I just read this article and I think it’s fantastic. Tal Ronnen is a chef, dubbed “the best vegan chef in America” by Oprah. And let’s be real, she knows America. He also catered Ellen’s wedding. And designed the vegan meals for all 22 of the Wynn and Encore restaurants in Vegas.
Some favorite quotes:
"If I could get one point across, it would be this: Being a vegan is not about depriving yourself. If you sit around eating lettuce and carrots all day because that’s what you think vegans are doing, you’re doing it wrong."
This is fabulous because it addresses the root of being vegan. It’s great for your health, and that’s important to me. But the food also better be effing delicious.
Another excerpt from the article:
"So many people tell me, ‘I could be a vegan if it weren’t for bacon,’ and I tell them, ‘Be a "vegan" who eats bacon,’ Ronnen says with a shrug… Wha? Isn’t that sacrilegious? Ronnen sighs. "Real militant vegans hate when I say that. But if you are cutting back on the amount of meat that you eat, you’re still doing something great for your health, for the planet and for the animal."
The reason this is perfect is simple: it is inclusive. I’m all about veganism, but I think at times non-vegans are scared off because they only see the extremes. For instance, if you aren’t 100% vegan, you are failing. This is a sad message. What I try to get across with my blog is how easy it is to incorporate plant-based meals into your diet. My husband isn’t vegan or vegetarian, but he is a prime example of a successful conversion case. He eats tofu, but that doesn’t mean he has to give up cheese. For the non-vegans who read my blog, thank you for letting me share my meals with you. I don’t think labels need to be so black and white. If you’re doing your best to improve your health and the environment, then that’s all you can do. And that’s good enough. I’m a vegan who eats greek yogurt and occasionally has eggs and I’m ok with that.
What are your thoughts?
Great post… I completely agree! 🙂
– Kate (vegetarian who eats fish…)
I love this post and I think that all the points are pretty legit and well stated. There has been a lot of talk about veganism and if someone who is not 100 percent vegan can still call themselves “vegan”… I think everyone should do what works for them and eat what tastes them. If you enjoy tea with honey, drink it! If you like your oats with greek yoghurt, enjoy it! Restrictions are what give veganism such a bad sound.
Great post! I’m a newbie vegetarian! I love the last paragraph! Says it perfectly!
Awesome. I’m all about inclusive veganism. When I broke away from veganism it was partly because I had an extremist view of what a vegan is. Now that I’ve returned to veganism I consider myself one because I eat 99% vegan and occasionally have dairy products. I’m happy with this, and I love Tal’s comment, “be a vegan who eats bacon”. I’m vegan for health and love of vegan food primarily, ethical secondary. Hardcore vegans may hate me, but whatever.
I try to eat vegan as often as I can, but I still love yogurt and maybe a tbsp of cheese here and there. I won’t throw a fit over eating homemade icecream and cookies either that’s life. I just try to eat as well as I can minimize my impact on the earth as much as I can and just let go of the rest. No one is perfect!
Elise, thank you so much for this post – you are awesome! I’m not vegan, or even 100% vegetarian (I eat meat probably 2x a week), but fill my diet with fruits and veggies and all things good for me. At the same time, I can relate to a lot of your posts and recipes. It’s so refreshing to see a vegan blogger who totally “gets” that not everyone is going to eat the same way and it’s most important to do what’s right for your own body while remaining conscious of what you’re eating.
Have a great Saturday!
Yes yes yes! Perfectly said. My parents aren’t vegan but when I’m home they welcome vegan cooking with open arms (and mouths). And I love when we’re at Whole Foods and my friends reach for the vegan chocolate chip cookies instead of the regular ones at the bakery. Including more plant based foods doesn’t mean you have to replace animal products.
I really love this post! I’ve been lurking around and reading your blog for a little bit but finally decided to speak up. I would consider myself an inclusive vegan as well because I’m not about to turn down a cookie that someone else made for me! It is always frustrating when people ask, “Well what do you eat?”. I wish veganism could be understood as a proactive choice to better ones health, the environment, and the condition of animals in the food industry, and not as a restrictive and snobbish diet.
I really enjoy reading your blog…I’ve recently started writing one of my own and hope to get more involved in the blogging community! Thanks for this post!
I completely agree with you, and what was posted up here – that choposing to eat a less animal-centric diet doesn’t have to be black and white or all or nothing. That puts so much pressure on a person and makes a mountain out of a molehill! Like, oh my gosh I have to give up EVERYTHING! Every little thing you do makes a difference. Simply by reducing your intake of meat, rather than eliminating every last bit, is a great step for the environment. Also, with everything you buy, you vote 🙂 So I try to make a statement when I do (rarely) purchase meat, by only choosing meat from more humane sources, like free range organic farm raised meat (and eggs). This way I hope I am increasing the demand for meat from these kinds of places, and choosing more responsibly. 🙂 xyx
I completely agree, I don’t always think that strict labels are very helpful in this day and age. I feel the pressure to be 100% vegan (which I think is very hard to achieve) can be so discouraging to people who would probably embrace the lifestyle more if they didn’t feel like they were failing at something. For me, I eat what makes me feel my best and right now that’s probably 98% percent vegan (I eat chocolate with tiny amounts of milk powder in for example) but I will also eat eggs, goats cheese and greek yoghurt (as ethically sourced as possible) occasionally if I feel that’s right for my body. I think even the smallest changes we make towards being healthier, saving animals and supporting the environment is brilliant no matter how small they may be x
I’m not vegan (not even close, really) but I do eat a ton of fruits/veggies and am always inspired by your blog. It’s the first one I read every morning and my favorite!
I love this. I am vegetarian and will probably never be completely vegan, but I do try to limit dairy and eggs, and only buy organic. Like you, I have a husband who eats meat, but now that I cook so much vegetarian stuff, he probably only eats it once a month.
Awww, that’s great! That honestly makes me feel a lot better…at times I feel like it’s an inclusiveness thing….whereby if you aren’t part of the vegan club, you’re bad or you don’t belong…I really appreciate that level of flexibility and kind of…empathy…for other people’s food choices. The recognition that “cutting back is good” is also extremely useful, and much more likely to get people to change!
Personally, I’m an “Accidental vegetarian” most of the time, just because I don’t prefer meat, but I still will eat animal products every once in a while. 🙂
Thank you for writing this!
Such a great point. You can still make a point to eat vegetarian or vegan meals, and not be a vegetarian or vegan. Doing even just a little bit helps! Tofu and Chicken aren’t exclusive!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post and Ral’s comments.
This is exactly why I don’t usually state that I am a vegetarian, but that I eat a mostly “plant-based diet.” I eat a lot of soup, which I know has to be comprised mostly of chicken stock. I had miso soup just two weekends ago that I know contains fish oil. Am I going to freak out about it and not eat a dish I love? No way! 🙂
The labels scare people off, and on the flip side, it makes some not-so-nice critics feel that they can judge you based on your own personal food choices.
I’m a vegetarian that eats a tons of cheese and greek yogurt and soups not based on vegetable stock and I’m okay with that! 😀
I love point #1, and I do think that it’s good to celebrate all steps in a vegan direction, but I can’t say I’m on board with calling fish eating vegetarianism, or eating bacon on occasion and then calling it veganism. I think these words have meaning, and I like to take that meaning seriously.
It’s fine to say that our main goal should be applauding everyone for meat reduction and baby steps, etc — the motto of my blog is, after all, “add first, subtract later.” At the same time, if you’re of the mind that eating animals or using any animal products is not the right thing to do, then saying it’s ok to eat “a little” bacon now and then doesn’t really make much sense; I wouldn’t steal a little, I wouldn’t cheat a little, I wouldn’t hurt someone else a little, at least not in such a way that I wouldn’t regret it.
