To think veganism is the future?

[Libertynan]

I started eating a plant based diet for Veganuary this year and am still at it.

It has been a revelation. All the family have joined in ( although DH likes a bit of strong cheddar now and again).

We eat some really good meals and don’t feel like we’re missing out on anything.

I have been reading a lot about animal welfare and the effect that intensive farming has on the environment and I can’t see how anyone can ignore these issues.

AIBU to wish that more people would at least eat fewer animal products and try plant based.

Absolutely

I really hope future generations aren’t as selfish or barbaric as this one. I’ve been vegetarian since I was 13 and vegan for 4 years now and wish I’d done it sooner. I’m so glad I had the realisation that a fifteen minute meal wasn’t worth the short painful life and inhumane killing of a sentinent being.

Children are naturally horrified by the idea of eating animals, but we brainwash them into it, lie and hide it from them until they are conditioned to eat it. It’s horrific and cult like.

My two children have been vegan from conception as it were and are perfectly healthy, energetic and my three year old is horrified by the idea that anyone would eat an animal - as most children would be before they are indoctrinated.

Moderation is the way forward. Our digestive systems are adapted to suit an omnivorous diet.

Not all agricultural land is suitable for growing food plants, some is better suited to raising livestock. It would be better for us, for animals and for the planet if we all cut down on consumption of animal products, but consumed moderate amounts produced using low intensity, high welfare production methods.

@Florabritannica but yet we’re aghast when we see some I’ll treating a dog, yet don’t even think about how cows, pigs, calves and livestock are treated.

Animals are sentient beings, pigs are as intelligent as dogs (not my dog, he’s thick as fuck). But westerners will get up in arms about dog meat in Asia, yet not equate the same thinking to livestock, because “pets”.

I am not vegan but the argument that livestock don’t matter because they don’t feel emotion or fear is bullshit. I’m not talking about cows crying or anything like that, but if you can see fear in the eyes of a dog about to be beaten again, you will see that same fear in the eyes of any livestock creature heading for slaughter, after years stuck in a miniature pen treated like nothing more than a commodity.

@ChristmasRobins

Suspect that veganism will be the norm within 30 years, and in 100 years people will look back at meat-eating with absolute horror and incomprehension.

I really doubt this, as a species we evolved to be omnivores.

@PlanetNormal

Absolutely not. We have got saddle of venison for Christmas and I can’t wait to eat it cooked perfectly medium rare.

Poor little Rudolph! 🦌

I have no plans to ever stop eating meat. My DH has decided to eat a lot less, but not me.

HELL.

TO.

THE.

NO!

I couldn’t be a vegan. I love having my dogs too much. I couldn’t give that up!

definitely not. i cannot stand vegans as someone with life threatening allergies - it makes eating out etc so much harder because they’re not taken seriously as often, and things like pea fibre are now used a lot which is linked to nut allergy and has nearly killed me. i cannot stand the vegan plant based trend

@Mittenmob

My family could never be vegan. We are all dairy free but DC have legume and oat allergies so it's hard enough as it is.

Snap. A vegan diet would not be possible le in my house.

I also do not understand with the vegan argument why it is bad for the environment to eat meat, but perfectly fine to destroy rainforest to grow soya and then fly it around the world.

I think better to eat local. And I like meat too much.

@strokethefurrywall I don’t think we disagree - I’m not saying animals aren’t sentient or intelligent, just that it’s a different kind of intelligence.
I am completely with you on the inconsistency with which our society distinguishes between ‘food animals’ and ‘pets’ - though pretty much every culture has deeply-felt rules as to food taboos.

The more vegans bang on about their BORING veganism, the less likely I am to EVER become vegan. If they didn't act so smug and virtuous, and like they are superior, maybe more people would consider eating less meat and dairy, or even none. But as long as they bore everyone with their smug, holier-than-thou attitude, the more people dislike them and will not listen to them.

