To ask why you aren’t vegan

[Whereisthecoffee]

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.

Because of the diet I need, it needs to be higher in protein than carbs and there's only so many beans I can eat. Being able to eat poultry and eggs means my diet can be a bit more varied. I try to only buy organic and free range meat and eggs. I have hugely cut down on my milk and cheese intake though, I was finding it made me feel a bit sick after pregnancy.

Also, I thought I couldn't live without cheese but it's not that hard. That little glob of baby formula is like rocket fuel for cancer anyway, gross.

I could be vegetarian, maybe I will do that soon, but not vegan, it is too much hassle and I like dairy.

Id like to be but my family don't, I don't like wasting food so I just eat what they eat. It would be easier if I just had myself to feed. I'm also anemic and although apparently you can get all the nutrients you need from a vegan diet, it is harder and when I tried it I began to feel weak and have palpitations 🙁.

I was vegetarian then 6 months ago I got really poorly, spent time in hospital and bed rest for a month. Craved meat!! Ate meat and felt so much more energetic! Haven’t gone back to veggie.

I don’t drink cow milk or use butter, yoghurt or cream, because I hate the taste of it and I have a mild egg allergy but does that really matter when I’ll happily chomp on the cow?

Be aware that many of the figures for the environmental impact of meat/dairy are:
a) based on feedlot cattle production in the US
and/or b) have a very heavy political agenda pushing industrialisation of farming / removal of peasants practicing subsistence ag. from the land in the developing world.

I was for about 9 years. In recent months I just don't care about anything. I feel like I've had an empathy bypass or something. I still don't eat meat and buy organic eggs and fish etc but I just seem to have lost of oomph.

I still cook a lot of vegan food and some things I prefer to the "regular" type.

I really dislike a lot of the fake meats and ready meals that have flooded the market. It's sad.

Because I love meat and cheese.

Thanks for the responses , again I know it’s an odd question but I’m curious and also I have mental health issues that often manifest in urges to change my hair /diet etc so it’s helpful for me to get other opinions that help me rationalise.

FuckBrussel
I’ve got a beautiful image in my head of gleefully plump chickens just pottering about in your garden, laying eggs and getting cuddled for their efforts

To answer your question:
Because I’m 30 years old and I’ll do what I bloody well want

I am an omnivore, although I have cut down on meat consumption, and try and buy local organic meat.

I really couldn't do without dairy and eggs though. I live rurally, and have several great local suppliers, which reduces those food miles.

I don't understand when people say it'll be really hard to get your vitamins or have a completely different diet. I eat exactly the same meals I was having as a meat eater ( spaghetti bolognese, curries, stews etc) but substituting mince for meat free mince or sausages for meat free sausages. We don't need meat.

People who aren't vegan because they " like bacon too much " sound so ignorant and I think choose to ignore the suffering animals go through so you can have a bacon sandwich. There's lots of good documentaries on Netflix about the meat and dairy industry.

@Veganforlife Totally agree. Pointless thread looking to poke all the vegan bears into reacting like "preachy socialist statement-lifestyle wankers". Or some other variation.

I've been veggie for a long time. I've also grown some of my own vegetables and herbs. All the vegans that I've met have been ill.

Honestly - it's convenience for me. I do feel guilty about eating dairy but (apparently) not enough to give it up. If I really, really thought about it I know I couldn't face it so I do what many of us do about most things and avoid thinking about it too much.

I avoid meat/down/fur etc. so it seems worse somehow that I won't give up cheese.

Because I’ve got Coeliac Disease, Anaemia and various other deficiencies and I’ve got IBS which is triggered by a lot of veg and some fruits (I love fresh veg and fruit). If I cut out all animal products, I don’t see how I’d actually live. And I’d like to stay alive, thank you.

Doesn’t stop many Vegans that I know having a go at me though.

Pretty much the same reasons why I can't stay thin 😫😫

Ditto. Willpower. And I’ve actually done it - I was vegan for over a year and then cracked last Christmas with cheese. Since then been 95% vegetarian with occasional really rubbish burger-based lapses. My diet is shit overall at the moment, working too much, no time to plan or cook properly.

Some of the reasons people have said are just bollocks - vegan food isn’t inherently any more bland than meat and dairy, that’s your cookery skills, and the protein thing is just not true either - for months I tracked my nutrition using cronometer app and I never had any trouble eating enough protein, without having to specifically think about it. Calcium was easy to eat more than enough without thinking too. The only ones that were more challenging were vitamins B12 and D, and omega fatty acids, but there are specific foods that if you do include regularly it’s very easy to cover those too.

I don’t think I’m destined to be a lifelong vegan. But think I’ll give Veganuary a crack for a bit of a reboot.

"I really dislike a lot of the fake meats and ready meals that have flooded the market. It's sad."

Agreed - I know my dd often has arguments heated discussions with her fellow teens about the stupidity value of eating processed vegan foods made from imported soya as opposed to locally produced cheese or meat (we're in Wales, so many great options)

Cannot understand the vitriol by SOME vegans against those who just don't want to partake in that religion.

Eat what you want. Simple. Thank you.

What a weird question. I’m not vegan because I like meat, fish, dairy products and eggs.

I also don’t like mushrooms which vegan cuisine seems to be full of

I’m not trying to provoke vegans ! I want to be vegan I admire people’s effort massively. I just fail putting it into practice

My Drs have said I do need meat and offal and that I’d be refusing medical advice if I cut out meat and dairy. The one month I did cut out both I became extremely ill and my blood results were through the floor.

Because it is very, very hard to ensure you get the right nutrients in a vegan diet.

I also don't have a problem with ethically sourced, organic meat, fish eggs etc I do think we should eat less beef, though ( cows use too much water, feed and produce too much gas!) but everything in moderation is OK. Beef should be seen as a treat, I think, rather than being in a lasagne ready meal for £1. I'd rather we paid a little more and ate a little less beef. Chicken, goat, lamb & fish are more ethical for the planet, and a lot cheaper to produce.

I do feel bad about milk. I only buy organic...but I hate the thought of all of the calves being fed on formula as I drink milk in my coffee. I am hypocritical, I know, but I hate the taste of every milk substitute in coffee. I have a DD with a milk allergy, so we do use oat milk for everything else. I would love to be able to buy ethically produced milk. ( obviously in developing countries, they might take a bit of milk, but would leave enough for the calves - we should do that here)

"There's lots of good documentaries on Netflix about the meat and dairy industry."

For a bit of balance, can I recommend the Landworkers Alliance film In Our Hands which explores what a genuinely sustainable agriculture (for the environment and for people) could look like in the UK