In other words, I’m human, and I might always make mistakes (and subsequently forgive myself for them), but I would see them as just that: mistakes, which I regret. So too with eating animal foods: I might do it, either accidentally or not, but I’d see it as any other act of wrongdoing on my own part: something to accept and forgive myself for, but not something to aspire to, celebrate, or write off as negligible. Let’s by all means not be militant, but let’s also not forget that if you really do think it’s wrong to use animals for human pleasure, saying that a bit of bacon (or cheese, or whatever) here and there is OK is not so very different than saying any other compromise of ethical convictions is OK, I think forgiveness is key, but so too is holding ourselves to consistent standards.
Tal Ronnen’s cookbook, btw, is fabulous 🙂
G
I love this! And I should keep it in mind. I’m not vegan or vegetarian or even close anymore. But in my mind I would really like to be. I just have this love affair with dairy that is hard to give up. We’ll see.
One of the things I love most about your blog is how you don’t feel we need to put ourselves in boxes. You are never judgey and you preach acceptance and show by your example. I am technically a meat eater who eats tons of tofu and just started to eat tempeh when I am at home.
definitely. its better for every aspect of veganism (animals, environment, health) if a person simply chooses to nix one (or a few) nonvegan foods, rather than scrap the whole effort because the label is too intimidating!
Awesome post! This is so true. I am not vegan, but sometimes- I love to eat meals that are considered vegan or vegetarian. They taste good! I think the whole “black and white” thing can be true for eating and for exercising. People believe that if they have one setback or one thing they can’t do then they might as well give up.
i hear ya. youre still doing your part AND the ethical benefits are still there. that last 1% doesnt mean all your other efforts are for nothing. keep it up!
exactly tracy. thanks for the comment!
Great quote and great post. I am a vegan who is ok with eating vegetarian at restaurants or other people’s homes because I don’t want to make a fuss. I’d love it if my husband would go vegan or at least vegetarian, for his health, but he “needs” his occasional steaks. At least he’s vegan most of the time at home, since I do the cooking. I try (doesn’t always work, but I try!) to be happy with that and not judge, just as I wouldn’t want to be judged.
Elise, first I want to say that I really adore your blog and I love what you’re doing here, so even though I’m about to be critical, please keep that in mind! =)
I agree 100% with what Tal said, but I don’t think that what he said, and what you are saying, is the same thing. His sentiment was that any move towards a more plant-based diet should be applauded, as any move in this direction is a move int the *right* direction – for the person’s health and for the environment (and for the animals, the third party that of course has an interest too!) I agree with him completely and I encourage anyone to eat a more plant-based diet. In this way, it is all about inclusivity.
However, Tal was not saying that these people should call themselves vegan! Vegan is a very specific word and it has a very precise definition. Moreover, it’s a word that symbolizes a set of ideas that are EXTREMELY important to the people that espouse them.
Think about it like this: I may adore studying health (I do) and maybe I’ve even read Grey’s Anatomy and spent countless hours on the Internet researching medicine. I may know as much about anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology as my own doctor. But, unless I’ve gone to school and been accredited, *I am not a doctor*. And I don’t get to call myself a doctor, no matter how much I desire to be one or admire/respect them. The reason is, that unless I have been licensed, calling myself a doctor could cause a lot of problems for the people I interact with on a daily basis, who take my statement at face value.
If you call yourself a vegetarian but you regularly eat fish, or if you call yourself a vegan but you regularly buy leather and eat yogurt or whatever, then the people in your life see these things happening. And that means that when *I* go to a restaurant and ask for them to please fix me something vegan, *I* get a plate plopped down in front of me containing honey, eggs, and “just a little cheese”. And the waiter says “But my friend is a vegan and she eats that stuff!” Or, for Christmas my auntie gifts me a wool sweater, because “My coworker is vegan and she says she loves cashmere!”
