James Kimbell
This is Part Two of Five in my response to the 5 Questions for Vegans from a Non-Vegan post by Megan aka Koolmeg aka My Corrie. These responses are personal, not representative.
Question 2: Do You Get the Correct Amount of Vitamins and Minerals in Your Diet?
Short answer: Yes.
Medium answer: According to seemingly trustworthy sources, if you cram down enough fruit, veg, beans, and nuts, then you’ll get reasonable levels of every nutrient except vitamins D and B12. These can then be picked up through supplements or fortified foods.
Long answer: There are many kinds of vegan diets. A retiree following Caldwell Esselstyn’s heart-healthy regimen and a college student subsisting on Twizzlers and Red Bull may both fit under the “vegan” umbrella, but they won’t be facing the same set of nutritional issues. Because different people start eating plants for different reasons, they eat different plants in different forms. There are raw foodists and celiacs and macrobiotic people and more variants popping up every year, in addition to the junk food vegans and the gourmands.
But let’s look at a more common, more general situation for a minute. Let’s say that you are living in the civilized world and you decide to boycott animal products for ethical reasons.
You can replace burgers with gardenburgers and cheese with cheeze, and well, you’ll probably end up less healthy. American Cuisine isn’t great in the first place, and adding more processed crap to it won’t help.
Or you can try for slightly more “whole” foods, but end up relying too much on grains and oils (or alcohol) for calories. This isn’t great, either.
Eventually you’ll decide that you’ve gotta do some research to find out what to eat. Here’s the problem, because there’s a lot of awful information out there about nutrition. The subject is too big for each one of us to become an expert on our own time, so we have to learn which experts we can trust, and that’s not easy. When you look at the general landscape, everyone seems to be promoting an industry or selling a book, and when you look at veg issues, everyone seems to be pushing an pro- or anti- agenda that was decided before any science took place. Soy will turn you gay. Cooked foods are poison. You can get B12 from dirty potatoes.
So how can you find who is reasonable? The same as in any scientific or rational pursuit: you find someone who admits when he’s wrong. Someone who can change her mind based on new evidence or a new argument. Someone who takes his cues from reality instead of trying to fit reality into a preconceived mental box. I’ve found at least a few such people.
My favorite is Jack Norris. This guy is one of the founders of Vegan Outreach, and after hearing so many instances of “I was veg for a while, but I didn’t feel well,” he decided to become a registered dietitian so he would have a response. The site veganhealth.org is Norris’s long-term repository of information, and jacknorrisrd.com is his blog. Both are great.
There’s also Ginny Messina, aka @theveganrd. Her site, http://www.theveganrd.com, is full of reasoned opinions on nutrition and other vegan issues.
There are many sharp omnivorous dietitians, of course, but they rarely tailor their advice for vegans the way the above two do. If you’re worried about calcium or iron on a vegan diet, you generally want to ask someone who has thought about it a lot.
(By the way, I’d basically direct you veganhealth.org for your specific questions. The answers are usually complex, and you don’t want a one-line answer from me about a topic as complicated as calcium.)
Koolmeg
Law & Order is the... stuff!
Once again I have had inspiration for my blog post from an episode of law and order. In this episode a woman is mauled to death by a pit bull in the park. The dog was traced back to dog fighting and a crazy murder trial ensued. It made me remember how big the Pitbull issue was a few years back. I personally think a dog is defined in part by the owner and most importantly the owners that have them when they are young puppies. I don’t want to talk too much about the issue of whether a breed is all bad I want to talk about finding out how you can help dogs in need whether it through adoption or donation to your local animal services.
In Ontario the OSPC is a very good organization and the best place to report any suspected animal cruelty. I dream about the day when owning a dog will fit into my lifestyle…. and it makes me sad to think that there are puppies out there that aren’t getting the love and patience they deserve. Over and OUT!
James Kimbell
This is Part One of Five in my response to the 5 Questions for Vegans from a Non-Vegan post by Megan aka Koolmeg aka My Corrie. These responses are personal, not representative.
Question 1: Why Did You Become Vegan?
