We never understood that saying, “Oh my, it’s so cute I could eat it!” mostly because we feel like cute things actually trigger an opposite emotion in people.

When we — and a growing portion of the modern world — see something super adorable, like a human baby, or an elephant baby, or a regular elephant doing something awesome, we don’t think, “My golly, I need to it eat!” But for some reason, that comparison doesn’t translate for farm animals. Or maybe some people just don’t think baby cows, chickens, piglets are cute?

If you’ve ever laid eyes on a baby cow clumsily romping after its mother in an open field … we highly doubt this is the case. But the reality is that many people are more than willing to set up a mental block that allows them to “Oooh” and “Aww!” over piglets and then turn around and gobble down a bacon quarter-pounder. Because, of course, when we start to make the connection between the precious baby staring at us through the computer screen and our meals, we start to feel all sorts of weird stuff. We hear that making this connection even inspires people to eat only plants for the rest of their lives … freaky!

When we see these adorable animals, we want to do lots of things — hold them, see them flourish, tell our friends — but we definitely don’t see “dinner.” So, check out these gorgeous babes and maybe, just maybe, take a minute and think about whether or not consuming animal products is still your “thing.”

1. These little baby chicks are SO fluffy, we just want to see them … grow up to cluck around in open space!

OH MY GOSH they’re so cute! Look them playing with the nice, silly dog. Apparently they just wandered into his yard one morning, so he adopted them as his own. Ah, his nose is so big that he pushes them around just by trying to smell them. Interspecies friendships are the best!

Really, seeing chicks should help anyone forget about chicken nuggets. Or at least be disgusted by them.

Don’t think of them fried—turn your tide.

2. These calves are so clumsy. We just want to see them live to develop muscle!

That moment when the first calf takes off to meet the herd. *Sniffle* It gets us every time. Moo-re cute cows please!

Ooooh! Yay, cows AND interspecies friendships! The cute is too much.

3. These turkeys are so beautiful. We just want to come up with great turkey-free Thanksgiving recipes for them.

We want to hug their puffy chests! (Don’t actually do that, though.)

And, of course, there’s this video of baby turkeys that should make you laugh, cry — anything but make unoriginal “gobble” jokes.

4. These piglets are so precious that we just want to show people how great pulled pork substitutes can be!

Hey, little guy, don’t be afraid. Just shake, shake, shake it off like your friend up there! We definitely won’t bite — how barbaric.

5. This rescued lamb is so silly with her knobby knees. We just want to save all the lambs from baaa-d people!

Oh, gosh! Yet another interspecies friendship! They’re both so cute that we just want to kiss them. 

 

Now that you’ve taken a good look at these precious little guys, we’re just going to leave this link with so many wonderful plant-based alternatives to animal products. Do with it what you will, we won’t judge – but no promises that little spotted piggy won’t!