| Q:If you had children in a Vegan/Meat Eating household, how would you raise them, Vegan or Omnivore? |
| A:Hi, This is a question that we've talked about a little bit. I don't think that we've reached a solution. My thought is that we bring up kids exposed to both ideals. Unfortunately the big question is how to do it without alienating one parent or the other. That's my feeling on it, Denise doesn't think that it would be easy or possible to raise a child in a split household. I feel that if you are careful, then the kid could have an understanding at a realitvely early age of the pros and cons of each lifestyle and would be able to make an informed choice. |
| Q:what about protien deprivation? ive heard this was/is used in some cults to help "brainwash". i know i feel alot better when i hit the veggies hard, and seem to go through spurts where i tend to lean toward one or the other (meat VS veggies) dont think i'll ever be a total vegan, but am really curiose about the lack of protien ?. what veggies can you get plenty of protien from, and are there any nutriants or vitamins that you cant get from them? |
| A:There are a lot of sources of protien. The animals don't have the monopoly. I belive beans are high in protien,and vegans eat a lot of beans (and soy bean products). So there isn't a problem. Unfortunately, there can be side effects...whew! |
| Q:I have one sorta big question on whether or not honey is vegan? I would love an answer to the question, but even so thank you for your time if there is no answer. |
| A:This is one of those hot-button questions that Vegans forever go round nad rouond about. There is no answer that makes everyone happy. It's not vegan because it's an animal product. But some vegans feel that you are really not harming the quality of life of the insect that makes the honey, so while it's an animal product it's okay. I personally feel that honey is okay. You have to decide what side of the fence you're on on this one. There is no "right" answer, but if you ever want to stir up a room (or chat room) of Vegans, ask this question. |
| Q:I live in a part of the country where meat is many people's life. We have only one or two stores that sell anything close to vegan food. Do you have any sudgestions? |
| A:That's a tough one. I suggest that you start with what you would like to cook, then check out the grocery stores for indgredients that are okay. You might be surprised at how many "okay" items are on the average grocery store shelf. If you're in the hunt for specialty items, hit the net for mail-order sites. |
| Q:I recently started to turn my face down at meat, I want to become a vegitarian but there are some questions I would like to ask. Like Im 15 and my parents want me to eat meat but I dislike it, also I don't have very much milk products only milk in my cearal but i rarly have cearal I also Like chocolate. what do I do HELP!!! thank you |
| A:Ack! This could be a hairy problem. If you have understanding, rational parents then I would suggest education. Of yourself first. Decide WHY you want to become vegetarian then get the information to back it up. They will probably be worried that you won't get enough nutrition and will end up with health problems. Research the studies on vegetarian and vegan diets that feature the pros of such a diet. Be ready to show them that just because you don't want to eat meat that it doesn't mean that you're not going to be eating healthy. If they decide not to fight your choice, don't turn your nose up when they eat meat. Don't say things like "How could you eat that poor animal." or "Do you know what happened to that chicken?" If they let you choose a vegetarian lifestlye, respect their lifestlye as well. If you have irrational parents. The only advice I have is, muddle through untill you get out on your own. Good Luck! |
| Q:I'm quite opposed to vegetarianism and veganism, though I'm not gonna go on some big veggie slam I do have something to say. Animals are bred to be eaten. Cows, chickens, and hogs are brought into this world strictly to be eaten. They would have never been born if it weren't for man. Also, veganism isn't natural, it's instinct to eat meat. The top of the food chain is where man is, and without the food chain the world would be a pretty screwed up place. I can see not eating meat as a health choice, but we are far above other animals as a species. You don't see a wolf crying after eating a rabbit. We've just learned how to mass produce |
| A:Just because we CAN do something, does that mean we should do it? We can factory farm these animals as we do, we also CAN kill every living thing (except the roaches) ten times over with the push of a button, but does that mean we should? For most vegans it's not about the actual eating or using of the animal's skin or flesh. It's the methods used to acquire them. I've seen reports about the way these animals are bred and raised and slaughtered. It really is a sickening sight. I personally don't try to make that connection because I really like the taste of meat and cheese and such. The animals we eat are brought into this world just to be eaten, that's a pretty sad life for a creature that has emotions and feels pain. These animals aren't crops, they are living creatures that would live a pretty decent life or not even exsist at all if we didn't feel the need to keep them caged and injected then slaughtered just because we want a Double quarter pounder with cheese. You say that we're far above other animals as a species, but you don't see pigs killing each other for their shoes, or slaughtering millions because their their religion. Animals kill to survive, while man has evolved and developed ways to survive and thrive without slaughtering millions of animals a day. No, the wolf doesn't cry when he eats a rabbit, and you won't see most people hunt and kill thier dinner with their bare teeth. |
| Q:It's also difficult when I eat at a friend's house because I don't want to be a burden on their cooking plans. So what does Denise do when you go for dinner at a friend's? |
| A:Luckily our friends are extremely understanding or Denise's diet choice and they sometimes go out of their way to accomodate her (they are wonderful). I would suggest that you tell them in advance adn offer to bring someting to help with the meal. If they are real friends then they won't be offended, they may even be curious enough to try some. :) |
| Q:How do you feel about the term "Flesh Eaters"? Most of my friends find it offensive. Just wondering. |
| A:I really don't have a problem with the term "flesh-eaters". I'm confortable with the fact that I do indeed eat flesh. I may have disliked the term before I met Denise, or if it is intended to be an insult, but overall I'm not really that concerned about it. I view it in the same category as "tree-hugger", which can and is used by people to describe themsleves but is also a put down. i.e.:"Stupid, hippie tree-huggers." |
| Q: I do have one question for denise though... i can totally understand being vegetarian, i'm not personally though i admire anyone who can be, but i was wondering why do vegans have such a huge problem with other animal products such as milk and eggs? i don't mean this as a criticism, i am really just curious. cows need to produce milk anyway, and they don't get hurt for it, so why is there a problem? -Elen |
| A: Thanks to Denise I feel qualified to answer this question. Yes, cows need to produce milk, and yes cows need to be milked....by baby cows. Just like humans, cows don't produce milk unless they are pregnant or have just given birth. The milk they produce is intended to feed their baby cows. Now the dairy industry keeps their cows continually pregnant (so they will continue to give milk) and they take the baby cows away from their mothers to be used as veal, more milk cows or just plain killed. Chickens lay eggs to reproduce, but they are kept in terrible conditions and have their potential baby chickens taken from them and turned into quiche. This is why vegans stay away from milk and eggs. (I will do more research on the chicken part of the answer as I am not totally confident in that answer.) |
| Q:But don't humans need milk to? To grow strong and healthy? |
| A:Humans need calcium for strong bones and teeth. Unfortunately, cow milk is really only good for the aforementioned baby cows. Protein in the milk deters the body from using the calcium in the milk. So, the more milk you drink the more you need. A much better source of calcium is green, leafy vegetables such as greens and brocolli. |