@evangeline12

definitely not. i cannot stand vegans as someone with life threatening allergies - it makes eating out etc so much harder because they’re not taken seriously as often, and things like pea fibre are now used a lot which is linked to nut allergy and has nearly killed me. i cannot stand the vegan plant based trend

Yes!!! Pea fibre. In every bloody thing. That or soya. Why?????

Not a chance. I have managed to reduce my meat consumption over the last few years, but there's no way I'd ever go vegan/vegetarian.

A diet that relies on anyone taking highly processed supplements isn't healthy.
I think, local and seasonal produce is the way forward. And I don't like my food wrapped in some unnecessary plastic or 100's of miles attached to it.... But that's just my personal opinion.

The b12 argument is a red herring as farmed animals need to be supplemented as they don’t eat grass anymore

Oh my goodness - what is that stuff I see farm animals eating here then? All this time I thought it was grass, but I must have been wrong.

Honestly, so many of you appear to live in cities and don't know the first thing about life outside of them.

There's a thread on about Xmas fridges just now! I was surprised how many people have dairy alternatives in their fridges (next to their ham/turkey /beef)
But yes its definitely the future! I've been vegan a while now and I miss nothing

I'd love to go vegan for environmental reasons but it's not practically possible for us as a family as yet. I have reduced massively though and have gone from daily meat consumption to just 3 meals a week.

I might give veganuary a try though and see how we go. Our biggest barriers are cost and lack of choice (don't like fake meat but worried about lack of protein for growing children)

Not for me, can’t find a decent milk substitute to put in my cup of tea. I’ve tried them all and it just tastes rank.

A diet that relies on anyone taking highly processed supplements isn't healthy.
I think, local and seasonal produce is the way forward. And I don't like my food wrapped in some unnecessary plastic or 100's of miles attached to it.... But that's just my personal opinion.

Alot of people give babies formula which is fortified so supplements are not always a bad thing 🤷‍♀️

I also think you will find meat is wrapped in plastic! Milk is in plastic bottles! And not all vegans eat avacados and drink almond milk.

No way in hell would I ever be a vegan. Can’t think of anything more miserable

@drpet49

No way in hell would I ever be a vegan. Can’t think of anything more miserable

This. ^ I would like I was being punished if I had to eat vegan food only tbh.

@Muminabun

We evolved to eat a plant based diet. Fairly recently we started to eat meat and animal products on an occasional basis, I think this was due to climate change. We are adaptable and can tolerate meat and animal products but we are arguably not well adapted to them. The diet we eat now is a million years away from what we evolved to eat. We now don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables or fibre. We eat far too much meat with is nothing like the meat even our recent ancestors ate. The b12 argument is a red herring as farmed animals need to be supplemented as they don’t eat grass anymore. Non western diets are much more vegan and veg based and generally healthier because of the plant content. I think meat eating will drop out of favour due to health and animal welfare reasons. Brits eat 17% less meat than they did 10 years ago which I think is hugely significant.

Sorry. You've been tricked by vegan propaganda. You can get b12 injections for animals as a medicine much like humans can get b12 injections. Its used to treat a number of sheep diseases.

It's not a routine supplement though, it's used on the very rare occasion it's needed.

Us farmers are all aware of the picture that circulates on the vegan groups of the 'B12 supplements' we apparently give to animals and we think anyone who believes it must be short on critical thinking skills.

Will never give up cheese and shellfish. Sorry 😢

@cocopogo
My cuppa from alpro although expensive is like semi skimmed in tea to me!
I think it's something you just adapt to tho I never used to like oat milk in tea but now I really enjoy it

@drpet49
I like being vegan I don't find it miserable at all sure the cheese is shit but its getting better!

Everyone should at least try to cut down on animal products

No.
Sensible, more traditional livestock farming is essential for keeping soil healthy and fertile.
Plenty of people can’t sustain a plant based diet without expensive supplements, plus the vitamins and minerals in meat are far more bioavailable to humans.