when you are either a vegetarian or a vegan, or have any type of dietary restrictions, every time you eat, you become the teacher for a class of students you don't want to teach, and can't remember when you signed a sheet requesting to be one. now, i have no problem talking about being a vegetarian or vegan (i have this blog right?), in fact it's nice to get the facts straight with people, because a lot of people are ignorant to why people are vegan, and most of the time have no idea what we eat.
so, here's a list of questions & comments i get anytime i'm around new people and i happen to be eating.
1. Well, how do you get your protein?
For some reason (just like the myth of 'you have to drink dairy milk for your calcium') people are taught from birth that meat is your main source of protein. Now, I'm not saying that their isn't protein in meat. THERE IS. I just choose to get my protein from healthy alternatives and non-violent ones at that. You can also just reply "Same place all herbivore animals get theirs."
Here's some foods that I get my daily protein from:
Black Beans / Brown Rice / Oatmeal / Quinoa / Wheat / Broccoli / Cauliflower / Kale / Lettuce / Mushrooms / Onions / Potatoes / Spinach / Tomatoes / Apples / Bananas / Oranges / Papaya / Strawberries / Peaches / Pears, and after a workout I like this protein shake with chocolate almond milk.
2. So, what exactly can you eat........... salads? You just eat salads right?
I can eat anything I want as long as it doesn't have meat, dairy, or any animal derived items. So... possibilities are pretty endless. And even though I LOVE salads, and eat them almost every day day for lunch... it's not my only option.
3. Why do you care about animals more than humans?
I'm not sure why people ask this question. I've only gotten it a handful of times, usually from people on the defense. I care about a LOT of human issues, and just because I'm vegan doesn't mean I'm only vegan.
4. Wait, honey isn't vegan? Are you serious?
All living things that inhabit this earth are earthlings. So, it doesn't matter if it's the size of a lion or the size of a ant, all sentient living beings have a nervous system and feel pain and are conscious . And all have the right to live on this planet peacefully. I eat honey, but only from farmer's markets where I know they are taking care of the bees. Lots of mass production bee farming take all the honey the bees make and replace it with corn syrup, so I don't use those. But only 20% of vegans eat honey, so I'm in a minority there.
5. Don't you miss eating bacon?
Bacon was good from what I remember, but I don't miss anything that I gave up. In fact people always apologize and say "I'm sorry, you can't eat this." When it's not that I CAN'T eat it, I DON'T want to eat it. The thought of eating bacon or any meat for that matter honestly disgusts me. It doesn't bother me when people eat it around me, but the thought of me eating a burger with some dairy cheese is revolting.
6. "I could be vegan, but I could never give up bacon, oh or cheese. I LLOOOOVVVVE cheese, so much. I couldn't live without cheese." Now, this one I can't get mad at, because I was like this during my 3 years as a vegetarian. I did love cheese, but it's funny how much i don't even miss it after a month of not having it at all. I don't even use cheese substitutions, my body doesn't even need it. But this goes back to question #5, I'm NOT giving anything up, I have no urge to eat it. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.
7. But lettuce is a living thing! You need to get your ethics in line.
Last time I checked, lettuce doesn't have a central nervous system and can't feel pain, and isn't a sentient being. Also, when you rip an arm off a pig, it's off for life. When you pluck a carrot from the ground, a new carrot grows in it's place. And, if I could give you any advice..... really just don't make this statement. It's not funny, you're not original, and it makes you seem really ignorant!
8. I've seen those slaughterhouse images, but I have to put that out of my mind when I eat meat. I feel like there is such a disconnect with meat eaters. I eat vegetables and enjoy and savor each bite. I don't have to pretend I'm eating something different. I 100% enjoy every meal knowing that no life was taken for mine to thrive.
9. God created us to eat meat. I'm not going against God.
- Our teeth are not created to eat meat.
- Our bodies are not made to process raw meat. We have to cook it to eat it.. that's natural.
- The garden of eden was "heaven on earth" and it was vegan. Don't believe me? Check out this website that explains vegetarianism in the bible and how jesus was even a vegetarian. Crazy right? But actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. {I'm in no way religious, I just did my research, because I've gotten this one a LOT.}
10. We're on the top of the food chain, and it's in the food pyramid. They wouldn't put it there, if we weren't supposed to eat it. That's a nice thought, but the people who make the food pyramid have their own jobs and friend's jobs in mind, not your body. Otherwise, why would America be the #1 country with people who are overweight? And, you want to tell me you're really on the top of the food chain? So, if you bare armed, no weapons , and went at it with a lion, you'd say you'd come out on top? We're NOT on top of any food pyramid. We're all equal in that we deserve to live our lives on this planet, but don't be mistaken by thinking that we are on top. We aren't.
11. What made you become a vegan? this post pretty much answers that. but it was from watching the movie earthlings. i was immediately turned off by dairy and became a vegan after watching 45 minutes of that film. Pin It Now!
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