I love good questions. I’ve found that kids ask the best questions, like “why is a tomato red?” “Why doesn’t my cat cry?” or “why is a lemon sour?” But my favorite adults are those who have never stopped asking simple good questions.
Ask Kathy. To kick off my new “Ask Kathy” feature, I’d like to answer a question I received from Food Network’s Melissa d’Arabian. Melissa followed up her email to me by asking a very simple, yet incredibly good question that I actually do not get asked that often:
Why vegan? Why not just vegetarian?
It is a fabulous question. Check out my answer…
The question as it was posed to me:
“Can you tell me the issue behind animal products that don’t hurt the animal (unfertilized eggs, milk, etc). In other words, why vegan and not vegetarian?” -Melissa d’Arabian
Great question.
Why vegan, not vegetarian?
My Answer: My ‘short answer’ to the somewhat complicated question, “Why Vegan? Why Not Just Vegetarian?” is this: Honestly, it all starts with animals for me. I’ve had an intense love of animals since I was a child and after a lot of research into factory farming, I simply decided that any ‘animal product’ wasn’t for me. And I’ve found nutritionally that I don’t need animal products in my diet. I get all the protein, nutrients (and flavor) I need from fruit, veg, grains, legumes, etc. I know many vegans who choose this lifestyle for other reasons such as food allergies, health restrictions or simply because it makes them feel fabulous to eat vegan.
A side note, I understand that mainstream society still does not look up to ‘vegans’. And to those people who still eat meat and other animal products, I simply encourage you to explore vegan foods and ways of cooking. I guarantee you will be delighted about many of the new recipes and foods you try. And when you do choose meat, I beg of you to look into choosing only grass-fed organic options. I did a post on this here.
I respect every persons diet and lifestyle, just as I wish for others to respect my diet and lifestyle. Never stop being curious and open-minded about foods and diets that may seem unfamiliar to you. Education and learning is my favorite form of PR for vegan living. (And feeding my friends and family delicious vegan recipes never hurts either)
More questions and answers: Have you read the Healthy. Happy. Life. FAQ’s? Lots of info there.
Ask Kathy! If you have a good question, let me know. Email me (click the envelope icon in my blog navigation bar at top).
So awesome that she contacted you and is actually interested in coming up with vegan recipes! It's a hard sell, so good for her in working into her show!
I've been asked this question more times than I can count, and I struggle with it because, well, there are simply more good reasons than I can count.
Animal welfare is just one of the compelling reasons to give up animal products all together. I personally find it the more valuable reason, but i also think that it is often viewed as wonky and inaccessible by the non-vegan community.
What is more accessible when answering the question is talk about human health. From cholesterol to antibiotics and hormones, many substances unintentionally enter your body every time you drink milk or eat eggs.
The impact of raising animals, whether for slaughter or production, on the environment is another good reason to go vegan. Methane from cows contributes significantly to global warming, and run-off from manure piles destroys local ecosystems around factory farms.
And price! Looking for ways to save money? A bowl of oatmeal with berries or apples or bananas (or all three!) is less than eggs and bacon any morning.
It is a complex world, and eating habits impact more aspects than we know. So far, all signs point to veganism as having the most positive (or, more likely, least negative) impact on our bodies and the earth.
Dairy cows often get sold as cheap meat to fast food restaurants. Chickens and cows are also extremely mistreated during their exploitative time in a farm. Even sheering for wool has become cruel and life threatening.
Not to mention the fact that mass production of animals in one area creates damaging water run off and releases methane into the atmosphere contributing to global warming.
I know you try to be neutral about all this, but when people ask "Why vegan? Why not just vegetarian?" it really gets me. Vegetarianism is illogical. If you want to save the environment, your health, and animals — go vegan.
Nice, short answer – but you absolutely should have let the questioner know that there is NO animal product out there that doesn't hurt the animal it's stolen from. Milk? Rape racks, untimely death, veal calves… Eggs? Battery cages, unanesthetized debeaking, heart attacks, starvation/forced molting… Please direct this ignorant (meant only in the true sense – she is unaware of what really happens in regard to these animals) woman to links where she can read all about how these animals are tortured to provide us with excretions that we do NOT require.