Now, I know that some people will read a value judgement into these words I’m writing. And that, I think, is the crux of the problem. A lot of people seem to think that a synonym of “vegan” is “good” or “righteous”. But it’s not! It’s not a judgement of you to say that you’re not vegan, it’s simply a descriptor, which is all the word vegan is. A description of a very specific *lifestyle* (not diet). This sort of thing actually is very important (but then again I’m a writer and a language lover . . . and a vegan).
I think one of the big problems is that right now, we don’t have an “in-between” word that’s become a part of the general lexicon. I really like “plant-strong” or “plant-based”. I think it says a lot and it describes a diet, not a lifestyle, which is what most of the in-between people really mean when they misuse the word vegan.
Again, I hope it’s clear that I’m not trying to separate vegans from non-vegans in any sort of “holier-than-thou” or elitist or judgmental way. Read my blog – I am ALL about inclusivity and the vast majority of my readership are omnivores specifically because I make veganism look approachable and fun in a non-judgmental way. My point is just about 1) practicality, and 2) respect for people’s deeply held beliefs. (and maybe a little linguistic integrity)
So like I said, I really love your blog Elise and I love what you’re doing here. But to be perfectly honest, when I read things like “I’m a vegan who eats greek yogurt and occasionally has eggs”, it does make me cringe a little bit.
I think that veganism and plant-strong diets are growing (YAY) and that there will need to be some cultural accommodations. One of the most important of these will be a new word to describe people like yourself, and apparently like many of your readers here (YAY). I think the best way to do that is by being leaders, and inserting our language into the lexicon. Start using it until it becomes popular and normal. It can be totally empowering.
So yeah, long story short, I agree with Tal and his very important sentiment. More PLANT-STRONG for more people!
The concept of being vegan is something that always tore me apart inside!! Some days it’ll be so easy for me to be vegan and other days I’m vegetarian… When mom’s cooking, I’m neither.
It took me awhile to realize that I don’t need to fit in to one certain category- the only one putting that label on myself is me. If I crave seafood, I have it. But my diet is mostly vegan apart from that. I’m still accepting that that’s okay though.
Great post!
I agree with Tal that even the smallest change can have a significant impact. I have encountered vegans that are strict with their diet – which is their prerogative – and chastise those who are not completely vegan. I think it should be celebrated when someone makes a change leaning towards vegetarianism/veganism.
Support and compassion is important with this issue – hurray for making a positive change to your health/animals/the environment!
Thank you! I couldn’t agree more with your comments. I LOVE this blog and Elise and everything about the posts etc., but when I read “I’m a vegan who eats greek yogurt and occasionally has eggs” I kinda cringed myself. A vegan doesn’t eat yogurt or eggs. Vegans just don’t. Nor do they eat bacon. It is fine if you want to eat yogurt or eggs or bacon–go for it. But then you are not a vegan. Shrug.
Anyway, thanks for saying it better than I could/did!
I completely agree with this article and this point of view! I can’t handle much soy at a time and also happen to be a bodybuilder. So…I need a lot of protein (~130g/day). And yes…I would LOVE to be vegan. Someday when bodybuilding is no longer part of my life, I will be. But for now, the fact that I eat as little animal protein as possible (just eggs and wild-caught fish, no dairy, no meat, etc) and do not buy clothing or home goods made with animal products should mean SOMETHING. Every little bit helps, right? I’m just so sick of being judged and feeling like I’m not doing enough.
Great post, Elise. To the commenters above – and Sayward said it aptly – the problem is we don’t have an “in between” word. I often paraphrase Jonathan Safran Foer on this issue who makes comparisons in his book “Eating Animals” between being an environmentalist and how we don’t say “you either are or you aren’t.”
