Vegan FAQ

What is vegan?

For me veganism is living your life in a way that reduces exploitation and minimises harm. There isn’t a scenario in our society where you can live totally free of these two elements and to think so is setting an unrealistic expectation.

My view on veganism is one founded on these two principles but structured around pragmatism. There are vegans who in certain circumstances do eat eggs, do allow milk and do wear leather. If we take the two principles of reducing exploitation and minimising harm then if you lovingly keep hens in the back garden and dote on them in every way then the eggs they produce as a natural process are naturally free of exploitation and harm. I toy with these ideas but at present I don’t consume these items but if the situation presented itself id like to think I’d consider it with the pragmatism it deserves.

So what is veganism if it isn’t a strict adherence to tofu, veg and hemp? For me, it’s about creating balance and living with nature, not in spite of it.

What do vegans actually eat?

Anything and everything as long as it isn’t sourced from animals. This doesn’t mean that vegans live off lettuce and raw vegetables. Continue exploring this blog to find out how varied and nutritious a vegan diet can be!

Is veganism healthy?

The basic answer to this is yes, a vegan diet can be healthy.

However, in the same instant an omnivorous diet can also be healthy.

I am of the belief that veganism can be healthier than a meat fueled diet but that also relies on appropriate balance. A diet that is nutritionally rich and balanced is one that will ultimately be healthy. When it comes to veganism there are definite indicators that it can precipitate a healthy lifestyle. For starters, as a vegan you’re endlessly scanning ingredient lists and packet instructions, so you gain an awareness of the content of your food just by a kind of latent osmosis. Also, as a healthy vegan you’re always trying (or at least should be) to balance the nutrition of each meal. I will actively seek protein in omnivorous restaurants; whereas meat eaters might just take the menu at face value, I would substitute cheese for avocado. When looking at food in this different light you begin to examine its constituents and are very much more aware of what you’re eating. When you’re this aware, it’s easier to be healthier in your choices.

Ultimately, a vegan diet is certainly healthy on paper even to the extreme where many people assume vegans will be pale skinny runts who will get blown away in the first stiff breeze that comes along. However it’s ultimately dependent on how it’s executed that matters- balanced nutrition balanced with exercise will always give you the healthy edge over those who don’t follow that maxim. It will even give you a healthy glow that will ensure you can withstand even the strongest of winds that come along!

Now, don’t get me wrong, chips, crisps and many snacks are vegan. These things in large quantities won’t lead to healthy lifestyle. Ethical high ground won’t give you health by virtue alone. Indeed, exercise is diet agnostic and everyone needs it to live a truly healthy lifestyle. However, a vegan lifestyle not dependent on animal goods is naturally free from cholesterol and many sources of saturated fat. A vegan diet is also heavy on the veg, something that meat eaters can lack.

What about Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is the stick that most vegan skeptics use to beat and undermine the credence of the vegan lifestyle.

In truth, the majority of vegans are indeed deficient in this crucial vitamin. However, it needn’t be the case. A well thought out vegan diet will incorporate sources of b12 and at the very least enrich or supplement a diet with it.

Key sources of b12 for vegans:

• Nuts
• Beans
• Leafy green veg
• Nutritional yeast (the wonder that adds a creamy, cheesy flavour to vegan cooking!)
• Fortified dairy free milks
• And of course a daily supplement!

My final word on the B12 issue (as you can tell I really don’t think it should be an issue) is it’s my guess that a large proportion of the omnivorous population are also deficient in B12, especially if their diet revolves around processed convenience foods. However, as an omnivore’s diet is not perceived as lacking in anything, then this deficiency is not reported to the same degree.

If you’re deficient in something, it doesn’t matter if your diet is plant or animal based it means that you don’t have proper balance. Period.

And honey?

Honey is an interesting one. If you were to interpret veganism very strictly then honey would be seen in the same light as milk or eggs. Personally, I don’t avoid honey- I don’t seek it out either and certainly wouldn’t eat spoonfuls of the stuff. But if I know there’s honey in a dish then it won’t stop me eating it either. And why? It comes back to the loved chickens and the eggs they produce. Bees are a necessary part of our ecosystem and keeping them keeps plants pollinated and crops sustained. I have a friend who keeps bees and he produces the most wonderful and innovative things from the honey that he nurtures. He looks after them with astonishing care and is passionate about bee welfare. I have eaten his honey products. His bees are kept in a beautiful Essex field and are free to buzz to wherever they please in the pursuit of nectar. A far cry from even the most free range of chickens.

There will be some vegans who don’t agree with this interpretation of veganism but I come back to that pragmatic approach I described. I’ve weighed up both sides of the honey equation and am happy to proceed. I won’t go out and buy a jar of cheap, mass produced supermarket honey but I will accept consuming other types of honey that have a good providence. I’ve therefore made an informed decision.

What about clothes?
Vegans come in all shapes, sizes and fashions. I avoid leather and wool clothing as I don’t feel this sits with my views on the reduction of  exploitation and minimization of harm: my Vegan philosophy.

Some vegans will wear second hand leather goods as they’re already in circulation others won’t particularly care either way.

However the majority of clothing these days is made from artificial fibers so choice isn’t necessarily an issue. There are also some fantastic fake leather products out there, some of which are produced by veg businesses.

I’ve found sourcing footwear the hardest element of being vegan. I’m not a formal dresser and thankfully don’t need to wear formal attire at work. Therefore I get by with a combination of New Balance and Converse trainers which offer a good range of leather free options. For those occasions when I need to go smarter I have a pair of ‘vegan’ dress shoes from Bourgeois Boheme which serve me well.

Ultimately, clothing is now just as small an issue as food for vegans- the options are good and getting better. You just need to know where to look.

Are vegans fanatics?

To be honest you can’t help but not be slightly fanatical as a vegan, existing in a world where meat and dairy are king. You need a certain level of conviction and motivation to stay your course.

However, It’s quite a stereotype to assume all vegans are post punk anarchists covered in piercings. Of course, there are vegans who fit that description and I’m proud to associate myself with that diversity and statement of individuality.

There are also those vegans who will be totally and utterly passionate about fighting for the cause. However, i believe that the right information can help produce informed decisions. Maybe I  have a misplaced optimism in the human spirit but I do believe that if you offer up all of the correct information for both sides of the equation then it’s up to the individual to make an informed decision.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on the anti-fur marches and have vociferously judged the eating of meat and its production, but I do believe that perceptions can harm a cause. Fanaticism is a powerful word and one that is dangerous for any cause. Lobbying can also be powerful as can information and accessibility to information. I prefer this approach.

Check out this rather cool Buzzfeed video which tackles the issue of vegan stereotypes: