FAQ—Friendlyish Answers to your Questions for Vegans
Not going to lie, as well-intentioned as folks want to be, it is very annoying to argue with others about being vegan. All of a sudden, people are worried about your protein intake and about whether you take vitamins. E Y E R O L L
Knowing that there is a negative stigma of vegans floating around—of vegans being bourgeois (boujie), snobby, etc., I have persistently set out to educate folks in a friendly, approachable way.
Think of me as your homegirl or comadre—but just for plant-based stuff.
Here are my answers to some of the most common questions asked of vegans
“Where do you get your protein?” ...
The reality is, plants have protein! Think about all of the strongest animals in the world (gorillas, rhinos, buffalo), they all eat grass & plants! The protein that humans get from consuming animal flesh like beef, pork, etc. comes from the plants that the animals are consuming (recycled plant protein). Plants are a great source of protein and are good sources of complete and clean protein. Check out this list of 15 plant-based sources of protein.
“How do you live without cheese?” …
I live a great and normal life without cheese. To be honest, dairy is not great for us. When we say that people are “lactose intolerant” —really all it means is that your body (aka not a baby cow’s body) is not responding well to lactose (dairy). Just like women produce milk for children, cows produce milk for their children. Although I drank and ate dairy for 26 years before going vegan, in hindsight it’s weird to think how normal it is in our society to consume another animal’s milk.
Did you know that there is scientific information related to why we are so addicted to cheese? It turns out the protein casein found in dairy is what binds to receptors in our brains—making us want to come back for more. This Forbes article goes further.
Today, there are so many dairy substitutes for every product imaginable, that if cheese is that important to you—you can figure it out and still indulge in dishes that don’t have dairy and in dessert items without feeling the guilt of the cruel dairy industry or the stomach ache that follows.
One thing though—I have yet to find a replacement for Dominican queso frito. My mind is churning though, so more to come on that.
“Can you eat pizza?” ...
Sure I can. The main things about pizza that would not be vegan are the cheese and any meat toppings. So for vegan pizza, I would just use a dairy-free cheese (or leave the cheese off and use hummus for flavor), and use veggie toppings instead of meat. Voila!
If you’re in a large metropolitan city, it’s likely you can even find a vegan pizza spot for the authentic experience. My favorite spot is Blackbird Pizzeria in Philly. They’ve got wings too!
“Do you mind if eat meat in front of you?” ...
I would never judge someone for what they eat, nor would I ask someone to alter an eating behavior for me (just as I would expect in return). Most vegans won’t have a problem with you eating in front of them—everyone’s gotta eat right?
when we say we are vegan for the animals: “Don't plants feel pain?” ...
While plants are intelligent and can respond to stimuli such as sunlight, touch and water, plants do not have the brain or central nervous system that mammals and other sentient beings do—making them unable to feel pain. You should still talk to them nice :)
“But aren't we supposed to eat meat?” ...
Back in the day—like way back—it was imperative that our ancestors eat what they found when they found it, as they may have had to go without food for several days. It is known that early humans were hunter-gatherers, also dependent on the region of the planet they were in and the biology present. Today, those living in developed countries like the United States have access to a cornucopia of foods and products that make it so we don’t have to be hunter-gatherers. It is possible to consume an all-plant-based diet and receive all the nutrients needed not just to live, but to thrive.