When I was young my father grilled steaks all the time. Once when I was taking a bite, he reached across the table and said, “That’s going straight there,” grabbing my bicep. As a logical statement, it was ridiculous – I ate tons of steak and my arms were scrawny, not brawny – but of course it wasn’t about the facts, it was about a mystical belief in the mystical properties of animal protein. That moment pops up often in my memory.
Adults treated me as a “picky eater,” meaning that meat, bread, and cheese were fine, but veggies required apologetics. Only two more bites of peas and you can be done. Carrots help you see in the dark! If you don’t eat these green beans, you don’t get dessert. Usually I’d just leave the green beans on my plate and forget about dessert.
Cut to junior year at Purdue: my dorm was by the coolest, most palatial dining hall, with multiple levels of seating a many-sectioned all-you-can-eat buffet. The best part was the Asian section, with stir-fries and soups containing all manner of simmering ingredients. This was, honestly, the first time I noticed that vegetables could be good, with the benefit of, as Isa Chandra Moskowitz puts it, “critically applied heats, oils, and seasonings.”
I noticed that I was scarfing veggies I didn’t even recognize, and, in a moment of introspection, I noticed that I would never do the same with meat. Before I took a bite of an animal I would have to know it was beef, chicken, pork, or fish, and that’s it – no others and no uncertainty. And I think other people feel this way, too: we have the phrase “mystery meat” but not “mystery veg.”
Cut to last year, a few months after graduation: I was in O’Hare airport looking for something to read, and the new edition of Animal Liberation was featured in a display at one of the bookstores. I picked it up, along with a steak and cheese bagel from the McDonald’s around the corner. (They didn’t have this item at my regular McDonald’s, and I was excited!)
I had seen Earthlings, but I’m one of those people who just isn’t affected by sick images, no matter how odious. And I had read The China Study, but I had also read the responses and rebuttals, and I knew the nutrition debate was far from a clear case on either side. To me, veganism just seemed like something you came to for emotional reasons and not for “real” reasons.
So I had my breakfast and started reading, and immediately I felt a connection to Peter Singer’s writing. Here was a guy who was like me, who started off by admitting that he didn’t particularly love dogs and cats, that he in fact distrusted emotion and intuition on every issue, and that he was simply trying to figure out what people were getting wrong about the world. After the introductions, the first chapter was an overview of the utilitarian philosophy, with the introduction of the concept of speciesism. (I had heard the term “speciesism” in Earthlings, but the movie didn’t take the time to define it in a logical way, the way you can in a book.)
I can’t tell you how weird it was reading that first chapter (titled “All Animals are Equal.”) When I read one of Singer’s ideas, I thought of a counterargument, and then in the very next paragraph he had the answer to it. This happened again and again until I just shrugged and thought, “Well, I guess he’s right.” And by the end of that chapter I knew I wouldn’t have steak again. Not too long later did I know the same thing about cheese.
Singer’s philosophy is controversial, among vegans as among the general population, and many people hate him. (Maybe even some who’ll reply to this.) But even his hottest opponents admit that he’s consistent in his belief in reducing suffering among all beings. He bites the bullet when he has to, admits the hard truths, and that gives him a lot of points in my book. But I’m getting off topic.
Anyway, that’s me. If you (Meg or anyone else) have any questions, please leave them in the comments. I’ll be writing on the vitamin and mineral issue tomorrow.
Carolyn Scott
Posted in Travel on 12. Aug, 2010
Last summer I wrote about some great opportunities in healthy, green and volunteer travel. In the past year there have been so many things that have popped both wonderful as well as traumatic (i.e. Haitian Earthquake) that have opened up so many doors to folks suffer from chronic wanderlust.
The economy hasn’t been to kind to many people, worldwide, so travel has been put on the back burner. In addition, people who have restrictive diets or are being eco conscious, leaving home can also be a bit of a challenge. Well, lucky for you I’ve compiled another list of ways you can hit the road regardless of budget, diet or carbon footprint!
Healthy Voyager Tours – Of course I had to start with this one ; ) Starting October 2010 with our first excursion to Machu Picchu, Healthy Voyager Tours will be visiting some of the world most exotic locales while making it easy for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, diabetic and other special diets to travel worry free. All inclusive tours that will offer delicious cuisine, fitness and cooking classes as well as world class accommodations and guided tours, you won’t want to explore the globe any other way again.
