrance.  She spoke about her experience as a vegetarian and her family's experiences with eating healthier food.  In particularly we were interested in the blood type diet. We wanted to ask questions since we knew she supported the idea. Dorothy explained that blood type diets feature heavily in her food philosophy, and as a result, she believes blood type A's are more likely to successfully live a vegetarian lifestyle. Many of her comments on ethics, today's food industry, and keeping fruits and vegetables in the diet speak to meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Overall our interview went well but some segments may require an explanatory text slide before, but in general, most sound bites should stand alone as independent comments and/or stories. 

First interview with Melissa Pickell, R.D. [Sarah’s mother]:

Dietitician:

1. How can vegetarians get the essentials fats and nutrients only found in animal products?

2. How can you tell certain processed foods are guaranteed vegetarian?

3. What are some health disadvantages vegetarians have?

4. Are there any diseases or conditions that call for a strictly vegetarian diet?

5. Can vegetarianism be used to cure certain illnesses? 

Generic:

1. Do you find that you do not eat at fast food places as a vegetarian?

2. Is there any specific reason you chose to be a vegetarian? Religious? Moral? Health?

3. Do you know a lot of people who are vegetarian? If so, what are their reasons?

4. If you are one of few vegetarians that you know, is it hard to interact socially with others? (bbqs etc)

5. Is being a vegetarian a lifetime commitment for you? an experiment?
 
6. Are there any diseases or conditions that call for a strictly vegetarian diet?

7. Can vegetarianism be used to cure certain illnesses?

Dietitian/Health Store Questions: 

1. Describe a day in a life of a vegetarian. Are there challenges? What are your meals like?

2. Do you maintain a healthy weight?

3. Do you think restaurants do a good job serving vegetarian? What is your favorite restaurant and why?

4. Do supermarkets do a good job making foods products accessible?

5. Do vegetarians live a healthier lifestyle?  

6. How many calories a day are an appropriate amount in order to maintain your present body weight?

7. How do vegetarians receive the daily allowance of protein since they do not consume meat products?

8. Are vegetarians healthier overall because of their preferred choice of diet?

9. Do most vegetarians have low cholesterol?

10. Are vegetarians more or less susceptible to various infectious diseases? 

11. What is a vegetarian?

12. What are the typical reasons behind people's becoming vegetarians?

13. Are there different degrees of vegetarians? If so, what differentiates them from one another?

14. What are the health benefits of being a vegetarian?

15. What are the health shortcomings, or issues that require attention, for vegetarians?

16.  Why should, or should not, people become vegetarians? 

17. How can vegetarians get the essentials fats and nutrients only found in animal products? 

18. How can you tell certain processed foods are guaranteed vegetarian? 

19. What are some health disadvantages vegetarians have? 

20. Are there any diseases or conditions that call for a strictly vegetarian diet? 

21. Can vegetarianism be used to cure certain illnesses? 

Here are my questions for Sarah's mother [dietitian] . . . 

1] How many calories a day are an appropriate amount in order to maintain your present body weight?

2] How do vegetarians receive the daily allowance of protein since they do not consume meat products?

3] Are vegetarians healthier overall because of their preferred choice of diet?

4] Do most vegetarians have low cholesterol?

5] Are vegetarians more or less susceptible to various infectious diseases?

Here are my questions for a vegetarian . . .

1] Why do you prefer to be a vegetarian?

2] What are some advantages of being a vegetarian?

3] Are family members also vegetarian or did you choose this diet based on other circumstances?

4] What store brands would be recommended for a person who is just beginning a vegetarian diet?

5] Since vegetarians choose this diet to live a healthier lifestyle, do they still consume alcoholic beverages?