Vegan Myths Busted!

While there are many reasons to become a vegan, there are a lot of reasons (or excuses or misconceptions) out there about why NOT to become a vegan. So I figured I’d compile a quick FunnySpoon Five list of common myths about veganism, and then debunk them. I mean, if you don’t want to give up meat and cheese because you really like them, that’s one thing. But if you’re refusing to become vegan based on misinformation, that’s another. So here goes:

The FunnySpoon Five: Top 5 Myths About Veganism

1. A lack of meat causes anemia/iron deficiency. While eating red meat is a common (and great) source of iron, avoiding red meat does not automatically lead to anemia or iron deficiency. Vegans can get plenty of iron from whole grain bread, cereals, dried fruit, spinach, broccoli, and tofu. Get more info about veganism and anemia.


2. A lack of dairy causes calcium deficiency. Again, while non-vegans can easily get their recommended daily dose of calcium from "traditional" sources – milk, cheese, yogurt – there are plenty of options out there for vegans. Tofu, spinach, broccoli, and nuts are great natural sources of calcium, and some soy milks and instant breakfast cereals are fortified with calcium as well. Get more info about veganism and calcium deficiency.


3. Going vegan will help you lose weight quickly. You will not necessarily lose weight just by going vegan – if you fill up on fatty vegan foods or junk foods (many junk foods are still vegan), and especially if you fill up on sweets, your daily caloric intake can still be high. However, if you pay attention to what you eat and focus mainly on whole grains and veggies, you should be fine. The Vegan Food Pyramid can help you figure out how much of each type of food you should be eating.


4. Vegans are all crazy tree huggers who love animals more than people. There are many reasons why people choose to become vegan. There may be some vegan “whackos” out there, but there are also “whackos” who eat meat, too! Vegans may have made the choice to become vegan because they care about animals, or because they don’t like the taste of meat/cheese, or for environmental reasons, or just for general health. Becoming vegan doesn’t automatically attach the “crazy tree hugger” label to you – if you’re educated about veganism you can respond to these stereotypes and inform the very people who are perpetuating these myths!


5. Vegan products are too hard to find, too expensive, and taste gross. No way! We’ve compiled a list of tasty vegan products that are available almost anywhere and also created some special vegan recipes we thought Ellen (and all vegans!) would enjoy. Dig in!

Have you heard of any other myths or misconceptions about veganism? Share in the comments!

Day 4: Vicki Goes Vegan

My lunch yesterday was fab! I took Carrie's advice and got a little more creative, while still using up my leftovers (those bags of slaw last forever!). Check out my Vegan Nachos:





Now just don't ask about my dinner - I went out to an Italian restaurant and it was impossible to find something vegan. Well, more accurately, it was impossible once I smelled everyone else's food to find something vegan on the menu that looked appealing. I'm finding that when I eat at home it's not that hard to control - just only have vegan products on hand and then you'll be fine. But in a restaurant? That was too much for me to bear. Oh well, we can't all be perfect. But I'm trying!

Day 1: Vicki Goes Vegan

I thought this challenge was going to be hard but so far it's been alright. Very easy for me to say, though, since it's only been a few hours! By the end of the week you might catch me in the corner unwrapping sticks of butter and eating them like candy bars, but for now I feel like I've found some healthy alternatives to meat and dairy.

I highlighted these two recipes on the FunnyScoop blog as part of our FunnySpoon Challenge:

Teriyaki Salmon Burgers



Yogurt Poppy Slaw



It was easier than I thought to go vegan - I just substituted the following ingredients in the recipes:

MorningStar Farms Grillers Vegan Burger

Silk Plain Soy Yogurt

Vegenaise Vegan Mayonnaise

Delish! I really didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, plus I got that "feel-good" feeling that I was being more eco-friendly and eating a little healthier. (Plus I was thinking this is "what Ellen would eat" and got a little excited that she might give me a gold star or a pat on the back. Fingers crossed!)