What would it take for you to become vegan?

[Strivetobe]

A genuine question after a conversation some friends and I were having. They said that they'd become vegan if the ready meals and prepackaged vegan meals were cheaper. It got me thinking, are there any conditions under which you would consider veganism and if so, what are they?

I became veggie because I found the idea of eating dead animals grim, then became vegan as I began to find the idea of eating animal secretions kind of gross. I'm not preachy though honest this is purely in a 'since you asked' kind of way. I actually unfollow friends on social media who post preachy stuff about vegan isn.

Probably if the UK could grow food all year around without the need of greenhouses so that we didn't need to import interesting food.

A dairy intolerance.

For me it would be being kidnapped and held hostage, being given vegan suitable foods only by my captors.

Nothing. I think that absolutism in terms of diet and dogmatic restrictions and food are ridiculous. My parents lived through periods in history where food was scarce and these sorts if discussions are western luxuries.

Hell freezing over.

@QueenoftheTofuTree:

Veganiam Flexitarianism is not about being perfect. It's about doing your best.

Fixed that for you.

Only if that was the only option. A British vegan diet is far too processed, dependable on factory created food and carries far too many food miles imo

It’s already a lot easier. Lots of supermarkets are doing vegan ranges this year. I’m lazy and it’s great that you can pick up a ready made sandwich, a ready meal and snacks that are vegan.

All the money and effort seems to have been put into meat substitutes. It’s understandable as there’s a huge market for it. I’d like them to focus on chocolate and cake. I don’t eat eggs or drink milk, I’ve gone off cheese but milk and eggs hidden in bought sweet stuff is my downfall.

I've just watched the first 10 minutes of Land Of Hope And Glory, as recommended by someone on page 1 or 2. That was about all I could cope with. I have always known animal agriculture is almost always synonymous with animal cruelty, yet have justified my consumption of animal produce with pretty much all of the arguments presented above. Especially the fact that I don't eat much actual meat (but totally gorge on dairy produce). Thing is, I also know that I don't actually need to eat animal produce, and that all my nutritional needs can be met through a vegan diet. The cognitive dissonance is shocking. I have no good reasons to consume animal produce (for me personally, I don't count 'because it tastes nice' as a good reason).
What I also find hard to stomach is how defensive we are when it comes to challenges to our consumption of animal produce. The least we can do is to acknowledge that it is a practice that promotes animal cruelty, and say "...and still, I do it." As someone said: "We can't claim ignorance, only indifference."

A vegan diet is no more processed than an omnivore diet. Sausages, bacon etc, that's all processed with loads of salt. I actually cook from scratch more since becoming vegan. Curries, stir fries, chilli, salads etc, quick and easy to make from scratch.

I’ve been vegan not through choice before- allergy linked- and I wouldn’t do it again
It is incredibly difficult to eat nutritiously without huge organisation
To answer your question tho- if current vegans stopped preaching...

I don’t believe that veganism is the answer. To be a vegan without fossil fuels is almost impossible but it is possible to be an omnivore without using fossil fuels. Eat local, eat high welfare, grow your own if you can.

Nothing .

I watched first dates last night. Guy on it said I hate vegans do you know what they do to carrots rip them from the ground while they are growing , skin them , chop them up into tiny pieces then throw them in boiling water 🤣.

I bought a vegan meal by mistake last week it was not the best.

Nothing.
It’s not a balanced diet even if you are EXTREMELY careful with your diet. See the issue with vitaminB12 for example.
Seeing that I can’t eat dairy, it also means that being vegetarian is sort of excluded for me too.

A live in Vegan chef, and a pay rise to cover the extra cost of vegan alternatives lol!

I have several friends into this kind of virtuous eating who have ended up making themselves very unwell through a vegan diet.

When people say “vegan food” what do they mean?

And that includes making themselves mentally unwell as well as physical.

“And that includes making themselves mentally unwell as well as physical.”

In what ways?

IT IS NOT more expensive to be vegan. A tin of chickpeas is 30p in Sainsbury's. You can make a channa masala for two with some veg and rice for about £2 max. Two chicken fillets are about £4, more if you want free range. Per meal, being vegan is loads cheaper. It takes no more planning than a regular omnivore diet.

A wider range of meat substitutes - recently in the states I had an 'impossible burger' and it was lovely. I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference either if I hadn't known.

Decent cheese substitutes would be good, and I think substitutes for cream/milk too - although some of them I'd be concerned about the sustainablity from a water perspective.

Ultimately - I'm not vegan because I'm too lazy at the moment.

I'm a flexitarian.

Would love to be vegan but can't really manage without eggs. And do believe in eating whatever my host has prepared if I go to someone else's house for a meal. In a restaurant though I'll always choose the vegan option, and if there isn't one, then I'll choose the veggie option.

Animal welfare, climate change.

Vegan food = plant-based diet

I would do it if someone cooked it for me and made sure it was nutritionally balanced.
My DD is a vegetarian so I am mostly by default,we have some vegan meals in our repertoire.I would avoid substitutes thoughts most are highly processed.
If I tried my self I would be at a loss at breakfast and I find a variety in vegetarian sandwich fillings challenging enough.
I also suspect there are a lot of food miles involved in veganism