To find mumsnet so hostile to vegans?

[RebornFlame]

No based solely on but inspired by a couple of threads in the last few days. I’m not quite vegan yet but plan to be fully by the next few months and none of my friends, about quarter of whom at vegan are not sanctimonious or preachy at all.

Also please stop bashing vegan cakes! They’re yummy!!

The correct term is omnivore you dont like it when people offend your choices dont offend theres

Anyone who doesn’t eat:
Local
Seasonal
Organic / or as close to it

Is a cunt IMPO

I like to call myself a pangetarian. Its the diet preference version that compares to a pansexual meaning one who isn't fussy and will have sex with anybody.

Vegans can be sorted into two groups:

1. those that tell you within ten seconds of meeting you, think you should become vegan and spend over half of interactions telling you that you should change your lifestyle.
2. all the rest. I admit that I have a problem with those in description 1; those in description 2, I'm fine with.

Just for clarification, some vegan cakes are yummy and some are vile!

*Anyone who doesn’t eat:
Local
Seasonal
Organic / or as close to it

Is a cunt IMPO*

Classic

Anyone who doesn’t eat:
Local
Seasonal
Organic / or as close to it

Is a cunt IMPO

That's nice dear.

Or is it?

Some people don't really have the luxury of such middle classed food snobbery.

Vegans do seem to age really quickly.

What, like Madonna, Benedict Cumberbatch, Beyoncé.......all falling apart before our eyes!

Be fair madonna is old and has lived a lot

I was using her as an example of vegans who have not aged quickly!

Bad call, Bertram, bad call.

Well Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone and Zac Effron all look pretty good :)

She has had surgery and she looks like a fat free car crash

I don't think looking at celebrities is very relevant.

In real life, most ordinary people I know who are vegan, don't look great. I think the same about people who run a lot...they always look really old.

I know someone irl who is a fruitarian. He looks seriously unwell.

What are you on about? People that smoke or drink heavily, have a diet high in processed foods and stay out in the sun age quickly, how would a diet high in fruit and vegetables, beans, pulses etc ever age you quickly!

Notcool1984 What are you on about? People that smoke or drink heavily, have a diet high in processed foods and stay out in the sun age quickly, how would a diet high in fruit and vegetables, beans, pulses etc ever age you quickly!*

Lack of nutrients/too much eating of processed foods? Its possible to have a bad vegan diet as well as a good one. The best thing you can do if you want to look young is have good genes, exercise, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol and have a reasonable diet.

I'm afraid I just can't get over the wrinkled, obsessive vegan who tried to get me to have an affair with him over FB! Ugh! I know all vegans aren't like that, obviously, but he now pops up in my mind whenever I hear the word vegan. I should probably block him and his daily posts of his vegan meals, but its fascinating, in an awful way.

The thing that many of the angry meat eaters on this thread are misunderstanding is that veganism is NOT a diet. It's a social justice movement - and a fast growing one at that. Maybe you feel discombobulated by it because it pricks your conscience? I would urge you to read up on it if it makes you feel uncomfortable. I try not to be one of 'those' preachy vegans but really it always comes up in conversation as a lot of socialising is done around food and it is impossible not to mention. I generally try to say very little about my beliefs precisely because of this antagonistic approach that meat/dairy eaters have. But really, it is no different to other social justice movements from the last couple of hundred years. It is hard to remain silent when the abuse of animals in our society is so casual.

I haven’t read the thread - too long!

I don’t hate vegans but here’s what I perceive to be the general antipathy towards them:

A) they are very difficult to feed if they come to your house to eat (and yes, they are if you have absolutely no experience vegan cooking as 95% of the population haven’t)

B) the perception of being attacked by them for the way that you eat if you are not vegan

C) concern that it is a social movement/way of eating being forced on very young children which might cause harm to their developing bodies

I don’t know anyone who is vegan. The only person I know who was vegan for about 6 months, was not preachy, didn’t have kids and I didn’t have to feed her. She did like Oreos (which are vegan) - which are a monstrous biscuit but I couldn’t hold that against her.

Hey OP,

Firstly, if there is a thread about veganism on MN, people are only going to post if they have relatively strong views on it. If you are not vegan, the main reason for posting would be be that you object to veganism. So you are automatically excluding the vast majority of MNetters who have no view either way.

I think it is a vicious cycle. Omnivores feel vegans judge them and vegans feel omnivores judge them. Both parties defend themselves and both parties come away feeling their view of the other as unreasonable is justified.

Food is part of our culture and heritage. It carries a lot of emotional weight. Certain foods hold memories and emotion for us. For someone to stomp all over that by saying the food our parents and grandparents fed us and what we make for our children is bad is insensitive and unlikely to get anything but hostility in return.

I would much rather see a thread where vegans share lists of easy vegan alternatives, which foods people eat every day are actually vegan and making veganism more accessible and inclusive. The world is not going to be saved by small numbers of people going vegan, but by encouraging everyone to reduce their meat and dairy intake.

I am vegan and I know it can be daunting for people to make food for me. Because people who cook for me are my friends, I make it as easy as possible for them by bringing stuff or talking through what they planned to cook.

One thing I do hate is the idea that raising children vegan is bad for them. Vegan children can be very healthy and very unhealthy, just like omnivorous children. Vegan parents are aware there is a risk of deficiency so they are likely to check things and use supplements. We love our children as much as the next parent and want them to be healthy.

FWIW, my kids aren't vegan or even vegetarian. I make a lot of vegan meals but they eat school dinners and are allowed to try whatever they like. There is cheese and milk in the fridge and they have both dairy and alternative yoghurts. I don't guilt them or try and frighten them with stories about animal welfare.

Most of my vegan and vegetarian friends have similar attitudes. I have met 1 asshole vegan and it is because she is an asshole, not because she is vegan.

Apologies for how long that was

I also want to add that I dread when someone has brought cake to work and made a vegan one for me.

It is so, so kind of them and I love to bake but most vegan cakes are horrible.

I then have to eat the whole gross thing and ooh and ah about how delicious it is in front of them

@goose1964

I'm a committed omnivore but I have a really good vegan fruit cake

Recipe please!!!

One thing I do hate is the idea that raising children vegan is bad for them

I'd suggest having a quick google of DHA and it's importance to our brains/bodies and how we can obtain it.

@formerbabe the WHO and NHS maintain a carefully planned Vegan diet can be just as healthy as an omni diet for children. My baby is a healthy vegan and I put extra effort in to ensure she has everything she needs

I don't believe for a moment that a vegan diet is appropriate for children. I have read lots of research on both sides of the debate and consider it to be an extremely unnatural way for humans to eat.

If you are concerned about animal welfare, then buy the highest quality organic animal products you can. I consider it to be playing russian roulette with children's health and development.

You may well be feeding them the healthiest version of a vegan diet possible, but it would be even better if you added some organic eggs to it or some good quality grass fed butter.

Oh and last time I read the nhs change for life healthy eating stuff aimed at kids, it recommends lower fat milks...personally I think that's bullshit. I buy full fat milk for my children.