Is veganism a privilege?

From dazeddigital.com

Billie Eilish’s take on meat eaters not being animal lovers has divided the internet and sparked a conversation on meat, classism and racism – young vegans and non-vegans alike weigh in

“Eating meat is inherently wrong”. That’s the hill Billie Eilish recently said she’d die on last month in an interview with ELLE. She went on: “Two things can not coincide: ‘I love all animals so much’ and ‘I eat meat’. You just can’t do both.” Those two sentences were enough to send the internet into a frenzy of vegan discourse. There are those who believe that it is a privileged perspective – a tale of white veganism – and that many people can’t be vegan because of financial or health-related reasons. Some have called veganism anti-indigenous or racist, considering that there are people across cultures who rely on and respect the animals they kill. In reaction to those upset by her views, Eilish recently shared videos on her story of animals suffering in the food industry. “Stay fucking mad at me… I really don’t give a goddamn fuck.” 

Veganism has always been a divisive topic – I know this because I am vegan. But, before non-vegans stop reading, I’m going to preface this by saying that I think Eilish’s hot take lacks nuance. We live in a culture that tells us what animals we should care about (usually because they are cute and easy to domesticate), without any guardrails in place to protect all sentient life. But whether or not people are “animal lovers” or not aside, I’m more interested in whether it’s possible to openly critique the factory farming industry today, without just blaming everyone who eats meat individually. It feels like an especially important conversation in the US right now: Just this year, for example, the Trump administration has backed proposals by the USDA to increase the speed of assembly lines in the pork and poultry industries (from slaughtering 140 birds per minute to 175). 

Factory farming is an environmental issue, and the proposed changes to federal rules happening in America right now would double down on an already polluting food system, increasing the amount of waste discharged into local ecosystems. But it’s also a matter of workers’ rights: slaughterhouses rely heavily on rural workers who are disproportionately immigrants, refugees and people of colour who often suffer physical injuries and illnesses because of the conditions. For this reason, throughout the recent iteration of online discourse around veganism, people have also been sharing their thoughts on how factory farming intersects with environmental racism, workers’ rights and even women’s rights. “Y’all’s hatred of vegans and vegetarians is rooted in sexism,” said one creator, Paris Mwendwa, on TikTok. 

In a time where it’s hotly contested to speak out against factory farming – as a shift towards conservatism in American culture encourages people to eat more meat – we asked young people (plant-based and meat eaters alike) for their take on the current state of veganism. 

KAREN, 27, US, NOT VEGAN

“Billie’s comment came from a place of privilege. It was like when Kim Kardashian said people needed to stop being lazy and work. The controversy of it all is that it centres whiteness, as if it were the default. Many BIPOC communities live in food deserts where vegan options may not be available. If they are available, they’re priced higher than meat products. For example, I live in Chicago. The city is so big, and there are a million grocery stores, yet vegan products are still not accessible to all people because of how expensive they are. Shopping at a Trader Joe’s is a luxury to me.”

ANNALEESAH GARCIA-PIÑA, 25, TEXAS, US, VEGAN

“Before I went vegan, I felt uncomfortable when veganism was brought up. I get it. Food is more a part of who we are than we care to admit, so it feels like being attacked, but it’s bigger than just me or you. It is interesting how veganism has always been seen as a white or privileged lifestyle, though it was originally built by low-income communities. I find it weird when people who aren’t indigenous speak on behalf of us and think we can’t be educated enough to be vegan or make our own lifestyle choices. I know plenty of Indigenous vegans who were happy Billie started this conversation.”

YAPARONI, 24, SOUTH KOREA, NOT VEGAN

“I don’t agree with the notion that eating meat is inherently wrong, but I don’t think you can say you love all animals while you consume meat and animal products. It’s fascinating because I feel like years prior, millennials’ rebuttal against veganism was much more direct. Most people acknowledged the unethical practices of the meat industry, but they simply liked eating meat, so they wanted to keep doing it. But it seems my generation is trying to find a moral justification for eating meat to refute the ideology of veganism, when there are plenty of cultures around the world that have various vegan and vegetarian options.”

