Before I was vegan, I had no idea about what being vegan was actually like, and made a whole bunch of assumptions and critiques. I remember thinking vegans weren’t healthy, I worried about their protein, and thought they would be weak and frail with such a diet. I don’t think I am the only person who has ever had these thoughts, in fact I know I am not because I get asked about this stuff all the time. So, for those of you who don’t understand the vegan diet, here is a breakdown of common discussion topics you may be wondering about.
1. Not all vegans are vegan for the same reason.
Even other vegans and vegetarians often assume that I am vegan for the same reason as them, which is often animal cruelty. Well, that’s not why I’m vegan, and a lot of other people have different reasons for being veg. For me, I am vegan because of two main reasons: it’s a much healthier way to eat, and it is way better for the environment. Did you know raising animals for food, is worse for the environment than cars are!? Other reasons that people eat veg are religion, culture, weight loss, allergies, to help feed the world, or even because pigs are smarter than a dog… And it seems weird to eat something that smart.
2. We don’t live off of tofu.
I think most every veg gets this, omnis (omnivores) always ask, make jokes about, or express their health concerns about the amount of tofu we eat. (Probably just after they ate a greasy hamburger or something too). Well, every veg is different, but personally I rarely eat tofu. I drink almond milk more often than soy, and I cook tofu rarely, like maybe once or twice a month, which may seem like a lot if you don’t eat tofu, but when compared to the amount of meat the average North American consumes, it’s a pittance. The place I have the most tofu is actually in restaurants. Us veg, truly don’t need tofu to survive.
3. We aren’t all sprouty, waify, health nuts.
Before I was vegan, I pictured vegans as sprout eating, crystal wearing, hairy armpitted, yogis who didn’t talk more than in a hushed whisper as not to offend the shakras or something like that. I didn’t know!!! The truth is there are a lot of veg who actually aren’t zen at all. There is tons of processed junk that is vegan, even if by accident. Oreos are a famous example, as well as All Dressed Ruffles, 7-Eleven apple pie, Fritos, Sour Patch Kids, some Jello puddings, Maple Bacon Kettle chips, Krispy Kreme pies, as well as a ton of other junk food. Lots of vegans love and eat this stuff, and lot’s don’t.
4. We aren’t constantly looking for sources of protein.
“Where do you get your protein?” Any veg knows this as probably the most frequent question they get asked. Sure protein is important for health, but meat and beans aren’t the only sources of protein. In fact, protein is found in all plant based foods. Greens like spinach, kale, peas and broccoli, have somewhere around 20-30% protein, even rice has 8% protein. You only need 8%-12% of your diet to be protein, so as long as you eat a varied diet, you will easily get all the protein that you need. What about athletes? Well they do need more protein, but they also need more calories, so they will naturally get more.
5. We aren’t calcium deficient.
Did you know that the countries that consume the highest amounts of dairy products are the same countries that have the most cases of osteoporosis, a disease caused by calcium deficiency. Weird, huh? This is because animal proteins cause calcium to leach from the bones. Where as in China, a country that consumes about a third or less of the dairy we do has very few cases of osteoporosis. Just like protein, lots of veggies, and nuts are loaded with all the calcium you will need.
6. We don’t like asking for special requests.
In an ideal world, all restaurants would have at least one vegan meal on their menu. Although, lots of veg are totally cool with asking for special requests from restaurants. Others (like me) don’t want to be that annoying demanding vegan. I really don’t like asking for edits to the menu, but I also like to eat the way I like to eat, and won’t be a happy customer if I have nothing but a baked potato for dinner. So if you are a restaurant owner, please have a veg option! Vegans like to eat at “normal” restaurants too.
7. We don’t live off of fake meat and cheese.
I usually prefer going to “normal” restaurants and hoping that they do have a veg option on the menu. Most vegan restaurants I have been to seem to specialize in fake meat. Fried chicken, shrimp cocktails, lobster tail, you name it. I always find this so disappointing. While it is a cool party trick to make these convincing veg meats, I actually like to eat vegetables. I know crazy.
8. We are cholesterol free.
Eating vegan is a 100% cholesterol free diet. You will only find cholesterol in animal products. It is why vegans have a way lower risk of heart disease. So if you have high cholesterol, this is a way of eating you might consider.
9. We save money.
It’s seems crazy to me that people think eating vegan is more expensive. Sure maybe the tofu dogs are more expensive than hot dogs, but when was the last time a steak dinner was cheaper than spaghetti? Or chicken, cheaper than a salad. I don’t think so. Making the switch could cost extra as you will be stocking up on a boat load of new products, but once your kitchen is set, you will save money.
10. We are smart, sexy and talented.
You may have heard of Usher, Alec Baldwin, Pamela Andreson, Russell Brand, Lee Michele, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde, Paul McCartney, Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Ellen DeGeneres? All vegan. Did you know that Albert Einstein was vegetarian and once said “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” Or how about Leonardo Da Vinci who said “My body will not be a tomb for other creatures.” And Plato once said “The Gods created certain kinds of beings to replenish our bodies; they are the trees and the plants and the seeds.”
What questions do you have about the vegan diet? If you are vegan, what do you get asked about all the time?
I keep trying to figure out where I’m going wrong when trying to go vegan. I know when I move back to the States it will be easy. But I live in Japan right now.
I have a high protein diet due to my workout goals and routine. So unfortunately the tiny 0.9g of protein in a cup of spinach won’t help me get to where I need to be in a day since I don’t eat much anyway (I try to hit 1776 calories a day 35% protein and 40% carbs so 163g of protein and 187g of carbs). I already don’t do much dairy due to allergies and have no trouble cutting that (aside from ice cream). Beans are really hard to get. The closest store to me that sells Western black beans and Pinto beans in any sort of quantity is at least a 30 minute walk one way and all canned so anything I buy I have to bring back. Also, it’s about $2.90 for a 200g can. Unfortunately comparing that to the same price as meat shows that in Japan, the meat is cheaper. Especially if on sale.
