What are the reasons that entice a person to become Vegan?

1. 96

   Robie Benveposted 11 years ago

   What are the reasons that entice a person to become Vegan?
   
   It seems to me that to become a Vegan you need to give up  lot of foods and that may affect your social life - most gatherings revolve around food after all. It makes me wonder:
   What are the strongest values of becoming a Vegan?

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2. 38

   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   You no longer contribute to animal cruelty via your eating habits and you can begin to find fun social events that don't revolve around food that are healthier and more active.  Eating vegan improves your health when done properly and is great for the environment also. 
   
   There are many delicious vegan dishes and it isn't as limited as most people think it is.  You can always bring a vegan dish to gatherings to share with everyone.  There are vegan ice creams, cheeses, and burgers that you can eat where you can't tell the difference.

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   1. 78

      derek gulbransonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Vegan cheese is a sick joke, imho.

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   2. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      have you tried Daiya brand? It's actually quite good - a lot of it is truly awful though lol

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   3. 96

      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I hear you Christin, and agree that the thought of eating animals can become difficult to bear, but I still don't see how eating milk or eggs is a cruelty to animals. Though it's probably because it involves raising them.

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   4. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      with small local farms it isn't, but what they do in mass factories (where most eggs/dairy) come from is worse than death.  Battery cage hens and cows forced to live in their own feces and never move - it's horrible.

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   5. 96

      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Christin, that's what I thought. So in theory if you raised your own free range chickens you could eat eggs. Interesting

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3. 71

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   One of the main reasons includes being natural or organic. But the only reason I would ever become a vegan is for the health benefits. Still, it's a lot to keep up with, a lot like counting calories.

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   1. 96

      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree that vegans eat more natural and organic foods, but I always wonder how are they sure they get all the nutrients, proteins, calcium, etc.
      It does seem like a lot to keep up with.

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   2. 38

      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      there are plenty of sources for these nutrients not dependent on animals, Quinoa for example a full-chain amino acid protein.  Dark green leafy veggies for calcium.

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   3. 71

      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You need knowledge about the health benefits of various plants. It's actually very easy.

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   4. 85

      M. T. Dremerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A lot of the switches are fairly easy. For example, most soy/rice/almond milks that you buy at the store are infused with the same nutrients as regular milk. And protein is in just about everything.

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4. 58

   JustHowitSounds30posted 11 years ago

   I agree with Robin that separating food from social events would be difficult--and who would want to?! Going vegan has never made much sense to me...you have to either be loaded (all the celebs have chefs to prepare their vegan meals) or live in an area that has great offerings in markets, restaurants, etc.
   Someone I know has "Vegan Wednesday," a day to eat in this manner. She's a vegetarian, so perhaps it's not too difficult to transition to one day of veganism. I realize this was more commentary than helpful answering, but I am as much in wonder about it as you.

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   1. 96

      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I tried to be a vegetarian once, but unfortunately I love eating meat too much. I could not resist the smell of broiled chicken or roasted pork. It would be easier for me to embrace a diet with no sugar and sweets than no meat. 

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5. 93

   Elderberry Artsposted 11 years ago

   I became vegetarian because I realised I hardly ate meat as I didn't like it much and was pretty much only eating free range chicken. So I thought why not just give it up all together? I enjoy cooking and often found my food was vegan as it was fruit, veg and bean based. Later I found I have a dairy, egg and wheat intolerance so gave those up to feel better, effectively meaning from a food point of view I was vegan. Most of what I cook and eat is vegan but I don't say I am because I sometimes use honey in cooking.

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   1. 96

      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting path to becoming vegan, thanks for sharing. I did not know you could not have honey either!

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   2. 93

      Elderberry Artsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Vegans don't eat any product from animals so no honey or gelatine  and some wines and other alcohol have animal products in. Some sugar is not vegan and someone who is fully vegan wouldn't wear leather or wool. There are non-vegan food colours too.

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6. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 11 years ago

   The documentary "Forks over Knives" is what encouraged me to attempt veganism. My wife was already a vegetarian, so it wasn't a huge leap for us. It's just amazing how many health problems are linked to meat and dairy. I don't think that I'm saving many animals, but it does help to remove a lot of the guilt burden.
   
   Having said that, you're right that social situations are a total pain when someone is a vegetarian. It took my wife years to convince her family that she seriously didn't eat meat anymore. And I haven't broached the topic with my family since my switch. Instead, I just try to subtly order the least meat-tastic thing on the menu. Unfortunately it means I'm not a true vegan, or vegetarian, when I'm out of the house, but at this point in my life it's a price I will pay to keep the peace. Though I do hope to, one day, come of of the vegetarian closet, so to speak.

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      TheKatsMeowposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah I am so glad that someone brought up that movie. I loved Forks over Knives! It was so fascinating!

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7. 89

   TheKatsMeowposted 11 years ago

   I think for a lot of people, it's about their health and their ethics. It's also about where the food industry is going. Animals are pumped full of crap so that they grow faster and fed diets that aren't healthy for them. If an animal isn't healthy and we eat it, we in turn have to deal with adverse health effects. I don't want to drink milk if it's loaded with Antibiotics and hormones. I also don't want to eat a chicken that was beaten to death when it could have been humanly euthanized. The alternatives to factory farmed food is really expensive. and vegan is healthier, vegans simply made a choice that they felt was worth feeling awkward in social gatherings.

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8. 69

   CRe8tiVeLiFeposted 11 years ago

   Living down the street from a butcher and falling in love with a cow who escaped and is now your pet and lives in your back yard. (True story).

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9. 56

   Candybarboyposted 11 years ago

   A quick mind perhaps even
   gaining perception.

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10. 92

    Astralroseposted 9 years ago

    I believe it's a principle of non-violence.
    
    As for me, I strongly object to KILLING animals for food, which makes free-range or humane farming nonsensical to me. Animals have their own life. They love their freedom to be what they are. And it isn't just right to take that life and freedom because of a piece of meat. I don't want my life nor my freedom be taken away by others.
    
    And Robie, like a person of principle, we don't live for others-we live for ourself so don't worry if there is not one vegetarian/vegan food in the menu in a gathering....you might even realize that that gathering is not for you.
    
    Giving up a lot of foods with meat and dairy on them doesn't mean it's going to affect our life...negatively. It might even make us a better person. Vegetarian/Vegan recipes are in plenty and you might be surprised how delicous they are, too. And oh, good friendships develop into great friendships when two or more people share similar values or principles in life.

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