Questions of a Vegan

As a vegetarian since 1974, and vegan since 2012, there are many questions I’ve been asked over the years. If you are vegan curious, or just have a co-worker or relative coming over for dinner and you’re puzzled by their choices, here are a few of the more common questions people ask:

Q. Where do you get your protein?

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Same place you do - plants. I leave out the middleman and get it directly from the source.

Q. Why aren’t you skinny?

The stereotype of vegans appearing malnourished and emaciated has never been true. There are just too many delicious vegan junk foods out there.

Q. Why are vegans always in my face with their beliefs?

Are they, though? Really? I’ve been around a lot of vegans over the years and have yet to meet one that tries to push their lifestyle on others.

Q. Are you judgmental of non-vegans?

Not at all. Most of my friends and family are not vegan, and we get along fine.

Q. Why are you vegan?

There are 3 main reasons that people become vegan:

• The Environment: Animal agriculture contributes at least 14-18% of greenhouse gas emissions from humans and uses about 30% of the earth’s freshwater resources. There are many other studies and statistics about the harmful effects of animal agriculture on the environment.

• Health: studies have shown that vegans have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, lower levels of “bad” cholesterol, and a lower risk of many types of cancer.

• The Animals: Those smiling faces of cows we see on the sides of milk cartons do not accurately portray how those cows feel about this whole arrangement. I won’t get graphic here; there are plenty of videos and full length documentaries that illustrate what goes on in the process that turns live animals into food. But suffice it to say that animals DO suffer tremendously in the meat, dairy and clothing industries.

For me, the first 2 reasons are the icing on the (vegan) cake, while the actual reason I went vegan is for the animals.

Q. What about Vitamin B-12?

B-12 comes from bacteria and microorganisms in the soil. Since most of this is washed off in the food processing industry, vegans & vegetarians can become deficient, so a supplement is recommended. This is the only vitamin or mineral not available in a vegan diet, and there are some foods & beverages are fortified with B-12, anyway, i.e. Nutritional Yeast, which is great on popcorn, as well as being a delicious substitute for parmesan cheese.

Q. Isn’t eating vegan expensive?

It can be. There are thousands of vegan products on the market, some labeled as such and others, like Oreos, just happen to be vegan. However, if one focuses on eating a healthy, whole food, plant base (WFPB) diet and leaves out most of the processed foods, it is cheaper than a non-vegan diet.

Q. WHAT?!!! Oreos are vegan?

Yes. While it seems unlikely that Nabisco set out to create a vegan cookie in 1912, the Oreo is what we might call “accidentally vegan,” in that it contains no animal products. Many of the products you already eat are vegan, though they may not be promoted as such.

Q. But what about eggs? Chickens are gonna lay eggs whether you eat them or not.

Yes, they are are. To create more chickens. But the egg industry is as bad or worse than the meat industry when it comes to its treatment of the animals. Male chicks are not useful, so they are literally ground up in a machine before they’re a day old. And the conditions are harsh for the hens who are fed hormones and antibiotics to grow them to unnaturally large sizes to produce more and larger eggs than nature intended.

Q. What about honey? How does that hurt the bees?

Bees make honey primarily to store food for the winter. It serves as a vital energy source for when flowers are not in bloom. Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem and food chain and sadly, they are dying off. Good reason to use agave or maple syrup instead.

Q. What about field mice and other animals that are killed while harvesting plants, fruits, nuts and legumes? Don’t you care about them?

Under the hood of my car, there are tubes and gaskets that contain animal products. When I walk down the street, the likelihood of inadvertently stepping on ants and other insects is high. But I do not deliberately harm animals. That is all. I do my best to minimize pain & suffering.

Q. Isn’t it just a fad?

For some, perhaps. But no. It is a lifestyle. People who are vegan for the animals don’t wear leather or anything that comes from an animal.

Q. Isn’t it boring eating salads all the time?

I wouldn’t know. I don’t. There are a dozen or so animals that people find edible. By contrast, there are between 7,000 and 30,000 plant species considered edible by humans. Combined with herbs and spices, there are endless varieties of delicious food combinations that go way beyond a simple salad. When I went veg, I broadened my palette exponentially to include many new foods that weren’t previously on my radar.

Q. So what DO you eat?

Everything else. There is a vegan version of just about every food you can imagine. And the things you can do with fruits, vegetable, legume and nuts are endless.

Q. What can I make for my one vegan friend/relative who’s coming to dinner?

Again, the possibilities are endless. For all the vegan cookbooks I own, I find the internet even easier, so I often search for a new vegan recipe when I cook.

Q. What is the difference between Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Plant-Based, and Vegan?

• Vegetarians do not eat meat.

• Dairy-Free means without dairy, so it could include eggs, and not be vegan.

• Plant-based is often used interchangeably with Vegan, though the term allows room for ambiguity, and doesn’t necessarily include nonfood items, i.e. clothing.

• Vegan means not using or consuming any animal products or bi-products whatsoever.

Q. If I was “asking for a friend” how someone might find out more, what would you recommend?

Check out films like “Forks Over Knives”, “Cowspiracy”, What the Health”, “The Game Changers” and many others. (None of these are graphic or disturbing.) Also, consider attending the Boston VegFest at the Reggie Lewis Center in October. This is a huge annual event where you will find hundreds of vendors from many local restaurants, farms and vegan food producers. There are also speakers upstairs on a variety of topics by doctors, nutritionists, and other health professionals. It’s Free!

If you have other questions about vegans or veganism not listed above, just ask!

I am not a doctor or health professional, so don’t take any of this as nutritional advice. I’m just trying to answer some of the questions I hear from people.

~ John Flaherty