It would be nice if there was a word that was, frankly, less wordy than “I eat a plant based diet” to describe people who eschew animal products for the most part. I agree that words have meaning, and I agree that “vegan who eats yogurt and eggs” is an oxymoron (though it doesn’t make me cringe), but on the other hand, we don’t have perfect language for all of these people who are, as Kathy Freston would say, “leaning into it.” I mean, what about vegans who eat honey? Should they not be called vegans? There are an awful lot of them…
AGREED
i completely understand what you are saying and i do agree with your feelings on the word “vegan” – because, quite simply, it IS a definition and therefore doesnt have much room for budging. i agree that where the real problem occurs is linguistically. theres no in between word. so while i 100% understand why you cringe when i say im a vegan who occasionally eats eggs and greek yogurt, its hard to say what i really am without any other word! anyway, i appreciate your thoughtful comment, lets try and think of a new word because im sick of saying im “veganish” 😉
definitely. without an in between word its hard to know how to describe my diet. the labels are more for others, but they do tend to be confining. we need a new word for plant-strong!!
So true that veganism is not about deprivation. So many people make that assumption and it’s just not true! I think your blog is a GREAT example of this. 🙂
I also agree with his second point. If a person wishes they were vegan but can’t see past a certain food, they should certainly not let that stop them from going almost vegan. It’s a total step in the right direction! It’s not (and shouldn’t be) all or nothing. To discourage a person would be detrimental to the “cause” (for lack of a better word).
At the same time, if said person is wishing they were vegan for moral reasons (as opposed to health reasons), I’d like to think they would eventually try to live without that food they thought they could never live without–with fake bacon or daiya cheese. To see if they can get past those cravings. Maybe they can, maybe they can’t, but I would certainly encourage them to give it a go–if (?) and when they are ready to do so, of course (maybe when they’re a little further along in their journey toward a more plant-based diet).
In other words, veganism is often a process for people–and a starting place is a starting place; if that means going vegan (minus a bacon splurge), well, that’s a great start!
I had never heard of Tal–thanks for this post!!!
I saw this article too and I also loved Tal’s quote “Be a vegan who eats bacon”. I’m a vegan who, on occasion eats eggs and won’t turn down food someone made for me. I find a lot of people don’t understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan and will make me a “special” vegetarian dish. How could I possibly turn that down? No way!
My oh my is everyone so persnickety!
When I got the paper that morning, I was like ‘ohh yeaahh’, just because I was glad to see something (anything!) about veganism. I get so sick of the meat-centric food reviews (which I can’t help but to read because I love the language) because it just seems so dated. The Tal article was a little annoying but I think I get how he’s trying to lure people in. And if someone is vegan but eats bacon, hello we should celebrate the animals they’re no longer eating. If calling themselves vegan makes them feel better, more dedicated and included, so long as it is saving animals’ lives- I don’t think there’s a problem with it!
Very well said Elise. Thanks for saying what I also feel. I am a once in a while egg person, but eat no other animal products. I guess we shall remain unlabeled for the time being?
Loved your post!
I’m going to send the link to this post to my boyfriend!! He went and saw Forks Over Knives with me this weekend and it sparked quite a long and intense debate about veganism/vegetarianism. I am vegetarian, not vegan, but do see the benefits in a vegan diet and I think so many people are scared off because it seems “extreme” and they feel like they’ll be deprived. I keep telling my family that if they just cut down on animal products they are still doing good things for their health and for the planet. Veganism and vegetarianism are definitely a bit misunderstood in my opinion!
I’m a big fan of Tal Ronnen–he makes truly divine food without using meat/animal products. I highly recommend his cookbook, The Conscious Cook.
I agree that cutting back on meat is better for everyone; study after study demonstrate the benefits of a plant-based diet. The key to that statement is plant-BASED–it doesn’t have to just be beans and greens to be healthy! Using meat as more of a condiment as opposed to a main component of a meal is great way to cut back on overall consumption.
Thank you for sharing this!! I love the message. You have to make ethical eating work for you. Labels make it too hard for some people or make them feel constricted, and it just doesn’t work. If we want more ethical eaters in the world, flexibility is crucial. Eat as ethically as you can, and it’s good enough. Get your bacon from local, organic farms that you can trust. People don’t have to be gung-ho vegans to make a difference in the world!
im very interested in his cookbook. i agree with the idea that cutting back should always be applauded. for those who are far from vegan, baby steps need to be commended.
you are so right. keep being the positive and inspiring voice for your family.
thanks sarah. 🙂
haha. its a good conversation. im definitely enjoying others’ views on the issue. i am ok with tal luring people in with a bit of false advertising. the thing is, even small steps are still an improvement and for the greater good (of animal, the environment, health, etc.). so there’s no reason to not be inclusive. however, i can see how using the word “vegan” incorrectly can be upsetting because it does confuse people who arent aware of what vegan actually means. we need an in between word (and tolerance for the in between people!).
precisely kelsey! i think this article is less about the ethical side of veganism and more of the journey for people who have no clue about plant-based diets. any small step is an improvement health-wise and should therefore be encouraged. who knows…eventually the anti-animal suffering morality may follow?
i second that!
i think i need to get his cookbook, many people have been seconding your opinion on that.
i agree that using the word “vegan” incorrectly really does nothing for veganism as a cause, but without an in-between word, it’s hard to concisely sum up my diet. i know there are others who eat similarly, and its annoying that there’s still no word that means plant-strong.
to address the second point. there’s a big difference between stealing (which is illegal) and eating animal byproducts. obviously im of the mindset that animal suffering is wrong, but (admittedly) my point of view is a bit jaded as a result of my job. i have seen SO many unhealthy people dismiss veganism because of its all-or-none nature. again, this seems to me to be a linguistics issue. the name alone makes people cringe and block out the idea before they’ve even given it a chance. if there were a way to say “a diet-mostly-excluding-animals” it would be much easier, but there isnt. vegan has a precise definition. and so im torn. however, rather than force people to choose between vegan and carnivorous diets, i say we give encouragement and applaud any step towards a healthier lifestyle as a positive. the hope being that embracing any small change, with time, makes a persons priorities shift.
i guess what it comes down to is who this article is addressing and what the goal of eating less meat is. i think its intended to lure in non-vegans who are scared by labels, not those who are already well-educated on veganism. and i think highlighting the health benefits as opposed to the ethical elements is where education can begin… veganism can be a journey, and thats how my path started. eventually the moral issue may (hopefully) follow. and in the meantime, the fewer animals that suffer the better.
sorry for the scattered thoughts. either way i think your voice is a wonderful representation of how we can be inclusive without compromising our own beliefs. and your blog is great for making delicious animal-free food enticing to everyone. win.
nope, no vegan club. 😉 kyles an accidental vegetarian at times, too. keep up the veg-friendly eating! any efforts are good efforts.
thanks tracy 🙂 it makes me so happy to know you enjoy the blog!
the fact is, judgement never helps a cause. so as long as you are doing your best (and you are!), you are doing good things and deserve to be applauded. keep it up!
very well said jin. the only person who needs to be accepting of your choices is you. labels are often less helpful.
Beautiful response! And don’t forget, my journey started exactly the same way, so I’m not unaware that highlighting health pluses can be more enticing than emphasizing ethical minuses. I also think it’s true that we all have an obligation to help people take baby steps, which does mean applauding any step toward veganism (even if the person stepping really never wants to take it beyond one step, or two).
As for stealing, I really did mean to talk about ethics, which aren’t the same as laws. Or, to put it another way, I’m talking about the spirit of laws, not the letter of them. Stealing is illegal because most people in our culture and society and philosophical tradition think it’s wrong. I don’t steal because I agree that it’s wrong; that it’s illegal is a deterrent, too, but I can’t say that it’s why I don’t steal.
