You often hear arguments such as "vegan is too extreme" or "veganism is restrictive" from meat eaters or vegetarians. But is that really the case? The number of vegan products in supermarkets is growing and growing. The offerings in cafés and restaurants are also increasing. So is veganism really something extreme? Or does it just feel that way because we need to change something in our lives that we have been doing for a long time?
In this short article, I would like to question this and show you whether this argument from meat eaters and vegetarians is really true. Let's go!
Is veganism extreme and restrictive?
I can understand that veganism can seem restrictive when you're completely new to the subject. But after a week of consciously eating a vegan diet, you're already familiar with many plant-based alternatives to animal products - and you're constantly getting to know more. That's just how it is when you break out of your habits - it gets exciting!
The fact is that a vegan diet will open the door to so many different, varied and delicious dishesas you cannot yet imagine. You can continue to eat pizza, burgers, pasta or lasagna. There is also vegan cheese that tastes just like normal cheese. The only thing that changes: the vegan alternatives do not contain any animal body parts. And you're not paying for someone else's tortures animals for you and kills. So vegans are not extreme, but convinced of what is right and consistent in their daily actions. Being vegan is simply a decision for your own health, for the preservation of the planet and against the exploitation and killing of innocent animals.
Is it not rather extremethat we fatten, torture, mutilate and ultimately gas, shred or slit the throats of 74 billion animals worldwide every year just so that we can then eat parts of them, even though we don't have to?₁ From the perspective of a cow, a chicken or a pig, I could understand if their lives were described as restricted and extreme.
Extreme is how we treat innocent animals for immoral reasons
I used to say that vegan is extreme until I realized how much suffering I was already causing animals by buying eggs or cow's milk. For me, it's rather extreme to simply accept this because I enjoy eating animal products. For me, there was an extreme contradiction between "I am against animal suffering" - and I "I love meat". My moral values and my actions now fit together well again.
If you feel the same way, it really is time to get involved with a vegan diet. Just take a look at the Vegan Blog around. There are recipes and lots of background information. It has never been easier to go vegan than it is today. For example, start by replacing cow's milk with oat or soy milk. And learn step by step.
I wish you maximum success! Do you have any questions, tips or your own experiences with the "vegan is too extreme" argument? Then feel free to share them in the comments.
Stay compassionate,
PS: If you're still not completely convinced, be sure to check out this vegan documentaries an. I was particularly impressed by the Dominion film grabbed and brought to veganism.
References:
₁ Things explained - In a nutshell: Meat - The most delicious evil in the world, YouTube, 24.01.2019, Web, 07.05.2020 at 10:50 a.m., in: http://y2u.be/y6f3dwxexZM.