Cross Cultural Solutions – With locations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America, CCS has a variety of programs available for travelers who are looking to do some good while away from home. For your philanthropy you travels can be covered from the flight to the entire trip depending on the program you choose. See some unique parts of the world, be immersed in new cultures while helping fellow human beings live a better life. Very cool!
Terra Incognita Eco-Tours – In search of some out-of-this world wildlife while minimizing your impact on the planet? These eco tours practice responsible travel to natural areas that helps conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Not to mention the insanely cool places they visit, check them out!
Access Tours – Want to visit the American West but are disabled and/or wheelchair bound? Not to worry! Access tours all all access tours for all sorts of folks to some of the United States most breathtaking destinations. Christianakis Travel tours offers the same service for the physically challenged who want to explore Greece!
Fitness Tours – Want to lose some weight or challenge yourself while away? Check out the butt kicking itineraries available through Fit Tours! Tours around the world to gorgeous locales will double as your gym ; )
HOW – A wonderful organization, Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW take volunteer groups to various locations around the world such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Moldova to help save children from awful situations.
In addition to these fun travel opportunites, here are a few sites that may help you in the $$ department if you’re itching to leave town soon!:
AirBnB – rent rooms, homes or resorts worldwide for half the price
Couch Surfing – Yep, a site that connects homeless travelers to couches and sometimes beds to rest their weary heads ; )
Home Exchange – Make yourself at home anywhere in the world
Either way you decide to go, just go! There’s a whole world out there and time isn’t stoppin’!
For more information, visit www.healthyvoyager.com
Koolmeg
So I have been enjoying the open and friendly discussions that we have been having here so I’ve decided to make my newest post questions that us “non-vegans” might have for you. I’m going to ask the question and then give a little non-vegan insight into the questions! HERE GOES:
Why did you make the choice?
Why Did You become Vegan?
Well I’m sure you get asked this question a lot I’m sure it depends on the person who asks you to what your answer will be. I personally like the details like what age were you when you decided? Was there a person who taught you or helped in your decision? Was there a big event that pushed you in this direction? Most “non-vegans” who ask this question aren’t trying to be rude or generic they are generally interested in why you personally made this choice and how it became your lifestyle.
How Do You Get Your Vitamins?
Do you get the correct amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet?
I’m sure this is a “NONE of your business” question but it is something that makes me curious. Not really if YOU personally are getting enough calcium and iron but HOW you do it alternatively. What sorts of foods are your replacements for these types of essential elements? Are there easier ways to get it in your diet than supplements alone? These are the types of things I would wonder but may not necessarily ask. I know some people who would ask this question and it would come across rude or crass but it is just a curiosity thing that may not get portrayed that way.
Judge and Jury?
Do you judge meat eaters for not being vegan?
This is a good question for a “non vegan” to ask someone they are a little more… comfortable with because I think some people may not be genuine when they answer. Knowing I don’t eat meat it might be hard for one of my vegan friends to say “Yes I judge your horrible values and lifestyle choice!” even of they TRULY believe it. I’d like to know the honest answer because I’m not afraid of the answer or that you will hurt my feelings. Is it hard for you to be amongst the meat eaters without hating them even just a teensy tiny bit? I’d love some honest answers to this one!
Honey... Do you eat it?
Is Honey part of a vegan lifestyle?
I added this one because I know it is a topic for debate amongst some vegans. So its a general question I might ask a new vegan friend. Is honey part of your vegan diet? If not do you substitute with something else? Do you consider insects the same as cows or pigs? Do you feel that bee farmers treat their bees poorly? I think this one could go both ways with the crowd…..
Are Domestic Animals the Same as Farm Animals?
Isn’t keeping a pet similar to farming animals?
As a vegan do you believe that keeping a cat indoors is the same as caging a turkey? Are you against the farming and then slaughtering only or where are the lines drawn? Do you believe that ALL animals should be free or do you think that keeping a turtle in an artificial habitat as a pet is a different ball game? Not trying to stir up the above mentioned bees nest here just wondering! Some people think differently and obviously live differently and I want to see the numbers pan out.
So I don’t want to rustle any feathers with some of these (potentially offensive) questions but feel free to answer all or some below! I’ll do my best to answer any questions you might have for ME the “non vegan”