I do have protein powder and protein bars. I mix the powder with soy yogurt which is about $4.00 for 4 servings worth. Almond milk is also about $4-$5 so I save it for a treat. I’m allergic to gluten though and if I just drink the protein powder with water I will throw up.
I tried going vegan recently with a lot of veggies and chia seeds and fruits (nuts are too expensive. 75g of peanuts is about $3.00). But I had to stop because I felt so weak and nearly passed out. I’m afraid of reaching out for help with it but I’m not sure what to do really. I can’t eat dairy or gluten, nuts are expensive, beans are rare, fruit is super expensive, veggies are limited (and expensive. Kale is found one place, tiny amount for a high price), peanut butter is like $5.00 for a small jar. Japan hasn’t entirely grasped veganism yet (dashi- a fish-paste is often used in things that are called vegetarian), even some vegetable stock I was looking at had beef. The cheapest option is tofu, which I get a lot of soy already. Dessert, in soup, fried, edamame, sauce, I really just need a few sources with higher protein than carbs that is vegan and affordable.
Do you have any tips? At this point I’m just tempted to do what I can until I get home in a year (eggs can also make me sick and I can’t eat seafood) and then figure it out. Thank you for your patience! I’m sorry I’m super awkward.
Hi BananaHeart!
No apology needed, happy to help! I highly recommend checking out vegan body builders, there are lots of them! There is the site veganbodybuilding.com and you can also find many awesome bodybuilders on YouTube and Instagram. That would be a great place to get inspiration for high-protein vegan diets. I know some of them such as Torre Washington doesn’t even use and supplements, not even protein powder!
If you are eating vegan and feel weak, I promise you this is not from not eating meat. There is no nutrient found in meat that can’t also be found in plants. The most likely cause is that you were not eating enough calories as meat and cheese are some of the highest calorie foods, and when you replace them with plants which are generally low in calorie, you need to eat much larger quantities, especially if you are training hard! I recommend checking out the documentary What the Health, and Forks Over Knives which are both about health and talk a lot about protein. Hope that helps!
Hi sam, i fell in love with your blog, recipes and personality. Plus your beautiful and happy smile. I am vegetarian, but i still consume fish and least seafood. I wish someday i would go vegan but i love to eat fish…i CAN forego dairy but fish is hard for me at this moment. i searched other veganist,mostly talk about meat and so far not about sea life perspective. What do you think? Thank you.
Awww shucks, thank you, Sally 🙂 First off, it’s great what you are doing! Every little bit counts, so thank you for being a pescetarian. As for your question, I don’t eat fish because not only are fish sentient beings (feel pain), they are very toxic to our bodies as they contain PCB’s, mercury, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Toxins bioaccumulate in fish flesh and they have been called “mercury sponges”. On top of that, the oceans are so overfished that the oceans contain 90% less fish than they did in 1950. When fish are caught about 25% of what is caught and killed is called “bycatch” which are other fish, sharks, turtles, coral, and are simply discarded. If we continue to consume fish as we do, we will have a fishless ocean by 2048. I highly recommend watching the documentary Cowspiracy (which looks at the environmental impacts), and the documentaries What the Health and Forks Over Knives (which look at the health impacts), they are all on Netflix. Hope that helps!
Hi I am 15 and have been researching going vegan for about a month now, and from day one was pretty set on going vegan. Just from a days reading! I came across your blog and love it.
I was wondering could you maybe do a post on what to stock up on for example-spices, herbs, and other non produce things?
4 months ago I got my family(my sisters went of to college so having the house to myself helped) to start eating organic food and obsessed with reading health articles so hopefully after I research enough I will have backups to my decision.
Hi Rachel, Thank you so much for loving my blog, and a big congrats on your new vegan journey!! I actually have a section on how I stalk my pantry in my cookbook which will be coming out next year, so you can look forward to that 🙂 In the meantime you can check out My Top 12 Vegan Pantry Staples and 6 Steps to a Vegan Kitchen. I hope that helps! Let me know if you ever have any more questions or need any support 🙂
Your blog is great. Thank you for sharing. My husband and I have been vegan/whole food plant based – going on two years now. We saw the films Forks Over Knives and Plant Pure Nation. We decided to try the 10 day jump start in Plant Pure Nation to get my husband off his heart meds. IT WORKED! For us it was like – do we need to say more? We both felt so good after just 10 days we decided to continue. One of our side effects – weight loss. Another – more energy. We are both in our mid 60s and much more active than most our friends. We have found the best way to share is just become an example. Thank you again.
Thank you Kathy! Isn’t it SO amazing how quickly plants can heal your body? You guys are such an inspiration! So happy you are both feeling fantastic, love it! 🙂
I grew up vegan and have never known anything different. I wouldn’t describe myself as a strict vegan: we eat with out asking questions when we visit relatives and friends, but having never lived on meat, cheese, eggs, etc. I find that the things most people eat are totally disgusting. And, contrary to popular opinion, vegans are often the healthiest and strongest people out there, not the spindly weak ones with no stamina! Isn’t it great to be able to prove by the fact that we aren’t that way that virtually no vegans are?
Yes it is! We are breaking stereotypes all the time by just being our awesome vegan selves. Pretty cool that you grew up vegan! So happy to have you here 🙂
Hi Sam!
I just stumbled across your blog today while looking for a vegan birthday cake recipe. I have been reading through your blog today and have found myself getting so excited and passionate about the things you are saying because I can relate SO much! I feel like I could talk to you for hours about how much I can relate. I am also someone who grew up on a farm and found out how much healthier a vegan diet is. I could go on and on but I will cut it short by saying I am very grateful I ran across this and I look forward to following your blog and all your vegan adventures.
