In addition to the mentions of common comments that vegans receive in my previous entry, I said that there were many other things that vegans hear when they are around their meat-eating counterparts. That statement still stands true. With that being said, here are a few other comments that make our eyes roll.
“It’s just because your taste buds have adapted to liking vegan food.”
This comment makes me giggle. This definitely is not true. Do I think that fried chicken tastes good? From what I remember (I haven’t eaten meat in years), yes I do. Does that mean I am going to eat it and contribute to the torture of animals and destruction of our planet? No, no I am not. Going vegan isn’t about liking the taste of fruits or vegetables, it is about making the conscious decision to help end the destructive lifestyle that is the meat and dairy industry. Do I think vegan food tastes amazing? Yes, but not only because it is delicious and flavorful, but the flavor is also enhanced by the experience because I know I am doing my part in helping the planet.
“Well that’s your choice and it’s my choice to eat meat.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for respecting other people’s opinions and choices – but not when it drastically affects both the lives of innocent beings and the planet. There are so many negatives to eating meat – deforestation, drought, murder, pollution, disease – only to name a few. And yet there are hardly any positives. So why put yourself at risk to eat something that a plant-based, non-cancer-causing product can replicate? I understand that we are all allowed to make choices, but more people need to start making smart choices and not choices that only cause destruction.
“Being vegan is too expensive.”
This couldn’t be further from the truth. I actually spend way less money on groceries now than when I was consuming animal products. Rice, beans, pasta and potatoes are staples in a vegan diet – and these foods are among some of the cheapest in America. You can spend $6 on a Big Mac, or you can spend $6 and get three boxes of pasta (food for almost a week) and a jar of pasta sauce without contributing to animal suffering. A common misconception is that we vegans eat fake meat products all of the time – and this is not true. Granted, there are some vegans that prefer to eat soy-based “meat” products with every meal, and yes that can rack up the grocery bill, but even then, those products still cost the same (if not less) as the real meat product that so many people consume.
“Animals are meant for us to eat.”
Whether a believer in the Bible or just a believer in hierarchy, this is a common thing to hear that make us vegans cringe. At one point in history (very long ago, might I add), humans hunted animals for food in parts of the world that didn’t provide adequate nutrition from plants due to terrain and weather limitations. However, in today’s age, it isn’t necessary to scavenge for food. In most areas, there are grocery stores within miles of one’s home – filled with endless supplies of food. With that being said, why bother with the notion that “we were meant to eat animals” when that is most certainly not the case? There are multitudes of research works that have proven that humans are not carnivorous beings. On top of that, think about the process in which people cook their meat. Animals that are meant to eat the flesh of another being don’t require the meat to be cooked to a certain temperature, or salted and seasoned a certain way, or dipped in a steak sauce. It simply isn’t natural, nor necessary, for humans to eat meat.
Whether or not meat-eaters want to admit it, the vegan population is growing. With more information available than ever, people are making the connection between dietary habits and their consequences. The harsh truth is that we need to make some serious realizations about the way we eat and how it can affect our planet in years to come. We only have one planet and we need to take care of (and respect) all the living beings that reside here, or else we’re going to lose the one gift that we were all given: life.
