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On ‘Plant-Based’

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71–80 of 210 posts

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#71

One reason I dislike "plant-based" that's not in the article: it singles out plant-based food. But for most of history, for most people, food based on plants was the default and still should be. Food should have labels when it includes stuff other than plants (or other than what we humans evolved to eat typically). The other thing I don't like is that "plant-based" always sounds like marketing. Especially here in Ger…

> But for most of history, for most people, food based on plants was the default and still should be.

Right, and all those cave paintings depicting hunting scenes were entirely for sport. There are no instances in the wild of any species similar to humans eating meat I guess. Ancient writings where they reference meats, they were really talking about Beyond Meat.

We've evolved to eat plants, yes. We've also evolved to eat meat. We've been eating meat for many millennia. I'll agree, not at the ratio that's common in the normal US diet these days, but its disingenuous to suggest that plants were the sole default of food, and it is only a modern thing to eat meat.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#72
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly Probably more to do with stereotypes of vegans themselves - ie. condescending, arrogant, self-righteous hippies. As a non-vegan, I think a lot of vegan food is actually really good. But as a rule of thumb I avoid vegan dishes that use substitutes for traditionally non-vegan dishes.

I recently became vegan, and I compare it to being straight-edge (i.e. not taking drugs). I don’t think there is a moral aspect to taking drugs, and I disagree with the way straight-edge people invent one and talk down to people who take drugs. However, I do think there is a moral aspect to using animal products when other options exist. But, I also wasn’t vegan for most of my life, so I don’t think it’s for me to te…

What exactly is unresolved? You want to convince others eating meat is immoral but feel that your meat eating past removes any standing you have to do that? Why should the general argument be diminished because of one persons behavior? If you were trying to convince me, that wouldn’t matter for me personally.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#74

One reason I dislike "plant-based" that's not in the article: it singles out plant-based food. But for most of history, for most people, food based on plants was the default and still should be. Food should have labels when it includes stuff other than plants (or other than what we humans evolved to eat typically). The other thing I don't like is that "plant-based" always sounds like marketing. Especially here in Ger…

Are you implying humans evolved to only eat plants? Every documentary and paper on early humans I see points to otherwise, and that our large brain was directly a result of access to extra protein from hunting meat. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/04/eating-meat-l...

Do we know this for sure, though? I don't think we do. Sounds like self-congratulatory hogwash to me.

Creatures eat what they can. Some purely carnivorous species have been around way longer than us, and yet, the stars did not align just the right way for them.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#75
post #4

‘Plant based’ initially meant vegan, but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly. As a vegan, I see a lot of labels boasting ‘plant-based’ but no mention of it being vegan or not, often not even on their website. That alone means I will not purchase. It’s either not vegan OR they’re scared to put that 5 letter word on their product. Market it as pl…

> but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly Probably more to do with stereotypes of vegans themselves - ie. condescending, arrogant, self-righteous hippies. As a non-vegan, I think a lot of vegan food is actually really good. But as a rule of thumb I avoid vegan dishes that use substitutes for traditionally non-vegan dishes.

"Probably more to do with stereotypes of vegans themselves - ie. condescending, arrogant, self-righteous hippies."

I have met several vegans, and they are not condescending, arrogant etc.. To me, they are the good people who cares about environment, climate, and morals. So, imo vegans who are condescending, arrogants, self-righteous hippes represent minority of populations. People are just making a broad generalizations, which is not a good idea.

That being said I agree with you, many people associate vegans with condescending ... But, this applies every other matter like climate change, slavery. In fact my neighbor views climate activists as condesending, arrogant and self-righteous hippes. Those neighbor thinks climate activists doesn't deserve to light up their house because electricity consumes fossil fuels ....

Lastly, dairy and meat industry have put so much money, vegans will definitely look bad in TV, social media etc.. In fact, my uncle think all vegans are malnourished.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#76
post #41
post #9

For people who want to reduce meat consumption for environmentalist reasons, being strictly vegan would sometimes do more harm than good (e.g. almond "milk" involves more CO2 emissions than milk). So the concept of a meal that doesn't include large amounts of meat, without necessarily being vegan, is a valuable one.

> (e.g. almond "milk" involves more CO2 emissions than milk) No it doesn’t.

Perhaps water confused the poster, but that claim seems spurious as well - as meat production requires at least 1 did crop that also requires water.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#78
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't "disguise" things as burgers, sausages etc. That's how meat has been prepared since time immemorial across all cultures. Why do vegans and vegetarians insist on disguising vegetables as meat - now that's the question. Even though the same cultures have a mind-boggling variety of foods that don't involve meat, and don't pretend to be meat.

What part of the mighty buffalo is the wing? As to why vegans do it - hotdog buns are really well designed for holding a tube of protein.

They are named for the city they originated in, not what they contain.

Re: On ‘Plant-Based’

#79
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly Probably more to do with stereotypes of vegans themselves - ie. condescending, arrogant, self-righteous hippies. As a non-vegan, I think a lot of vegan food is actually really good. But as a rule of thumb I avoid vegan dishes that use substitutes for traditionally non-vegan dishes.

I recently became vegan, and I compare it to being straight-edge (i.e. not taking drugs). I don’t think there is a moral aspect to taking drugs, and I disagree with the way straight-edge people invent one and talk down to people who take drugs. However, I do think there is a moral aspect to using animal products when other options exist. But, I also wasn’t vegan for most of my life, so I don’t think it’s for me to te…

In my experience, what does work is to lead with joy. I've found so much new life and enjoyment in my cooking since I went vegan. Cooking delicious food and sharing it with people is sometimes the best we can do.
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