Thanks again!
Hi Reah!
I am so very happy you can relate so much! Isn’t the internet so cool in that way… finding people all over the world who are just like you! I’m so happy you found me, and look very forward to seeing you around the blog 😀
love this !!!! so true the comments from people because they are un educated about vegans. I choose to go vegan for health reasons i’m a runner & very discipline about my diet : this has opened my world to a much better way of eating. Plant based never new what it was all about before. five months in and enjoying it!!!
I originally went vegan for health reasons as well, so happy you are enjoying it Colette! I felt so amazing when I went vegan. Pretty sure it’s the main reason I stayed vegan! Now I just try to educated everyone else about how awesome it is, and provide them scrumptious recipes 🙂
Perfect! Not much more to add! And tofu? I make mine out of hemp…
Haha! So happy you agree 🙂
Loved this article. I can relate to it all. It is coming up to a year of our vegan adventure, and so much of what you told us and said would happen, has happened. You said to enjoy the fake meat stuff if it helps with the transition, and it did. You also said, after a while we wouldn’t want/need them as much, and that happened, too. I am vegan for many of the reasons you listed. When someone asks me why I decided to do this, and as you know, they always do, I reply, all the reasons. BTW, you just acquired a new subscriber with this article so keep up the great work. Obviously you are changing lives.
Happy veganniversary!! So happy you are still loving your decision, and could relate to this article. It seems unreal, but because of the comments and emails I get, I know I have inspired and helped many people. Best job ever!!!
Not quite a year. End of Sept. I think. But thx for the early congrats.
Just finding this post via pinterest…very interesting. My daughter who is 9 is vegetarian & wants to eat vegan (be vegan). I think that’s a wonderful choice and my husband and I are excited about joining her. I’m excited about being healthy and cholesterol free!
That’s so awesome Nanette!! I hear from so many kids who’s parents do not support their desire to go vegan, and sometimes even bully them out of it. It’s so fantastic that you are so supportive and planning on joining her! Please let me know if you ever have any questions or need any support 😀
I love you guys…I went veggie at 13 (50 years ago!) and my mum was told by the doctor not to entertain my fad, that I would grow out of it if not fed…I lived with a family of rabbit killers (they hung on all the doors for weeks at a time) and had a dreadful time…if only I had had parents like you two <3
That’s so cool that you’re supporting her! I’m vegan now that I’m an adult but my parents wouldn’t let me be a vegetarian in school. They believed it would be more expensive (it’s not) and they didn’t wanna change their own lifestyles! Good luck to you guys 🙂
I just discovered your blog and I love it! I’ve been a pesco-vegetarian for over 6,5 years (I’m 18) and I plan on going vegan this January. I’m a little bit intimidated though, so I’m trying to find as much information and inspiration as possible 🙂 There’s a lot of both on your blog. Thank you! 🙂 xx
Yay! Thanks Flower! Congrats on your new vegan adventure! If you ever have any questions or concern just let me know, that’s what I am here for 🙂
Thanks a lot! 🙂 I’m really excited!!
I just found your blog via Pinterest and I absolutely LOVE it! All your recipes look amazing! I’m not a vegan (not even a vegetarian) but I do enjoy vegan food. However, I’d like to stress that the veggies you mention (kale, broccoli, spinach etc) do not have 20-30% protein, more like 2-3% (Broccoli for example: 2,3g protein/100g = 2,3%). That being said, I agree with you that a vegan diet easily can cover your protein needs 🙂
Awww shucks!! Thank you Caroline!!! Broccoli actually is 26% protein according to this source, spinach is 30% protein as seen here, and kale is not as high (but still more than enough) with 16% protein as seen here. I think you might be thinking of grams of protein per serving and not percentage per calories? So happy that you agree either way, and so SUPER happy that you love my blog! I look forward to seeing you around. Let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
I must say that I disagree on the point that being vegan is cheaper. Perhaps that’s true in the US, but I live in South Africa and the fake vegan meat and cheese industry is very very small here. So basically you have to make everything yourself. In addition to being vegan I also eat healthy, try to avoid processed food and sugar and buy mostly organic. Those products are mostly only found in health shops which makes being vegan expensive.
Hi Saskia,
When I refer to a vegan diet being cheaper, I am generally referring to buying whole foods. Buying fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes, is way cheaper than buying meat, dairy, and eggs. Processed foods, regardless if they contain animal products or not are always going to be more expensive. It’s interesting to learn about the differences in South Africa! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I think of it this way. How much would I have to save to make it worth risking my health? How much for my kid’s health? I can’t justify the savings. If I literally can’t afford organic, I just buy regular and wash the crap out of it. I just do the best I can do. 🙂
Thanks for your recipes. I have been vegetarian for almost 20 years. I was vegan for several years, but fell off the wagon (so to speak) a couple of years back.
Now, I feel I should clarify that when I say that I “fell off the wagon” I ate a mostly vegan diet……..just occasional fancy cheeses along with my wine, and sometimes left the cheese on my salads if I ate out, or didn’t check the ingredients if I ate bread (which is rather rare). Now, if you asked my my vegetarian friends, I was still vegan, but knowing that I was not completely vegan, I sure as heck didn’t claim it to others.
However, I am proud to say that times have changed and I have gone back to being vegan. Hooray!
Now, I still enjoy my “cheeses” with my wines, and I look forward to trying out some of your recipes. I have been making cheese from nuts for years. Nutritional yeast is a must! Thanks for some great new ideas! I am so inspired.
To go along with the topic of the original post about the things you didn’t know about vegans:
I do not have a handicap, nor do I have a disease.
Yes, you can eat in front of me. And no, I won’t cry.
Here are a couple of situations just off the top of my head that I have actually happen to me.
