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!

Medical necessity.

Actual food is by far better for us and the planet than any kind of processed substitute. Farming of meat and other animal products is by far better for the planet than the high environmental costs of processing and transporting those substitutes as well. Veganism is simply the latest fad to make middle-class westerners feel better about driving cars, flying off on holidays, replacing their clothes every few weeks, and in general participating in the high-consumption culture.

Absolutely nothing would make me go vegan!

I do eat quite a bit of vegan food however nothing would make me give up meat, and diary!

A complete unavailability of animal products. I could manage to go veggie, I’m not huge on meat. There are certain things I’d miss, but I could do it if I had to. I am trying to eat a bit less meat anyway.

But there is no way on earth I could live without dairy products. Well obviously I could if my life depended on it, but I’d be very sad.

soberfabulous - I accept that an animal has to die and I don't see a problem with killing it for my food. (I am not screamish) I grew up with animals like rabbits and chickens that we raised for food. That's just how it is. But yes, I agree, if you can't watch the animal being slaughtered, maybe you should not eat meat.

I am sympathetic to the cause - I have been veggie and pescatarian in my life and I barely eat any meat now really but I love cheese and eggs! I’m
Not massively keen on typical vegan fare - I like beans, tofu is ok but DS won’t touch it so I can’t cook it at home, I don’t like relying on too much processed food and with DCs who both have their likes and dislikes it’s not going to happen in my house.
DD is actually vegetarian for ethical reasons but I can’t see her going vegan as she is also a fan Of cheese and eggs, and doesn’t really like beans, lentils or nuts which preclude a vegan diet!!
I also hate the proselytising vegans ie, most of them like it’s a religion.

Actual food is by far better for us and the planet than any kind of processed substitute.

This isn’t a vegan v omni issue. Your ability to eat a predominately whole foods diet is unrelated to whether or not you are vegan. Nor is the consumption of processed foods particularly a vegan trait. There’s a reason why we have an obesity and diabetes epidemic in the U.K., and it’s not veganism.

There is also no metric by which you can claim that an omnivorous diet is better for the planet than a plant based one. It simply isn’t true.

Everyone can decide what they want to eat. It’s a personal decision. But that decision should be based on accurate information.

Farming of meat and other animal products is by far better for the planet than the high environmental costs of processing and transporting those substitutes as well

Not according to any study I have seen. What's your source?

I think this is really interesting listening. I'd say it's a vital bit of information and an ongoing discussion, especially in regards to climate change & overpopulation.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bl1k

(BBC Radio 4 The Food Programme- Eating Animals)

@Marmit i completely agree that vegan food can be nice (i’ve lived happily vegan in other countries), i just say its hard to get the nice stuff in the uk. very often stuff is made “special” by adding rank stuff like cheese replacement, meat replacement, beetroot everywhere, badly prepared tofu, vegan margarine (yuck! just take oil), etc
oreos and doughnuts are rank, sorry ;)

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.

Thank you SO much @Bastetcat

If it was healthy, natural and sustainable. And tasty. It's none of those, though, so...

Where does the idea that it’s not natural come from?

Equating a few bad apples in the farming industry and meat industry to all farming practices is like basing your opinion of all doctors in the NHS on Harold Shipman.

You can't equate one bad thing that happens somewhere and say it happens everywhere by everyone.

B12 is given as a medicine (usually an injection under the skin) in the UK as and when needed, not as a routine supplement. We mainly use it on a case by case basis where we suspect a cobalt deficiency.

Reading up on the high carbon emissions from meat and dairy production has made me finally try to reduce animal products in my diet, but not cut out completely. At the moment only it not being available would make me go 100% vegan.

I would go vegan if every other animal apart from homosapiens had gone extinct. Until then, no thanks.

I've been vegan over 4 years. We eat some fake meat and soy mince, but mostly lentils, pulses etc, tonight I had pasta with vegan pesto and veg.
Can't say I've eaten lentil gruel, j have a varied diet. Tomorrow will be Shepardess pie lid of veg and lentils

Nowt, I'd slaughter my own meat if I had to.

I used to be vegetarian and I got so bored.

If they made cheese and milk that tasted and looked the same as normal cheese and milk

I don't like vegan food and whatever 'alternatives' I've tried have been absolutely vile! I was enthusiastic to try 'shroom dogs (I love a mushroom) but one bite and I spat it out, it tasted disgusting and the texture was worse

Obviously if there were some magic alternatives that tasted like and had the texture of the food I currently eat (and didn't give me terrible stomach pains or the runs a la quorn) then I would eat that instead, but until then I will be an omnivore

Oh and none of the 'milk' products taste even halfway decent. I love a cup of tea, so far none of the alternatives taste even a 10th of a way decent in that - I don't want my tea tasting vaguely of nuts or porridge 🤮

Veggie I'd be happy to do through close social support, eg if my husband/kids were veggie, so it didn't mess up family meals. Vegan I just don't fancy. I love cheese and don't like the vegan cheeses I've tried, plus they are expensive to try, plus the coconut based alternatives make me ill.

A decent vegan cheese

I’m vegetarian now, used to be vegan but honestly I found it boring after a while. I just really missed pasta and pizza etc. Also I lost lots of weight which isn’t a good thing as I was already slim, I also developed a deficiency in ferritin & vitamin d so it wasn’t necessarily sustainable for me long term

Pasta is vegan though? At least every variety of the dried stuff I’ve ever found is!

Pizza is trickier, admittedly. I use a mixture of vegan cream cheese and nutritional yeast which works well with veggies on pizza but it’s not quite the same.

Oreos? Focaccia dipped in olive oil? Pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil and toasted pine nuts? Spaghetti pangrattata? Daal? Chips? Co-op jam doughnuts? A baked potato? Tofu banh mi? Sweet potato and black bean chilli? Baba ganoush with hot, toasty pittas? Avocado toast? Hummus? Falafel? Sweet potatoes cooked in sesame oil, lime and tahini? Roasted broccoli with lemon and garlic? Caramelised onions? Biscoff spread? Peanut butter toast? Dark chocolate? Popcorn? Poached pears? Coconut pannacotta? Panzanella salad? Olive oil mash? Chocolate dipped strawberries? Spaghetti aglio e olio? Marmite toast? Guacamole? Bean burritos? Vegetable sushi? Roasted root veg? Pomodoro soup? Salt and vinegar crisps? Pickled carrots? Sourdough? Raspberries

I only eat whats bolded
Mash needs butter and cheese
A baked spud needs sour cream and cheese
Cant live on jam donuts and crisps
Foccacia is best with melted cheese
roast veg needs to be roasted in butter
Berries out of season hugely expensive
Can live on toast and peanut butter or vegemite but not exactly healthy

Nuts, tofu, beans, avocado out, all blerg
Have sushi in any name im put off
The prep work is off putting