ANGEL KUTENGULE, 22, BRIGHTON, UK, VEGAN

“As a Black woman who originates from one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi, the idea that veganism is racist and anti-indigenous is honestly laughable to me. Animal agriculture is the leading driver of climate change, which will disproportionately affect the global south and Indigenous communities more. Because meat is so expensive, it’s frankly offensive to assert that that lifestyle, or those similar to it, come from privilege. The transition to veganism for me came partially as a financial decision.”

ADISA, US, NOT VEGAN

“Veganism is unpopular, and its practitioners even more so. Most vegans are of this white, middle, or upper-middle-class family background, and convey their message poorly to the average person. The position that simply consuming animal products is immoral is untenable. POC have less money and mental bandwidth due to socioeconomic struggles to rework their entire diet and shift to a vegan diet they’ll actually stick to. Even on the cultural point, are POC supposed to forego their entire cultural dishes to eat like livestock? The issue isn’t eating meat, it’s the immoral practices caused by capitalism and the primary motivator being capital, not the well-being of animals.”

LILY HIʻILANI OKIMURA, 28, HONOLULU, HAWAI’I, VEGAN

“People are still heavily misguided on veganism and think it’s just a diet, or that it was invented by white people who go to Whole Foods and do pilates on the weekends. They don’t understand it’s a movement that seeks to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, as far as is possible and practicable. The thing that keeps getting missed is that this was never a debate about Indigenous hunting practices. This is an argument that non-Indigenous people especially love to make to avoid accountability for their participation in industrial animal agriculture. If you have the means to, you should absolutely be reducing your meat and dairy intake.”

https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/70244/1/young-people-feel-veganism-privilege-billie-eilish-meat-animals

Venus Williams: Vegan Diet Changed Her Life

From wildbeimwild.com

Tennis star Venus Williams says the vegan diet has changed her life. For a decade, she has benefited from better skin and improved health 

Venus Williams has followed a plant-based diet for a decade, and she says it has improved her tennis performance, her skin, and her overall health.

After being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjögren's syndrome in 2011 — which causes joint pain and fatigue — Williams' future in tennis looked uncertain. Switching to a vegan diet, however, proved to be a decisive turning point.

The plant-based lifestyle not only allows Williams to manage her illness without medication, but it has also improved her complexion, something backed up by research.

«The plant-based lifestyle has definitely changed my life — my skin has become fantastic«, Williams told insider.com. And she is not the only one who has found that cutting out dairy products and eating more fruit and vegetables improves one's complexion.

The diet was so effective that Williams threw herself into this lifestyle, founding her own vegan business and investing in others. Now, Williams says, other athletes ask her for advice on how to give up meat without compromising their athletic performance.

Serena Williams suggested Venus try a «raw vegan» lifestyle

Williams' diagnosis was the initial motivation to change her diet, and it was her sister Serena who suggested she eat raw vegan — meaning only raw, plant-based foods — which she did before transitioning to a more relaxed plant-based approach.

«Living with an autoimmune disease can be a little challenging, and you can end up taking a lot of medication, and that's not something I want», she said. «So it is a godsend that through my diet I can control as much as possible — what happens in my body, my inflammation levels.

Today she is a passionate advocate of a plant-based diet that can support the active lifestyle of a professional athlete, and in 2020 she founded her own vegan protein brand, Happy Viking.

«I need to quickly supply my muscles with protein after training in order to recover and maintain muscle mass«, she said. «Happy Viking was therefore created to fuel the inner fighter, the inner Viking, while feeling happy and content with what you put into your body.«

Williams is taking her commitment to veganism even further by investing in PlantX, a plant-based food store vying to become the go-to destination for all vegan needs in the US — or, as Williams puts it: «the vegan Amazon«.

Being a plant-based athlete can be challenging when travelling the world for competitions, Williams said, so much so that other athletes ask her for tips.

Her advice? It’s all about balance.

While a vegan diet can largely consist of whole foods, fruits, and vegetables, there is also plenty of vegan “junk food”, from Oreos to Doritos.

Consuming large amounts of heavily processed vegan foods is unlikely to produce the positive effects on the skin that Williams has experienced.

