Vegan Myths:

But vegans only eat vegetables don’t they?

“It’s true that vegans eat lots of vegetables, and that our food is plant based, but this doesn’t mean that vegetables are the sole source of food eaten!As well as fruit and vegetables, a vegan diet includes bread, legumes, chocolate, whole grains (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oats etc…), fortified dairy substitutes, nuts and seeds, fats, and sugar.Lots of vegan foods are very healthy, but there are also great vegan pies, pastries, sweets and cakes, so you can eat junk food galore if you do so wish!”

A vegan diet is dangerous for children:

“Any diet needs to be carefully planned to ensure correct nutrition, and with growing children this becomes even more important. However, there is no evidence to show that children eating a balanced, properly supplemented vegan diet are any less healthy than meat or dairy-eating children. In fact, vegan parents are often better informed about nutrition and well-cared for vegan kids may eat healthier than many omnivorous ones whose diet often includes too much junk food and not enough fruit and vegetables.The most important thing to bear in mind is that the low-fat, high-fibre diet recommended for adults (which a plant-based diet is perfect for) is not suitable for children. Growing kids burn a lot of energy and need a high calorie intake; too much fibre will cause small stomachs to feel full before they’ve actually got enough. Wholegrain versions of cereals are therefore not usually recommended. Adding vegetable oils to meals to increase calorie count, and feeding your children smaller, more frequent meals and snacks are some strategies that can help to deal with this.A vegan child’s diet also needs to be supplemented with appropriate vitamins such as D and B12 to avoid deficiencies and a wide range of pulses; tofu and other protein-rich foods need to be eaten to provide all the amino acids. Non-dairy milk should be calcium fortified, something breastfeeding vegan mothers also need to take into account, and nuts can help to get enough iron.If you’re thinking about going vegan and have kids, why not visit a nutritionist who can help you to plan a well-balanced diet and ensure the whole family is getting what they need?”

But vegans only eat processed foods, don’t they?

“Sure it’s possible to be vegan and only eat processed foods, but isn’t this also true for meat eaters and vegetarians?Many people state that their primary reason for going vegan was for animals, not their health. But, equally, it’s not uncommon to see these same people become more ‘nutrition savvy’ once they’ve made the transition… We get asked so many questions after all! And, contrary to popular belief, being vegan doesn’t mean you have to rely on ‘fake’ meats and cheeses. Because you can get all of the nutrients you need (yes, even protein) from whole plant foods.It’s also worth pointing out that even processed vegan foods contain zero cholesterol, and significantly less saturated fats than their meat/dairy based counterparts. They come from plants… a veggie burger is practically a salad! Take a look at our recipe section… It’s packed with wholesome, delicious vegan recipe and there’s hardly a processed food in sight!”

But I love sports; won’t being vegan make me weak?

“This myth’s foundations probably lie in ‘But where do you get your protein?, so in answering that we have already gone some way to debunking this. What you may not be aware of, however, is just how many great and successful athletes are vegan. If sport is your thing then it is probably worth familiarising with the ‘who’s who’ of the vegan sporting world. Within the Vegan People section you’ll find individual case studies for sprinters, ultramarathon runners, boxers, racing car drivers and everyone in between. You may not be familiar with the name, but Scott Jurek is recognised as probably the greatest ultrarunner (distances of 50, 100 and more miles) of all time. He has been a vegan since 1999 and has won most of the toughest long distance races in the world, and many of these on numerous occasions. You’re more likely to have heard of Carl Lewis but did you know that he’s vegan? One of the world’s greatest athletes, Carl attributes his dominant and record breaking performances of 1991 to being vegan.”

Don’t vegans need to take several supplements to stay healthy?

“No. The only supplement that vegans, and many non-vegans, are recommended to always take is Vitamin B12 (or regularly eat B12 fortified foods).”

Don’t we need to drink milk to have strong bones?

“No. This has been a much repeated marketing line of the dairy industry. It is perfectly possible to obtain sufficient calcium (and vitamin D) while being vegan.”