Since I announced my pregnancy last year, I’ve been asked quite often whether we would raise our baby vegan. If I saw the question on my blog or social media, I would respond by saying that we decided not to label her diet or lifestyle and I explained why if I had the time. Since I was asked this question so frequently I recently decided to write a blog post on the topic to be transparent about our decision (see: Will you raise your daughter a vegan?). I’ve always been an open book on the blog and figured I could share our thoughts and also ask you to share your own experiences. I enjoy hearing other perspectives because I’ve never been someone who thinks that there is one correct way to do anything. What works for one family might not work for others.
As I expected, there was a wide range of opinions on the topic. Many of you left thought-provoking and respectful comments (whether you agreed or not), and I greatly enjoyed reading them. They led to some wonderful discussions with friends and family this week. However, there were some hateful and threatening comments attacking me, my family, and our decision. According to some, I’m no longer welcome to call myself vegan. This wasn’t entirely surprising; over the past 6 years I’ve often been accused of not being “vegan enough”, being “too mainstream”, or not “doing enough for the vegan movement”, yet here I was receiving hundreds of comments and emails each month from readers telling me my recipes changed their lives, that they were happy to be helping animals, reducing their carbon footprint, and getting healthy even if they weren’t “perfect”. Apparently, my welcoming and non-judgmental approach was indeed the catalyst for major change.
I realize that the scrutiny I’ve faced over the years is from a small percentage of vegans. Tearing each other down is never conducive to furthering the movement though. The majority of vegans I know are incredibly kind and compassionate both to animals and humans alike. However, the personal attacks have made me reflect greatly about whether this label continues to be right for me. Do I want to live my life striving for an elusive perfection that I know I’m too flawed to ever achieve? Or can I do it my way? While some of you will say “don’t let it bother you” and “don’t let them win” I’ll be honest in telling you that experiencing hate on a public forum from your own community wears you down over time. It’s a distraction from my overall purpose and you know what, it sure as hell takes the fun out of the journey.
In the end, I will keep on doing my thing, but without a personal label on my diet or lifestyle. Going forward you can expect to see the same types of crowd-pleasing plant-based recipes on this blog and in my next cookbook; this is how I love to eat and what makes me happy. My goal has always been to encourage others to reduce their animal consumption and embrace more plants in their diet. This is my passion in life not only because of how it has greatly improved my own and those close to me, but for countless other reasons. I still believe that the greatest change happens when we elevate one another, celebrate progress, and of course, share delicious food that challenges the norms of the standard diet. So that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing. There are many ways in which compassionate individuals can spread their message and this is what speaks to my heart. I have no doubt there is something out there for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, and also, for reminding me why it’s important to remain authentic even in spite of criticism.
Angela
Please note comments are now closed – May 20/15
You have always been such an inspiration. Your cookbook is one of the most well-used cookbooks I own. I’m so glad you’re able to keep your positive outlook and keep on doing what you do.
Hi Angela, I don’t know if you’ll read this personally, but I wanted to add my voice to the comments and let you know how much of an inspiration you are. I just went back and read through the comments and was surprised by what some of those people said. Cyber bulling is never okay. Thank you for speaking up about it!
So disappointed and disheartened. I’ve been waiting for your next post hoping you would say YES, yes I do this because I love animals and think we have no right, not entitlement to their lives. You’ve been on this journey longer than I have and have been a huge inspiration to me so I apologize if you feel that I am one of the people that tore you down. There is a reason for the need of a clear and distinct definition of veganism. I am deeply saddened that you feel the people who have followed you are extreme for thinking it is wrong to kill or to stand up for the lives of living beings. In this follow up you skirt around whether you believe it’s wrong or not so I suppose that means you have no moral objection to the so called “humane killing” and you think eating meat is a “personal choice”. After all these years you have chosen not to consume animal flesh it surprises me that at no point for you did it ever change to the recognition of the sentience of all living beings.
Rebeccake8, I am curious. When you say “There is a reason for the need of a clear and distinct definition of veganism”, what would that reason be?
You seem to be forgetting that Adriana’s dietary choices are reflective of both parents, one that happens to be plant-based and the other omnivore.
It seems that you are distorting Angela’s words just because you were not able to force your ideologies unto her.
Nadine – I have the exact same questions/comments.
Rebecca – What is the need to post negative comments on Angela’s blog. All it does it tear her down, not bring her, and her amazing contributions to both the vegan and non-vegan community, up. Why is it so important to you that she MUST be clearly defined a vegan (because apparently she is not, now that she says she will not force her daughter to eat a specific way)…like, what does that do? By her posting vegan-friendly recipes, she’s actually helping the vegan movement in a significant way – her blog and cookbook are huge! She’s far from tearing the movement down. I’d say if anything, you are being the hindrance with these types of comments. So why are you tearing her down? Why does it matter?! Do you think this helps the/”your” movement? No. It absolutely does not. Now she has decided to change her OWN diet label because of these types of nonsense comments. Please leave the single mindedness off her blog.
Rebeccake8 – Last I checked there are 2 people raising Adriana. She has never hidden the fact that Eric is not vegan and has always respected his food choices. Now, people like you are turning on her for daring to call herself vegan. I’ve read some of those comments, some were just plain nasty and judgemental. Do you honestly think that’s helping your cause?
