Growing up around cattle my whole life, I’ve never really been concerned about vegan lifestyles, I just wasn’t inquisitive enough I suppose. However, after watching clips from Oprah’s show on going vegan, I discovered I had LOTS of questions!
So, I did what any normal person would do… I Googled it.
It seems that there are several different views on going vegan– some seem to believe you can’t use any animals products produced in a way that cause harm to the animals, therefore steak would be out of the question. Others think that if no harm is caused, as a vegan, one should be able to consume the product– Google’s example: free range eggs.
Then there was also the question of honey– are insects considered animals? Does producing and harvesting honey cause harm to the bees? Is honey a vegan product?
After all this searching I left feeling more confused than when I started… so I have a question are there vegans out there that are willing to answer questions about their diet?
Now, don’t think because this is an agriculture blog that I’m going to try to change your opinion–that’s not why I’m asking. I understand folks chose to be vegan just like I chose to consume meat. I just honestly want to know about the diet and the choices related to the lifestyle?
For instance, on Oprah’s show I noticed a lot of the vegan foods looked highly processed. Is that the norm? Do y’all eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies? If so, are they organic?
I was also curious about peanuts. Coming from a peanut farm, I’m always interested to know who consumes our products. Since peanuts are legumes are they a big part of a vegan diet?
My last question is related to animal products in non-food products–clothes, cosmetics, medicines… how do these fit in a vegan lifestyle? Are there “animal free” options?
If you could help me out with these questions I would greatly appreciate it! I’d love to discuss it in the comment section below, on twitter (@jillianWEGL) or by e-mail.
And hey, if you have questions for me and my diet, I’m willing to answer them too!
Hope to chat with ya soon,
Jillian
From the Tractor Seat 