Hello! I love your site and think what you wrote was excellent. I might add something to your concern about factory farming–a concern I completely share: Vegetarian (i.e. non-vegan) foods are from the same animals in factory farms. Cows are used for their milk until they cannot produce any more, and what that means is they must birth a calf, which is then most likely taken away to be used for veal. Chickens' eggs are taken from them as they sit cramped in their cages (which each hold multiple chickens). It's a horrible, scary "system" that most people simply don't know about because it's kept under wraps so well. I just wanted to put a few of those facts out there, for those who would rather know than not. Be well, all, and Kathy–keep up the amazing work!!
I think the alternative baking company has a good explanation too. Click on "what is veganism?"
I personally became vegan after being inspired by this blog to ensure I was consuming (not in tablet form) the correct amount of vitamins and minerals daily. Also attempting to be (bad) cholesteral free, this naturally led to veganism for me. Now my concerns are also towards animals and everytime I pet my cats or head to the vegan house on campus I am reminded and proud of the compassion involved in veganism for all living beings (including humans!).
Kris,
I totally agree! How amazing would it be if she featured a vegan meal on her show! Would love that-fingers crossed!
Kathy
Patrick,
..wonky…good word.. 🙂
I agree human health is the resounding reason, but I'll admit that even when I get a craving for a few vegan chocolate chip cookies, I never get a craving for even the healthiest of animal products. It's always my heart that keeps me vegan. Not always my nutrition-minded head. I hope that made sense.
The environment is another great reason you listed.
And PRICE/COST-another great reason you mentioned! I hope Melissa's $10 Dinners show can factor in the fact that a one pound block of tofu is much cheaper than a pound of meat…
Thanks for the great comment!
Kathy
Tracy,
I love your passion. I am the same way in that I love my vegan lifestyle so much I can't imagine eating any other way. It's good for the earth, animals and me! And although I agree that veganism is a more effective lifestyle to improve upon animal, earth and personal welfare…
I definitely APPLAUD all the VEGETARIANS out there. Heck, I started off as just a vegetarian and eventually found my path to veganism.
Actually, I applaud the meat-eaters out there who are reading this because it means that they are open-minded enough to have a curiosity about "the other side".
Thanks for the great comment-and never stop being passionate!
Kathy
S~
Thanks for your great comment and added info on this topic. I agree that it is a 'scary system'. Many of my non-veg friends are always telling me about the frightening facts or scenes they stumbled upon about factory farming and it shocks them. Thus the curiosity to ASK QUESTIONS begins.
Questions, questions, questions. Never stop questioning.
And thanks for reading my blog.
~Kathy
Grishnone~
"everytime I pet my cats or head to the vegan house on campus I am reminded and proud of the compassion involved in veganism for all living beings (including humans!)."
Thanks for this awesome quote. I too pet my kitty's head and feel the same thing.
~Kathy
Thanks for informing the public about this important issue.
Being vegan is the way to be for this century and all the centuries on our beautiful planet.
If people are still not convinced about an animal-free lifestyle, please check out the STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY show on Supreme Master TV, http://www.SupremeMasterTV.com
Let's be kind.
Let's be vegan.
Peace and blessing ~
Love your blog. 🙂
I have only been vegan for about 6 months and was shocked how many questions I get about it even tho I don't walk around advertising it or even really talking about it.
Some of the ribbing I regularly get from my meat-swilling friends really surprised me as well.
I simply tell people that it makes me feel good to know that an animal did not have to die or suffer in order to feed me.
Health is a good reason to become vegan but I am like you … health alone wouldn't keep me vegan! 🙂
Hi Kathy – thanks for starting this conversation 🙂
For me being vegan is about choosing to actually live my values. Most people would say they value non-violence – choosing a vegan lifestyle is actually making that value an everyday part of your life. The milk and egg industries are incredibly cruel (and as an aside the veal industry exists because of the dairy industry – had to figure out some way to make profit off of those baby male cows!) – I don't think we can disregard the suffering of those living beings.
I feel the same.
Although I am not completely 100% raw vegan yet, I hold the same beliefs with animal products. If I want to eat meat then I want it to come from pasture cows. If I want to drink milk I want it to come from the local small dairy.
And who can compare to the fantastic taste of organic small farm produce??? Have you ever tried a heirloom tomato compared to a store bought? Only then will you understand why a tomato is called a fruit! 😉