Vegan FAQs and assumptions

I decided to make an FAQ for all the people that ask me questions (frequently :P) about my veganism. I may add more. Other vegans feel free to pick me up on any differences in experience or other questions you get all the time and I'll add it! :)

What is a vegan?
A vegan is a person that doesn't consume/promote/use anything to do with the harm of animals. That includes dairy, eggs, meat, fish, honey, chicken, animal tested products, other products that have animal products in them. I put fish and chicken in that seeing as I get asked that ALL the time. "so you're vegan, does that mean you have fish/chicken still?"

Why are you a vegan?
Personally, it's because of moral reasons, environmental reasons and because I can't stand the thought of eating flesh and muscles and parts of something that was living. I can't take away the body of an animal just for the taste in my mouth for a split second. I don't believe it's worth an animals life that it was born to enjoy. In my opinion, the meat and dairy industry are cruel places and I don't want to support them in anyway.
And animal testing is just never going to be a good idea. Animals are different and respond differently to chemicals. Plus some animal testing does NOT need to be done at all. Research it if you're interested. There are also lists available on the net that tell you exactly what products test on animals.
On the environmental and worldly side of things, farming takes up a lot of room, meat takes a lot of time and money that could be spent better farming plant crops. If the american population decreased their meat consumption by 10% they could feed 60 million people. That could end world hunger.

What do you eat? Moss and dirt?
Yes. Yes we do. I love me some moss salad tossed with a bit of muddy juice. Seriously though, vegans eat a variety of food. Legumes, lentils, beans, seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruit, wheat etc. With these ingredients it's easy to make things seeing as there are so many varieties of these things and a whole lot more variety to cook with. Obviously it's not steak, mash and peas like traditional dinner but it's pretty easy to do still.
Curries, pies, burgers, sausage rolls, muffins, cakes, anything you can think of we can veganify. I've made and eaten fake pork, shepards pie, lasagne with soy mince, fake steak etc. Mind you, becoming a vegan you do have to research up a bit on what to eat nutrients wise.

The ever judging vegan assumption.
The worst assumption anyone can make about vegans is that we judge. I cannot speak for most of us but for the ones I know we don't, we're open minded. I have come across some vegans that won't date non-vegans and look down on them, but I think they should not be looked at as representatives of vegans but on an individual basis.
A prick is a prick whether they're vegan or not. You're always going to get bad seeds.

I'm not going to think any different of you if you love meat or not. Going vegan was my personal choice and although people may automatically think I'm judging you for not being vegan/vegetarian, I'm honestly not. It's not something that even crosses my mind. You eat meat? it's very common, I come across it all the time. It's not as if I'm not used to talking to meat-eaters and being friends with them.


You're such a strong person! I could never do it. I love ___ too much.
I don't really think it's that big of a thing. Obviously that could just be my own personal experience, but if you want to do it, it's the easiest decision to make. Willpower is easy to get if you really want it. I went vegetarian when I was 12 when I saw lamb sizzling in it's own fat on the grill, I've seen it before but it was just the turning point I guess.
I went vegan the moment I realised the dairy industry was a cruel place for animals. I've never looked back not once. It was easy for me to change my diet seeing as I was vegetarian already.

Going vegan can be hard for people going from a omnivorous diet. But there are so many helpful websites to guide you every step of the way. Vegan recipe books are in every bookstore, there are a superfluous amount of vegan websites, ESPECIALLY for beginner vegans.
It would take me a lot of strength NOT to be vegan. I don't have the strength to be like you! I'm taking the easy way out really.

Vegan food is so expensive!
It's really not. Yeah the pre-packaged stuff can be sometimes, but it's not that much difference between buying a steak or some other form of meat. You also don't have to buy fresh fruit and veg ALL the time. Yeah you buy more than maybe the common omnivore but not much more. We also buy cereal, soy/rice milk, juice...other normal things. Plus frozen berries in a smoothie are like the most simplest breakfast drink ever! and the berries last forever!

The animal was already dead when I bought it, so it's a waste of food isn't it?
The less meat that gets sold, the less animals that get killed. On average a vegetarian saves about 100 animals a year due to not buying meat. A vegan I believe is a bit more due to non-dairy etc. Animals get killed because of demand.

The debate about honey
I get asked all the time why I don't have honey. My answer is simple. It's still taking something that's not ours to take. The bees don't make it for us, we're not doing them a favour by taking their produce. Bees make honey for their pupae. Same principle for milk, eggs and for wool.

What about plants? don't they feel pain?
Ethically, what is better in your opinion..cutting off the limb of a perfectly healthy dog or clipping off a rose from it's bush. Use your logic. Just because a plant is alive doesn't mean it's a sentient being with a brain and a nervous system. Even if you're arguement is scientific, if vegans didn't eat plants...it would be a LOT harder to get all of our nutrients. It's a lot better than quitting because of lack of nutrition and going back to being a carnivore.
If all plants had feelings that carnivores also would be at fault. Walking on grass would be killing millions of plants wouldn't it? let alone mowing the lawn. God forbid we pull out weeds!

Where do you get your protein/iron? Don't you have to have multivitamins?
I don't take multivitamins, but not all vegans are the same as me. It can be helpful to have vitamins now and again but generally most vegans are healthy. If you think about it a cow gets all it's proteins and irons from what it eats...grass. We're just cutting out the middle man.
The last time I went to the doctors (last week), I was told I was in complete and full health. No nutritional issues what so ever. I've been vegan for over three years now and still going strong.

Does it make you sad eating around meat-eaters?
Nobody that I see on a daily basis and eat with on a daily basis is a vegan. So I'm very used to seeing meat everyday. I work at a place that has some meat products, I also actually prepare food with meat in it sometimes (obviously with gloves and a slight disgust).
When people get a very bloody meaty steak and eat it happily right in front of me saying "it's soooo good" to agitate me. Then that makes me sad, and annoyed. There is nothing that would make me happier than to see another vegan meal in front of me, but I'm used to seeing meat everyday.

Don't you miss ___?
I can only answer this as an individual, not as a representative of vegans everywhere. Some vegans are more or less attached to the foods they left behind than me. I was never a big fan of eggs or meat. The only thing I really enjoyed was cheese and dairy but once I replaced it I found something much better and fun to cook with! I RARREELLLYYY (seriously once every year or so) get cravings for non-vegan food. I never EVER crave meat.



I'll probably add more when I think of them.
For the moment I'm going to play some final fantasy xiii!


Kae