• My kid spilled milk on the couch a while back…..will you be able to sit in my living room?
• Will you be ok if I eat this in front of you, or will we need to get separate tables at a restaurant?
***Answer, uh, duh!***
• I had a barbeque at my house but didn’t invite you because there is absolutely nothing for you to eat at a barbeque
Really? There is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING available for a vegan to eat at a barbeque?
And my number one major pet peeve, we do not like talking about why we choose to eat a plant based diet while sitting a table with people who are about to eat meat. It’s usually one person who could really care less either way asking the question while there are several others who are completely uncomfortable sitting there (giving the stink eye to the placemat in front of them).
I don’t know about you, but I hate having to defend myself for being me. Not only is your evening ruined, you come off sounding a bit preachy to others.
I try very hard to be polite and explain that if they still want to know why I am vegan, I would be very happy to talk with them or refer them to books, or website as to why I have chosen to live my life as I have for nearly 20 years, but I do not feel that the dinner table is an appropriate place to have the conversation due to the sensitivity of others who are within earshot who did not ask to be a part of the conversation.
UGH!
Anywho, thanks again for the new ideas! I will be making the pop tarts for my boyfriend very soon! God I miss those things!
Oh yes, it can be so frustrating at times!! It’s so true, why do people always ask about veganism, just as they are about to eat some animal? (I think it’s their conscious). I used to worry about ruining peoples meals, but now I just sum up my thoughts in a quick elevator pitch type way, and then go back to enjoying the meal. They asked! Keep up the great work Ryanne! I hope you enjoy the portarts! 🙂
Hi there! Fun post! I am not vegan nor vegetarian, but started pinning lots of great vegan recipes which help me incorporate so much more good stuff into my diet. I was completely in the dark about how cool and fun vegan cooking can be, and now it’s really my preferred method of cooking at home. I still haven’t gotten a food processor yet, but I’ve had so much fun with my immersion blender this winter and look forward to learning more vegan recipes this year.
Cheers!
Hi Shawn!
That’s great! I too was in the dark about the awesomeness of vegan cooking, until I became vegan! I found that with limitation came inspiration and I really got much more creative in the kitchen. So happy you are trying more vegan/vegetarian meals. Every little bit helps! I hope you enjoy my recipes and let me know if you have any questions.
Sam.
Great post, and I love your recipes! I went vegan last year after 13 years as a vegetarian and it is blogs like yours that have made the transition really easy and fun 🙂 I am feeling great and really feel like I can taste and appreciate food more!
Thanks Lauren! I was never vegetarian, went straight to veganism, but I too felt I could taste food more. It’s so interesting how your taste buds can change. I’m so glad you have found my blog helpful 🙂
I love the part about not all of us liking fake meats! I’m a vegan because I don’t like eating animal flesh so it freaks me out when it feels like I am. It’s such a myth that we miss/ constantly crave meat.
Haha, so true Cleo! It creeps me out sometimes too!
I just discovered your blog through Pinterest. I want to commend you on your total lack of prejudice and preachiness!! I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the very judgmental and hair-splitting comments. I admire you for keeping your cool. I think that their attitude is precisely what gives Vegans such a bad rep. It’s why I don’t even use the term “Vegan” in front of people. I just say I eat nothing from an animal. Your post on the whole protein issue made me smile. It seems that no other culture is as concerned about protein as much as Americans. I don’t know if you follow Dr. Colin Campbell, but he says the same thing in his documentary Fork Over Knives. When I told my family in Germany that I had gone completely vegan, no-one asked me that. They just wanted to know if it wasn’t hard eating out, or if I didn’t miss any of the traditional foods. I am 50 years old and went vegan over a year ago. It has made a tremendous difference dealing with menopause symptoms, and I feel like a new person. Thank you for your blog!!
Welcome Ingrid! I agree that sometimes people get so nit picky about veganism that it can be off putting! I understand that it usually comes from a place of passion though and I appreciate that. I know before I was vegan I thought vegans were “so extreme” and any that I had met (and I even had a vegan roommate at one point), only confirmed this for me. I try to show the opposite, how fun, easy, and delicious it is. Even if my enthusiasm encourages just one vegan a meal a week, that sure is better than nothing!
So interesting to hear how people respond differently in different parts of the world. I love Dr. T Colin Campbell! I hope to see a lecture from him one day.
Thank YOU for liking my blog! It’s truly a labour of love so it makes my day when it is loved right back. 🙂
Hi! Like the post! But I do have to agree with some of the comments concerning the term vegan. Vegan means you don’t consume any animal products out of compassion for animals. The term Vegan means just that… If you’re meat- and dairyfree for other reasons, you’re just not vegan… But maybe plantbased, environmentalist etc… It isn’t even about “labeling”… You shouldn’t call yourself something your not… Not eating animal products for healthreasons is and calling yourself Vegan is the same as being Baptist and calling yourself Mormon(for example)…
Hi Anonymous, would love to know your name so I know who I am taking to! 🙂
Welcome. Thanks for liking my post!
I have to disagree with you a little. The term “vegan” was coined by Donald Watson in 1944. He, along with his wife were the founders of The Vegan Society, so I think it would make the most sense to get the definition of the word vegan, from the person who invented it. Donald Watson’s definition of vegan is:
“Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”
You can find that here: https://www.vegansociety.com/society/key-facts
So you see, the term vegan doesn’t mention anything about not consuming these animal products out of compassion for the animals. It doesn’t give any reason at all, it simple states that you are indeed eliminating all of these products as far as is possible and practicable.
So by that definition, as long as you are doing your best to avoid any products that cause harm to animals, you can consider yourself vegan. If someone is plant based and avoids all leather, animal tested products, and anything else that may have caused harm to animals, they are also vegan, whether they refer to themselves that way or not. If someone is plant based and knowingly purchases leather, they are not vegan.
