Comments on: How to be Vegan (and have a Life.) ~Roger Williams.

By: Raising a Cup to Compassion: Vegans & Alcohol | elephant journal

Raising a Cup to Compassion: Vegans & Alcohol | elephant journal — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:37:22 +0000

[...] outside the vegan lifestyle seem to think that eschewing the use of animal products begins and ends with the food on the plate. [...]

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:16:49 +0000

"In the end remember to do your best to eat with a conscious mind, always being aware of what you are consuming. Being vegan doesn’t require a snobbish or religious attitude. It just requires that you care about what you are putting in your body and what it takes to get that food to your plate."

THANK YOU! I am still a meat eater but have been phasing it out (I could go into all the excuses for not giving it up completely but that would only be buying in to what annoys me about the lables) and the more I learn about the ethical and health issues related to dairy I have nearly illiminated it from my diet (it helps that the husband is lactose intolerant). I get so frustrated when I am doing my research or looking for recipes on vegan/veg blogs/sites to see the hollier than thou comments…it really is off-putting! I personally don't see the point/need for all the labels except to insinuate superiority.

Thanks again for such a level-headed article!

By: candicegarrett

candicegarrett — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:34:38 +0000

I have a really great recipe for vegan french toast! Mash up bananas and soy milk and use that instead of the traditional egg topping. Be careful when cooking though, it will tend to stick. But it is a family hit here in the Garrett house.

By: Suasoria

Suasoria — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:24:48 +0000

"If I unknowingly eat something with Whey in it I will not beat myself up over it." <— very sensibly put. Often people give up after a short time because they feel it's overwhelming, but the truth is, all vegans are doing the best they can in every circumstance. So to Laurie, don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Be true to your ethics by consciously avoiding what you can, look for substitutes for those favorite products, and don't sweat what you cannot possibly control.

Because of allergies, intolerances, and even autism, restaurants have to be more and more aware of ingredients. If you aren't satisfied with the answers you get to your questions – pick another restaurant!

By: Gary Smith

Gary Smith — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:14:10 +0000

Roger – Great article! I have been an ethical vegan for the past three plus years. I've been either a vegetarian or vegan for close to 19 years now. It is so much easier to be a be a vegan now than it was back in the day. There are so many choices in the super markets and so many vegan/vegetarian restaurants (at least in LA). I would like to suggest to people that they take their friends, co-workers and families to vegan restaurants. Most people are totally open to trying a new cuisine. It's really important to support vegan businesses and saves animals lives during that meal.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:51:08 +0000

great article – thanks for writing this!

By: Linda-Sama

Linda-Sama — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:54:18 +0000

two comments (BTW, I am vegan):

soy milk: some people have to be careful with too much soy. there are many people with thyroid conditions who require daily thyroid medication (I have Hashimoto's Disease, hypothyroidism). excess soy intake hinders the uptake of thyroid meds which is not good for people with hypothyroid, and soy is ubiquitous in many packaged veg foods. I use rice milk. and hemp milk is great!

and while breads and other grains are vegan, I am also wheat and gluten free. sensitivities to wheat and gluten are very common even tho you might know you are sensitive. these sensitivities sometimes appear as symptoms of something else. I eat brown rice bread.

By: Becky Striepe

Becky Striepe — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:23:06 +0000

Great post! I've found it pretty easy to eat out, unless we're visiting a steak house or Cracker Barrel. Salad and a baked potato or fries is a good fallback if it's a particularly tricky menu. Garden burgers are awesome, but you've got to ask your server…sometimes they use eggs or cheese to make them. A lot of bars (at least around here) have awesome hummus plates which make a totally filling meal. Just make sure they don't cover everything in feta.

By: Yoga in the Olympics & Esak Garcia. ~via Sarah Horn | elephant journal

Yoga in the Olympics & Esak Garcia. ~via Sarah Horn | elephant journal — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:31:15 +0000

[...] eats chicken, fish and dairy. He doesn’t eat red meat. He doesn’t drink alcohol, caffeine, or use any other stimulants. It [...]

By: Roger Williams

Roger Williams — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:04:02 +0000

Hi Laurie,

Thanks for commenting. I agree it can really become a nightmare figuring out what you can and cannot eat, especially as you start investigating further about what it actually in our food. Personally I am not Vegan for ethical or religious reasons. It is primarily for health. If I unknowingly eat something with Whey in it I will not beat myself up over it.