AIBU to ask ‘what would make you go vegan’?

[Bastetcat]

Tangentially inspired by another thread, I wonder if there are specific obstacles standing in the way of people choosing to go vegan, and if so what they are?

I tend to presume that if perfect, indistinguishable replicas for meat / dairy / eggs etc could be created then virtually everyone would go vegan, but I would be interested in finding out if that’s actually the case!

I don't think anything could. Obviously if i was forced (e.g. by total lack of animal product available to buy) I would have to. Even then I think I would be out trying to share squirrels & rabbits for the pot.

Meat/fish free cuisine just lackness a richness to me. There's a flavourful umami fattiness, different to oiliness, that is always missing from vegan food.

Less fabricated vegan products/“fake meats” available and more things made of real vegan food, as in pulses and veg etc.

@honeyroar I am with you there. I see so much reliance on fake meat when pulses, mushrooms and other vegetables are so much more delicious.

Why I've not become vegan: I don't want to.
What would make me go vegan: having to slaughter and prepare my own meat.

If there were exact replicas of meat and dairy products then I would consider using them, only if their environmental impact was low and they were as nutritious as meat.

@Handsoffisback that’s so sad :( poor piggies

A private chef
I’m 99% there- no dairy, eggs from hens I know personally but so BORED. I engineer opportunities to cook for non vegans and could cry at yet another bloody cuminy lentilly bowl of virtuous mush.
I don’t eat fake meats, soy etc.

Exactly as your post says - identical replicas of the animal products I choose to consume. I’m hard hearted and hard stomached, so appealing to my better nature to think of the animals doesn’t really work. I’ve been happy to cut out certain things where it makes ethical and environmental sense and I genuinely enjoy or even prefer a plant-based alternative.

I am OK with vegetarian food from time to time, but only if it’s just made from “real” food such as vegetables, nuts etc.

There are 2 major things that put me off vegan. Firstly, the new offerings just seem to be massively processed - all this “meat” that isn’t meat stuff, I am sure it’s a health scandal in waiting.

Secondly I love dairy (eggs and cheese in particular) and cannot see myself giving those up.

Having to slaughter my own meat is probably only thing.

I don't want to be vegan, or vegetarian. I don't eat meat at every meal but i wouldn't give it up completely

@Etinox I could be your private chef :D I personally like lentils but agree that endless bowls of lentil gruel are not appetising. If you are looking for recipes I highly recommend the websites ‘Nora cooks vegan’ and ‘the schoolnight vegan’ - virtually any dish you can imagine, they have a vegan version.

I'm vegetarian and don't have milk at all or eggs except as an ingredient like in cake so I think for me it would be better cheese substitutes and (a big one) better and widely available vegan milk chocolate. So feel like not loads.

Well on the way to becoming Veggie (DD has so cook veggie meals 4/7 days) given up red meat so just chicken and fish and could give up those.

But eggs is a massive massive one for me and yoghurt

@ClutterbuckFarm I agree people are too reliant on meat alternatives. They’re fun sometimes when you are craving a burger but they shouldn’t be a substitute for proper veggies!

A better understanding of what to eat. I know this sounds lazy of me but I just don't have the time to figure out what I could eat for each meal, each day to get a balanced diet for my activities, etc that fits around my other commitments.

Last time I cut down on meat, I ended up anaemic despite thinking I was eating well.

As a confirmed meat eater, watching Game Changers on Netflix made me want to give it a go for a week because of the unbelievable health benefits the athletes experienced, breaking their own records in their 40’s and winning Olympic medals!

@Userpompom omg cheese - the vegan substitutes are NOT GOOD. I’ve heard amazing things about the fauxmagerie in London but it had yet to penetrate where I live, sadly.

I agree there's lots of processed vegan food around now. It's not great for all of the time and I worry people think it's healthy just because it's vegan (like vegan fried chicken!) However it's nice as a vegetarian to have the option of a supermarket curry!

Ooh I'll have to look into that!

@MellowBird85 that was such a good documentary!

I've been veggie since I was a teenager, nearly 30 years now. I do enjoy the new fake meats and the fact there's more choice than ever BUT I'm not keen on the idea of vegan cheese, tofu scramble as an egg alternative etc. I wouldn't consider putting soy milk in my tea. I do make a lot of meals that are unintentionally vegan, I just don't use the substitutes. I'll have to try one day! What's the best plant milk to put in tea? I only have a splash.

Like you say, if there were indistinguishable replicas, i definitely would. I actually really like most veggies and pulses and can happily eat some veggie and vegan foods, I don't really eat that much meat as it is. The meat replicas are disgusting. My dp went veggie about 6 months ago and I attempted to make him a Bolognese using a plat based mince replica, just the smell and the look of it made me heave. He didn't eat it.

Nothing would make me go vegan. The most important, I love cheese. Second most important: I can’t do much beans, tofu. They totally disagree with me, I’ve heard oh just keep eating them, the gas will calm down. It doesn’t for me and I’m thoroughly miserable.

IMO the absolute best plant milk for tea is indisputably Oatly barista. It’s the only one that works for me, but it’s a really good dupe! I hate soya milk but Oatly is amazing.

lab grown meat from cells harvested from a happy cow /sheep / chicken.

Real vegetable alternatives rather than processed soy?

Also price and availability of meat itself. I mean i dont eat much lobster or venison cos i cant afford it or get is easily. How cheap and easy is chicken to get?

Like others cheese and eggs would be really hard to give up.