5 misconceptions about vegan

These days vegan, a.k.a. plant-based diets are all the rage. Veganism is normally regarded as a morally superior and/or healthier lifestyle. However, there are a number of arguments for it that are not objectively true. Keep reading to clarify these 5 misconceptions about vegan.

1. Vegan = healthy

A vegan diet is not inherently a healthy diet. In particular, vegan fake meats, fried foods and confectionery are not healthy at all.

2. Vegan = sustainable

All-plant diets are not inherently sustainable. It takes resources to grow wheat, corn and soy, the major components of vegan diets. There is a lot of packaging involved and fuel consumed to get some vegan products to your door.

3. Vegan = tasteless

There are plenty of vegan foods and drinks that are full of flavour. Ever had olives, avocado, nuts, peanut butter, hummus, falafel, kombucha or black coffee? What about chia pods, sauerkraut, kimchi, dhal or vine-ripened tomatoes with pink salt and extra-virgin olive oil? The examples are countless.

Make sure you check my vegan recipes for plant-based ideas!

4. A vegan diet is safe for infants

Infants should not be fed vegan diets. They need nutrients that are not present in vegan diets. This is not Big Food conspiracy nor capitalist propaganda, it is biological truth. Vegan mothers who breastfeed their babies should supplement with vitamins and minerals according to their needs. This is no joke. We are talking human lives here.

One of many examples of what happens when an infant is fed a vegan diet can be found here. This baby “…was so malnourished by the time she was 19 months old she didn’t have any teeth and looked like she was just three months old… The girl, who was taken to hospital after she suffered a seizure in March 2018, was fed the strict plant-based diet which left her malnourished and suffering a preventable bone disease.”

5. Everyone should go vegan

Vegan diets, when properly planned, can be wonderful for some people. They can also wreck other people’s health. You need to take into account your genetic makeup, health challenges and other individual circumstances before embarking in a vegan journey. Your dietitian can help.

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