To think if you rely on a food bank you may need to compromise your vegan principles?

[LondonUnited]

I’m a supporter of our local food bank and am on their mailing list. I received an email earlier to say that they were supporting a vegan family and were therefore asking for specific food donations, including Oatly oat milk, various nuts and seeds, specific types of beans, etc etc.

I may get flamed for this but I couldn’t help thinking that - allergies aside (and I have a milk allergic child so I do get it) - if you need a food bank to feed your family, you might need to compromise on diet slightly? For a start, Oatly Barista is lovely and all that, but Aldi or Asda oat milk is also ok and half the price. And that the odd bit of tinned fish may be easier to access from a food bank than Brazil nuts and chia seeds...

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-food-banks-lockdown-uk-stories-trussell-trust-figures-a9544841.html?amp

This is worth reading - the changing face of foodbank users since Covid.

SchadenfreudePersonified Agreed it isn't only people living in bedsits who are limited in what they can cook. I'll put my hand up and say right now post Covid financial damage, we can't afford to put an oven on. To do it would be using gas that we know we have no way of paying for, so basically it would be theft.
Additionally the minute your work goes out of the window, things like ovens, washing machines, shoes etc all have a nasty habit of following suite, just at the time you can do nothing about them.

I've said up thread how incredibly lucky I am in being able to access a pay what you can afford (if you're in trouble) or think it's worth (for supporters or bag a bargainer's) shop.
Shops and warehouses donate damaged, unsaleable, unwanted or end of life goods. The money raised is used to provide staples when they run low, and to provide a little variety.
It is a brilliant model, leaving people with their dignity and ability to shop and choose what works for them rather than have things doled out to them and treated as 'the poor' or told how often they may or may not use assistance. I look forward to moving from paying as a 'what I can afford' customer, to a 'financially supporting' customer. There is no till, just an honesty box, and I dare say the odd CF takes advantage, but if so it works itself out.

We don't want to be rude, but we actually don't want jam, puddings, biscuits, crisps, sweets squash and fruit juice. (and don't eat meat or fish) It isn't normal food for us.
I wouldn't want anyone who wants them to go without, but they really aren't needed here.
Someone donated cheap pesto sauces and pasta, noodles and soy sauce, pickled onions and red cabbage in jars, and lots of 'anti-pasti type peppers in jars, as well as capers and olives. The last three may seem like luxury items, but when you're vegetarian with an emergency one ring cooker, the more pre cooked or cooking not needed' ingredients that allow a pleasant meal to be made cheaply the better.
The moment I knew we were going to be able to get through this was when black peppercorns, and short date pre cooked chestnuts, and tahini turned up alongside the chick peas and baked beans. I was so happy! We are all different, and our needs are different, so if a food bank is asking for something in particular, I'd trust they know what they're doing.
Much of what we're buying cheap would normally end in land fill, so it's a win win for all, thanks to donor's and volunteers. As we're clearly heading for interesting times, I hope this model of solidarity and self help can be spread alongside the governments 'outsource survival to charity' model.

@MangoFeverDream

I understand that dairy is almost sacred in Western cultures, but ffs it’s more than possible to get all the nutrients you need without it (or plant-based milks for that matter).

Not as easily or cheaply, though.

Here's an analysis of the vegan foods that are high in calcium. The cost is per 100mg of calcium that they contain.

Broccoli 31p
Chia seeds 24p
Tahini 20p
Brazil nuts 88p
Tofu 15p
Dried figs 25p
Baked beans 18p
White bread 8p
Oatly barista 15p

White bread is by far the cheapest way to get calcium, but to provide your daily required amount, you'd have to eat about 14 slices.

Baked beans, you'd have to eat about 5 tins a day to get the required amount.

Broccoli you'd have to eat 6 to 8 heads of broccoli a day.

It's the same for the things that are nutrient dense but hard to eat, like chia seeds and tahini, you'd have to eat a relatively large amount of them compared to what's in a normal portion.

Whereas 250ml (quarter of a carton) of oatly (and other fortified oat and plant milks) provides about a third of your daily allowance. As well as iodine and other essential vitamins. So it's actually a very cost effective way to get nutrients for vegans.

And plant milk might not be a staple for you, personally, but they are for a lot of people and have been for a long time.
Diets that traditionally consume (non fortified) plant milks also consume a lot of fish and other animal products high in nutrients that vegans can't eat.

Western diets rely on cows milk so much because we wean our children off breastmilk very young, and we don't eat a lot of things that are high in calcium that are staples in other cultures - okra, chia seeds and Brazil nuts being some of those staples. Fortified plant milks fill that gap easily and relatively cheaply for vegans.

It's not that hard to grasp that other people need to eat differently from you, is it?

[quote SchadenfreudePersonified]I wouldn't donate money because I would feel I needed to give more and I can't. It wouldn't be viable to give the cost of 4 items a month or whatever. I can give something from my shopping without missing it, but a financial donation would not work for me. There is also the fact that I can put a little treat in sometimes, not just basics. I like to think that someone will smile at getting something nice

I agree. It also means that on the weeks you can afford it, you by something for others. own the weeks you can't you don't. I do this too, and always like to put in a little treat occasionally if I can, and at Christmas and Easter get advent calendars or eggs etc.

Even the children of the underserving poor can have a little treat.

Well I’m definitely going to start putting in more halal / kosher / vegan / ethnic items in the Food bank crate.

I’m Asian living in a part of London with lots of different ethnic minorities, and lots of choice of ‘world foods’ like halal sweets, matzo, pierogi etc in supermarkets.

