Vegan/Plant based.

Bukkie

I have yet to see a healthy vegan. I appreciate eating fruit, vegetables, salad etc...is healthy but it certainly isn't a balanced diet. There was a survey a couple of years ago showing processed vegan food was really unhealthy full of salt and sugar. And why are vegetarian and vegan dishes called things like chicken (less) nuggets and (no) Beef Wellington? the very thing vegans and vegetarians preach on about hating so much?

I am yet to see a vegan or looks healthy or even happy for that matter. Why do they look so miserable?

Think that their is a lot of superiority and being judgemental.Not to mention being dictated to and parroting the latest trends, for some people in that they will not eat dead animals.

The Meat is Murder Brigade.

Each to their own I say.

Eat what is healthy for you and enjoy it.

WithNobsOnIt I am yet to see a vegan or looks healthy or even happy for that matter. Why do they look so miserable? ...

Eat what is healthy for you and enjoy it.

Hello! My husband and I are very happy healthy vegans, not miserable. We eat delicious food which we enjoy. Thanks for asking!

This BBC article says:

‘there have been case reports of infants exclusively breast-fed by vegan mothers developing neurological issues due to vitamin B12 deficiency.’

In a 2021 study, ‘vegan children were between 3-4cm (1.2-1.6in) shorter on average than omnivorous kids, although they were still a normal height for their age. "They have a tendency to be slightly smaller and lighter”’. This shows that they are less well nourished.

‘… vegan children had a 6% lower bone mineral density than omnivores. This could put them at risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures in later life.’

‘Research on adult vegans and vegetarians also suggests that they have lower bone mineral density than omnivores, putting them at higher risk of bone fractures.’

www.bbc.com/future/article/20250627-10-things-to-know-about-veganism-in-childhood

It takes knowledge and effort to be reasonably well nourished on a vegan diet. I applaud the care for animals that leads people to eat vegan, but it’s risky. Especially for children.

Skye17 I'm not a medical person but bone density is linked to weight.

When you carry more body weight, your skeleton experiences greater load during everyday movements like walking or standing abd lays down more bone.

So lighter people are generally going to have less dense bones (obviously unless they are weight training).

I'm sure this is right.

I have looked for the study and think it is this one:

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/jun/vegan-diets-children-may-bring-heart-benefits-pose-growth-risks?hl=en-GB#:~:text=3%20June%202021.%20Children%20on%20vegan%20diets,the%20Children's%20Memorial%20Health%20Institute%20in%20Warsaw.

Your conclusion that they are "less well nourished" is overly simple and somewhat misleading.

The study did show that vegan children were slightly shorter and lighter, it also found they were cardiovascularly healthier than their omnivorous peers.

Study Lead Professor Jonathan Wells:
The results should not deter people from giving up meat, but instead serve as a tool for improving dietary planning... knowing where vegan diets can fall short allows for compensation with changes in food and vitamin supplements.

Hope this clarifies.
Maybe my understanding of bone density and weight carrying is not the relevant thing here. Sorry for the potential red herring.
🤷‍♂️
Lesson to self - go back to the report and don't just make a reasoned assumption.

First author, Dr Małgorzata Desmond:
We found the vegans had higher intakes of nutrients that indicated an ‘unprocessed’ type of plant -based diet, which is in turn linked to lower body fat and better cardiovascular risk profile. On the other hand, their lower intakes of protein, calcium, and vitamins B12 and D may explain their less favourable bone mineral and serum vitamin concentrations.

Plants have hearts too

Explain this, if you go to a friends for dinner, everyone has meat but she makes you a vegan meal, very nice of her, yet when you have friends for dinner you don't make them meat they all have to have your vegan mush, answer please

jakuss I have never made "vegan mush" - what is this?

Vegans can and do cater specifically for others who eat meat.
We always consider what our friends prefer. Why wouldn't we.

If you only eat meat - no veg, beans, tempura, tofu, grains, you are living on a very restricted diet and (in my opinion) really aren't living!

I'm not a vegan, but I do cook vegetarian - and occasionally - vegan meals, and I have friends who are vegan and I've certainly never eaten any 'mush'. I'd be more than happy to cook vegan meals for anyone who wanted them - and I certainly would never expect a vegetarian or vegan to cook meat for me.

jackuss
It’s true that my (2) vegan friends do not provide meat in meals when we visit, but they do take care not to add onions or lentils to their preparation as they know both those cause me problems.
I wouldn’t call what they serve “mush” though.
On the other hand, if we eat out, the omnivore restaurants we choose have a vegan option, whilst the vegan restaurants they prefer do not offer a meat option, but we can each usually find something we enjoy.

