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!

Oh I'm really not keen on the amount of fake and processed food my vegan colleague eats. All wierd substitute stuff

^

I knew a vegan. She ate crisps, applesauce and Granola bars. She did not look good. She'd have looked better off Spam fritters and chips fried in lard.

Probably some healthy vegan meals that my fussy kids would eat. They will not eat vegetables in things. They will not eat tomato-based sauces. They will not eat houmous. They will not eat most beans except baked beans. They do like nuts, but can't take them to school. So if we went vegan I've no idea what I'd feed them!

@HenHarrier it’s really not that puzzling. Some people enjoy the taste of meat but do not want to contribute to the killing of animals so have meat substitutes. Simple.

Nothing, sorry. I am vegetarian, hate the processed fake meat around, cook from scratch most of the time, but love cheese, plain yoghurt and eggs too much to give up altogether. I do only buy organic milk and eggs from a local organic free-range supplier whose hens are kept in small flocks and I don't consume them in every meal but that's as far as I would choose to go. And so much vegan food these days seems to rely on heavy quantities of coconut oil which goes straight through me

I would never be vegan. Too much fuss.

But I wouldn't mind being a sustainable vegetarian.

I like my cheese, eggs and cheese too much.

Most vegans don't just eat what they used to but with quorn style substitutes. When I went vegan I was cooking and learning so much more and eating meals I'd never have tried or attempted before. It's been eye opening and really quite an easy transition.

Nothing would.

No way I would give up meat and dairy.

Argh

I wish I just liked more food. I'm a fussy bugger... Recently though meat has started to make me feel a bit sick everytime I eat it so I have been having less.

But only like... Meaty meat. Strangely McDonald's nuggets went down just fine.

I'm struggling with the whole thing at the moment to be completely honest!

Someone else to deal with all the planning, shopping and cooking. And that and the food itself to cost no more than what I eat now, and be varied and tasty.

The main issue I have with going vegan is the amount of processing that goes into making vegan substitutes. It's really off-putting, i like the texture of meat so I would definitely miss it in my meals.

The next issue is I really, really don't enjoy vegetables and it would be extremely painful as a major foodie to not be able to enjoy my meals anymore.

I'm lactose intolerant so if I did try to go veggie first i'd be vegan by default (except eggs). Then to add to that, i'm soy intolerant too which crosses out a lot of meat alternatives.

Then finally, I don't have patience to faff around with meals, I like to cook but don't want to be endlessly poring over my meals and ingredients. I also believe that animals are meant to be eaten, either by us or other animals. So I don't think i'll be going veggie/vegan anytime soon.

the thing is, I don't fundamentally think it is wrong to kill animals for food.

So I don't have a problem killing and eating an 18 month old layer.

I am happy to eat meat from good sources.

But even if I gave up meat, I just can't see why it is unethical to eat eggs from places you know, honey, and milk from places you know.
I don't understand what the problem is with animal products that don't bother the animal. So me vegan friends wouldn't eat eggs form our chickens. Our chickens have a lovely free range life, they have no cockerel so the eggs are unfertilized, but they would rather we put them in the bin than eat them, as it is an animal product.

That makes no sense to me.

Nothing is stopping me
I simply do not want to go vegan.
I have no issues eating meat or dairy, no desire to eat fake meats and cheese , no desire to have to spend longer prepping meals, actually reading labels and eating food that dont make me happy. A diet of beans, nuts veges and tofu would make me so unhappy and bored

@HenHarrier veganism is about minimising, as far as possible, the differing caused to animals. If fake meat can be produced without cruelty, it’s fine for vegans. Lots of vegans still like the taste and texture of meat.

Absolutely nothing. Love meat and fish and have no intention of ever giving it up.

I’m not vegan for two reasons:

1. Nutrition. It’s really difficult to get a fully nutritious vegan diet going especially for people prone to anaemia or delicate digestion (both me). Even with a really well planned vegan diet you’d still be forced to rely on supplements.
2. Ease of preparation. This ties into point above but it just takes more planing and more effort to make good tasting and nutritious vegan food.

Nothing. I have cut down & may do some more but I'm not moving to a position of relying on supplements to ensure all essential vitamins & minerals. I'm not interested in fake burgers etc and bleached tofu.

we eat vegetarian/vegan 5 days a week.
one dinner is fish, one meat.
I think completely vegan is not healthy unless you are very clued up about nutrition.

@steppemum I get that. My mum has rescue chickens from a battery farm. I don’t really see any harm in some of their eggs being eaten, though I don’t eat them myself.

My issue with something like milk is that even if it comes from a place I know, cows are dying to provide it. For me, the taste of dairy (while amazing!) doesn’t count for more than the cruelty involved in obtaining it.

I was veggie 26 years. Then saw a video of a mother cow with her calf, in a field. A 4x4 pulls up, farmer gets out, lifts up the calf And puts it into the back of the vehicle.

The calf is off to a veal farm and the mother cow is destined for the intense milking in a barn for the rest of her life.

The cow started pacing round the 4x4, looking panicked, the farmer got in and started to slowly drive off. The cow started picking up pace, making a heartbreaking sound as she gave chase, then the 4x4 goes through the gate and the mother cow is left looking and acting distraught. Broke my heart.

I went vegan based on that video alone. Two years ago. Since learning more, I'm a committed vegan now. Wouldn't ever go back. The abundance of plant-based choice out there now makes it so easy.

@woodencoffeetable I think that’s a valid point. I have never been so informed about nutrition as I am since going vegan. My vegan diet is actually much healthier than my omni or vegetarian diets were, but that’s because I work to make it so.

@GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery I could have written that myself. It was the separation of brand new calves from their mothers that did it for me too. I just had this epiphany that I couldn’t participate in that any more.

Nothing.

@strawberrieshortcake

I just find being vegan but wanting to eat meat substitutes odd. You want the taste of meat but not to actually eat meat because you don’t like the idea of raising meat. OK. Doesn’t persuade me in the least.

That's the thing, bastet, it's WORK to be healthy on a vegan diet. You need your complete proteins etc, it's not as easy as just eating a steak and mash and feeling alright. You have to be prepared to shop, cook and eat healthily very regularly. It's not easy.