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.

I have been vegetarian but it was horrible for my health. Now I eat high quality meat, maybe a couple of times a week. I don't have much dairy, just butter and the odd bit of sheeps'/goats' milk cheese. I don't eat any meat or dairy substitutes, with the exception of my Oatly coffee creamer and home made non dairy milks.

That works for me. I'd say 80% of my diet is vegan, 5% vegetarian and 15% carnivore. I think it's a very personal decision and I don't feel bad about it.

No. I don't think it's the way forward. 3 of my closest friends as vegan. 1 vegetarian. At least they are not puritanical about it. Like 1 poster above. I cook lots of vegan meals for them, but I choose not to be vegan. I don't think it's the answer.

I love a good German sausage way too much, I'm afraid.

@BigGermanSausage

I love a good German sausage way too much, I'm afraid.

Hey! I want some too!

Less meat, more plant based, yes. Vegan, no.

From an environmental perspective we can't sustain a planet that consumes animal based products at the rate we currently do, and certainly not at the rate the West does.

But I find the Vegan ethical argument to be lacking (why is it not okay to exploit one form of life but fine and dandy to exploit another form? The moral difference between plants and animals is arbitrary and Veganism doesn't make a compelling case for it.)

No. Not for us anyway.

It's not in my future. Not for a single second. I eat meat everyday, I wouldn't give it up.

Have been veggie for 27 years I do struggle with the guilt of eating dairy but it is better than nothing imo. May go vegan if they can improve the dairy alternatives. I have oatmilk for everything apart from in tea, not found a milk yet that works in tea and I do love cheese and eggs. Vegan cheese is not fun.

Im vegetarian, I tried veganism and it did not end well. Hair stopped growing, lowered immune system, constantly knackered.

You do know that most of the people on the planet have never heard of the word vegan ?

* The vegan 'chicken not chicken' burgers are indistinguishable from real chicken burgers. You cannot tell.*

^Vegans love to trot out this line. Yes you can clearly tell that fake chicken burgers are indeed not real chicken.

@TulipVictory

I'm following this thread as my Cousin has gone vegan and not looked back so I'm interested. Although I think I like a good chicken burger a bit too much

You'll be able to get a vegan one where you won't tell the difference

Let’s hope not. It all tastes utterly miserable.

Once lab grown meat becomes mainstream then yes I think veganism will be the norm if you include that lab grown meat.

I think historians of the future will look back and see us as completely barbaric for killing and eating animals.

Just going vegetarian (even with supplements) made me have dangerously low levels of iron. Hair failing out. Pale and exhausted all the time. Fast heartbeat. Never again as long as I can help it! I now have red meat at least once a week and am happier for it, it tastes bloody amazing too.

If that makes people feel sad, so be it, I'd rather be alive and happy and healthy than dead for the sake of some ideals.

We all know we need to at least reduce animal product consumption! For many reasons yet the majority of people don't because they like cheese! I think that's pretty selfish to be fair

I actually eat little in the way of meat, and my consumption of cheese and yoghurt is not going to keep my country's dairy industry going for long. However, if people want to eat cheese why shouldn't they? I could possibly go vegetarian, but don't want to at the moment, but will never go vegan and I don't wish to be preached at.

Just let people eat what they want to eat. I also agree with the posters who have said it would be better to eat more locally produced foods than to convert to being vegan.

I also want to know what I am supposed to feed my cats when we enter this utopian vegan heaven?

Yes, no brainer for me. Health, environment, animal welfare.

No, it’s not healthy for everyone. Many people have been told to stop for health reasons.

I do think that eating a meat based diet (So meat or fish most days) is incredibly bad for you and the planet. It's also a bit old fashioned sort of like drinking every day or smoking. Suggests you don't move with the times and gives you an old fashioned life expectancy too.

I am mostly vegetarian although I confess to the odd steak which I love, but 90% of my diet is vegetarian. However I hate vegan food especially all the pretend meat products like vegan bacon yuck. Ditto quorn and tofu, evil stuff and I don’t like by products of anything. I like food that is in its original form. Do have vegetarian Mondays as well.

I also did Veganuary at the start of this year and haven’t looked back. My motivation was environmental and personal health rather than ‘for the animals’. My health has improved considerably, as has my sporting performance.

A lot of people would have you think it’s a choice between omnivores who are eating only locally grown/reared products (not mentioning what those animals are eating) vs a vegan diet on processed fake meats and avocados shipped across the world. It is so much more nuanced than that. Personally I eat local, seasonal and vegan. It’s not about perfection, but doing your best.
I do wish people would be more open minded about trying things like veganuary and just giving it a go, but as soon as you get on the topic battle lines seems to be drawn, and sweeping statements (some of which above are bloody offensive) made.

Yes- and it’s not an unhealthy choice, I’ve been vegan a long time and have no deficiencies or exhaustion as a result, my blood work always shows good levels of everything. I’m vegan because I want to do minimum harm to animals but the environmental benefits are massive too.

Also many people will trot out the food miles thing but most emissions are generated at the production not the transport stage.

@NumberTheory there is no evidence that proves plants are sentient whereas animals are proven to be sentient. The majority of humans see a moral difference between plants and animals and would view killing a dog as morally worse than chopping down a tree.

Ewww. No.

💯 NO

🥩 🥩 😋 Absolutely no way am I becoming a vegan. You only have to look at the teeth of humans to see that we’re designed to eat meat. You don’t get to the top of the food chain by nibbling on lettuce leaves and eating grass. Those annoying vegans can bore off as they’re just trying to take over the world.

Right, off to eat steak for breakfast!