But I suspect it’s not the money that concern them, and more that they want people to suffer.

Unfortunately, I think you're right midwinter.

They are being given stuff as donations - it's no skin off their nose if someone puts a bag of sugar in - and it makes some else's life just that little bit more bearable. God forbid!

No - we must make sure that the Food Bank offerings are as basic as the workhouses used to be (wouldn't be surprised to see them back soon, either)

Reminds me of a book I read. The plot was rich people making money by selling cheap shitty meat that they wouldn’t eat themselves.

Probably not fiction, then. :{

You honestly think that people who give to food banks want to make people suffer? Only on MN....

You honestly think that people who give to food banks want to make people suffer

In the example I gave, it was the food bank itself saying that poor people shouldn't have sugar (or chocolate because it wasn't healthy. Condescending middle class do-gooding nonsense.

I do think banning sugar is ridiculous. I doubt anyone who had a packet of sugar in their cupboard is going to eat spoonfuls of it. Class has nothing to do with it.

I cant even be bothered to point out the absolute racism that’s all over this rant

Because it wasn't. Islam is a religion, not a race, and it's perfectly acceptable to criticise any of the religions which put women down, including the more Orthodox Jews (I refer you to the story this week about the woman who was told to move on an Easyjet flight because two Orthodox Jews wouldn't sit next to a woman - how typical that the airline told her to move and not the bigoted men) and obviously Christians who couldn't and still can't conceive of women being bishops.

I think your question is maybe about requesting brands rather than a particular lifestyle? It’s doesn’t have to be expensive to have a vegan diet. Tins of beans/lentils aren’t expensive and can make meals filling and stretch far. Not having meat can reduce the coat of groceries. Nuts and seeds certainly aren’t the cheapest but if you look at the overall food requests they may not consume as much as other families who have more foods that are less filling?
It’s hard to answer your question without knowing what exactly they are requesting.
I wouldn’t expect anyone who needs help to request high end foods but not would I expect them to eat with no enjoyment.

I wonder if it is actually more a case of them being asked what they usually buy. Oatly does taste much better than other oat milks and if I was relying on the food bank it would make me feel a bit less shit to have something like that as a treat. I do try to donate things that are a bit nicer than the basics for that reason, when I can afford it. Food banks are run on good faith and generosity and it's a crying shame that we need them. I don't think there is any harm in asking for specific foods.

It's a good thing though that people have different views on buying what they have requested, otherwise the food bank will end up with 100 cartons of oatly and no normal UHT. Variety is the spice of life and all that.

I’ve not read all the comments, there’s too many.

Slightly off-topic, but you do realise that you've just added another one on top of the already 'too many'....?

Being a vegan doesn’t mean you get preferential treatment over anyone else.

@Pomegranatepompom
How is the concept of 'preferential' relevant here?

You are saying that costly food doesn't belong in food bank baskets regardless of dietary need.

You are assigning values to food that are completely artificial.This is tall poppy syndrome running amok, making a complete mockery of the goal of providing nourishing food that is appropriate for individual needs.

Neither relative cost nor 'what everyone else is getting' are relevant to the filling of a specific dietary need.

This is what my local food bank has on its website wrt donations -

Suggested donations:
Grains
Brown rice
Quinoa
Couscous
Whole grain pasta
Whole grain cereal
Rolled oats

Proteins
Canned tuna
Canned salmon
Canned chicken
Nuts
Dried beans
Dried lentils
Canned low-sodium beans
Non-hydrogenated nut butters

Produce
Canned fruit in 100% fruit juice
Canned low sodium vegetables
Dried fruit (preferably with no added sugar)

Other:
Baby Items
Baby food
Diapers
Formula

Cleaning Supplies
All purpose cleaner
Dish soap
Laundry detergent
Window cleaner
Paper towels

Non-perishable Food Items

Toiletry Items (especially full-size):
Incontinence supplies
Feminine hygiene products
Lotion
Razors
Shampoo and conditioner
Shaving cream
Body soap
Hand soap
Toilet paper

Cannot accept:
Expired Items (or items without a printed expiration date)
Homemade or home-canned Food
Medications (prescription or over-the-counter)
Open items
Products not in their original packaging
............

Posh whole grains! Nuts! Non-hydrogenated nut butters!
Quinoa, for heaven's sake...

To be fair, they accept everything, but they are mindful that many clients suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure so the wish list reminds donors to bear in mind that healthy foods are better than massive piles of unhealthy items.

The reminder that clients have health conditions that make some items unsuitable also suggests that individual needs are important to the food bank.

I find it odd they’re asking for an expensive brand of dairy free milk. Why not supermarket own soya milk? I’m lactose intolerant and I pick up whatever dairy free milk is on offer.

@mathanxiety no I am saying that at all. I donate a wide range of items.

Honestly, the people on this thread arguing , I think you’re deterring people from donating.

I don’t know who is running the foodbank from the list of items above but they aren’t allowed to accept formula or razors

Why not supermarket own soya milk?

Potentially because it’s disgusting and tastes like stewed bean juice.

Oatly milk has the highest fat content for babies and toddlers to drink ones they do not have breast milk. So that could be the reason.

@TheHappyHerbivore some soya milk tastes better than others and there’s also supermarket own almond and coconut milk. There’s an Alpro soya milk for toddlers and oat milk is quite low fat. I’m just saying there’s cheaper alternatives than Oatly Barista. Saying this as someone that hasn’t touched milk since I was a young child. I’ve tried loads of different types of dairy free milk.

Oatly on offer in Asda, down from £1.50 to £1.20