«If you eat vegan and mainly consume simple carbohydrates, I think the benefits of a vegan diet become fewer. Eating pasta with sweetened tomato sauce all day, without other beneficial vegan ingredients, won’t help much«, said dermatologist Papri Sarkar.

However, most health and fitness experts advocate a balanced diet with everything in moderation, as cutting out all your favorite foods is not sustainable for most people.

The «80/20 rule«, advocated by Denise Austin among others, states that you eat nutrient-dense foods 80% of the time and enjoy less nutritious things like junk food the remaining 20% of the time.

«I’ve never seen a french fry that wasn’t vegan«, said Williams. «I am definitely not a robot. You can reward yourself and also have fun with food. There are so many athletes who do that, and sometimes they ask me how to do it. Then I tell them: Hey, sometimes you just have to eat a piece of cake«.

Williams describes herself as »Junk-Food Junkie». In the past she loved donuts, today she is obsessed with cake, especially apple pie. However, she does not bake her own, because she would eat it constantly, she says.

https://wildbeimwild.com/en/venus-williams-says-switching-to-a-vegan-diet-changed-her-skin-and-health/

Stevie Wonder's Chef Found A Way To Add Bacon Flavour To His Meals, No Meat Needed

From chowhound.com 

In case you were ever wondering, there's a scientific reason why bacon tastes good with everything. So it's really no wonder that stars and the everyday home chef alike might find joy in discovering new ways to enliven dishes with the trusty help of bacon. When it comes to the multi-award winning and chart-topping musician Stevie Wonder in particular, he is known not to hold back on sharing his foodie dislikes (he once told his private chef to never again make one particular veggie food, pickled watermelon radishes). But there are certain foods that really impress his tastebuds, and bacon makes the list. However, Wonder became a vegan sometime around 2013 or 2014 (and has been public about his decision), so meat-based bacon was a no-go. So in 2015, his personal tour chef, Makini Howell, found a way to mimic the taste of bacon without actually using the meat. She did so by using smoked tofu and a vinaigrette as the next best thing for bacon flavouring.

                                                                                        Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

In an interview with Milk Street, the vegan chef mentioned that she had a specific protocol for replicating the flavour of bacon with plant-based ingredients for the singer. She would smoke some tofu and pair it with a vinaigrette made from vinegar, stone ground mustard, and fresh herbs. Howell mentioned that being on tour and cooking for one person daily helped her become more creative in making dishes that had variety but were still satisfying and "hit the spot".

How to enjoy the tofu bacon and dressing that Makini Howell made for Stevie Wonder

While you might've heard about swapping in a protein-packed tempeh in place of bacon for your breakfast or even turning tofu into deli meat for your next sub, Makini Howell's bacon replacement brings in a special smoky element that is worth trying out. To achieve the smokiness, it's best to make use of ingredients like smoked paprika for a natural and gentle kick of heat. This can be used to season the tofu as well as stirred into the vinaigrette. It's also possible to add in liquid smoke if you'd like to boost the smoky element. Tofu can be notoriously bland if not seasoned and marinated well so purchasing a pre-smoked tofu will guarantee the smoky taste profile.

                                                                                                      Veselovaelena/Getty Images

The vinaigrette dressing benefits from simplicity, which means you can fine tune it without much complication. Howell's recipe calls for vinegar, which adds a sharp acidic nature to the dressing, while the stone ground mustard adds a coarse texture, more acidity, and potent earthy flavour. While Howell doesn't disclose the exact herbs used to make Stevie Wonder's dish, her own brand, Makini's, has a smoked tofu which includes tamari sauce and chili flakes. These could bring heat and umami flavours to the dish. Experimenting with the combination to make the plant-based bacon with vinaigrette appealing to your preference might mean loading up on other ingredients. For more sweetness you can consider adding in maple syrup, and if you're interested in bringing out more saltiness and rich savoury notes, then soy sauce will be worth adding to the mix. You can then use this as a bacon replacement in your BLT or add it to any dish for vegan-friendly bacon flavours.

https://www.chowhound.com/2143753/stevie-wonder-chef-bacon-flavor-smoked-tofu/

Lewis Hamilton Reveals the 3 Things He Does Every Morning Before Breakfast (Exclusive)

From eatingwell.com

And his go-to high-protein meal as a vegan athlete 

• In this interview, Lewis Hamilton shares the vegan, high-protein meals he loves.
• He embraces an alcohol-free lifestyle, founding Almave, a zero-proof tequila brand.
• Hamilton’s morning routine includes hydration, movement and taking a mental reset.

