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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why you aren’t vegan

999 replies

Whereisthecoffee · 22/12/2018 16:58

I’m not vegan , I know it’s good for the planet kinder to animals etc but it’s something I just can’t seem to get to grips with. I’ve been thinking about starting vegan January but I’m not sure. Thinking about my choices and it’s prevalence in the media has made me curious about others so tell me why aren’t you vegan? I think my main reason is convenience.

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NameChanger22 · 22/12/2018 20:46

I've been a vegan for 6 months. Before that I was vegetarian for 34 years. My excuses for not becoming a vegan sooner were that it is too expensive, I like cheese and chocolate too much, it's antisocial, the food isn't tasty enough.

I now see that they were all excuses as it can be really cheap, I can make vegan versions of nearly everything, I socialise just as much and eat out regularly. Plus, some vegan cheese is ok and some vegan chocolate is very good. Overall I'm eating better food now than ever and I don't miss dairy at all. Christmas food shopping was the first time I've felt like I miss out a bit, but it's just one day and I'm still going to be eating lovely food.

Chwaraeteg · 22/12/2018 20:53

Ugh. I've had to go dairy and egg free recently due to feeding a baby with allergies. Sooooo many reasons not to yo vegan. The cheese is crap, the chocolate is crap, it's REALLY hard to get your daily allowance of calcium, vits d and b and has made me feel knackered (,even though I'm still eating meat). I think it's a myth that vegan is healthier.

Oh, also, the expense!!!! I had always fallen for the myth that cooking from scratch is cheaper but its really not. My shopping bill is horrendous.

I also don't think it's morally wrong to kill and eat animals; providing you don't make them suffer.

There just really aren't any good reasons TO go vegan.

N.b I'm really grateful that vegans do exist otherwise my life would be a lot harder right now. The abundance of nut milks and vegan friendly junk food so widely available has been a godsend!

AlwaysWantedToBeATenenbaum · 22/12/2018 20:53

I live on meat & cheese. And love it.

Verbena87 · 22/12/2018 20:55

Cheese. And yoghurt. To a lesser extent, eggs.

Sugarformyhoney · 22/12/2018 20:55

Also in terms of health, I’ve been veggie practically all of my life and never ate eggs or much dairy. I’ve been vegan 2 years.
I’ve had three great pregnancies, never had a long term illness and have the best sickness record in my company.
I’ve never taken a supplement and maintain a really healthy weight.
My iron and b12 is fine as is my blood pressure and all the rest.
It’s funny to hear that people feel most vegans are ill, that’s not my experience or the experience of any other vegans I know. It’s just anecdotal experience
Most meat eaters I know are overweight for eg, but that does not mean that not being a vegan makes you fat in the same way being vegan doesn’t make you ill

1stTimeMama · 22/12/2018 21:02

Cheese. That is all.

GreatestShowUnicorn · 22/12/2018 21:04

Calcium is such a crap excuse to not be vegan our bodies can’t absorb the calcium in cows milk and it actually de calcifies our bones as our bodies try to balance out the acid / alcaline in milk and our bodies.

Vegan cheese has improved so much much better if you give your body a break to let your taste buds reset, before trying vegan cheese though that said I was out today handing out vegan food samples and lots of omnivores really enjoyed the tesco cheese.

Veganism doesn’t have to be expensive.

Jsmith99 · 22/12/2018 21:05

I am not a vegan because I enjoy eating dead animals.

I have just scoffed a huge, juicy pork chop with crackling and black pudding. It was absolutely delicious.

WilburforceRaven · 22/12/2018 21:06

Our meat all comes from our region, farmers we know personally, and our cheese. Our eggs are from our neighbour.

MilkyCuppa · 22/12/2018 21:07

I can’t eat gluten. I’m lucky if I go to a restaurant or party and there’s anything at all that I can eat. Never mind asking for gluten free AND vegan.

Also human beings are designed to be omnivorous. Of course we can faff about and get our vitamins from artificial sources. But it’s just too much hassle when you have a busy lifestyle. It’s easier to eat a normal diet and not worry about nutrition.

