Veganuary

I would happily go vegetarian but I would never be vegan. I think it’s an unhealthy life style. I don’t eat much meat but I do eat fish. We often substitute soya mince for meat dishes, but I do eat a little meat, at weekends mainly.
No, I won’t be doing anything like this at the moment because we are in New Zealand until next month and it would be much more difficult here.

People going vegan should look very carefully at the labels of all the meat substitutes they're consuming. Invariably packed full of chemical cr*p!!

By all means try and eat a more balanced and healthy diet, but packing down what looks like a chemical lab isn't it!

I try to be milk free those poor cows having their babies taken away at birth so sad

vissos you were not wrong to reply on this thread, but I’m afraid you will not get many positive comments about veganism. But for what it’s worth, I agree with everything you say. Some of us find it impossible to close our eyes to what happens to animals in the farming industry, and can’t justify being a part of it. Of course we are not perfect, we all make compromises (and mistakes) but at least we can try to do our best.

What really irritates me about this thread is that the OP raised this in a positive and open way but as always, what follows is pages of posts telling us what is wrong with veganism (and vegans, or at least ‘some vegans’) and justifying a diet including meat. Just give it a rest, if you’re all happy with your decision to eat meat then just get on with it and let others discuss recipes, tips or whatever this thread could have become.

grandtanteJE65

I personally don't believe that homo sapiens was meant to be a pure vegetarian, and certainly not a vegan.

And as vegan products are very much more expensive than "ordinary" food, I can't afford to try going vegan either.

Perhaps convinced vegans can explain how not milking cows can be considered kind towards them? Or why, if they produce more milk than their calves need we should waste it rather than make food of it?

I think, grandtante that the idea is that the fewer meat/dairy eaters there are the fewer cows will be needed. Ultimately there won't be any dairy cows. We only have them for beef and milk and if it's not consumed they won't be needed.

Of course, some bovines will be required to graze marshes and pastures and ensure the biodiversity of the minibeasts which only exist because they rely on cow poo. (Deer and rabbit droppings just won't do!) This happens now with the RSPB etc grazing highland cows.

vissos
It’s never wrong to reply to a thread!😁😁

Nope, I won't be joining in. It seems such a cheerless way to eat. I'm not thrilled about cooked tomatoes and spicy food either so there wouldn't be much left once I'd excluded all the highly processed vegan products too.

Many people (and some nutritionists) feel that going vegan isn't really good for you and there is debate about whether it really is good for the planet. And anyway there is vegan cheese, although some posters don't like it. I don't understand people doing arduous things in January - it's a month for snuggles and comforts. Good to go for bracing walks, tho'

I can't help thinking a vegan diet is lacking in certain nutrients, in particular protein, some doctors seem to suggest that and possibly not suitable for a child. I agree with those who say vegan January is all too hair shirt. My son became vegan briefly and said he felt much healthier, he was heavily influenced by a friend when they were sharing a flat, mainly because that friend was at the height of his "born again vegan, meat is murder" phase, he would approach strangers in pubs/restaurants and hector them if he saw them eating steaks and burgers, took over the fridge in their flat and would only sanction his approved non dairy products going into it. Just insufferable he was, I gather he has toned some of that down in spite of remaining a vegan.

When we occasionally go to Pizza Express my favoured pizza, is one of their vegetarian ones that has vegan cheese on it, which I always ask the waiter to substitute with ordinary cheese, their reply is always "oh everyone who orders this one doesn't want the vegan cheese"

My husband's older children were both vegetarian when we got together and it was probably around that time I started to experiment with vegetarian cooking and we often have a meat free meal during the week. I quite understand why people don't want to eat meat. My vegetarian step daughter doesn't like any of those meat substitute foods.

I knew it was wrong to reply to this thread

Vissos @ 15:10, don’t think about it then. So much of what we do or use is unkind to the planet or damaging to other humans. I don’t consider animals any less worthy than humans, but I haven’t heard of anybody who doesn’t use or do things that aren’t harmful to either the planet (including animal habitats) so I don’t presume to tell others that they are wrong about what they couldnt give up or to tell others that their particular dietary lifestyles are wrong.

grandtanteJE65

I believe the cow milking issue is that I believe calves are removed but cows continue to be milked, as the milking process stimulates the cows to produce milk.

I eat meat and use animal products because I WANT to. We all do our bit in our house for the environment in many ways, I’ve done voluntary work for years and years, I treat humans and my own animals with care and respect. We choose organic and free range wherever possible.

I’m not going to be made to feel my legal lifestyle is wrong because some others might feel my choices are unethical and immoral!

I have been a vegetarian for many years and not knowingly eaten meat, fish or sweets with gelatin in them. Have very little milk, but can't see myself following the Vegan Fad! I'm quite skeptical about what actually goes into this Plant based stuff, what the hell is it full of to make some of it taste like the meat you don't want to eat??!! True vegans eat pulses, beans, fresh fruit, veg, nuts and seeds and so on, nothing that ever tastes or resembles a living animal.

I personally don't believe that homo sapiens was meant to be a pure vegetarian, and certainly not a vegan.

And as vegan products are very much more expensive than "ordinary" food, I can't afford to try going vegan either.

Perhaps convinced vegans can explain how not milking cows can be considered kind towards them? Or why, if they produce more milk than their calves need we should waste it rather than make food of it?

No

vissos I is perfectly possible to buy all animal products derived from animals reared to high welfare and environmental standards.

Organic products and meat reared to Pasture for Life standards are all high welfare, environementally neutral or even supportive.

It costs more, but you just eat smaller portions.

Why not just eat a healthy well balanced diet.

Haven't read all the replies, but all of you who "couldnt give up..." would find you could with the motivation. I've been vegan since 1990 after 4 or 5 years of vegetarian. I think it was milk that was hardest for me, at the time soya milk was awful & could only be found in health food shops. Visitors now have Alpro & not one of them has realized it's not udder milk.
I just wish the cruelty in the egg & dairy industry could be stopped, let alone the slaughter. To see that video of the mother cow running after the trailer taking her babies away is heartbreaking. And the thought of the millions of day old chicks being gassed or macerated is beyond the pale. I hate Christmas.

No way vegan for me. I have very little meat, eat veg in season in UK, same for pulses, those grown in UK. I do miss tomatoes in the winter as hard to come by home grown. Oily fish a couple of times a week to jeep the omega3 levels up. I couldn't live without eggs and dairy.

I am vegan all the time and have been since April 2014. I love veganuary because there are so many new items available to tempt people to try a vegan diet. Unfortunately most of them vanish in February.

It takes skill to be a vegan (even for one month) while still managing to get all the protein, vits and minerals one needs in such a restricted diet. Good luck to all GNs trying, but take care.

Not for me. I'm afraid I like animal products and whilst I am happy to reduce my consumption, I don't want to leave them out of my diet altogether.

Nope,not for me. Especially when it's a 'fad' in January...like all these things..

Totally agree with your last paragraph, Cossy. It's the 'preachiness' and holier than thou attitude from many vegans which irks the rest of us.