Alice Vol. 7 No. 5

Imagine a salad filled to the brim with
vegetables of all colors: red peppers,
carrots, cucumbers, tofu, and more.
Imagine another kind of meal: a surf
and turf dinner with a steak and a side
of salmon. Two very different meals and
two very different ways of thinking about
food. Many people have an idea of the
vegan movement and the commitment to
no meat and no animal by-products. The
term “plant-based” has been trending in
recent years making people think more
deeply about where their food comes from
and what they are putting in their bodies.
Many people enjoy meat for its protein and
taste, while others have found a healthier
lifestyle by becoming vegetarian or even
vegan. What are the benefits of being vegan
and what does it look like to enjoy a diet
with meat?
Grace Dorsey, is a student at The
University of Alabama and president of the
club Vegan Voices. The club, open to anyone
interested in veganism, is a community of
members committed to the vegan lifestyle.
Dorsey began her vegan journey seven
years ago when she started cutting out
meat and fully committed to being vegan.
One of her driving motivations was ethical
concerns with the killing of animals and
meat farms.
“My philosophy is to avoid harm
whenever possible,” said Dorsey. “So if
it’s unnecessary and I can eat something
different then I’ll do that because I would
prefer my actions not to harm anyone.”
Veganism also appeals to people for
many other reasons such as environmental
concerns and the processes used in meat
farms. Dorsey said that concentrated
animal feeding operations, known as
CAFOs, are essentially farms with a large
population of animals used to produce
meat. These feeding operations can cause
large amounts of pollution and raise
concerns about the quality of the meat
produced.
“They’re [animals] stuffed in cages,
can’t even move and we just pump them
with antibiotics so they don’t get sick,”
said Dorsey. “And then we’re ingesting
antibiotics. Then those antibiotics are now
leaching into the waterways and causing
problems in the natural ecosystems. There
are just so many ripple effects on the
system that we have currently in place.”
Another driving motivation of veganism
is the health benefits associated with
cutting out meat. Vegetarian diets can also
have similar benefits from getting protein
and nutrients from plants alone.
“Plant-based diets, including a vegan
diet, can provide a number of key nutrients
and health benefits along with it,” said
Lori Greene, a registered dietician and
professor at The University of Alabama.
Greene described that there are many
benefits to eating plants.
“These may include cardiovascular
benefits, decreasing cancer risk and weight
loss,” said Greene. ​”Of course, these
benefits can also occur in those who eat
animal proteins but also have a diet full of
many plant-based foods.”
Although eating plants have many health
benefits, meat also has its own merits.
Many enjoy meat for the taste and find it
to be a good source of protein. Although
plants can also supply a good source of
protein, there are several key differences
between meat and plant proteins.
“Animal proteins provide all nine
essential amino acids (the building blocks
of protein) that our body needs, but most
plant proteins only have some, not all
nine,” said Greene. “Plant proteins may
also not include important trace minerals,
iron and zinc, whereas they tend to be rich
in animal proteins. However, some plant
proteins may be high in fiber, which is not
typical of an animal protein.”
It’s important to recognize that there
are some benefits to eating meat since
it is a complete source of protein. At the
same time, there are many benefits to
incorporating plants into a meat diet.
Eating meat along with some plants can
help with having a balanced diet and
getting necessary nutrients.
Eating meat and being vegan are two very
different diets with positives and negatives
on both sides. There are many other diets
and ways of eating that lie between these
two diets. It’s possible to eat more “plantbased”
while consuming smaller portions
of meat or even become vegetarian.
Holly Waite is a freshman at The
University of Alabama majoring in food
and nutrition. Several years ago, Waite
started slowly cutting out meat until
she was completely vegetarian. Unlike
veganism, vegetarians do eat animal
products like milk and eggs but still
avoid meat. One criticism that sometimes
arises with veganism or vegetarianism is
not being able to get enough calories or
nutrients from plants alone. Waite said,
however, it’s possible to have balanced
meals with plenty of nutrients.
“To make sure I’m getting enough
nutrients, I take a multivitamin that
includes B12 and Vitamin D,” said Waite.
“I also make sure to have protein-rich
meals with calorie-dense foods often since
fruits and vegetables normally are lower in
calories.”
Like anything in life, veganism and
vegetarianism may have challenges, but it’s
possible to overcome those challenges with
planning and preparation. For someone
even remotely interested in veganism, it’s
important to do your research and talk to
a dietician or doctor. Many people slowly
start cutting out meat and start trying to
find vegan options.
“I would say start slowly if you have any
interest,” said Waite. “Talk to your doctor
or a registered dietician. Include more
plant-based foods before taking away all
animal products at once. Ease into it if
you like it-- don’t put a ton of pressure on
yourself. It can be really fun to explore all
the plant-based options nowadays.”
From vegan to vegetarian to meat lovers,
everyone has a different way of thinking
about and enjoying food. At the end of
the day, it’s important to recognize the
source of food since it influences not
just a person’s body but can also have
environmental consequences. Without
going completely vegan, incorporating
more plants and vegetables into meals can
bring many positive and healthy effects.
Even a meat lover can enjoy meat while
also enjoying the benefits and nutrients of
plants. No matter the diet, thinking about
the impacts of food is crucial to a person’s
health and wellbeing.
[79]