Comments on: What’s for tea, mum? Part 2

By: mrsd

mrsd — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:27:26 +0000

Here’s a vegan blog you may enjoy.

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

By: Liesl

Liesl — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:52:17 +0000

Ah, well, the one universal truth of parenting is that kids never stay in one phase forever. So, you could try telling your parents that carnivorism (is that a word?) was just a phase ;-)

But yeah, I’ve gotten some googly eyes from folks who are convinced that a plant-based diet inevitably leads to malnutrition, especially in youngsters. People are way to focused on protein intake, ime, when excessive protein intake and its related health issues are bigger problems in this country. I guess you could tell people you’ve modified your diet for health reasons.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:14:07 +0000

What? Liesl? You love animals? I had no idea [grin]. It does sound like you’re practically there, though. Your comment (“I was always a bit intimidated by the idea of running a vegan household”) reminds me of something else I meant to say in the post, which was that the biggest hurdle for me has been the idea of telling people. I mean, it’s one thing to eat vegan but it’s another thing entirely to say “I’m vegan,” especially if all your life you’ve been happily carnivorous. I just know my parents are thinking “who are you and what have you done with my child.” :)

By: Liesl

Liesl — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 18:43:04 +0000

I’ve been vegetarian for years and years, and our son has never eaten meat. I just love animals, and I can’t bear the thought that they are killed so I can eat them, especially since I don’t need to eat them to live. So that’s the main reason for me.

More recently I’ve read some of Pollan’s work, and read/heard about factory farming even in the mainstream media, so that’s only convinced me to remain meat-free. I was always a bit intimidated by the idea of running a vegan household, but after reading your post, I’m realizing our house is essentially there. Somehow we’re just not eating dairy and eggs with any frequency anymore. Somewhere back there I started buying soy milk and yogurt, and I’m pretty sure the eggs in our fridge are eons past expiration. I guess changing dietary habits is an ongoing process.

I would love to not support big corporations with my food dollar, but since my family objects if I don’t buy food, I’d rather my bucks were going to Whole Foods or Stonybrook than A&P and Kraft. We try to buy from local farmers as much as possible, so I assuage my guilt that way ;-)

I applaud your plant-based diet, and just know that you are not the only mainstream household making these kind of choices.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:35:07 +0000

Melissa, I agree with everything you said. We have belonged to organic co-ops & CSA groups in the past and will continue to do so. However:

1. For me, it’s easier just to not eat meat than to do all the research and worrying about where the meat came from.

2. And frankly, I’m more concerned about “diseases of affluence” (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.) than I am about the factory farming situation. Not that factory farming isn’t an issue, but for me it’s not the main thing. Though it was very helpful in convincing the kids. :)

And Ink, I’ve been very happy with the vegan cookbook I linked to in the post. Except for the seitan stroganoff.

And Syl, why am I not surprised? But don’t hold your breath on Austen. ;)