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion, making him best known for his impressive career as a racing driver. He also embraces a vegan diet and lifestyle, and in recent years has become an outspoken a plant-based advocate; investing in vegan food brands, creating an entirely vegan Tommy Hilfiger clothing line and consistently standing up for animal rights.

On top of these accolades, Hamilton is passionate about the world of non-alcoholic alternatives, as he embraces an alcohol-free lifestyle to help him perform his best on the race track. That’s why he founded Almave, a zero-proof tequila that’s now available at Target locations nationwide.

In this exclusive interview with EatingWell, learn more about Hamilton’s go-to meals, including his favourite protein-packed bowl and breakfast staples. Plus, the vegan athlete shares why he removed alcohol from his regular routine and his choice mocktails below.

                                                    Credit:   Hamilton: Bryn Lennon/Formula 1/Getty Images. EatingWell design.

As a vegan, what’s a favourite high-protein, plant-based meal of yours to help up your protein intake?

A go-to for me is a poke bowl with marinated tofu, quinoa and things like chickpeas or edamame.  

Do you have a morning routine that you stick by, and if so, what does that look like?

I try to keep my mornings pretty consistent. I’ll wake up, hydrate, get some movement in and take a moment to reset mentally. Breakfast is usually simple, something with protein, like oats or a smoothie.

What initially drew you to the world of non-alcoholic spirits, and why did tequila feel like the right place to start?

I’ve always loved tequila, but more often than not my training schedule as an athlete means I’ve had to choose something different. There are some great non-alc options on the market, but I was never able to find a tequila that tasted as good as the real thing. So, I started exploring what an authentic agave-based, alcohol-free spirit could be.

How has your mindset around alcohol shifted as you’ve focused more on your health?

Being intentional about my health and performance made me more conscious of alcohol. But I still love the social side of things—Almave lets me enjoy the experience and the flavour, just without the alcohol.

What’s your go-to mocktail?

I love an Almave Blanco margarita for social occasions, and Almave Àmbar on a rock with a twist of lemon when I want to unwind.

What does “eating well” mean to you?

For me, it’s all about balance. It supports how I train, how I feel and how I show up day to day.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

https://www.eatingwell.com/lewis-hamilton-morning-routine-interview-11901714

James Cameron Says He Has ‘Tons Of Energy’ After Over 10 Years Of Plant-Based Diet

From plantbasednews.org

The record-breaking filmmaker behind 'Avatar' has been vegan for more than a decade

James Cameron has said he still has “tons of energy” after following a plant-based diet for more than a decade.

In a recent appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, the Canadian filmmaker talked about what made him go plant-based, as well as leadership, pressure, creativity, and “the personal cost of relentless ambition” in his nearly 50-year career.

James Cameron went vegan after watching 2011's 'Forks Over Knives' - Media Credit: In Depth with Graham Bensinger / YouTube

Speaking to Bensinger on the most recent episode of his show, Cameron explained that his wife, the author, actor, model, and plant-based advocate Suzy Cameron, introduced him to the lifestyle by showing him Forks Over Knives.

“I already knew all the sustainability reasons why we should eat plant-based, but I had sort of rejected it because ‘I’m a man, I need my meat, damnit,'” Cameron said. “‘We need animal protein.’ We are indoctrinated with that since the time we’re born, essentially. It turns out you don’t, and in fact, it's unhealthy."

“When I saw Forks Over Knives, I went, ‘Wow, this is, this is crazy. I need to do more research.’ So, very quickly, within a few days, we said, ‘All right, we’re, we’re going 100% plant-based.” And we did,” Cameron said. “And then I found this amazing surge of energy and a healthfulness. That was in 2011, so it’s been 14 years.”

