Shhhh.... She's One of Those Vegan People!

Last night Shell and I went to a BBQ at our friend's house for dinner.  Of course, we brought our own veggie patties & all the fixin's so we could still eat with everyone.  When we got home, I was telling Shell that sometimes I feel like its 1950 and we're still 14 years away from a Civil Rights Movement for vegan foodies!  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing the way we are treated to how African American's were treated during racial segregation, but I have a feeling that some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.  The whispering; the looks; the "peace offering" of chicken!

We are still one of "those" people... the minority... the activists... trying to find a better way to contribute to the planet and to bring our children into the world with a better chance of avoiding disease caused by the Western Diet.  So, yes, I do feel alone quite often.  What I want to know is when exactly did it become socially acceptable to feed poison to ourselves and our children on a daily basis with cheesburgers, french fries and soda? And at the same token, when I tell people that I plan on raising my children on a plant-based diet with little to no animal products, I am looked upon as some sort of freak.  I suppose the people who affect change are those who don't follow the crowd.  So yes, I am proud to say that I am one of those Vegan People!


Then this morning I opened my email to discover an article written by Marion Nestle, titled "Are Vegetarian Diets OK?"  I have mentioned Nestle, nutritionist and author of Food Politics, in many of my past blog posts.  She starts off her article by giving full disclosure that she does eat meat but continues by stating that "it is not necessary to eat meat [and it is] not an essential nutrient."  "Why anyone would question the benefits of eating vegetarian diets, or diets that are largely vegetarian is beyond me.   People who eat vegetarian diets are usually healthier – sometimes a lot healthier – than people who eat meat," she said.


Nestle continues with only three main concerns she has with a vegan diet:
1. B12 supplementation
2. Eating enough calories to maintain weight
3. Eating a variety of grains and beans for adequate protein


"Vitamin B₁₂ is found only in foods of animal origin – meat, dairy, eggs, or fish.  With this one exception, fruits, vegetables, and grains provide plenty of the other vitamins and minerals.  Vegans who obtain enough calories from varied plant food sources should be taking care of those nutrients as well as protein." Many nutritional experts, dietitians and plant-based doctors recommend to supplement with a sub-lingual source of B-12 one to two times per week.  That's it!


Without argument, the number one question that we get is "where do you get your protein from?"  I have heard some pretty funny come-back lines such as, "which amino acid are you referring to, exactly?" or "the same place your cow gets it from!."  But historians like Nestle and McDougall continue to support that veg foodies get plenty of protein from consuming starches and veggies.  "Think about it: entire civilizations – in ancient Egypt, China, and Mexico, for example – were based on wheat, rice, beans, or corn as sources of protein," Nestle exclaims. 


So please do me and my fellow foodies a favor; stop worrying about what we're not eating.  Since when did you and your Lipitor become the food police? 


Does anyone else feel this way???