vegan FAQs
I will probably update this pretty often.
I wish I could make pamphlets and hand them out to people without looking like a weirdo. Here it goes:
Q: Why are you vegan?
A: Wow...this is one that will definitely never stop growing. I think I will make an entry dedicated to this, just so I won't scare you away with the answer. Coming soon...
Q: So, like, do you just eat salads?
A: NO. I don't like salads. Yeah, that's what I said. This question is an insult, and if anyone meets a vegan/vegetarian, I beg of you not to ask them this.
Q: How do you get your protein?
A: There is a plethora of protein sources that are not animal-based. Beans, nuts, and seeds are huge categories within themselves. Beans: Black, kidney, red, pinto, garbanzo, lima, mung, navy, fava and more. Nuts: pecans, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil, pine, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia and more. Seeds: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc. You get the picture. I think the most prominent source of protein, however, is SOY. Ah, the magical bean. My trick: I basically live on tofu. All different ways. Everyday, more than once a day.
Q: Do you get all of your proper nutrients?
A: Do you? Ha, no. But really. I have been vegan since Jan. 1, 2007, and I teach (high intensity) group fitness classes at least 6 times a week. My skin is not yellow; I am not tired all the time; I do not fatigue easily; I have muscle-mass (not much, but mind you, it's there); I rarely get sick. So...you do the math.
Q: Would you date an omnivore?
A: Ooo...another one that will probably be changing. At the moment, I am still open to dating someone who eats meat. ONLY because I would never tell anyone how to live their lives. But, in all honesty, it grosses me out a little.... I'm getting really bad about this one though. *sigh*
Q: Do you ever get tempted?
A: This is a big, fat NO. Of course, being raised eating meat, smells trigger memories. And, I'm not going to lie, I did enjoy the taste of it. Smelling it does also trigger hunger responses, but I would never be tempted to eat it. It is SUCH a personal issue. And that is what makes it so easy to resist.
Q: Are you doing this to lose weight?
A: Are you kidding me? Of course, like the next person, I would like to maintain a nice healthy weight, but anyone who this veganism is a type of weight-loss diet has NOT done their research. And these are the people who give us a bad name. My testimonial: I have gained 10 lbs. since going vegan. That is all.
Q: How long are you doing this for?
A: Um...the goal is somewhere around FOREVER. It's not an "experiment." It's my life. And I love it, and I have no plans of changing.
(added Feb. 3, 2007)
Q: Do you eat animal cookies?
A: If they're vegan, then yes. Just because they are shaped like animals, doesn't mean they are animals. And no, it is not comparable to eating them. First, they aren't shaped like dead animals. They are happy little critters. Second, would you eat a gingerbread man cookie? Does that mean you like to eat people? Or what about those cakes where you can put an edible picture on them? Basically, it's about what it is made out of, not what it looks like. Ya dig?
Well, that's all I can think of for now. Anyone who reads this, if you have any questions, please ask! Thanks for reading...
Love to all.
I wish I could make pamphlets and hand them out to people without looking like a weirdo. Here it goes:
Q: Why are you vegan?
A: Wow...this is one that will definitely never stop growing. I think I will make an entry dedicated to this, just so I won't scare you away with the answer. Coming soon...
Q: So, like, do you just eat salads?
A: NO. I don't like salads. Yeah, that's what I said. This question is an insult, and if anyone meets a vegan/vegetarian, I beg of you not to ask them this.
Q: How do you get your protein?
A: There is a plethora of protein sources that are not animal-based. Beans, nuts, and seeds are huge categories within themselves. Beans: Black, kidney, red, pinto, garbanzo, lima, mung, navy, fava and more. Nuts: pecans, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil, pine, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia and more. Seeds: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc. You get the picture. I think the most prominent source of protein, however, is SOY. Ah, the magical bean. My trick: I basically live on tofu. All different ways. Everyday, more than once a day.
Q: Do you get all of your proper nutrients?
A: Do you? Ha, no. But really. I have been vegan since Jan. 1, 2007, and I teach (high intensity) group fitness classes at least 6 times a week. My skin is not yellow; I am not tired all the time; I do not fatigue easily; I have muscle-mass (not much, but mind you, it's there); I rarely get sick. So...you do the math.
Q: Would you date an omnivore?
A: Ooo...another one that will probably be changing. At the moment, I am still open to dating someone who eats meat. ONLY because I would never tell anyone how to live their lives. But, in all honesty, it grosses me out a little.... I'm getting really bad about this one though. *sigh*
Q: Do you ever get tempted?
A: This is a big, fat NO. Of course, being raised eating meat, smells trigger memories. And, I'm not going to lie, I did enjoy the taste of it. Smelling it does also trigger hunger responses, but I would never be tempted to eat it. It is SUCH a personal issue. And that is what makes it so easy to resist.
Q: Are you doing this to lose weight?
A: Are you kidding me? Of course, like the next person, I would like to maintain a nice healthy weight, but anyone who this veganism is a type of weight-loss diet has NOT done their research. And these are the people who give us a bad name. My testimonial: I have gained 10 lbs. since going vegan. That is all.
Q: How long are you doing this for?
A: Um...the goal is somewhere around FOREVER. It's not an "experiment." It's my life. And I love it, and I have no plans of changing.
(added Feb. 3, 2007)
Q: Do you eat animal cookies?
A: If they're vegan, then yes. Just because they are shaped like animals, doesn't mean they are animals. And no, it is not comparable to eating them. First, they aren't shaped like dead animals. They are happy little critters. Second, would you eat a gingerbread man cookie? Does that mean you like to eat people? Or what about those cakes where you can put an edible picture on them? Basically, it's about what it is made out of, not what it looks like. Ya dig?
Well, that's all I can think of for now. Anyone who reads this, if you have any questions, please ask! Thanks for reading...
Love to all.