He told Bensinger that he doesn’t really get sick anymore, and after going vegan, he was “back running” and experienced a “huge surge of energy.” Cameron added, “That surge has lasted until now. You know, I still have tons of energy.”

‘Making movies is a contact sport’

Adobe Stock

                                                          At 71, Cameron has made three out of five planned ‘Avatar’ films

Cameron told Bensinger that “making movies is a contact sport,” and said that the energy he gets from plant foods helps him to be a “very physical” filmmaker.

At 71 years old, Cameron has made around 40 films. He is still best known for his early science fiction works, which include Terminator and Aliens, as well as 1999’s Titanic, and the ongoing Avatar franchise. He has made three out of the four highest-grossing films of all time, and is a keen ocean explorer and environmentalist.

In 2014, he and Suzy Cameron co-founded Plant Power Task Force, an organization that has raised awareness of the link between animal agriculture and climate change, supported scientific studies, and advocated for plant-based nutrition.

In 2006, Suzy co-founded Muse Global Schools. The non-profit school is zero-waste, solar-powered, and has served exclusively vegan lunches since 2016.

https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/james-cameron-energy-plant-based-diet/

Ricky Gervais Says It’s A ‘Moral Obligation’ To Be Kind To Animals After Making £2.5 Million Donation

From plantbasednews.org

Ricky Gervais guested on the Romesh Ranganathan show, where the two vegan comedians discussed animals, plant-based food, and health

Ricky Gervais has said that it is a “moral obligation” to be kind to animals.

In a recent episode of the Romesh Ranganathan Show, the two comedians – both of whom are vegan – discussed plant-based foods, health, and Blue Zones.

Gervais’s appearance on the show follows an announcement that he donated nearly £2.5 million to animal charities out of the proceeds from his ‘Mortality’ tour. In 2023, the comedian raised approximately £1.9 million through ticket sales for ‘Armageddon,” which he also donated to several animal charities and causes.

Gervais explained to Ranganathan that he has been donating money from his tours since ‘Humanity’ in 2018 by selling a select number of “platinum” tickets for front-row seats and giving away the extra profit. This model also discourages scalping.

“It is a moral obligation, isn’t it, to be kind to animals, and everything else,” Gervais told Ranganathan. “But I didn’t have that much money to give away growing up.”

“All you could do is be kind to animals and help them and donate little bits, and everyone does that, and that’s great,” he added. “And when you get more money, I think you should give more money. You know what I mean? There’s only a certain amount you need.”

The £2.43 million went to 22 different organizations. These included Flori’s Friends Rescue in Kent, UK, a rescue centre best known for its specialisation in paralysed dogs. The charity provides surgery, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and wheelchairs.

Some fans have reportedly suggested that Gervais receive a knighthood for his ongoing work for animals, to which the comedian said “no chance.”

                                           Ricky Gervais has been vegan since 2020 - Media Credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock

‘I think its easy’

Gervais told Ranganathan that he has been vegan since around 2020, that he adopted the diet “quite gradually,” and has found it “pretty easy” so far.

“Sometimes you’re on a plane and even the bread’s got milk in it, but that’s rare,” he added. “You have to plan ahead. I take protein bars with me just in case. But honestly, if you’re in control, I think it’s easy.”

Ranganathan, who is famously not a big fan of vegan cheese, said, “I do not believe they’ve managed to replicate it.” Gervais replied, “They’re getting better, they’re really good,” and highlighted the vegan Cathedral City cheese, in particular.

The comedians also discussed the study of Blue Zones, and how parts of the world where people live exceptionally long lives – such as Okinawa, Japan – typically favour nutrient-dense plant-based or plant-rich diets and daily physical activity.

“They don’t go to the gym, these people. But they grow their own food, they cook their own thing, [and] they’re doing something all the time,” Gervais said. “They sit out, and they drink wine, but they dance for two hours as well. They walk to work, they [have] a sense of community. Loneliness, apparently, is as big a killer as smoking.”

https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/ricky-gervais-kind-to-animals-donation/