Is being able to be healthy while eating a vegetarian or vegan diet a privilege of living in the western world!
There are healthy vegetarians and vegans in every corner of the world. There are also those who live in poverty in every corner of the world. Those who live in poverty have very little choice as to what their diet consists of. Although, anyone with access to beans, rice, flour and produce can put together a pretty healthy diet.
But, like I said, poverty and "privilege", both, are worldwide. Privilege is not "western" only.
Some people are under the impression that there isn't enough food to feed all of the humans in the world and that it's being wasted while feeding meat animals. This is fantasy. There is more than enough food in the world already to feed ALL humans. It's just not distributed evenly. Some have too much while others not enough.
Answers: Actually no, not exclusively. It is a privilege of living in an educated world. One needs to know how to implement these diets properly to be successful.
There are healthy vegetarians and vegans in every corner of the world. There are also those who live in poverty in every corner of the world. Those who live in poverty have very little choice as to what their diet consists of. Although, anyone with access to beans, rice, flour and produce can put together a pretty healthy diet.
But, like I said, poverty and "privilege", both, are worldwide. Privilege is not "western" only.
Some people are under the impression that there isn't enough food to feed all of the humans in the world and that it's being wasted while feeding meat animals. This is fantasy. There is more than enough food in the world already to feed ALL humans. It's just not distributed evenly. Some have too much while others not enough.
I can't tell you from experience. You'd have to go ask the vegans in Japan, India, Australia, Italy, and every other country on the planet.
The vegetarian and vegan diet can be healthy anywhere in the world ! It is universal ! Location has nothing to do wiht being a vegetarian, but your knowledge of the lifestyle and the food choices you make.
The eastern world might even be healthier than the western veggie world, as it is more common over there. The ratio of vegetariand to vegans to omnivores is much greater in the Eastern world than in the western world. Where cultural influence and religion plays appart of the diet of the eastern society, we in the western world hardly have such !
I do not really find it a privilege, but more a choice, that I am proud I made. Anyone can become a vegetarian, vegan or omnivore. We are not an ilet group, just a sensible, health concious one.
In general plant products are cheaper to produce, so no. The only exceptions are when you eat animal products from animals fed on 'waste' plants on otherwise useless land. For example, in Asia, people eat shrimp and duck eggs from the rice fields. But in cases where they grow fodder crops to feed animals, that is just wasteful. They could use that land to plant crops for human food.
Your question sounded odd to me because I've actually cut my grocery bill in half since going veg*n. The basic concept of being a veg*n is actually simpler only made complicated by the way we have become so dependent upon animals so it takes a bit of learning or relearning how to live, but once that is accomplished it's really less costly. You may think it's more expensive and it truly can be if you let it by people who buy a lot of already prepared foods, buy expensive cosmetics and personal care or cleaning products that are cruelty free and don't contain animal byproducts, but it doesn't have to be that way.
My diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, grains, rice and beans. While this is an over simplified list, it's basically true. I don't always buy organic because I can't afford it. I make most everything myself and eat pre packaged food
about once a week. I shop at thrift stores often and it is really not necessary to buy expensive "vegan" shoes as most shoe retailers sell shoes that are made of man made materials. The same goes for accessories. I use public transportation and carpool to use as little of our resources as possible. For cleaning I use vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice more frequently now so that helps cut costs.
The truth is there are probably poor people in the world who have a healthier diet than wealthy folks since they can't afford to buy a lot of beef, butter, and specialty items that are high in saturated fats, sodium and sugar.
All in all it seems the privileged are the ones who aren't veg*n. At least in my opinion.