And meat is delicious!

festivedogbone · 22/12/2018 21:08

I've been veggie for 25 years and do enjoy and cook a fair but if vegan food. But to eat a nice, varied vegan diet (one I would consider as nice and varied as my current veggie diet) would be expensive and time-consuming (both in terms of cooking and shopping). So veggie is a good compromise for me.

Enidblyton1 · 22/12/2018 21:09

I love eggs too much

StillMedusa · 22/12/2018 21:13

Mostly because of cheese. I love cheese. I was veggie for many years but reintroduced a small amount of meat when weaning the children. We rarely eat meat (kids now adults and can eat whatever they cook) now but do eat cheese.

I also need supportive shoes, and have never found fake leather or canvas supportive enough, or lasting enough. I am fully intending to return to a vegetarian diet but won't go vegan until there is a tasty alternative to cheese...I have tried lots and they are frankly vile!

Sarahandduck18 · 22/12/2018 21:13

I’d starve!

There’s hardly any vegan food I like.

I don’t like most veg, spicy food or lots of things mixed together.

I like the thought of the ethics of it but I try to be as ethical as possible.

I’d also worry about being malnourished and needing vit b12.

SnowWhite33 · 22/12/2018 21:24

I love good food its one of the biggest pleasures in life. And while ive had some really tasty vegan dishes, for me its just that, trying out new things.
Personally i believe you need to know what you put into your body and be mindful about the quality of food you eat and for that you dont need to go vegan

Mummadeeze · 22/12/2018 21:32

I don’t eat eggs or dairy and only eat vegan in restaurants. At home / work I still eat meat or fish every now and again. I have been doing this for 6 months and have never felt so healthy. It is the first time in 44 years I have also not struggled to manage my weight. I would never go back to dairy and eggs now even if I could (am allergic so don’t have the choice). I have also gone completely off the idea of chocolate after 6 months without it. It has actually been liberating in a weird way and eventually I will probably give up meat and fish too.

blackteasplease · 22/12/2018 21:36

Too selfish at the moment I think!

blackteasplease · 22/12/2018 21:38

snowwhite I'm like you I like trying new things and enjoy vegan dishes but not exclusively iyswim.

JellyBears · 22/12/2018 21:39

Because I like meat, I only eat reasonably sourced and well cared for meat. I love cheese and sausages especially.

crosser62 · 22/12/2018 21:40

I changed to plant based diet 10 months ago and wouldn’t go back now.

I changed purely for health reasons, numerous health benefits.

I am not vegan as I do not subscribe to the animal welfare aspect.

I follow a plant based diet with no dairy/meat/fish.

For the first time in 25 years I have full control of my weight, I do not feel restricted, I enjoy what I’m eating and feel so well.

For me, it’s perfect. Would NEVER EVER dream of pushing it on anyone else though.

AGHHHH · 22/12/2018 21:42

Because I don't want to be. It's as simple as that.

And I hate (preachy) vegans who act like they didn't spend the first 2-3 decades of their lives eating animal products and think they have the right to harass anyone who doesn't follow them from the moment they become vegan.

It's never been a secret what meat is or where it comes from.

BishopBrennansArse · 22/12/2018 21:45

Bacon.

Applepudding2018 · 22/12/2018 21:51

I would say that my diet is currently about 90% vegan with occasional dairy e.g. Milk in tea, and eggs/ fish once s month .

I don't think that my diet is particularly healthy (think Linda McCartney sausages, burgers, dairy free pizza).

I try to eat vegan as much as poss for animal welfare reasons but don't feel too bad for the times that I don't as I suspect that the small amount of dairy:fish I have benefits my health.

PloddingOnwards · 22/12/2018 21:51

I love the idea of becoming a vegan, purely for health benefits I've been advised by my doctor. However Im not due to convenience tbh and my kids love chicken!

That's a point do vegan mums still cook meat for their kids or do you all have a vegan diet ?

Shadowboy · 22/12/2018 21:52

Simple- you don’t need to be vegan to be kind to the planet. We raise our own poultry, have a poly tunnel and try to think about where our food and other goods are from. Flying products heavily processed from rainforest stripped areas isn’t much better than my home raised organic chicken feeding off my home grown veg scraps.