Veganism isn’t a religion, there is no set of strict rules to follow, or beliefs you need to have. You can be vegan without ever identifying as so, and in fact there are many people that would fit into this category as many religions are vegan by nature.
I’m sure compassion for animals is the most likely reason people go vegan, but I for one am very happy that veganism isn’t defined as changing your diet for compassionate reasons, because then I would have never found veganism. I stumbled into it for health reasons, and if I had not identified myself as vegan from the start, I know I wouldn’t have held as strong to my own values. It is through identifying myself as vegan that I not only learned about the health and environmental hazards, but the truth behind the meat, dairy, and egg industries. It is with all this knowledge that I know I will be vegan for life. I really don’t believe there is any positive reason to take the word vegan away from people who are doing their best to live an animal free life. I hope to welcome people into veganism, not to turn a cold shoulder to them because they have different values.
ha nice reply. love it. you’re awesome. :))))
Haha, thank you Giusi! You’re awesome! 🙂
I ended up on your blog via my Pinterest account and a pin on vegan cupcakes(I am making them today). I must say I love your blog and I appreciate you. I am a dietary Vegan as well and have been for the last 4 years. I am 45 and look fabulous I have 4 children and I am constantly being told you do not look your age, I have great skin, I am a size 4, I am NEVER sick, I take vegan multi vitamins each day and I eat at many fabulous NYC restaraunts that make modifications on request so I can enjoy dining with my meat loving friends. Keep doing what you are doing there will always be someone that has something negative to say or point out. To each his own. You cannot please everyone but I am pleased with you and your blog….Keep sharing and representing! Best. Audra
Hi Audra,
Oh, now you are making me want cupcakes!!!
Thank you so much for loving my blog. I spend all of my free time working on it, so I so appreciate when it is loved back 🙂
Ah, the benefits of a vegan diet are almost endless! You set an amazing example, and sound like you handle being vegan, even among non-vegans with grace and ease. What a wonderful message you are spreading just by being your fabulous self!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I hope you enjoy the cupcakes!
Here is something to consider. I venture it is safe to say that almost no one is a true vegan. I grow a greater portion of my food. I have been an “almost vegan” for 30 years. If you eat anything that is sold in the store that is plant or grain based it is grown with animal manure, blood and bone meal and feather meal. Almost without exception all organic commercial vegetables, grains, potatoes and produce are grown with the last three. And ALL of it comes from slaughterhouse leavings. So really, there is only a fine line between vegans and non-vegans.
Hi Davilyn,
Yes good points! It’s true, unfortunately we live in a world that uses animal bodies and their excretions in almost everything we do. But as the saying goes, don’t do nothing, because you can’t do everything. I would rather use my money to buy from vegetable companies that use a byproduct of the meat industry, then support the meat industry directly. It’s all about supply and demand. If there is less demand for meat, the vegetable industry would find alternative fertilizers, as the byproducts would be rarer and more expensive. Or better yet, no more meat, no more byproducts. If you go to farmers markets, you could ask the farmers directly how they grow their veggies, and if you grow your own veggies you can make sure that you buy animal free soils and fertilizers. Being vegan isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being aware of the choices you are faced with everyday, and choosing to match your values as best as you are able.
Hi,
Nice and interesting post! Congrats!
I am only going to do a comment, because I visit a lot of vegan websites written by north-americans and you always put oreo as vegan-safe, and it is used in tons of recipies…and I always have this doubt, because I am from Spain, and I don’t know if the recipe is the same or not, but I have a friend who works in an oreo plant and she has seen that they use donkey butter (which is not only not vegan, but also kind of gross).
So I don’t know, but maybe you should revise that in the States…not judging, just willing to help, because I am vegetarian and I was eating curd for a while until I realized that the one they sell in the supermarket has gelatin (traditional does not have).
Congrats again for the post and sorry for the long comment 🙂
Hi Rekiwi,
Thank you! So glad you liked my post 🙂
In Canada (where I am) it is the law that food products list all the ingredients. I don’t know if it’s different in Spain. So looking at the package, which is sitting next to me right now, (guilty!) I can read all the ingredients, and they are as follows: SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), HIGH OLEIC CANOLA AND/OR PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORNSTARCH, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLIN–AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE. You can also find them here: http://www.snackworks.com/products/product-detail.aspx?product=4400003327 So as you can see, although creepy sounding, they are indeed vegan! That whole donkey butter thing is really bizarre tho!! Because I am a nerd sometimes, I also checked out where donkeys populate, and only 0.1% of the total donkey population live in North America…so I would think donkey butter would be a rare and expensive thing here, and not likely found in cheap junk food, haha! You can check that out here too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey So I wish you luck in Spain with your oreos! And no apologies necessary for the long comment, I loved hearing from you. 🙂 Interesting to know you can’t trust products to be the same in every country!
Just stumbled upon your blog and it’s great! I’ve been a vegetarian for 6 years, and now vegan for about a month and a half. I haven’t had oreos for the longest time, but I have heard that it is vegan and I was very happy. However, I’m not 100% sure about it.
I just did a quick search and the oreo site (UK only since I couldn’t find the page on the US site) says that it’s not suitable for vegans. Okay for vegetarians though.
http://www.oreo.co.uk/FAQ
And then many articles saying they use bone char
http://my-face-is-on-fire.blogspot.com/2010/01/oreos-where-petas-got-it-wrong.html
http://www.isitvegan.com/2011/06/02/are-oreos-vegan/
Seems like not every package uses the same sugar, but still..
Just wondering what your take on that is? For me, I probably won’t eat oreos anyways. I haven’t had it for the longest time, so I don’t miss it much.
Anyways, I’m excited to read through the rest of your blog and try some recipes!
