Biggest Mistakes a Vegan can make
Posted by strangebrew on Apr 18, 2007 · Member since Apr 2007 · 28 posts
I was just wondering what people thought were the biggest mistakes vegans make that make them not vegan and they don't realize it.
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Baypuppy = smart
I think the biggest mistake a vegan can make is to alienate others and make them feel bad/guilty for their lifestyle choices. It is our responsibility to include and educate not to ostricize. Not that I haven't been a PIA at times before...it NEVER helps.
The biggest mistake a vegan can make is to not read the labels every single time! ;D
When I was new to vegetarianism, I went for years without knowing that Jr Mints had gelatin in them because I assumed they would not. :-\ Robin recently reported that Duncan Hines cake mixes are no longer vegan. Even when you've been purchasing something for years you have to remember to check the label on occasion. My bad! I meant to say that you should check the label every single time! ;)
BTW, I consider gelatin to be the antichrist of veg*nism because it's everywhere. I've seen it in spaghetti -- can you believe that??? No, not the sauce, but actual spaghetti. It's in ice cream treats, candy, & some brands of prepared guacamole! Retch. I've even seen it in some brands of nail polish remover. :o It's everywhere you don't want it to be!!
I agree with Baypuppy, though. When you've forgotten to read a label & have eaten something you would have preferred not to -- get over it & move on.
Baypuppy and Nutdragon are brilliant - both very good points.
Lezly has a great point about gelatin, but I also have a personal animosity toward glycerine ???. It can come from a veggie source, but usually comes from an animal source if they don't specify. This is how they make it: take animal fat - add lye to make soap - the fat coagulates with the lye to make soap, and produces a sweet, clear, moist runoff byproduct- glycerine :P And most consumers have no idea what they are getting! Virtually every fruit-and-cereal type bar has it - and a lot of candy bars, nutrition bars, things with fruit fillings, etc. They sneak it in to almost everything! Yuck!
But I cannot agree strongly enough with Baypuppy and Nutdragon - don't stress over little details, and don't stress others over food if you can avoid it. Veganism is supposed to be peaceful and loving. 8)
I couldn't put it better myself. I don't have anything to add except, well, thumbs up to y'all for putting it so clearly. Veg*nism is like spirituality--you do the best you can with the tools at your disposal. You allow yourself space and time to learn, and if you mess up, you take a brace and start fresh. "Do overs" are allowed, and indeed necessary.
Not being true to yourself, but I think that this goes for life in general. ;)
Worrying too much about others perceptions of veganism in regards to you. I really think a lot of vegans try too hard to be the veggiest they can possibly, but not for themselves. i think they do it out of fear of what other vegans may say about the behind their back, or to them directly. i know i see it a lot within the punk/hardcore scene and it's really disheartening
Worrying too much about others perceptions of veganism in regards to you. I really think a lot of vegans try too hard to be the veggiest they can possibly, but not for themselves. i think they do it out of fear of what other vegans may say about the behind their back, or to them directly. i know i see it a lot within the punk/hardcore scene and it's really disheartening
I couldn't agree more! I'm starting to feel less scared of what other vegans think of me, though it's tough when you hear your vegan friends say bad things about "vegans who eat regular white sugar," and things like that. Lately I've been re-thinking the much-debated honey issue and I might start using honey, but only from (very) local small beekeepers who I can ask about their bees. It scares me when I think about how other vegans might react, because to be honest, I don't think I would stop calling myself a vegan because there are some vegan issues that I am more anal about than other vegans (I won't touch/buy/prepare non-vegan foods for others, etc.), and I see it as more of the principle of veganism (least possible harm/suffering to all species, especially animals) than absolute rules about do's and don'ts.
I couldn't agree more, VegAnna. Good post.