10 Myths About Veganism

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Being vegan is a huge part of my life, and I’m so excited that veganism is on the rise faster than ever before. More and more Americans are learning about the benefits of a plant-based diets, and plant-based meats and nut-milk sales are increasing rapidly. But, just as people are learning positives about veganism, there are also a lot of untruths circulating. In this post, I will share 10 myths about veganism and what the truth actually is.

Vegan food is expensive.

If you become a “junk food vegan”, only looking at processed snacks and frozen meat substitutes, then yes, veganism is expensive, but just as expensive as other processed foods. However, the majority of foods in a vegan diet are relatively inexpensive. I’m talking about beans, lentils, oats, tofu, rice/quinoa, veggies, and fruits. If you don’t believe me, compare prices on your next grocery trip. How much does a pound of lentils or tofu cost compared to a pound of chicken breast or ground beef? Believe me now?

Vegans don’t get enough protein.

There is a huge misconception that meat is the only way to get protein. Can you believe people really think this is true? There are so many plant-based sources of protein, such as tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds, grains, protein powders, etc. The list could really go on. As with any healthy, balanced diet, there is no protein limitation by being vegan. (And we’re not even addressing the myth that people need 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight). So, if you’re an athlete, weightlifter, or just a person concerned about your daily protein intake, don’t worry! A vegan diet can still work! If you don’t believe me, I’m a 5’3″ tall woman, and I eat about 80 grams of protein daily on my vegan diet without even trying. And would you tell Serena Williams that she doesn’t get enough protein? I wouldn’t!

You need milk for calcium.

No one still believes this, right? But, for those who don’t know, cow’s milk is for calves. (MIND BLOWING, I know) And as humans, we have no biological need for cow’s milk. Now that that’s out of the way, we can talk about the many vegan sources of calcium! There’s green leafy vegetables, fortified plant milks, tofu, almonds, black beans, black-strap molasses, and more. There is absolutely no need for cow’s milk in anyone’s diet. Can we finally stop drinking that? It’s really weird when you think about it…

Being vegan is ‘White’.

If you don’t know what this means, you must not be a person of color that has announced your vegan lifestyle to a group of family or church folk. Despite my personal experience, Black people are the fastest growing demographic among vegans! YAY us! And I don’t know about you, but I am so proud of us for learning, evolving, and expanding our minds to new lifestyles. When I first went vegan, I looked to Russell Simmons for knowledge and inspiration, but now, I know of so many more, such as Colin Kaepernick, Kyrie Irving and Erykah Badu. There is also a hashtag: #BlackVegansRock! (Am I just really late to this?) Anyway, don’t let anyone tell you that being vegan is White. It’s ignorant and just plain wrong.

Veganism is not for children.

Think about it: does it make sense that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains would be unhealthy for a growing child? It doesn’t to me! With proper planning, a vegan diet is totally suitable for all stages of life. There are so many fantastic vegan families on YouTube that show exactly how to raise a vegan child. So this vegan myth is completely untrue.

Being vegan is hard.

Name a big lifestyle change that isn’t hard to implement? Okay, so this one isn’t entirely a myth, but switching to a vegan lifestyle is not any harder than any other change. Once you get a hang of reading labels and fighting cravings, it’s smooth sailing! For more tips on an easy transition, check out my post “How to Go Vegan“. I got you!

Vegans have to take too many supplements.

No diet is perfect, and veganism is no exception. However, typically, vegan diets need as much supplementation as omnivorous diets. Vegans may be deficient in iron, B12, vitamin D, or iron; but, meat eaters may be deficient in vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. Personally, I take a multivitamin, iron, and calcium (which all women should take). With a healthy, balanced diet, most nutritional needs should be met.

Veganism makes you weak/lose muscle.

This is just completely false. And, there are so many AMAZING vegan athletes and bodybuilders to prove it! As far as muscle loss, that has to do with exercise, protein, and calories, so as long as you are meeting your goals in all those areas, you don’t have to worry about weakness and muscle loss.

Vegan food isn’t filling.

This myth comes from the fact that a lot of people think vegans only eat salads and grass. I am almost offended by this notion because I am a vegan that HATES salad! (I’m a unicorn, I know) But, vegan diets are very filling because they are full of fiber! This may be TMI, but just about any vegan can tell you how quickly they became “regular” on a vegan diet. Satiation is also determined by protein content, so as long as you’re filling your plate with some of the protein sources mentioned before, you’ll be satisfied!

Veganism is just a diet.

As I mentioned in my post “How to Go Vegan“, every vegan must find their “why”. And for a lot of vegans, it is more than a diet– it’s an ENTIRE lifestyle change. Going vegan means cutting out animal products wherever you can, even in clothing and beauty products. It’s also about the animals and the planet. In my experience, people who only focus on the dietary aspect don’t stay vegan for long; it’s just a fad for them. But the vegans who learn ALL the facts about the impact of animal agriculture are the ones who practice veganism as a lifestyle.

Did you believe any of the 10 myths about veganism? Do you have more myths to add to the list? Comment them down below!