Answers to commonly asked questions on veganism (Part 3)

By Dr. Nandita Shah

Photo: Pixabay/organictalks.com

Answers to commonly asked questions on veganism (Part 3)

by Dr. Nandita Shah

EGGS

◾ What can be used to substitute eggs in baking?

◾ Aren’t free-range eggs and organic meat more humane?

◾ Are eggs from happy free-range organic chickens bad?

SOCIAL SITUATIONS

◾ How can I handle any social challenges I may face?

◾ Will I still be able to eat out / in social situations?

CHILDREN

◾ Is a vegan diet safe for children? How can I encourage them to adopt a vegan diet?

◾ Don’t children need milk?

What can be used to substitute eggs in baking?

Just because you’re trying a vegan diet doesn’t mean you can’t eat baked goods. Baking without eggs is easier than you think! Eggs added to recipes act as binders, holding the ingredients together, or as leavening agents, adding lift and texture.

Depending on the flavours and textures needed in the recipe, ingredients such as banana, apple sauce, fruit juice, soya milk, tofu, soya or bean flour, cornstarch or ground flaxseeds to name a few, can be used as substitutes. Sometimes the egg can even be omitted from the recipe altogether without affecting the results.

For more detailed information on baking without egg, look at the section on ‘Egg Replacers’ under ‘Vegan Dairy and Meat Alternatives in the ‘Recipes’ section.

Aren’t free-range eggs and organic meat more humane?

Although free-range conditions may be better than those in factory-farms, they are not more humane. Since only hens can lay eggs, male chicks are either killed or raised for food in inhumane conditions.

The hens are then slaughtered when their production drops after only one or two years (though chickens can live up to 12 years). The term ‘free-range’ is ambiguous in many countries.

Very often this may just mean they have access to the outdoors, but there are no criteria regarding the size of the outdoor area, the number of birds per square foot, etc. All too often free-range is more of a marketing gimmick than real freedom for the hens.

Organic meat comes from animals who are raised for human consumption and who have been slaughtered in the same way as factory animals. Just because meat is labeled organic does not make it more humane.

Are eggs from happy free-range organic chickens bad?

We can think about the subject of eating free-range chicken the following way. First, if you are on a vegan diet for ethical reasons, you must be aware that male chicks are crushed and killed (because they are not egg-layers), on both factory-farms and free-range farms.

So consuming free-range chicken is not ethical. If you are on a vegan diet for health reasons, remember that free-range chicken and eggs contain relatively high amounts of fat and cholesterol, so even if you avoid a few toxins by eating free-range chicken, you are still hurting your health by eating it.

And lastly, when we think of free range organic chickens, we think of happy birds. But this can be any misleading, because there is no real definition of the words “free range”, except that the animals are not in cages.

They still may be very closely packed and in very dirty conditions. And they are still forced to produce extremely large numbers of eggs a year, and when they are spent, they go to slaughter just like any other egg laying hen.

How can I handle any social challenges I may face?

You are bound to encounter social challenges when switching to a vegan diet. It’s important not to lose sight of why you have adopted a vegan diet and keep this in mind. Do not be afraid of what people may say about your dietary restrictions.

Be true to yourself and explain why you are vegan. Be well-read so that you will be prepared to answer questions. Don’t preach, just explain patiently why eating a plant-based diet is important to you, and you may find that people will be inspired to follow your example.

Will I still be able to eat out / in social situations?

There are many restaurants to choose from which offer vegan choices, especially those offering Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian or Burmese cuisines, which traditionally do not contain dairy products.

So if you ask for a vegetarian dish, it will most likely be vegan also (check for eggs in the noodles though). When ordering in a continental restaurant, ask for dishes usually made with cheese/ butter/ cream to be adapted. For example, pizza is delicious even without the cheese, and you can also ask for pasta dishes to be served without cheese.

If you’re invited to a friend’s home for dinner, ask if you can bring a dish. This way your friends can also discover how delicious vegan meals can be. Invite your friends over for dinner and prepare a meal they won’t forget, which includes a vegan dessert!

Once they see the possibilities and how you are benefiting from a vegan diet, they may be inspired to follow your example and also try vegan.

Is a vegan diet safe for children? How can I encourage them to adopt a vegan diet?

A carefully planned vegan diet which includes whole foods can meet all of your children’s nutritional requirements and is the healthiest diet you could give them. By setting an example yourself and teaching your children to make healthy food choices, you will also be giving them a lifetime of good eating habits – and good health!

Patiently explain why a vegan diet is important, not only for good health but also for animal welfare and the protection of the environment. Take their favourite foods and recipes and veganize them by substituting the animal products for plant foods. Prepare tasteful meals and occasional vegan desserts. If they enjoy the food, then they will enjoy being vegan.

Don’t children need milk?

Every mammal produces milk only for its young. The nutrients in the milk of every animal is suitable for the growth of its own species. Milks of animals that grow quickly have higher levels of protein. The human child grows to full size in 18 years, so the rate of growth of a human being is much slower than that of most other animals.

This is why human milk contains less protein than cow’s milk. We don’t need the extra protein nor the extra growth hormones which come to us through cow’s milk even when we are children. Vegan children are less likely to suffer from colds, coughs, or even frequent infections. For more information, see this page.

Answers to commonly asked questions on veganism (Part 1)

Answers to commonly asked questions on veganism (Part 2)

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of organictalks.com or its staff. Read our full disclaimer here.

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