Non-vegan wanting understanding. . . .?!
I'm worried about him...
Answers: I'm trying to understand why vegans eat (don't eat) what they do. I understand the meat aspect of it, and partially of the dairy. But I have a relative who has a limited food supply so to speak, because of one ingredient (such as "natural flavoring") which might be only 1% of the food or drink, but they don't eat it at all, even if they were sick, just because they don't want to "contribute" to this cause... I understand animal rights and all that, I used to be a vegetarian........ but how can he starve himself, even if he were on vacation or sick.... he might starve to death?? Why do some of you go to this extreme... or maybe you don't and they're just one that would do such a thing...
I'm worried about him...
Most vegans are not that extreme from my experience. For example, most of the vegans I know would take an Advil if they had a headache, even though there is gelatin in the tablets. It's impossible to be 100% vegan because there are some animal products in almost everything - car tires, film, medicines, etc. The goal shouldn't be being "pure" (which is an unattainable goal). The point of being vegan is to do what we can, within reason, to reduce animal suffering.
I suggest showing your friend this essay:
http://www.veganoutreach.org/howvegan.ht...
Hope this helps.
If your friend is a knowledgeable vegan, he isn't starving himself. Vegans eat just as much as anyone else, they just eat foods that are not derived from animals.
I found this montage about vegan values, and it explains why we (vegans) do what we do, why we feel what we feel. Please take the time to view it once or twice with an open mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scb690898...
Quite simply, we (vegans) believe that animals are not food. They are not clothing. They are not entertainment. They are not test subjects. They don't "belong" to us, not for the purposes listed above, and not for ANY purpose. They are Earthlings, just like we are, and by virtue of being Earthling they have the right to exist on this earth to live according to their own will, free from pain and suffering... just like humans do.
If this makes me "extreme," well good. "Stubborn," that's fine. I'm proud to be a vegan freak.
I hope I've explained this in a way you can understand.
Fellow vegans: I hope I haven't missed anything, and that I've done you and our fellow non-human Earthings justice by my answer. :-)
Edited to add: BMI doesn't define overweight or underweight - it's an assessment tool, and nothing more.
Even in remote places, one can find fruits, vegetables, dried beans, peas and lentils, pasta, nuts, rice... he can always consume canned fruits and vegetables, and they last for years!
Being vegan, and not wanting to consume "natural flavoring" generally means you eat whole foods, and not processed crap. He isn't starving himself. Don't worry. People lived for eons before packaged foods were invented. It is a healthy and environmentally sound way of life.
Nobody is going to starve to death because they're vegan. That's ridiculous.
It's cut and dried. Vegans don't eat, wear, or use animal products.
I just don't get vegans either....the whole animal suffering reason they give is nonsense. I believe in eating only what you must to survive, but I also believe that fruits and vegetation are living organisms too. Call me crazy or whatever but they die without sun, or water and their lack of notable feelings, or eyes to cry with while being uprooted is no reason to consider them as an ethically eatable food. That's just my opinion.
Vegan food is not hard to find in any part of the world that has a supermarket/grocery store nearby.
If your friend is seriously underweight, he might not be vegan and is trying to mask an eating disorder.
Even though he's vegan, he's not doing it right...
I don't go to extremes, and I'm guessing most vegans don't either.
If you're worried about him, make him a decent vegan meal! Only buy fresh, organic produce, NOTHING with flavourings if he doesn't like it.
well that's just being stubborn.
some people get kindof obsessed. i stopped being vegetarian when i was pregnant, then started up again after baby. i know my baby would have probably ended up just fine if i hadn't, i just didn't want to risk it.
thanks for saying "some of you"...because not all of us are that extreme. in fact, the extreme factor kindof makes us look bad, in my opinion. people need to chill out and just do what they can without driving themselves and other people crazy.