Question about stereotypes & the media outlook on veg*ism?

Question

I was reading a biased article we were given at University about veganism being 'dangerous' for kids and how vegans must be very careful planning their diet- it seemed to imply that vegans end up sickly. I was speaking to a professor about it and he said everyone is encouraged to eat healthily, not just vegans. (So why are veg*ns singled out?)

This got me thinking- where do stereotypes come from? Do you feel that the media unfairly perpetuates myths/ stereotypes about veg*nism?

Feel free to share how you feel about it. :)

Answer 1

It is true though, teens who are vegans do need to be extremely careful when planning their diet.

Personally, I went to my doctor and to a nutritionist to discuss the best way for me to go about becoming vegan. It helped a ton and I was able to plan out what to eat and when that way it won't effect my lifestyle. I haven't been vegan very long, but it hasn't yet effected me in any negative way, and because of my careful planning I don't believe it will.

Answer 2

I think that is one minded.

I guess everyone has there own opinion, and people will always be talking smack about something, such as fats, vegans, blacks, whites, hair color, female, male, etc.

it seems a bit ridiculous to judge and say ALL vegans can't live healthy. I will day that I am sure there is a number of people out there not knowing how to make the life change and end up sickly... but it doesn't include the others.

In one way or another we are all singled out.... it's called our society

Answer 3

Truthfully I have seen very little in the mainstream media one way or the other.

Answer 4

I think this stereotype is rooted in the truth. Most Americans don't really pay much attention to nutrition. For plenty of them, enriched dairy is their only source of calcium and vitamins.

People who cut certain food groups DO need to be careful to get enough nutrients. Whether you avoid dairy because you're lactose-intolerant or vegan, there are nutrients that you'll need to get from other sources. Anyone who is willing to take the time to do their research will be fine. But Americans are pretty lazy and don't like to do their research. In short, most Americans are pretty stupid about eating. They either don't understand that you can get your nutrients from other sources (and therefore believe that you HAVE to eat meat or dairy to be healthy) or they think that it's exactly the same (and therefore don't up their intake of beans and dark leafy greens).

I haven't had any experience reading any articles that I thought were unfairly biased regarding vegetarianism and veganism. The general consensus, from what I've read, is that vegans and vegetarians need to be careful to include good sources of proteins, various amino acids, etc in their diets. Obviously everyone needs these, but if the primary source within a culture is meat and animal products, than people who don't eat these things will need to use some more creativity.

I guess I don't understand why you think that vegetarians and vegans do not need to plan their diets carefully. It seems pretty obvious to me that most people DO need to, at least until it becomes habit. I know that I am more mindful of what I eat than most of my friends.

I think that the point is that for everything you take away, you need to add something. A lot of people out there don't bother to do their research. They decide to go vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons without thinking about the health implications. In the same way that some new vegetarians will just load up on eggs and cheese (not healthy), some will just cut meat but not change their diets to get the protein, fat, and iron that they used to get from meat.

It's totally obvious for you and me that they need to add legumes, etc. But some people just don't think about it. Totally not a good idea. Any diet out there, whether it is for health or ethics, is just as much about what you do eat as it is about what you don't.

Answer 5

A vegan diet is healthy if done right. Or unhealthy if not.

A stereotype is based on some truth because is is usually a common occurrence as observed by people.

Vegans are singled out maybe because they are going against the norm. An omnivorous diet is the diet of choice for the majority and over indulgences aside, by experience has been pr oven healthy. Any practice that is against an established norm is always viewed with skepticism.

It is also a stereotype among many vegetarians and vegans that their diet is healthy by default. This is as much a fallacy as the opposite.

Answer 6

I'm a vegetarian and have never considered going Vegan because that is extremely difficult. If a Vegan takes all of the appropriate supplements and eats a healthy, rounded diet, they will not end up "sickly". It is just difficult to get all of the correct nutrients without eating meat or even eggs and cheese. I get all of my supplements, like iron, through pills, considering I don't eat any red meats, and I get all of my protein through Veggi Burgers and other Veggi Meats, nuts and eggs. So it'd be difficult to be a Vegan. But it can be done.

Answer 7

I haven't seen much in the media one way or the other, but I definitely see misconceptions even from people who are vegetarians.  Take Allie for example.

Allie, as a (non-vegan) vegetarian, you should not need to take any supplements.  Even vegans often don't need supplements, if they eat foods fortified with B12.

There are more protein sources than you realize.  See this list:  http://www.commonsensehealth.com/List_of...