Vegans?

durhamjen - I was actually referring to non food items just to clarify.

I've always rather admired vegetarians and vegans as I am sure its a healthier way of eating. I have tried vegetarianism but I harked back mostly to chicken and fish but I often choose a vegetarian option in restaurants. My friends daughter is a vegan but is terribly think and her mother finds it difficult to feed her when she is at home. I understand Bill Clinton lost his weight when he adopted a vegan diet. Food and dietary choices are highly individual and I suppose we should just be thankful that we live in a place where food is plentiful and we can make whatever choices we wish.

The point about being vegan is not that you don't eat or use animal products, but that you don't buy them. As a vegetarian I would never have meat or fish in my house. Having had a vegetarian cafe and guest house, no meat or fish in my fridges or freezers. How can you say you respect people being vegan but expect them to cook meat for you? That's no respect at all.
How does it harm a meat eater to have a vegan meal occasionally?
It used to be that soya was the only non animal drink product. These days there are so many others you do not have to rely on soya all the time. I buy oatmilk and cream, produced in Sweden.
There has been lots of research debunking the problems of eating too much soya. One of the problems of soya will come to the fore very soon, when we leave the EU, and are expected to have trade deals with the US, which grows lots of GM soya.
Of course we can cater for minority groups, Christine. What you mean is you don't want to, which is completely different.
I used to have lots of women stay in my guest house who were not vegetarian or vegan, who would say that they could easily give up meat but their husbands would not.
I used to tell them to cook vegetarian meals for them, then add meat for their husbands. It works. Cook for the minority, then add. Don't blame the minority for not wanting to eat dead animals.

My DGD aged 15 has been a self-proclaimed vegan for 18 months but it doesn't stop her getting her lift supplying Grandad to stop at the Co-op on her way back from school to buy a bag of "vegan" doughnuts which she then scoffs!

Vegan is just one of the many ways people eat, no effect to me. People also choose all organic, again no effect to me if I don't wish to eat all organic. I find it all healthy.

I have no problem with other people's dietary choices, what I do object to is their imposition of this on the rest of us. We cannot cater (no pun intended ) for all minority groups who have problems with every day items. Reality check folks.

I have no problems with anybody choosing not to eat animals or wear animal products providing they also accept my own dietary ways. As it happens I do eat some meat and fish but the meat always has to be free range and, preferably, organically fed.

However I have a good range of recipes that I can, and do, drum up for vegetarian friends and that we can all share as a meal. Vegan I find harder to cater for, but there's always the internet.

Our extended family, since I was a child, has always included people who have made careful decisions about various aspects of their lives, from vegetarianism and buying at the Co-op, Fair Trade and ethical tourism to vegetarians and all sorts of boycotts.
I follow my parents' example, respecting people's decisions even if they don't chime with mine, and appreciating the reasons behind it. I accommodate as best I can - fortunately I enjoy cooking so happy to offer a range of food, and enjoy such left-overs that aren't happily taken away!
My own bugbear about vegans is that so much stuff is imported and soya does not seem very good to grow or eat in large quantities. DH and I try to use locally grown food as much as possible (but drink is another story!)

Sorry, I beg to differ re domestic farm animals and AI, several neighbours are up to their elbows currently as it's peak lambing time around here, and all of the ewes were impregnated in the traditional way, in other words, put the ram in with them!

AI. Will be sometimes used for selective breeding, when perhaps a particular breed of bull would be appropriate for the cow or heifer.

It is not always practical (or in the animals best interest) to bring the bull in, so then straws (as they are called) of tested semen are used.

I will grant you that this method does mean that it does open the door for less than ideal matches between breeds, with the problems that can bring,but apparently that is due to what the "housewife" demands!

I have also always had a vegan approach to household objects and clothes, wearing cotton and linen, and vegan shoes - which probably explains why I do not have many clothes and shoes, because they are always quite expensive, although they last well.

I apply it to their choice of being vegetarian or vegan. I have both in my family, and have been vegetarian for over forty years. The vegetarian side of the family are now trying veganism, although not throwing away the dairy we have in the house already, just not buying any more.

By the way, I also eat organic food where possible, which gets over the palm oil problem.
Most domestic farm animals are not bred naturally, artificial insemination just for the meat. Even the red tractor group have admitted it's just a marketing ploy.

Good heavens! How did that happen?
Worth repeating?

Actually, durhamjen you say "the sensible conclusion is to accept what other people think" , I find that a bit alarming!

Surely you don't apply that to everything?

Echo?

The sensible conclusion is to accept what other people think.
Where did this come from?

The sensible conclusion is to accept what other people think.
Where did this come from?

The sensible conclusion is to accept what other people think.