Not in line with the Vegans

For the past couple months -- ever since receiving some unwelcome news -- I have been following a diet that has unfortunately been popularized by that group calling themselves "Vegans". A diet that excludes almost everything tasty -- including brats, calamari, sundaes, salami, mozzarella, tuna sandwiches, chili soup, quiche, deviled eggs, and the likes -- but makes plenty of claims to provide many healthful benefits is worth a try.

The term Vegan is not one that I prefer. It brings to mind those in the radical movement who reject the use of animals for any human benefit. True Vegans reject the Biblical principles regarding man's rule over the animal kingdom, and man's right to use animals to meet his needs (see Genesis 1:28, 3:21, 9:3, Deut 25:4). True Vegans would reject the use of animals in farming, transportation, cooking, clothing, pharmaceutical development, warfare, trade deals (e.g. dowries), eating, and bacon, siting that it is abusive to the animal to be used by man for his benefit. A true Vegan would let the animals roam meaninglessly about the earth without any hope of profitable employment. I reject that animals should lead a meaningless existence of wandering the earth without the pleasure of serving mankind in meaningful employment. Everyone deserves a sense of purpose, including those in the animal kingdom. So I am not Vegan.

What drives someone to become an eater of things solely non-animal? Perhaps one thing is the desire to be odd. That certainly fits. Another may be the health benefits. A notable benefit is the agent sulforophane, a precursor of which is found in broccoli, radishes, and mustard. This is reported in peer-reviewed journals as being an anti-cancer agent. Many such molecules have been noted in other fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and spices. A dearth of which are found in meats and other such animal products. The one thing I miss is butter.

The thing that particularly interested me as I surveyed the "Vegan" world is the innovative use of soy products. This is what spurred me to write this whole episode. Soy is the wonder food of the vegan world. It can be processed, shaped, modified, solidified, fermented into just about any imaginable form, taste, and texture. If one wants a hamburger, form one from soy and top with ketchup and mustard. If one wants yogurt, used cultured soy milk. If one wants cheese, buy a bag of shredded soy cheese. The list is endless. Here is what I've come up with so far: soy milk, soy burgers, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy eggs, soy bacon, soy sandwich "meat", soy brats, soy sour cream, soy mayo, soy butter. And then the recipes you can make using soy as a meat substitute is endless. To compete, the meat industry may have to start on a meat based tofu substitute.

So how would I summarize my current eating habits? They are certainly different from that of the Vegan in that my motivation is totally different. I reject the label "Vegan". Well, I think titles are silly anyway. I'm doing my best to eat healthful foods that will do more good than harm based on the latest research and knowledge, filtered through my keen and discerning eye. Other filters are welcome, and advice will always be well-received, although not always followed.