There are certain questions that people ask me that don’t seem to go away as the years go by. I’ve been vegan for almost 7 years now, and I find it interesting when I hear a question like “do you find being vegan hard” or “are you ever going to eat meat again?”. I’ve mentioned this in one of my blogs, but these questions come from genuine curiosity. Not many people come across vegans, especially because they make up a global minority. Vegans make up between 80 and 230 million people around the world depending on the source. Although we can estimate that some countries have more vegans than others, it’s still a small population size.

As such, the questions above, although simple, are thought-provoking in a sense. The preconceived notion that veganism is hard is not surprising. Let’s face it, we live in a non-vegan world. The consolidation of food across the globe accommodates a standardised diet that involves animal products. There is also a notion in many societies that dictates that animal products are a necessity. This can boil down to many reasons, from cultural, historical, culinary, and so forth.

However, being vegan in the 21st century has never been easier, even with all the intricacies above. So, I want to expand on how I rationalise some of these notions, and how it helps me better navigate a non-vegan world, as a vegan.

The Basics

Veganism and Cost

I think it’s unsurprising that one could find fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes almost everywhere in the world. If we also add flour based products such as bread, tortillas and pasta, you’ll have a whole meal. In a place like London, where I live, you can find all the foods I mentioned above at a relatively cheap price. Moreover, vegan-friendly options are available in almost every corner of the city. There are vegan restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs serving food and drinks at each price points, from low budget fast-food chains, to high-end fine dining restaurants.

However, I sometimes hear that being vegan is “expensive”. This is an interesting perspective because any diet can be expensive. If a person only buys local, organic and non-GMO foods, I’m sure that their overall bill will be more than the average. This can in some essence make or break my statement in the previous paragraph, as some options are more expensive than others. For instance, I know that organic canned chickpea is more expensive (almost double the price) than non-organic canned chickpea. However, is there much difference between the two? That’s up to personal preference.

Nevertheless, I will admit that vegan alternatives might be pricier than their original counterparts. An average Beyond Burger at £4.50 gets you 2 patties, which is more expensive than Tesco’s 4 beef patties for £3.75. However, there is an on-going competition between different producers of vegan alternatives, leading to price variation and choice. If we observe the trend closely, we will realise that vegan products have been on the market for 10-15 years. Given sufficient time and demand, I do believe that prices will adjust at a “fairer” point, making them more appealing to consumers regardless of lifestyle choice.

Veganism and Protein

One of the preconceived notions that I hear about veganism is that of malnourishment. It’s not uncommon that I hear people saying that vegans are weak, skinny, or anything else that indicates “unhealthiness”. I think these ideas stem from a generalisation of vegans based on a mentality that champions meat eating. Growing up, we learned that we have to eat meat to be strong. To not eat animal products means to go against what’s normal, and in many cases, that’s questionable.

The redundantly asked question “where do you get your protein?”, is a very simple one. But, it’s a question that carries the aforementioned thoughts. Although protein is an important macronutrient, people in many parts of the world exceed their daily recommended intake without even realising it. Sure, the value might seem low (55g of protein for men and 45g for women), but it’s the lowest amount of protein one could have without being deficient. So, although the infographic chart below considers the average required intake as a baseline, we notice that people in many parts of the world get the majority of their protein from plants. In fact, if we account this by population, we realise that this makes up most of the world’s population.

This is not coincidental, since in countries such as India, almost a quarter of the population is vegetarian (±350 million people). Additionally, the dietary makeup for many people around the world contains grains and legumes, which pack a lot of protein. Finally, it’s unsurprising that in impoverished places, meat consumption is lower due to price and availability. As such, meat is a luxury food item that people infrequently eat unlike in the West for example, where it’s a staple food item.

Veganism and Society

The last thing that I want to cover in this blog article is how society (culture), can have an impact on veganism. One thing that I hear some people say is “I’m [insert origin], I can’t be vegan”. Or, “my family would disown me”. The society that we live in plays a big role in shaping who we are, and as such, may dictate our lifestyle. This could stop people from going vegan because of a sense of exclusion that they might impose on themselves. Others could see it as an act of “rebellion” or “deviation” from their normalised upbringing or surroundings.

Whether or not one buys into this, goes back to the individual. The choice of being accepted is one that’s important for many people. As social animals, our existence needs to be validated, in order to derive some value-driven purpose. This also stems from the fact that most people, on an individual level, want to live in peace amongst others. Taking part in a uniform culture makes it easier on people to exist without any turbulence. It provides a sense of familiarity. However, this begs the question: How important is food in shaping our culture?

In short, the answer is: very important. Nonetheless, the choice of “excluding” yourself from something that revolves around eating animal products depends on what you value more. I think that being vegan shouldn’t hinder you from living your life normally, even though you have made a conscious life choice. That being said, educating those around you about veganism when prompted, and having friendly conversations to explain your point of view, can go a long way. To summarise, if you want to make it work, you’ll find a way (for the most part).

Conclusion

I understand that the thoughts above are my own, and they stem from my experiences. The societal aspect is one that I find most interesting, since it’s inherently subjective. My experience living as a vegan in Europe, but also in my home country of Jordan, have only been positive. Wherever I go, people will always have questions. However, I don’t think I ever faced scrutiny for my decision to not consume animals, and it has in no way hindered my social life. I remember vividly when I was invited to my friend’s house for a gathering during Ramadan, and there were platters of Mansaf for everyone. Those that gathered didn’t care that I wasn’t eating Mansaf, even though I was eating something else. I realised in that moment that I wasn’t excluding myself from anything, but rather, was participating within my own boundaries.

What I realised over the years is that, if you have a solid foundation for what you believe in, and for how you live your life, people are more likely to accept it unwillingly. I think that people forget that I am vegan until the matter comes up somehow. And even then, people don’t seem to mind at all. Ultimately, with proper education, and the right intention, the goal of veganism should be alleviating as much individual contribution towards animal suffering as possible. Being conscious of my actions will enable me to live a life that is genuine, and that brings fulfilment. So, when the time comes to answer a curious question, I can do so naturally and methodically.

Anis