Hi Jen, welcome! 🙂
Congrats on your new found veganism!
I found that US Oreo ingredients are: SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), HIGH OLEIC CANOLA AND/OR PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORNSTARCH, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLIN–AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE.
mmmmmmmm delicious. Artificial as they are they are vegan.
http://www.snackworks.com/products/product-detail.aspx?product=4400003202
The unfortunate thing about bone char is that it MAY be found in almost any white sugar! Terrifying, I know. They use bone char to make the sugar look whiter, sigh. That said it is usually in such small quantities that it isn’t even listed on the sugar package as an ingredient. So in reality any food made with sugar, not just Oreos but any food, there is a chance the sugar may have bone char in it.
Wait, wait, wait, don’t hate me yet. So here’s the deal, if you are worried about it, you could either avoid all sugar, or use only vegan verified sugar at home to make your own baked goods. Personally, would I eat an Oreo? Yes I would! I would never intentionally eat something with animal products in it, I always read the ingredients, but when it comes to fractions of something that it MAY contain, I don’t worry about it. As Donald Watson, the dude who coined the word vegan says “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” Note the all important “as far as is possible and practicable”! In this animal product based world, it would be near impossible to be a “perfect” vegan in every way. Go ahead, eat an Oreo if you want one, and dip it in a big cold glass of almond milk! Omnomnom! I hope that helps, and that you enjoy the recipes.
Sam
Great list! This will help me demystify to my friends my choice to go plant based 9 months ago. Thanks!
Thank you! So glad this will help your friends understand. That was exactly my intention!
Just wondering about the part where you say “Making the switch could cost extra as you will be stocking up on a boat load of new products, but once your kitchen is set, you will save money.” Can you give examples of the “boat load of new products” that you are referring to? Do you mean some sort of staple products? I am not vegan or vegetarian, but am interested in learning what I can. TIA
Hi Michelle,
Yes for sure. When I went vegan, I made the switch in one night, which means I cleaned out my kitchen and threw out or gave away, all products containing meat, dairy, or eggs. Then I went grocery shopping and had to restock my kitchen. I bought things like veganaise (vegan mayonnaise), earth balance (a great vegan butter alternative), daiya (vegan cheese), as well as tofu, cereals, granola bars, veggie burgers, of course lots of veggies and fruits, etc. The cost for me was just replacing a lot of the foods I used to eat with the vegan versions. Let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
This was beautifully said. Thank you
Thank you Cameron!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Another great post. I don’t usually read through comments on sites, but the comments here intrigued me, as did your non-judgemental & lighthearted responses to what seemed to me like a little bit of provoking comments. You’re an excellent model on how to respond to critics of a vegan diet, or critics of parts of a vegan diet. I’m taking note…. 🙂
Hi Laura!
Haha! Aww thanks! I try to stand strong and honest in who I am, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to be just like me. People are individuals and thats the best part about them! I don’t like cookie cutter rules, I am more of a let the cookie melt into whatever random shape it want to be, person…if that makes any sense! haha. Thanks for your support and encouragement!
I wonder how many people are actually VEGAN for reasons other than ethical reasons, though. Because being vegan doesn’t just mean not EATING animal products, it means not using them in any aspect of your life. If you just don’t eat animal products but use them in other parts of your life, you’re a strict vegetarian not a vegan. How many people going “vegan” for their health stop actually buying leather shoes or wool coats?
Thanks for your comment Sabrina, and welcome to my blog 🙂
This question has had me thinking for a few days and I actually plan to write a post about it! Thanks for the inspiration. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the article. 🙂
I hate when people are so nit-picky! Obviously commenters like that ^ have no clue what it’s like to be vegan. Because no one (no one!) can be 100% vegan unless they live off the grind. Am I going to not ride in my friend’s car because there are leather seats? Am I going to not a vegan burger patty at a normal restaurant because it’s cooked on the same grill as meat as might have ‘meat juice’ on it? Am I going to not give my dog a bath because I’m killing fleas? No! I think even trying to be a vegan and failing miserably from time to time is better than other people who don’t try at all and only want to cut vegans down for not being perfect enough.
Hi Samantha, welcome!
Awesome name by the way. 😉
I agree that it’s nearly impossible to be 100% vegan. I also would like to think of the vegan community as welcoming and supportive, as opposed to a slam the door in your face kind of vibe. I would rather show people how easy and fun it is, then to show them how they will never live up to the standards. Thanks for your comment Samantha! I will be writing a bigger post on this topic soon 🙂
Hmm, I don’t think it’s nit-picky to expect a word to be used properly. Also, you’re using examples that have nothing to do with what I was talking about. Being vegan isn’t about perfection – we live in a very non-vegan world, so yes, sometimes you’re going to have to take medications that were tested on animals, or you’re going to ride in a car that has tires that contain an animal ingredient. It’s about avoiding animal products to the best of your ability. Buying leather boots, a wool peacoat, or having a piece of cheese now and then is not vegan. Just eating plant-based products and using animal bi-products in other parts of your life does not make you a vegan. My point (which you seem to have totally missed; did you even read my comment before going all defensive?) is that rarely are people actually *vegan* for reasons other than ethical reasons because *vegan* means not using any animal products, not just not eating them. So I don’t know what that has to do with riding in your friend’s car or anything else you said. And because I normally make it a policy not to argue on the internet, I’ll bow out now 😉
Thanks for your feedback Sabrina! I totally get where you are coming from as well. It would be interesting to know how many people lead a full vegan lifestyle for reasons other than ethical…
I went strict vegetarian solely for health reasons (high cholesterol) and am vegan – no wool, leather, etc. I recognize the distinction, but I don’t think it’s a productive place to put energy. Having been vegan for nearly a decade now, I see people new to veganism get turned off instead of pulled in because they are not instantly “vegan enough.”
