Veganism has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years. Today most people, regardless of their dietary choices, know what veganism is, and may even have an opinion about it. Unfortunately, the heightened visibility of veganism has brought along with it a few myths and stereotypes. In this article, we will bust some of the most common vegan stereotypes, and provide some insight into the truth of veganism.
Common Stereotypes
Veganism is Expensive
When people think of living a vegan lifestyle, they may be quick to assume that it is a costly dietary choice, or that vegan products are hard to find. This could not be further from the truth. While there are some vegan products that trend towards pricier variety, veganism is an incredibly accessible lifestyle. You can craft a vegan stack of grocery items without spending much more than a regular diet. In fact, some produce staples are usually cheaper or the same price as non-vegan options.
All Plant Diets are Healthy
This is one of the most pervasive vegan myths- eating vegan automatically means eating a healthy diet. This could not be further from the truth. There is nothing inherent about veganism that make it a definition of a healthy lifestyle. While many vegan products are more nutrient-dense than their non-vegan counterparts, “junk food vegans” exist, who follow a vegan lifestyle but still make suboptimal food choices.
Vegetables Are All You Eat
Most carnivores think that vegans “just eat vegetables”, but vegan food can looks just like any other. Vegans can recreate many dishes they used to enjoy in a plant-based format.
Vegan cuisine today looks just like anything else you might find in a freezer section or in a restaurant. There exists a variety of vegan cheese, egg, bacon and meat alternatives that may shock meat-eaters.
Veganism is All about Animal Cruelty
Veganism, for some people, is linked to a greater cause. It is connected to the use of resources and animal cruelty. That being said, it is a much more diverse lifestyle than that. For some, veganism is a way to live a healthier lifestyle and reduce the risk of certain health conditions, or to become an environmental steward.
Veganism is Restricted
Possibly the most absurd vegan stereotype is that vegan food is limited and lacks in variety. Vegans have access to many diets, such as raw vegan, gluten-free vegan, and other variations. Vegan food in restaurants and at-home can be quite diverse, too! In the United States alone, there are multiple vegan restaurants relying on an array of plant-based nutrition, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains.
Benefits of Veganism
When many people think of a vegan lifestyle, they assume it must be restrictive in nature and a pain to maintain. On the contrary, veganism can open up massive personal, environmental and public health benefits.
Body
The vegan diet tends to be naturally higher in fiber, and plant-based proteins. Studies conducted on veganism found that it reduced the risk of developing conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Environment
Veganism is also great for the environment since a more plant-based lifestyle uses less water, soil, and energy than a conventional, meat-based diet.
Society
Eating vegan is also beneficial to society at large, by no longer drawing resources from factory farms, with some citing animal rights causes and other ethical concerns as well.
Veganism often gets a bad rap, thanks to false stereotypes, but the truth is that veganism is a varied and accessible lifestyle that can be beneficial to health, the environment, and society. Taking a few moments to understand veganism on its terms could just help create a more tolerant and informed world.
