Skip to main content

katie-bell
10th October 2016

Becoming a Vegan, Part One: what’s all the hype about? (ignore)

Veganism has hit the UK, rising by 360% in the past 10 years. But why all the fuss?
Categories:
TLDR

 

Settling back into student life in Manchester, it has been hard to avoid the debate: to be vegan or not to be? My recent conversion to vegetarianism sparked a heated conversation at the dinner table. The meat-eaters rolled their eyes as they tucked into their bacon sarnies, now the minority in our house, they’re sick of taking the blame for the world’s problems. Us, as the vegetarians, seem to be able to take the high ground. But we don’t boast the credentials of belonging to the same list as Brad Pitt and Emma Watson like our vegan housemate. In my quest to be a good, all-rounded human as I think about entering the ‘real world’, should I be following in their ethical, green footsteps? And what would this diet mean for me? Here’s some food for thought.

We’re all talking about Cowspiracy. If you’ve not seen it, you’ll have heard about it and its exposure of the shocking impact of the meat industry on our world. Mass deforestation, high levels of methane gas release and water usage all make it a big contributor to global warming. 30% of global emissions come from agriculture (more than all the transport in the world). And if that doesn’t shock, research shows that instead of feeding animals with our crops, 3.5 billion people could live off the food used for livestock. That’s enough to feed Africa, three times over. There are currently 800 million people who do not have enough food, and so, why aren’t we feeding the people? If a vegan diet uses a third of the land and a third of the water of a typical dairy and meat diet, why don’t we all change in order to save our planet?

Many of us can’t let meat and dairy go. Friends have told me life would be boring without, but is that enough reason to ignore the facts? The horror towards Mozzarisella (the new rice-based cheese) is understandable but a vegan diet doesn’t have to be boring. The common under-nourished image of a vegan is also wrong; you only need to take one look at Germany’s strongest man (all 105kg of him) to prove it is no detriment to strength.

There are concerns over health for a vegan; we’re just ill informed over where to get key nutrients. Protein can be found in other plant-based foods. Seitan for example, the wheat gluten substitute for meat (tastes better than it sounds, I promise) contains as much, if not more, protein than steak. B12 vitamin deficiency is widely perceived as the vegan problem but only long-term vegans are advised to take widely available, safe supplements. And the idea we need to drink milk for calcium is one provided to us by the companies who produce it.

For now, I class myself as a vegetarian on the diet spectrum (I try not to diet-discriminate) and maybe one day I’ll be a Cheagan (a vegan who cheats now and then) like Serena Williams. I mean if she can win 3 US Opens on a near-vegan diet, I’m sure I can attend lectures without milk in my coffee.

I’m not saying we all need to become animal-lovers, but being aware of what we eat is important and little changes can go a long way. When we consider the facts, this apparently fashionable trend seems to have more behind it than a soya milk-drinking craze.

Advice on steps towards achieving that healthy, globally aware diet and how to get the nutrients you need through plant-based products can be found in Part Two.


More Coverage

Springleaf Podcast: James Acaster’s new audio adventure

We discuss Springleaf Podcast, the new audio sitcom created by the much loved British stand-up comic James Acaster.

My year abroad, the visa process, and getting lost in translation

Preparing for your year abroad can feel daunting, but with a little preparation and a willingness to get things wrong at first, there’ll be plenty to look forward to

Getting involved: Volunteering at the Booth Centre

Getting involved in volunteering can help you feel more connected to Manchester and support the local community, here’s one writer’s experience

‘An audio treat’: The Mancunion’s favourite podcasts

Whether you’re looking to keep up with current affairs, celebrity gossip or even Formula 1, we’ve got you covered with our top pick of podcasts