Is it a good idea to become a vegan?

Question

i just saw "meet your meat" on goveg.com i am already a vegetarian but i want to become a vegan because i saw how dairy cows and raccoon dogs are treated for dairy and coats like that. but my parents will not approve. but i know that they cant force me to eat certain things. so i guess what im trying to ask is , should i go from a vegetarian to a vegan. and how can i get my parents to respect my decision

also i just found out that vegans can't eat white sugar. why?

Answer 1

I'd say that your best bet is to slowly give up all of the products that you need to, starting with the easiest and ending with the hardest. Example: I gave up eggs in obvious form first, then went through other foods, finally having cheesecake and non-soy mocha, and am still in the process of finishing all of the remaining little things, like lactic acid. It's hard to memorize all nonvegan ingredients, so just take it a bit at a time!

To convince your parents, it's best to just tell them why you want to go vegan and insist that you're sure and if it doesn't work out and you feel ill health effects then you will stop immediately. Give them some info, maybe find one of the "your teen is going vegan" letters (in the back of books about veganism, usually, and probably online someplace.) Your parents should respect the decision, whether they think it's a good idea or not- after all, you don't judge what they eat, do you?

It depends from person to person, but some vegans don't eat certain brands of white sugar (like Dominos) because they are processed through animal bone char. THere are substitutes, like beet sugar or brown sugar, but overall I don't think that too many people bother. It's too hard to give it up in anything, and it's easier to ask suppliers of baked goods whether their cookies contain eggs, milk, or honey than it is to ask if they used a certain brand of sugar. I'd say that you shouldn't bother worrying about sugar for awhile after you've gone vegan.

It's a great choice and you're doing a good thing, so just remember that. Good luck!

EDIT: Read over other responses and agree with fellow poster- WOw! Cliches, much? I would like to combat some other person's response, as well- there are incredibly many vegan products? Do you think that the thousands of vegans in the world would live without soap? If you can't find vegan products (beauty, food, whatever) where ever you normally shop, there are health food/ natural food places everywhere, and places online where you can buy any products that you can't find within driving distance of your home. Actually, I've even seen vegan products in herb stores or such, and it would seem that places with Wiccan customers seem to carry a large number of random vegan things, for some reason, which could be useful if you're okay with going into places like that. And remember that you don't have to get rid of everything cold turkey- finish off your lipstick of lotion before you shop for new stuff, and don't just throw away your wool sweaters! Again, good luck! Oh, and for other questions there's always yahoo answers, or (if you don't want the anti-veg trolls) you can also check out www.veggieboards.com. They know everything!

Answer 2

As for the vegeterian to vegan thing that's your choice. I am a vegetarian and I plan to stay as one. If you want your parents to respect your descion you have to tell them the benefits of a vegan and what it is happeining to the animals. If they agreed with you becoming a vegetarian then they should be able to accept you becoming a vegan. (Lucky for me my parents are vegetarians and wouldn't care me becoming a vegan and definelty accept it.) But all I am saying is do what it is right for yourself.
As for the vegans don't eat sugar that's correct they don't eat sugar because some sugar companies use bone char (from cows) to whiten their sugar. Luckily most sugar companies use bone-char-free sugar though so it's just a question of finding out which ones are which.

Answer 3

Your parents will respect your decision if you're committed to it and don't make the decision on a temporary basis. If you try it then quit, that allows them to say, "I told you so."
My family was vegan for a while, and I warn you, it's a bit more work to have great meals when you're vegan- especially if your family isn't trying to help you.
But you will be much healthier for it, I know that much. Being a vegetarian is easier, but every good thing has its price. If you feel up to a challenge, go for it! Good luck!

Answer 4

Well, I've been a vegan for about a year now. I've felt healthier since going vegan and I ran faster on my school's cross-country team last season, so there's a little anecdotal evidence for you.

About white sugar... lots of it's filtered through bone charcoal. You shouldn't eat it anyway, though. It's unhealthy.

Whether you end up going vegan or not, eat healthy, k?

Answer 5

Good for you! I became a vegan six months ago, and feel excellent. I try to avoid as many products as possible that either are made of animals, or have been tested on them. Do your best! Contrary to past assertions, people do not need to eat meat.

Answer 6

I think it would be a great idea to become a vegan....as long as you are willing to be looked at as a pariah for the rest of your life. Human beings are meat eaters...like it or not. Our bodies are NOT meant to not have meat. Our complex digestive systems go completely out of whack when ideas of those who figure that they can change the world by not eating meat are put in place.
Further, you will want to be a TRUE vegan, if you become one, not just a passive one. That means no more leather, no more wool, no natural products that are and have been used since time in memoriam. Use nothing that comes from an animal...and by the way, go to the stores to look and see what is actually NOT animal-fat based, or even animal by-products...you will be surprised. No more makeup...no more beauty products. Most soaps will be out too. So be careful what you wish for.

Answer 7

You should stick to vegetarian. If you go vegan your not going to get the dairy and the meat that you need daily. I respect vegetarians and such, but since the early days we have always eaten meat. Think about what would have happened if caveman Joe decided not to eat meat? Thats just my opinion though. As for your parents, if you still want to be one, the only thing you can do is sit down with them and tell them why you want to be it.

Answer 8

Sorry, but this whole soppy sentiment surrounding veganism just irks me. Yes, it's true some or even most of these animals have worthless, miserable lives, but harsh as it may be, we're at the top of the food chain, just like 5000 years ago and nothing of consequence has changed since then. We kill animals and eat them because we can, we like it and, not least significantly, because we're omnivores and meat balances out our diet. If you feel sorry for those animals, then why not feel sorry for those plants you're eating? Are they any less alive just because they don't have the ability to scream out when you kill them?
We have to eat living things to survive. That's a brutal truth and one everyone needs to be realistic about. All this vegetarian and vegan sentiment is based on a thought concept that can never be a reality. We're all killers because we exist. Deal with it.

edit: Heh, why is it, I wonder, that people in certain categories of Y!answers only want to hear answers that agree with their point of view? Not everyone thinks being vegetarian/vegan is such a hot idea. Is that any reason to say their answers are bad? Shame on you. ;)

Answer 9

Try www.vegsource.com. There are many well respected Doctors that post on this site. Check it out.

If your serious about Animal Rights, you should go Vegan.
www.animal-law.org

Edit: Wow, you have gotten some really stupid, cliche responses to this question.

Answer 10

Nope a good idea is to become a vegetarian and being vegetarian reallly keeps you in a good shape....