I might stop drinking milk....but....?

Question

I'm vegetarian and have been for over 5 months.. I actually started out vegan, but I bought way too many things that were organic and substitutes for meat and dairy that it was all together $70 dollars a week just for myself. So I decided to just eliminate meat.

Well, my opinions and views about cruelty and the treatment of animals are growing stronger and stronger lately. I also want to make it my job to make any curious people aware about the conditions these factory animals are living in.

But more recently, I saw a cow on a farm with swollen heavy udders and she could barely walk. So i've done some research and realized that I just CANNOT drink milk because I'd be supporting the horrible thing I witnessed.

But I can't eliminate all dairy YET. I love milk, and cereal. But. I drink and eat excessive amounts of both, and it's probably good if I discontinue that.

But will I be a half-@$$ vegan then? =/

Answer 1

Try almond milk, I really like organic unsweetened vanilla. Check out the site www.notmilk.com. too.

Answer 2

You would be a Vegetarian, not half anything - especially not half Vegan.

Answer 3

lots of soy milk alternatives out there!! Vanilla or plain soy has some sweetness to it, then for cooking etc you can use Unsweetened soy milk and Earth Balance spread which can even be used for baking (so you're mashed potatoes dont taste sweet)

PS cows Milk is not a neccesary part of you're diet unless of course you are a baby cow...Calcium and Vitamin D are...you dont need milk for calcium and vitamin D

Answer 4

Non. U will not. Most vegans don't have any @ss at all! You'll just be a full- @assed veggie.   :]]

Answer 5

You can get soy milk, it's not cruel to animals. If you drink milk, you are not a vegan.

Answer 6

I'm in a similar situation as you are, I'm a new vegan and don't want to eat dairy products for similar reasons.

I don't really like the taste of soy milk, but rice milk, particularly vanilla-flavored rice milk, is very good.  Almond milk is good too - I use unsweetened almond milk in my coffee.

One last option would be to drink milk or other dairy products that come only from companies that are certified humane or use more humane practices.  Stonyfield is a pretty good company compared to most commercial dairy producers.

Answer 7

they make tons of good soy milks and other diary products with no cow's milk. (the best soy milk is vanilla silk) good luck!

Answer 8

There are many milk sustitute SPECIALLY made for you.

(Then for whom?)

Answer 9

You could take part of whatever you're saving from not buying vegan and donate it to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Answer 10

Your last sentence suggests that you are more concerned about what people will think of you than you are about your choices.

If you can be aware of the deplorable conditions of dairy cows and acquainted with their suffering and still eat dairy products, then you do not possess the necessary levels of compassion and commitment to be a vegan.

But if you have some attachment to calling yourself a vegan, even if you are not, then no one can stop you.

Answer 11

i can agree with you, it makes me sick when i see poor animals in such horrible conditions, i wouldn't stop drinking milk, because its a necessary part of your diet. but make sure you know what brands your getting, some brands have good reputations, but some don't so research it before.  most cows aren't treated that way, even though some might, people don't always do that, so its OK to drink milk if you know where its coming from.

Answer 12

Back in the 1940's a group was set up to separate from other vegetarians and claim a new name for reasons that  they felt to be important.  That is how the 'vegan' group came about.  Unless you can fit within the guidelines that particular group has set for itself - while you can call yourself that name - you really are not the same as the others.

Me personally - I don't have a need for a particular name or a group to define who and what I am.  I have had others define me as "vegan", "strict vegetarian", and "vegetarian".  For me the point is that I don't 'do' animal products.

It doesn't matter if I or others totally agree with what and how you eat - for those are personal choices that you make.

What is important is that you eat a healthy diet and that you take care of yourself.

Do what you need to do - don't worry about labels that really don't mean a thing except to those that have a need for such.

Be your own individual.  But if having a label is important to you - you would be known and accepted as a 'vegetarian'.

IF you decide to go the soy/rice/almond etc. milk route - be aware that many of those add sugar to them - esp. if you get the flavored ones.  Even many of the 'plain' flavors have sugar added (GOT to read those labels).

I personally drink the unsweetened soy milk.  That is a choice that I made for personal reasons - diabetics in my family history and taking in sugar at the rate that I drink the soy milk - isn't wise for one with such a history.

Make an educated and wise choice that you can live with.

Answer 13

please do not stress too much over LABELS.  just do what you feel is best for your body in the moment, because as you go on as a veggie your body will adjust.  it takes time - sounds like you have got a clue & are on right track.  check out Anne Wigmore's website - alot of great info there about - dairyless diets & transisitional diets - safely.  recipes that are SO yummy.  i know i have tried many & many yrs ago spent time @ Anne's center in So. Cal.  was dairyless myself for i think 10 yrs?  B4 i started having kids - then incorporated cultured dairy.  still do not eat much dairy.  well hope this helps!  :)  a veggie Mom

Answer 14

Soymilk. Just replace anything with milk with soymilk. Soymilk tastes way better, too, and soy is good for you.