Laura's Questions

[Guest guest]

Laura,

 

You can eat a fairly wide variety of foods, including many prepared ones,

if you are handy to a Wild Oats or other store that carries such items.

My eldest son, 16, is a Vegan and we have little problem finding things

for him to eat. He gets a good variety, although in truth he's more

limited than the rest of the family, as we're lacto-ovo veggies.

 

Checking things one buys is difficult, frankly, and requires label reading

and some knowledge of the code words used to sneak in meat products.

Cassein for example, or rennet. To help you there are many books and

websites. A good starting place is http://veganoutreach.com/

 

What concerns you about what to tell friends and family? If you're going

Vegan for ethical reasons, simply state them. If you're doing it for

health reasons, again, just be honest. Most do it for a combination of

reasons, and in fact that's probably the best move. I've noticed that

often those who balk at ethical reasons back off if you mention health

concerns. Most understand that health considerations come first.

 

Then again, prepare for a lot of teasing and some downright nasty attacks.

For some reason being veggie, and especially being Vegan, draws attack.

Not sure why so many are threatened by it, but they are. My son reports

even other vegetarians will get on him about being Vegan, even though he

is centered, mild, and never tries to convert anyone.

 

Your choice is a good one, and I applaud you, and wish you well.

 

Gassho.

 

--Gene

 

On Tuesday, February 18, 2003, at 11:41 PM, (AT) (DOT)

com wrote:

 

> i've got a veggie support topic to discuss. Its relevant to me, and

> hopefully to others on the list. I'm thinking of becoming a vegan. The

> 3

> things i'm most concerned about in doing this is what am i gonna eat (i'm

> mainly worried about lunches and snacks), how i'm gonna manage to check

> everything i buy (although i've ordered the animal free shopper book) and

> what i'm gonna tell my friends and family.

> Any pearls of wisdom?

>

> Laura

>

It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen.

-Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE)