I’m Vegan and Terribly Misunderstood
5 things people wrongly assume about us vegans.
I like to have my green salad with a side salad. And some pesto sauce drizzled on top of it — that is pesto sauce without parmesan, of course. There, I’ve said it. Don’t go running just yet. Stay with me for a while. I have cookies — vegan cookies, but still. Gosh, I often wonder why we, vegans, are so terribly misunderstood.
I mean, I’ve made peace with the fact that I will forever be the outcast at all family dinners. But I still not-so-secretly hope, like in that famous song from the ’60s, sang by… The Animals, “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” that we can at least agree on some things that are not true at all about veganism.
People wrongly assume about us that:
- We’re vegetarians;
- We only care about animals;
- We’re only interested in what we eat;
- We mostly eat tofu;
- We don’t have money left for anything else.
Now, since we’re here, and you’re reading this, curious to know more about the misconceptions and myths about vegans, here’s what I wholeheartedly want you to know — no pun intended, you know I don’t eat organ meats, don’t you?
1. We’re Not Vegetarians
Ok, so veganism isn’t the short form of vegetarianism. The only things the two have in common, other than starting with veg, are the veggies and the stubbornness of not eating meat. Vegans eat vegetables. Vegetarians eat vegetables. Neither of them consumes meat. But vegetarians do eat dairy, and they kind of like it a lot.
If I tell you I’m a vegan, it means I do not put anything in my mouth that comes from an animal, which doesn’t apply to vegetarians. It also means a couple of other things, but more on that later (I don’t want to scare you from our first date. Kiddin’).
2. We Don’t Just Care About Animals
You think I don’t eat meat or dairy or eggs or anything coming from an animal because I love animals, and that’s all I care about. But I care about humans too. I care about how the food I eat impacts the world I live in. That’s why we, vegans, also avoid using care products that contain traces of animal sources or that have been tested on animals.
You see, we have more things in common than you might think. I do love meat, too. But the different kind. I like mine to be four-legged, furred, and with a beating heart, playing in my backyard. Not filleted and medium-rare or deep-fried, sitting flat dead on my kitchen counter. Too descriptive? Sorry about that :D
What I’m trying to say is that veganism impacts our world to a deeper level than many would imagine. Vegans don’t just care about animals; they care about the world, which brings us to the third myth about vegans.
3. We’re Not Just Into Food
You may know me as someone who is particularly food conscious. That is true, but there’s more to me than meets the plate. Veganism is my way of living. Before you come after me yelling that plants have feelings too, let me tell you one thing. Two things, actually:
- I have to eat something too — and I choose the slightest harm.
- For every 1 kg of beef you buy, a farmer used 13 kg of cereals to produce that meat — so I may eat a bit more grass, but not nearly as much as the cow you’re eating.
To stop beating around the bush, I’m in it for the long run. It’s my lifestyle, and it’s also about keeping a clean environment, using natural, biodegradable products. And generally, not doing anything that harms the environment or leads to cruelty. Veganism aims to make the world a more livable place. So how do we live, you wonder? Not exclusively on tofu, of that, I can assure you.
4. We’re Not Living on Tofu
Oh, you’re sneaky, aren’t you? I know where you’re going with this. Don’t you ever dare to accuse me that we vegans live on tofu and that cultivating soybeans leads to the Amazon rainforest deforestation. Because if you do, so help me, God…
Wait, no, I just told you I’m against any kind of cruelty. But I will shout into your face that only 6% of the globally produced soy is used for human food and 70% for livestock feeding, aka dairy and meat industries.
Say you’re genuinely curious to know what non-animal foods that don’t involve soy exist on our planet? We’re nuts about nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits and vegetables, bread, rice, and pasta, plus hearty vegetable oils. Oh, and have you tried our cookies? They’re often nuttier than squirrel poop (in a good, finger-licking way) and, yes, a bit more expensive than what you probably had in mind at first. Still…
5. We’re Not Nearly Broke
This goes to say that the myth of vegan and organic foods being crazy-expensive is just bull…shhh. If you’ll bump into me while I check the dumpsters, it’s not because I’m starving; it’s because I’m trying to recycle something.
Veganism isn’t expensive if you keep it simple. It’s about some of the oldest and cheapest staple foods on earth — beans, rice, pasta, veggies, and fruits. The specialty vegan restaurants that try to trick you into buying vegan food that tastes like meat, on the other hand, could make you break the bank if you decide to take that route.
And, of course, there’s also the concern of buying organic products. Those are clearly in a more limited supply. Therefore they will cost you more than what grows overnight sprinkled with pesticides and raising agents.
Speaking of which, you and I make the same choice, again and again, whenever we stop at the grocery store — we get to choose how much we pay now for our food and how much we will pay later for our health problems.
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See? We’re not that different, after all. So, can we just be friends and make the world a better place together? Feel free to invite me to your next party. You know I don’t ask much, a bowl of salad will make me happy. And I don’t drink wine or beer; it’s not vegan — though I’m saving these details for our next chat. You will talk to me again, right?