It's not vegan if you only do it for a month

[AlwaysBeFabulous]

Obviously plantbasedanuary isn't as catchy, but if you're only doing it for a month, you can hardly call it vegan.

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.

Is this really what people are doing for January, or just eating fake meat burgers instead of real meat burgers? Before going back to eating real meat burgers in February. Unless it inspires you to continue with veganism in which case kudos to you.

There was a post on hear the other day asking why people get annoyed with vegans etc

You have proven everyone’s point

The op hasn’t actually said she’s vegan. The fact she’s ignored quite a few posts asking makes me think she isn’t.

Why does it bother you so much?

eating less meat is good for the environment and health

Do you tell people you’re teetotal?

No. I just say I don't drink. Which is the cue for the "ah go on, just on, chill out a bit, don't be so uptight" speech. I've had family look in my fridge and if they see an open bottle of wine ( I use it for cooking) will crow with delight - see, i knew you liked a drink really, and get offended when I refuse a drink on other occasions..

No so much different with meat. I say I don't eat meat. People will cook a chicken curry and I get "but you're not veggie" when I refuse.

Surely these days it's manners to ask if anyone has dietary preferences and accept it when they say they do. If you can't or don't want to accommodate, don't.

Surely these days it's manners to ask if anyone has dietary preferences and accept it when they say they do.

It's good manners to accommodate food allergies/intolerances and genuinely held ethical beliefs, yes. It's extremely bad manners to pretend you're unable to eat something just because you don't fancy it if someone else is cooking it.

If her ethics allow her to lapse once a year for her own enjoyment, then they should allow her to eat meat to avoid inconveniencing people who are kind enough to invite her for dinner. She sounds like a selfish hypocrite

My point. She doesn't inconvenience them, she either politely declines or offers to bring a vegetarian dish to share.

It's attitudes like yours that stop people reducing their meat intake as why bother if you can't do it 100%...

I don't recycle all 100% of the time. I don't walk 100% of the time when the car is more convenient. It doesn't mean I should think od sod it and stop recycling altogether and drive everywhere I can.

It all helps. Stop judging those who are at least trying to reduce their environmental impact.

Surely these days it's manners to ask if anyone has dietary preferences and accept it when they say they do. If you can't or don't want to accommodate, don't.

Absolutely. But calling yourself vegetarian when you’re not is irritating because it creates problems for actual vegetarians.

It is being vegan though. just like some are vegan for a certain amount of years before changing to another way of life.It can be a challenge for most to make a big change going vegan but it is giving people the chance to try along with others at the same time in a supportive way.

It's attitudes like yours that stop people reducing their meat intake as why bother if you can't do it 100%...

I've got no desire to promote people reducing their meat intake. I actually think this is damaging for the many ethical, responsible meat farmers in the UK. If I'm catering, of course I will respect others' veganism or vegetarianism. But I'd be really pissed off if I'd gone to the trouble of accommodating someone as a vegetarian/vegan only to find they actually did eat meat, when it suited them. And if they turn up with their own pre-cooked meal, when there is no genuine ethical or health barrier to eating what is provided, then that's plain rude.

but if you're only doing it for a month, you can hardly call it vegan.

What do you not want called vegan? The people doing it, or the diet?

Month-only vegan eating is not done by vegans, but they are following a vegan diet for that month.

Isn't the idea that a month is long enough to get into a new habit? I know quite a few vegans now who started off with veganuary and then stuck with it going forwards. People are trying their best, it's a bit silly to get caught up over language on this one imo

OP are you afraid that the veganary people are stealing your thunder? I would think that you should welcome people trying... even baby steps.

I can't help but feel this thread was started to be goady. No sign of the OP anywhere since Monday so I guess they aren't going to engage any further.

The reality is that most people are cutting back on meat due to environmental concerns, not because they are ethically against animal farming. Very few people will become ethical vegans, but I would have thought any reduction in red meat eating is a good thing. A few will be able to be vegetarian, but many, many, more people can go semi-vegetarian ie: no red meat, but chicken and fish, and cheese and eggs.

No such thing as semivegetarian! You are or you are not.

Eat what you like, but don’t call yourself what you aren’t! I know people are more informed these days but way back when ‘on you’re vegetarian? It’s ok for you then, it’s got chicken stock/minced meat/prawns...’ because people would say they were veggie but were actually meat:fish/poultry eaters who for some reason called themselves veggie!

But if you look at it from their pov, that a massive holocaust is occurring, surely you’d do everything you could to stop it.

Using language like this does no one any favours. Any time I've ever come across anyone using the words holocaust, genocide etc in relation to eating meat I immediately turn off.

Lol. I know right? Calling it what it is is just so off-putting.

Maybe you're confusing "a holocaust" with "the Holocaust". The definition in the dictionary doesn't specify humans.

Veggie for 30 years.
Vegan for all of 2019 - extending to cosmetics, shoes/bags and cleaning products etc.
My reasons were animal welfare as opposed to environmental or fashion - and let's face it, this is fashionable and hypocritical (Lewis Hamilton).

But we are all hypocrites and in no position to preach. My vegan efforts did not extend to second hand car leather trim, the washing up liquid my local restaurant used on my plates, the ants who scurried when I moved my washing line pole or some of the dyes in both my clothes and at the hairdressing salon.

Nobody is 'pure' vegan unless they're naked, living on top of a mountain drinking stream water (and what about those bugs in the water?)

You could take this to the nth degree. Last year, I simply said I didn't eat meat or dairy.

Each to their own - every bit helps.

I'm veggie again, but going back to meat and dairy free.

I do get pissed off though when substitute meat burgers etc replace bean based burgers, or when everything's covered in nasty vegan cheese.

Jesus Christ who gives a shit

If someone says they’re vegan for a month you understand what that means don’t you? A chef would understand what ingredients shouldn’t be used. Why else is the word needed?

I have found eating out I have fewer veggie choices now because they have been converted into vegan versions, whilst the carnivores have the same number of choices! And it’s always the stuff you can make at home easily enough - boo!

I did veganuary 3 years ago- I then went veggie for a year and I'm still drinking soya milk instead of regular

And also isn't there some study that says it everyone cut down one portion of red meat a week it would have huge positive effects on climate change or something.
Honestly this thread is pointless people can't do right from wrong

TheMemoryLingers
But I'd be really pissed off if I'd gone to the trouble of accommodating someone as a vegetarian/vegan only to find they actually did eat meat, when it suited them.

How hard can it be to provide/buy in a vegetarian or vegan meal in this day and age? The problem here should not be people like a previous poster's friend, but very rigid black and white attitudes and labels. It is bizarre to define/get annoyed by somebody for what they do on 1 day of the year, rather than the other 364 days.

I don’t see why people can’t be semi-veggie.

Say someone can’t face being a vegan, so decides they will eat vegan except for the 1st of every month when they will have ice cream, french cheese, chocolate, cake, whatever.

They’ve still made a contribution to whatever reason they went vegan for. That one day per month means they can live vegan for the rest of the time.

Why should other people then declare them not vegan and judge them for not eating animal products every day.

Bit mad. I’d have no problem with someone who was veggie 99.9% of the time. I’d have no problem with them eating veggie on social occasions.

If you want to eat meat, do so. Let other people eat veggie or vegan if they want to, without demanding if they do they must never touch an animal product again.

OP this post is precisely the reason why vegans are subject to so much ridicule. You come across as very smug and sanctimonious. Can't you wear a 'real vegan' badge or something to distinguish yourself?

Poor vegans. Their special thing is not so special any more.