Hi Mary,
I totally agree with you. I think it’s way better to be welcoming of everyone no matter how vegan they are. I myself have a leather chair and down comforter, and I don’t plan on getting rid of them. I still feel I am vegan, I just don’t see the point of disposing of items that I already have. I refer to myself more as a dietary vegan than a lifestyle vegan, and hopefully don’t offend anyone that way. The truth is I wouldn’t order any items labeled vegetarian on a menu, I would only eat the items labeled vegan. So the term “strict vegetarian” doesn’t seem fitting to me, and asking the waiter for “strict vegetarian” definitely won’t help clear anything up. I think it’s easiest to keep it simple for the general population, the details can be your personal choice.
I love the surprise people have on their face when they realize even honey comes from an animal.
Haha! Yeah, I always get the people who are like “Wait… you don’t even eat cheese!!!?? What do you eat!?”
So many people don’t realize how much food DOESN’T come from animas. There is more the vegetables than salad and potatoes. haha
Hi,
Interesting list, but where did you read that there are virtually no cases of osteoporosis in China?
These two links show that this isn’t the case:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10515674
“The prevalence of osteoporosis in the Hong Kong Chinese female population.”
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CHkQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmj.org%2Fch%2Freader%2Fcreate_pdf.aspx%3Ffile_no%3D20025773%26flag%3D1%26year_id%3D2002%26quarter_id%3D5&ei=AGPBUvCYH_LQ7AbTsIH4BQ&usg=AFQjCNF8U_LEXSRrBtEWrxopxeKsOYfvMw&sig2=IhubMRVAA_db_rRMKB0-sA&bvm=bv.58187178,d.ZGU
“Prevalence rate of osteoporosis in the mid-aged and elderly in selectedparts of China”
T.
Hi Tugduald!
Thanks for your question.
I guess I should make a point to site my sources next time! haha.
I got that information from the book the China Study, in the chapter on Osteoporosis where it reads:
“In our rural China study, where the animal to plant ratio was about 10%, the fracture rate is only one-fifth that of the U.S. Nigeria shows an animal-to-plant protein ratio only about 10% that of Germany, and the hip fracture incidence is lower by over 99%.”
So you can see that is a big difference. I imagine there would also be a big difference between rural China, and the big cities such as Hong Kong, where meat and dairy would be more plentiful.
You can also watch this explained in the movie Forks Over Knives. This particular segment is about an hour into the documentary.
Here is the chart that shows the Incidence of Hip Fractures, compared to calcium consumption. You can see how much lower Hong Kong and also Singapore are compared to the U.S.
http://chicvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/calcium_intake.jpg
Hope that helps!
Just curious…I thought gelatin was not vegan….is there another ingredient in the jello and sour patch kids that you mentioned being ok for vegan that isn’t made from animals? Or was I just mistaken about that fact?
Hi K M!
Nope, you are 100% right, gelatin is not vegan. It isn’t even vegetarian, it’s made from the collagen which is found in the bones. And you’re right, regular wiggly Jello has gelatin in it, but some Jello Puddings (which is what I referred to), does not, and neither do sour patch kids.
Vanilla Jello Pudding in the box has these delicious sounding ingredients:
Ingredients: SUGAR, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE AND TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE (FOR THICKENING), MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES (PREVENT FOAMING), YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, BHA (PRESERVATIVE).
And Sour Patch Kids have these equally delicious sounding ingredients:
Ingredients: SUGAR, INVERT SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, TARTARIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORING, YELLOW 6, RED 40, YELLOW 5 AND BLUE 1.
Mmmmm Yellow 6, how I love you.
I know, you are totally drooling.
I was poking around the Jello site, and noticed that all of the pre-made puddings do contain milk, so I edited my article to make sure it says SOME Jello Puddings!
If you are interested in more “accidentally vegan” food, check out this list on PETA:
http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/accidentally-vegan.aspx
🙂
Hi Sam!
I have nominated you for the Shine On Blogger award, because I think your blog is just plain groovy. As per the instructions given to me, you now need to tell us seven things about your lovely self, and then nominate seven other bloggers that you think take the cake! If you want to see how I did it, the link to my post is here:
http://freshpickedvegan.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/shiny/
Thanks for sharing your vision with the world!
Hi MTR,
Thanks for the nomination! Do you have the link to the homepage of the Shine On Blogger Awards? I’m curious to learn more!
Thanks,
Sam
Hey Sam, Sorry – I have no idea. I was nominated by someone else, and I checked back a few to make sure it was legit, and that’s pretty much all I know, besides the whole 7 things, 7 blogs thing!
Lou
Thanks Lou!
Just curious because I did a google search and nothing came up! Thanks again so much for the nomination 🙂
If I may respecfully offer a farmer’s rebuttal 🙂
http://sylvanaquafarms.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/four-reasons-to-go-locavore-rather-than-vegetarian/
Thanks for your response. I agree that it’s great to eat locally, and fully support people who want to eat this way. I go to the farmers markets almost every weekend, I have stolen produce from my parents garden, and I do dehydrate and preserve foods. (Not a huge amount I admit, as I have no stoarge space…really, you should see how little my house is).
Your comment “When you’re eating lettuce in Canada in the middle of the summer, you’d might as well be drowning baby ducks in crude oil” seems really odd to me, as lettuce is in season in Ontario from May to October, so middle of summer would be an ideal time to eat lettuce.
As meat is more in demand than it ever was, I don’t really think we have to worry about a world without meat farms just yet, but if we are going to go there, yes domesticated cows would deplete in population, there would still be wild cows like bovine, yaks, buffalo, muskox, etc.. In my opinion, less farmed cows would be a very good thing. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock farming is responsible for about 18 percent of greenhouse gases! The amount of clean water they drink, grains that are grown and shipped to them, and most importantly, the amount of methane they put into the air, it would be easier on the environment to have less farmed cows. “Moo” never stank so bad.
