To be Vegan: Health, lifestyle, or religion?

Some people, when I say I'm vegan, give me a look like I've grown antlers or something. 

For some, it's a case of “WTF?! You you don't eat bacon? Or cheese? Or ice cream?” A genuine incredulity that one would not eat any of those fine delicacies of the mainstream diet. 

For others it's more, “What the heck DO you eat? This one is generally followed with an up and down glance and an observation as to how thin I am. (Note: those who have known me for years before my diet change will know that I have always been thin). Often this is followed with “Where do you get your protein?” and a “But you need milk to get calcium!”

Another response is eyes wide fear. Yes fear. “The unspoken fear that says “Oh God you're not one of THEM are you?”

Having changed my diet two years ago, I have seen them all. Lately I've been giving some thought as to why. People tend to develop a habitual response to certain scenarios. What it is about the V word that causes such responses? Truth, I don't know and I haven't gone about asking people what their first thought response was to being told person 'x' was a vegan.

I guess I have to go to the roots as to why some people 'go Vegan'.

I'm looking at the back page of the Earthsave Metro Vancouver Veg Directory where it reads “Why go Veg?” It boasts 4 reasons: For your health, For a sustainable future, Compassion for all and Build community and support social justice. I'll summarise each.

For health. Pretty self explanatory, no? There isn't a doctor, medical professional or nutritionist anywhere that is going to say eating more fruits and vegetable in your diet is bad for you. Not one. There is evidence to say that animal proteins, particularly dairy can cause adverse effects on one's health. Doctors can argue this one back and forth with studies showing this that or the other. In my opinion, everyone should take the time to understand what they eat and how it is adsorbed into and affects your body.

For a sustainable future. This requires that one look beyond their plate and consider the environmental impact of the world food system. At school (which was a long time ago, my friends) I learned how many tonnes of grain went into making a tonne of animal protein. According to the Earthsave brochure, ' nearly half the water and and 80% of agricultural land in North America is used to raise crops for livestock'. I would place this under the 'lifestyle' category, though how strongly one 'walks the talk' could push this into the 'religion' category.

Compassion for all. Here we are talking primarily about animal welfare and the whole industrial factory farming complex. Food Inc., the widely acclaimed documentary on the North American Corporate food industry shows a side to what goes into the grocery aisles. Following a philosophy and belief that life is to be respected and protected is very much a religious calling for many.

Build community and support social justice. The Earthsave brochure outlines how with a plant-based diet, you can host and feed anyone, regardless of culture or religion. We gather to celebrate life over a shared meal. The argument here is that it is hard to fight over differences when we can all eat from the same plate.

OK. Having summarised each, I'm note sure that explained much of why the differing reactions. But then again, maybe it did touch lightly on a few of them.

The “WTF?!” probably comes from the use of Vegan. Had I said I follow a plant-based diet, it probably wouldn't have come across as freakishly alien. That most of the world has followed a plant-based diet for centuries only in the last two developing into what the British refer to a “meat and two veg diet” (a traditional type of meal, often found in Britain, which is basic and slightly boring, usually a piece of meat and two vegetables 'The food is very much meat and two veg - you won't find any of your fancy French cuisine here.'). Mediterranean cuisine (European, African and Middle East) has long been traditionally plant-based.

The where do you get your protein/Calcium/fill-in-the-blank, response, I think, largely comes from the long term conditioning that comes from decades of “Official Food Guides for a Healthy Diet” that we have been exposed to over time. I recommend looking up where these guides come from. I won't say they are written by a board that is financed and headed by representatives from the dairy and livestock and grain industry. But I would suggest questioning who pens these authoritative guides. Check out the recent Harvard guide.

The “You're one of them!” look. Well that's just a recognition of a number of Vegan proselytisers out there. Yup, I've been one, and probably always will. The blend of lifestyle and belief incorporated into a daily food diet plan can be quite compelling and perhaps intoxicating. Some get caught up in the religious fervour of, well religion, others politics, some football or hockey. For vegan folks it seems they are caught up in the health benefits, food cycle and interconnectivity of life. There are degrees though. I promise not to ram carrots down your throats. I can't and won't speak for others, though.

For the record, I changed my diet for health reasons. No I don't eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy and quite frankly, I don't miss them. When an omnivore, I doubt very much I would be able to go through the steps necessary to get meat to my plate though I could work the soil. Speaking of soil, I share a great concern for the degree to which pesticides have become a staple component of modern farming.

When considering the age old adage "you are what your eat" I'm happy to be a collection of pesticide free fruit and veg.