AIBU to think if you go veggie for animal rights reasons you might as well be vegan?

[crazycatlady5]

Just that really.

My husband and I have finally decided to make the compassionate change to stop eating meat (my husband has decided to be pescatarian but I won’t be eating fish).

However, I know the dairy and egg industrys are also cruel but am not ready to rule these out yet. AIBU to think we’re not making any real difference if we still consume dairy and eggs?

We also have a 20 month old who hardly eats anything except fish cheese and yoghurts!

Yeah, but it’s harder than going veggie isn’t it? Especially eating out of the house.

Can you keep your own hens?

WELL DONE!!

Start small ... start will veggie and then slowly cut out other products.

I'm vege but I only eat free range eggs, drink soya milk (apart from a drop of skimmed in my tea) and use use dairy free spread. I rarely use honey and also avoid cheese.

Every little helps :)

You have to start somewhere and tbh I think you would find it very difficult to just stop all your favourite animal products. Do what feels right for you. My only request is that you use the correct terminology, which I see your husband is already using.

Of course you're making a difference.
Buy only organic dairy and eggs and sustainable fish and you're doing a lot more than most.
I recently made the switch to vegan (for now, never say never) after a lifetime of being vegetarian and it's easy because it's the right time for me. Cutting things out of your diet before you're actually committed because you feel you should isn't likely to lead to longevity.

I was vegan for about 5 months, but then lapsed. I'm back to being a vegetarian. It's hard to give up dairy, as the alternatives are pretty awful and trying to find food out and about us hard, and I'm not organised enough to always be prepared with home made sandwiches, etc. I agree with your logic, but doing something is better than doing nothing. Also, I only eat free range eggs. 🤷

Agree . Both are pretty bloody vile

I need milk in my tea. That is what stops me.

You could argue that beef and veal farming (NOT the terrible crated white veal) is less cruel than dairy farming if the calves are allowed to stay with their mothers.

I cannot see the harm in eating free range eggs unless someone is going to tell me that hens suffer from not being allowed to hatch their eggs.

Fish - I sometimes think they suffer the most. They die on the deck of a twaler gasping for air crammed up against a wriggling pile of other dying fish.

If animal slaughter is done properly (and I acknowledge that's a very big if) then there is no long drawn out suffering. I'm one of those meat eaters who would have no problem seeing a farm animal slaughtered so long as the death was quick and clean.

Trawler

You will make a difference. I feel the same, I have worked in farming and know the management of egg and dairy production involves the slaughter of animals. But I have young kids and just don't have the energy to reduce these in my diet right now. But as a family we eat very little meat and that can have an impact.

Of course it makes a difference. You're doing your best. Your best may get better (in terms of your desired goal) but it will probably be easier in smaller steps.

There are few other areas of life where people say, and expect others to say 'if I can't do it perfectly, immediately, I won't bother trying at all'. That would be a very immature attitude IMO.

Both practically and morally, it's better to change a bit, than not at all.

You’re already massively reducing your environmental impact and withdrawing from significant elements of the animal products industry. That’s really good!

I know what you mean though. I thought I would feel less guilty when I went veggie but I actually feel more guilty for not being vegan. I try to mitigate it by using dairy alternatives where possible and buying the most ethical eggs possible.

Well nobody is perfect so YABU somewhat. I think you should just do what you can.

Well, if you want to torment yourself, what about plants' lives and all the undesirable plants poisoned to make way for the ones we want? Or harvested before flowering so they never get to fulfil their destiny?

Or, you could be kind to yourself and accept you've made an important and meaningful choice to you that will make a small difference in ways that matter to you.

I think you matter enough to deserve compassion too.

I’ve been on a vegan diet for the past few months, mostly to lose weight but I am very passionate about animals! I don’t know too much about the vegan movement but does what we do equal less animal deaths because of less demand? I hope so

I'm veggie but really won't be making the move to vegan just because I have a gang of feathered girls in the garden. Try as I might I can't see how eating their eggs is unethical given the fact half of them were saved by me from certain death, but some vegans would argue otherwise. I've drastically reduced dairy because I agree it's a really cruel industry.

Re the eggs, I don't know how urban or rural you are but having rescued hens I can tell you the industry even if it's free range is pretty terrible, but there are lots of people selling their excess eggs from roadside stalls if you're a bit more rural. If mine ever stop laying I'll only buy from somewhere like that. Seeing my rescues made me pledge that, they were featherless skin and bone. Now they're fantastic, if a little yobby!

Every little helps! I was pescatarian for 5 years, then vegetarian for 7 years, then went vegan about 2.5 years ago, but it’s not for everyone. I definitely think you’re making a difference by making changes!

A580Hojas Unfortunately the harm in eating free range eggs is that when they’re mass produced (or even not so mass produced, in lots of instances) they have to keep breeding chicks and most of the boy chicks meet an unfortunate end being gassed at a day old because they’re surplus to requirements.

I think you need to do things at your own pace.

I was veggie for years before going vegan and had a couple of unsuccessful attempts at veganism before it stuck! So please don't beat yourself up, you are still making a difference.

You could always look at having a dairy free day a week? And see how that works for you and your family?

DH and I are vegetarian but are going to try going vegan for a month in January - Veganuary! Going vegan permanently is really daunting but I thought why not try it and see how we go?

Also for anyone saying not having milk would be difficult, have you tried Oatly Barista (not the regular Oatly). It's a game changer, for me anyway. DH and I actually think it tastes better in tea than milk does (milk tastes a bit better in coffee, though).

Wow I’m surprised by all of the lovey comments - as this is mumsnet 😂

@whatsnewwithyou I love oatily barista! It’s amazing. I actually think I’d be fine without milk, it’s more cheese and eggs I guess. I don’t live in a remote/villagey area so I’m not sure where I’d buy privately farmed eggs but I’m going to do some research. I’d LOVE to have my own hens and have thought about it - am moving house this weekend so will look into how that would work.

Thanks for the positive vibes all!

Can anyone actually advise a good supplier of organic well sourced eggs and dairy that delivers nationwide or at least East/South East England?

From an outside perspective if it's done for principled reasons I think people should either be vegan or eat meat. Obviously if people do it because they don't like meat then pick and choose that's fair enough but if it's for perceived animal welfare reasons then surely all animal products should be off limits.