I agree that less animal protein is better than lots, and I think any move people make to eat less is great and I support it. As far as a little is healthy, I suggest you check out the book The China Study or the movie Forks Over Knives, and see the effects animal proteins have your you body.
Plants over knives caught my attention one Friday evening just after ingesting a big giant juicy burger. It was grass fed, all natural organic etc, cut after eating it I felt so horrible,. Bloated lazy, and sleepy, at 6 on Friday. The movie made sensem, I then red e china study, as well as other countless books, and I am convinced, like every other time, the government was lying to me. I have been vegan for a month, and three months ago I would have been first to give every reason to not be vegan, and I was wrong. I feel wonderful, I have too much energy, I am loosing wieght so quickly I am concerned about having to buy everything brand new.
Thanks for sharing! That’s great that you are full of energy and are losing weight! Same thing happened to me! Congrats on your first month, it only gets easier and easier!
Being from Virginia, it’s easy for me to forget that Canada stays cold enough for lettuce to grow in high summer. You got me there… replace it with Mexico 🙂
As for meat production, you’re making your comparison to the conventional model; you’ll note that the 400+ page FAO report from which you cite your 18% figure a.) specifically indicts feedlot cattle, confinement dairies, and continuously-grazed ranges for the problems, and b.) has had the 18% figure refuted by researchers at UC-Davis. Alternative, non-feedlot, ecologically ranged cattle do emit greenhouse gasses, but the expansive perennial pastures that support them produce a net sequestration of carbon and strengthen water tables more efficiently than annual crops. And grass-fed and finished animals are, by definition, not fed grain.
I am with you that feedlots and continuous grazing need to go away, and with them with go a not-insignificant environmental problem, whether it’s 18% or 8%. But meaningful caps on carbon emissions and preservation of clean water will come only from fossil fuel independence and usage reduction by human beings. Anything short of that is just postponing the inevitable for our own convenience.
A beef cow breaks wind and releases carbon. A human being breaks wind, turns on his lights, drives his car to work, heats his home to 75 degrees in the dead of winter, turns on his gas/electric stove, fires up his computer, watches television for 3 hours, and eats food trucked in from 2,000 miles away. The 1,000 pound cow contributes less than one metric ton of atmospheric carbon per year, to the human’s 20.
A pasture-raised beef cow drinks water. A human being drinks it, showers in it for ten minutes a day, washes his car with it, waters his lawn with it, disposes of his waste with it, fills holes in the ground with it to swim in it, and builds water parks to play in it. The 1,000 pound cow consumes 20 gallons a day to the human’s 100.
Regarding TCS and Forks Over Knives, I’m familiar with both, and even agree with their general premise that vegan diets are healthier than typical western diets. But again, the comparison is to the typical corn-fed-meat-three-times-a-day diet, not a balanced diet in which meat’s role is as a supplement; and this is especially true of Forks Over Knives. As for the China study, all of the results demonstrate correlation rather than causation, glossing over lifestyle and quantity variables and ignoring cultures that subsist almost entirely on meat without the chronic health effects detailed in the studies (think Inuit, San, Masai, and other hunting cultures whose members enjoy health equal to or surpassing that of any American vegan).
It’s fine and correct to argue that conventional meat production is environmentally harmful, and that standard American meat consumption is unhealthy. But alternative models of meat production and consumption exist that are competitive with the environmental and health benefits of the vegan model. Ignoring the distinctions between the conventional and alternative follows the same logic that has hardcore carnivores arguing that vegans/vegetarians are providing the primary economic incentive for genetically modified soybeans… they conveniently ignore the legions of vegans (hehe, rhyme) who became vegan specifically to oppose genetic modification.
The problem with our health and environment isn’t THAT we’re producing and consuming meat, it’s HOW.
Sorry for taking so long to reply!
I see your points, and as I am not a doctor or scientist, I can’t argue with your articles, I can only point you to other articles saying the opposite which seems like an endless and pointless battle.
I agree, humans pollute the world. This is why I live in an energy efficient house, recycle, have a green bin, use energy efficient lightbulbs, drive a low emission car, don’t have air-conditioning, and of course eat vegan, this list goes on an on. People need to pollute less. Totally agree.
I totally support a diet of those who want to eat locally, and those who like to eat small amounts of meat. I actually support everyone as many of my friends eat the standard american diet. I think you should eat the way you like, and if that makes you feel great, then great! I’m going to eat the way I like because it makes me feel great! 🙂
I get asked CONSTANTLY ‘But you can eat fish though, yeah?!’ I’m considering getting a badge printed up which I can just point to. Also, I’d probably add to that list that a lot of vegans have a much more varied diet than many omnivores – I know that my friends haven’t even heard of, let alone tasted, many of the things I eat every day!!
Haha so true! I get asked stuff like “but you’ll have cheese on this, right?” I agree with the more varied diet too. I love picking up roots, and veggies, and fruit I have never heard of.
I love when I go out to lunch somewhere and ask what kind of broth was used in their vegetable soup and I hear beef or chicken 😉 They are always surprised that that is not considered vegetarian…I just found this blog and I like it a lot. I love how diplomatic your responses are. This is how I try to be, open and non judgemental. I answer questions when asked, but thats it. In fact, I worked at my current job for about 3 months before they even knew I didnt eat meat, eggs, or dairy 🙂
Thanks Becky! Welcome to my blog 🙂
So glad you like it. I don’t like to judge people, and life is short, so I feel people should live their life how they want to. It’s funny how many people around me I have noticed starting to eat differently. Like you, no one knew I was vegan at work until they started asking about my lunches…and now many co-worker are inspired by my lunches and bring similar things. haha