Even my father who loved pretty much all meat (and fish) made a great lentil, cashew and apricot curry and an excellent mushroom risotto.

Most people aren't exclusively meat eaters - they are usually omnivorous.

North You seem a considerste vegan who appreciates other people's view and don't preach to them about eating meat. Unfortunately you seem to be in the minority.

Or maybe the vegans who don't preach are not standing out?

I'm not a vegan any more but do know a lot of vegans.
They are all very different.

I was never preachy when I was vegan and saw this as my personal choice.

I confess I'm a bit "preachy" about eating vegetables though - whateverthey "go" with! 🤣

The OP started off by saying she wanted to talk with other vegans and then after then quickly descended into preaching to meat eaters.

I’ve had to eat out for a couple of days. I chose the “vegan” option because it was what I fancied. I like a lot of vegetables.

However I didn’t feel any need to talk about my choice, extol the virtues of vegetables or criticise anyone else’s choice. We were talking about other things.

That’s the problem really. Vegans just have to talk about being vegans. And not even just telling you once. They drone on and on…..

I think you are unlucky with the vegans you know Lathyrus3.
I expect I'd avoid them.

My love of vegetables is well known to friends and family - and I can't bear delicious veg to be overcooked... I did think I was being a bit jokey about vegetables though!

Apologies!

Did you know that not only do plants have feelings but they produce music?

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The process works by reading the subtle variations in a plant's electrical conductivity—which often correspond to water movement and the plant's internal activity. These signals are graphed as waves and translated into MIDI messages, which then trigger synthesizers or digital instruments to create continuous, ambient music. A healthier, thriving plant generally produces a wider and more active range of notes, while underwatered or stressed plants may play fewer notes or drone.

You can experience and experiment with plant music using a few popular devices and platforms:
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PLANTChoir: Another system designed to help you easily monitor and create music with your own plants.
If you simply want to listen rather than build the setup yourself, you can explore plant music soundscapes and albums on streaming platforms like SoundCloud or Spotify.

I guess the vegans I mix with are the same as everyone really.

When something is at the forefront of our minds we talk about it a lot - but don’t realise 😬

Not just veganism. Sport, politics, grandchildren, holidays, gardens and growing vegetables 😂 I’m rather afraid that last one is me😳

Oh and illness and operations.

I can chat growing vegetables Lathyrus3!!!

I'm a pretty healthy vegetarian, and very happy with my life, thanks WithNobsOnIt.
I am interested on the data regarding breast feeding and a meat free diet.
I breast fed, as did my daughters. Two of these do not eat meat. None of these infants seemed to weigh less than their peers.
One GD is very small and slim, and she is in the meat eating family.

Well I have coeliac disease (no wheat, barley, oats or rye containing foods) and it infuriates me how some (thankfully not all!) restaurants pander to their vegan/vegetarian customers, with detailed menus specifying what is available for this dietary CHOICE, whilst mine and others’ dietary NEED doesn’t get anywhere near the same fanfare, yet I am violently ill if I eat something containing wheat. It’s extremely frustrating!

Why do people have to be so nasty about others choices (both ways) why can’t both sides accept it’s about choice
I choose to not eat meat or fish or flesh of any kind but I don’t feel I need to give myself a title and I ve never tried to influence anyone ease ……it’s my choice

I am vegan but for various reasons not just the usual animal ones. I love the food I have so no problems there I have been vegan for maybe 16 years or there about

BlueBelle

Why do people have to be so nasty about others choices (both ways) why can’t both sides accept it’s about choice
I choose to not eat meat or fish or flesh of any kind but I don’t feel I need to give myself a title and I ve never tried to influence anyone ease ……it’s my choice

My dietary need is NOT a choice!! But because of various fads, eg people deciding to give up wheat because it makes them feel ‘bloated’, it is often regarded as one by people who don’t understand the seriousness of the disease. Being vegan or vegetarian IS a choice but my frustration is directed at the ignorance of some restaurant owners, not the vegans/vegetarians themselves

I know of vegans who are also motivated by the thought that a plant based diet is better for climate change.