I have been a vegetarian for about a year now. The transition was very easy for me, there are so many alternatives to meat. I have been pondering becoming a vegan for a while now, but I don’t think it is realistic for my lifestyle at all. My family and I always go out to eat, my mother does all of the grocery shopping and most of the cooking.
It makes me sad because it is SO hard to avoid all animal products. When I was thinking about going vegan, it horrified me how many animal products are in almost EVERYTHING. My important medications have gelatin in them, my pillow has feathers in it, my desk chair has leather in it, chicken fat is in some potato chips… It just goes on and on.
Now I even found out that vegans cannot eat honey or wear silk because it harms insects. I thought being vegan was about helping animals, not insects. When I drive my car I probably kill hundreds of insects. Should I not drive?
Im just frustrated because I had no idea how hard it was to live animal cruelty free. I might as well just go live in cave. Should I just continue what I am doing by not eating meat? Should I try to do more? Help please!
I have reported you, Rusty. If you don't have a constructive answer to my question, then don't bother answering.
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7 responses so far ↓
1 Ashley D // Oct 7, 2008
my thoughts are vegitarinanism is ok, but veganism takes it to a whole nother level. its impossible to be crulety free in todays world. youve noticed, even your medications arent free of it. so my best advice would be to do whatever your comfy with. like, dont eat meat obviously if thats your thing, but if its something that is pretty much impossible to avoid like the whole bug thing, then you need to be the judge of what is too far for you, and what extremes are too extreme.
2 Olivia C // Oct 7, 2008
You can take it as far as you want to take it. I don’t think it is realistic to live without ANY animal products. My living room furniture is leather; I have lots of leather shoes and bags; lots of wool and cashmere sweaters; lots of silk scarves. I’m not just going to throw all that stuff away because I decided to eat vegan. I think that you shouldn’t worry about the stuff in your home that you already have. It’s not realistic because it would be expensive to replace and since you live with your family, it’s not like they are going to get rid of all the down pillows and leather chairs in the house.
Just focus on doing as much as you can and the things you buy new. If you can find vegan shoes the next time you go shoe-shopping, get them instead of the leather ones. But don’t worry about the stuff that is already in your house or in your closet.
As for the food, many vegans do eat honey. I agree with you - insects just don’t pluck at my heartstrings. I’m sorry, guys, but they’re not cute. I don’t think honey or silk are cruel. Many vegans don’t. If you want to continue eating honey and buying silk, go right ahead. I feel the same way about wool.
If important meds have gelatin, don’t worry too much. It’s a lot more important that you get your medicine. A bit of gelatin doesn’t make you a non-vegan. Other than that, avoid packaged foods and try to eat tons of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Ask your mom if you can help cooking and prepare a part of the meal that is vegan. And go shopping with her to pick out things you would like to eat.
Good luck!
3 Jen D // Oct 7, 2008
I've been vegan for almost twenty years.
It's about doing what you can. (Although I'd give some serious thought to ditching the chicken fat potato chips! ew.)
Obviously no one can live cruelty free, but that should never discourage concerned people from trying. Many vegans (myself included) do consume honey. I don't take medications, and it has too many medicinal properties for me to cut it out completely.
And obviously vegans drive. We also kill bugs. Saying "I can't be a vegan because I kill bugs" is completely missing the point. That's like saying "people are always going to kill cows, I might as well eat a hamburger."
Ask yourself what is important to YOU. For instance, I don't believe in waste, so I still wear my brother's old leather jacket. I wouldn't purchase a new one, however.
Most people would consider you vegan if you simply did not consume meat, eggs and dairy.
4 SHE said THIS dosnt HURT! // Oct 7, 2008
ive been vegitarian for a few years and i plan to become vegan someday
but i recently found out i have type 1 diabetes and my isulin shots is from pigs
also i dont eat eggs or drink milk but i do eat some things with egg in it like french taost or mayonase and i do eat jello but i plan on giveing those things up soon ( =
5 8LoVe 4 ChRiSt iS lUv 4 LiFe // Oct 7, 2008
Okay. You are just being overwhelmed! Don’t worry!
It is inevitable that when you drive, you are going to kill insects. However, the insects used to make honey and silk and raised just for that purpose…it’s just like raising animals for meat!
Leather shouldn’t be used when when you’re vegetarian…the animal has to be killed for you to have its skin!
Continue taking the medication you need…however, ask your doctor if the same meds come in liquid or capsule form!
=] -Veg*an love!-
6 Becky S // Oct 7, 2008
When you go out to eat don't be afraid to call up before and ask what they have. don't be afraid to order a salad and take out the cheese and meat.
go with your mom to buy stuff and start cooking for yourself. i do and i was only 14 when i started. (i'm now 15, happy birthday to me! =D)
i don't believe in taking medicine… it's unnatural.. and i prefer eating fruits and veggies to stay healthy… but if you have to take them then do it…
keep your pillow unless you have time and money to buy one that helps the animals..
keep the stuff you used to have just don't buy any new stuff with animals
potato chips make you fat anyway… why eat them? and most of them don't have bad stuff in them…
insects are animals.. you can drive… you do what you can but there is a limit
i used to be a strict vegetarian (they follow the vegan diet, but not the lifestyle) i'm now a raw vegan… =D
good luck and don't worry so much … follow your heart and do what's right
EDIT: for the people who say they are vegans who eat honey… they are not vegans.. sorry people but vegans live a life without any harm to animals… and honey belongs to bees
sorry…
7 smithdeirdra // Oct 7, 2008
Well, I don’t eat animal products and I’m wearing a silk scarf! I that crosses some official definition of veganism , so be it.
One has` to find one’s own balance in life. Live as best you can and accept that not everything can be changed immediately. Make yourself happy- you’ll then have boundless energy to actually go out into the world and affect the positives that are within your grasp