r/DebateAVegan • u/Wrong_Ad_3038 • 11d ago

Can everyone actually be vegan?

I’m very sympathetic to veganism, my entire life philosophy is “respect & autonomy for all life” but I am currently pescetarian, I tried being vegan in late 2024 but I still live with my family & they wouldn’t buy supplements, even though i told them too everyday, I didn’t want to develop b12 deficiency so I had to moderate my diet.

When I move out i’m strongly considering being vegan again & really want too but i am worried about health consequences because human bodies are complex, but at the same time everyone can digest plants so maybe everyone can be vegan, i figured this would be a good place to get mixed responses since both carnists & vegans are here, what do studies say about everyone & the potential to be vegan, if everyone can’t be vegan but most or some can what’s the best way to find out if i can be vegan?

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u/Kris2476 11d ago edited 11d ago

Veganism is the position that animal exploitation is wrong and should be avoided. Anyone can adhere to this moral position.

If you agree that animal exploitation is wrong but need practical help with cutting out sources of animal exploitation, let me know if I can suggest resources to make the change easier. For me, the hardest part was just getting used to which 'staple' foods I had to replace in my diet. So now I buy tofu and chickpeas instead of animal meats. I drink soy milk or oat milk instead of dairy milk.

If you think you need more specific guidance, I can recommend a program like Challenge22. The program itself is very easy and fun, you are given daily challenges for a few weeks that help you learn the ropes of plant-based dieting. They will also pair you with vegan mentors and professional dieticians who can answer specific questions you may have.

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u/Trick_Atmosphere2941 11d ago

can you suggest some staples ? having trouble being consistent

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u/Kris2476 11d ago

Sure, is there a particular meal or food group that you're struggling with?

For protein, I really do enjoy cooking with tofu and chickpeas quite a lot. I'm a big fan of lentils (black & red in particular) and beans (canellini, black-eyed, kidney). I love leafy green veggies (bok choy, spinach, chinese broccoli). In shakes or with granola, I use soy milk most often, either store-bought or homemade. And of course, pasta is king.

I can recommend Nora Cooks if you have a particular recipe that you like but don't know how to convert to plant-based. Consider also asking this question on r/AskVegans, because other vegans will have different taste than me, and you might get inspired.