Common questions I am often asked about being a vegan

By Gloria Stovall

We are curious by nature and before I became a vegan fourteen years ago, I was interested in knowing more about the vegan lifestyle, so naturally I had a plethora of questions about being a vegan as I grew up eating meat and dairy products and could not fathom what it would be like to go without eating fish, seafood, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, cheese, eggs, butter, milk, honey etc., on a long-term basis.  Also, back then, there were not as many vegans as there are today; and I personally did not know any vegans, so I had to resort to investigating and researching everything there was to know about the vegan lifestyle including food and protein substitutes, vitamin and mineral replacements, cruelty-free household products, clothing etc.  Keep in mind before I became a vegan, I was a vegetarian, but as you know, vegetarians and vegans are not the same, so I literally had to do a lot of research about going vegan to find answers to my endless questions.  

As many vegans will tell you, being a vegan is a lifestyle, in other words, it comes just as naturally as breathing every day, if you will, so once you have mastered being a vegan for a significant period-of-time, you realize it is a manageable, doable, enjoyable, extremely beneficial and rewarding lifestyle.  I am often asked questions about being a vegan by curious coworkers, strangers in grocery stores, if they happen to see me grabbing a handful of Beyond Meat patties, cashiers as they notice my groceries are plants, servers at restaurants; and friends and family, although not as often as they are familiar with my vegan lifestyle.  These are some of the most common questions I have been asked about being a vegan, in the past year.  

Question:        Why did you decide to become a vegan?

My answer:     It was mainly for humane, ethical and health reasons. 

Question:        Do you only eat salads?

My answer:     I eat anything that is not derived from an animal. 

Question:        Can you eat cheese? 

My answer:     No, I cannot eat anything that is derived from an animal.  I eat cheese alternatives which contain no animal cells. 

Question:        Do you ever have cheat days and sneak a piece of chicken?  

My answer:     No, there is no such thing as a cheat day for a vegan. 

Question:        Where do you get your protein?

My answer:     My protein sources include peas, beans, broccoli, nuts, oats, soy, spinach, quiona, flax seeds, meat substitutes, vegan protein drinks etc. 

Question:        Do you get enough protein? 

My answer:     Yes, I get anywhere between 65-85 grams of protein per day and sometimes I increase my protein intake to 90 grams per day, depending on my activity level. 

Question:        Can you eat fish or seafood?

My answer:     No, I cannot eat anything that is derived from an animal.

Question:        How long have you been a vegan?

My answer:     About 14 years

Question:        Can you drink milk?

My answer:      No, I can only drink non-dairy milk including almond, cashew, oat, coconut etc. 

Question:        Is it expensive being a vegan?

My answer:     No, not at all, but it really depends on if you are eating whole food vegan food as opposed to the processed vegan foods.  I was once a processed/junk food vegan and was spending a lot of money on food, but now I eat as many whole foods as possible, which is fairy inexpensive. One of the processed vegan foods I still eat are the Beyond Meat patties, which are made from peas.  

Question:        Do you worry about the health risks from not eating meat?

My answer:     Actually, studies show that meat is the new tobacco and vegans have lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, arthritis etc. 

Question:        Can you eat eggs? 

My answer:     No, I cannot eat anything that is derived from an animal.

Question:        Can you eat honey? 

My answer:     No, I cannot as exploiting the labor of bees is not ethical.

Question:        Will you ever go back to eating meat again?

My answer:     There is no chance I will ever eat animal products again.  

Question:        What can you eat?

My answer:     I can eat any food that is not derived from an animal.

Those are some of the most frequent questions I get asked about being a vegan; and if I can be candid, at one point I would get a bit annoyed by those questions, but now I am more patient and understanding and calmly answer the questions.  I can honestly say that educating people about the vegan lifestyle is one of the most rewarding attributes about being a vegan. With that being said, I have a question for you…what is keeping you from going vegan? 

I pray you are well, thriving and taking time to give yourself some rest and relaxation as we work so hard and live such busy lives…speaking of which, I have been super busy and regret not blogging as often as desired.  Thank you always for following my blog and I welcome your comments and suggestions.  

Thank you again and I wish you a blessed week!