So too with eating animal byproducts; I don’t think it’s right, which is why I don’t do it. If it were illegal I wouldn’t do it either, but its legality doesn’t make me think it’s right, nor that doing it some of the time is OK. Does that make sense?
The other main point here is that it’s healthy and OK to have a difference of opinion on ethics. Veganism that’s driven by animal rights is a world view, just like other world views. But that doesn’t mean we can’t see outside of our world views and accept that some of our smart and equally thoughtful friends (like you) have differing ethical vantage points. That’s human variety, and it’s the stuff that makes life interesting.
My thoughts are scattered, too, and hardly conclusive. One of my bigger struggles as a blogger is to both make people feel safe and welcomed, and to try to impress on people that eating animal foods causes suffering. I try to walk the line with sensitivity and grace; I know you do, too, and your writing is evidence of that.
G
i think thats great. he is doing his best and im sure your acceptance is an important reason for that. judgement never helps a cause. keep it up!
exactly. its too bad that extremes are often the downfall of well intended causes. the gray area needs to be celebrated more! any steps int he right direction are good!
thank you deirdre. now i must learn to follow your example and try tempeh more often!
yes yes. its a tricky subject to broach – to be welcoming, encouraging, and informative without being preachy or sacrificing your opinions.
and like you said, being sensitive to the fact that others have valid views, is equally important. thoughtful conversations between two friends make things interesting. how boring would life be if everyone agreed on everything! im still developing and growing, too, so i am by no means static in my beliefs and therefore receptive to what others have to share.
i laughed when you mentioned the stealing thing. i guess i wouldnt steal either…even if it were legal. 🙂 but yes, your point makes complete sense. illegality isnt what holds me back from doing certain things.
I’m a newbie to your blog and I’m so glad I found it because this post speaks to me SO much right now! I’m at this point in my life where I PREFER and mostly choose plant based/Vegan meals and foods. But there are times when I just want cheese or yogurt or salmon and I feel badly about it. My husband and I are going to try the Engine 2 Diet challenge because I really want to see about the health changes (i.e. energy level, mood, overall feeling of wellness) that come along with a Vegan lifestyle. I personally feel like if I can cut out the majority of non-vegan foods from my lifestyle, than I’m still doing a really great thing for myself, the planet, and the animals. But craving and having a piece of cheese or salmon every so often doesn’t make me a “failed Vegan”. I’m not keen on labels and I don’t necessarily want one. So thank you so much for this post!!
hmm, that is an interesting perspective. i became a vegetarian for animal right reasons, but i do understand what he means. i would love it if the whole country cut out all meat except bacon. it would still make me sad though! i think that there is a nation wide dietary shift happening, so many people i know are eating less meat or going vegetarian!
also, i have tal’s cookbook, and made the cornmeal encrusted tempeh meal for me and my fiance for christmas. all of my sisters ended up eating it and loving it too. it is SOOO good! pick up the cookbook asap! 🙂
Great website/blog!!! I will be back often. I have made most of Tal’s recipes from The Conscious Cook. Some are definitely easier than others but almost all are absolutely delicious! If you are interested you can check out my very amateur reviews over at http://www.chayg.ca
Oh my, I love you for this. I’m not a a “real” vegan – I very occasionally eat eggs, and some honey – but I don’t want to feel like a failure just because I’m not 100%. Because, you know, I’m not. And for me it’s not about being 100%, that’s not what I’m aiming for, I’m just doing the best I can, really. So thank you for being you!
yes you are and dont forget it! keep up the good work.
ps i loved the engine 2 diet for making veganism approachable, so you made a great choice in that book.
thank YOU greta! your efforts are definitely still significant, regardless of how big or small you think they are. 🙂
Pingback: “You can’t do x,y,z as a vegan”
Just read this and it reminded me of this discussion, thought I’d pass it along. Cheers!
http://www.carpevegan.com/?page_id=352
Also, are you coming to Vida Vegan Con?
sadly, no. but thanks SO much for passing in this article. its great!!