They are doing what they think is best for Adriana. What works for one family may not work for others. Please stop enforcing the idea that there’s only one right way. I have no doubt Eric and Angela will both teach Adriana compassion to animals AND human beings. Live and let live.
I recognize all that Angela has done and I know she is a wonderful person who has an huge positive impact on a lot of people. Her passion and commitment show through her recipes and work. I agree that she introduces a plant based diet and creates positive change through channels vegans would not be able to. I respect her choices and individuality and recognize how absolutely hard it is to maintain a romantic relationship with someone who follows a different diet than yourself. Food happens 3 times a day everyday. I have no doubt that Angela has the best interest of her child and family in the forefront of everything she does. I respect that and I have much respect for her too.
Is it so hard to understand that being vegan is a conscious, responsible, ethical decision; to make every reasonable effort to live and enjoy life without harming, enslaving, exploiting, depleting, contaminating, and killing. Making the choice to be kind, compassionate, loving to all living beings and the earth. I originally came to a plant based diet for environmental reasons and quickly learned about the health benefits. In my own journey maintaining 100% was difficult; It was a constant struggle with an omni s/o. I actually don’t know a single vegan, plant based, or vegetarian person.
Then one day the most important thing about being plant based wasn’t the environment or personal health gains. I recognized the animals as their own individual beings and not as property. That’s the day I had no struggle with maintaining my life or transition from plant based to vegan. It doesn’t have anything to do with striving to be “perfect”. That’s the day moving forward that my home became cruelty free regardless of my omni s/o. There is also zero chance I would stay with my omni s/o if our home wasn’t vegan and he didn’t want to raise our children 100% plant based until they could decide for themselves what is morally conscionable for them. You can go omni but you can never undo having an omni lifestyle chosen for you. For it to truly be left as a choice for your child you wouldn’t give them years of injustice they can’t undo.
It seems that a lot of you think being a voice for the animals is comparable to being a “jihadist”, extreme, negative, or non-compassionate to fellow mankind, it is just the opposite for me. I see those who raise questions and have differences of opinion as catalysts for my personal change and deep reflection. There is a less understanding directed at those who have raised their voices in these comments for the animals than for Angela (although I can’t speak to any private messages she has received).
I would like to apologize again if you feel I in any way attacked you, Angela. I was looking for clarification on where you stand which I still don’t have. I was disheartened as I don’t look up to many people but I had looked up to you.
I have looked at every one of your comments in the other post, at no time did you ever ask for clarification on where Angela stands. You did equate her choice as being murder and you say that people like her exploit animals for their own self interest and (self) indulgence.
Quoting you: They are reducing the vegan message to something that has nothing to do with the animals or animal liberty but rather exploits peoples own self interest and indulgence.
None of your comments were without an attack. Go back and read everything you wrote. Perhaps you were not recognising how your words were coming out, that’s understandable and if that’s the case, you could apologise for the attacks rather than apologising for her maybe having felt attacked. Also, if you actually want clarification from someone, it is usually best to ask for the clarification rather than spout your own beliefs and how the other person is so disappointing and that you have been let down by them. Also, she didn’t let you down…you placed expectations on her that she did not agree to and then you attacked her for not living up to what you wanted her to do. Very pathetic!
I hear what you’re saying Rebecca, it’s been quite the week for me, reading her previous blog posting which left me feeling hurt and disappointed. Talking about your sorrow over the suffering of animals, but then saying it’s okay for your precious child to eat those same animals…. Angela came across to me as someone who hadn’t represented herself honestly – I felt duped.
Yes, your language was strong, but when you’re passionate about speaking up for the voiceless it’s hard to hold back your feelings. It happens, you’ve apologized, time to move forward.
For now, it’s great to see Angela is recognizing how powerful her words are, almost as strong as the wonderful recipes she has gifted us with. Choosing to now refer to herself as plant based rather than vegan shows me she has integrity and honesty.
And for you, Rebecca, sending you a message of love and solidarity for all you do for the animals and for the planet.
Thanks Judith. I made a mistake when I said I respect her choices. That’s wrong – I do not respect anyone’s self entitlement to another beings life. It has been quite a week evaluating and re-evaluating my beliefs and I agree – I don’t only feel duped but defrauded. What is with all the whishy washy in-between people who use blanket statements like “haters gonna hate”, “extreme”, “narrow-minded”, “judgmental”, “negative”, “jealous” to dismiss anything that doesn’t agree with their standard western bias. It’s like these blanket statements give them a free pass from thinking while they re-arrange their prejudices and social conditioning. It took me what I know was too long to become vegan and I didn’t come to it as an empathetic person. If someone as emotionless as me can find what’s wrong with animal consumption I don’t understand how all these people who are so upset about “negativity” (something I just see as a discussion on levels of moral reasoning) aren’t upset about what’s on the dinner plate.
“This wasn’t entirely surprising; over the past 6 years I’ve often been accused of not being “vegan enough”, being “too mainstream”, or not “doing enough for the vegan movement””
This statement Angela made is a cop out. I don’t expect a vegan to protest religiously, be highly confrontational like Gary Yourofsky, or free captive animals by night. I don’t even expect them to be “perfect”. When she says there is no one correct way of doing something and what works for one family may not work for another, I think of keeping slaves. Slaves may not work for your family, and you may not torture your slaves but there is no “right” way. For those of you who think a human life is greater than an animal life; Dogs might not be what you like to eat, and you might not like your dogs barbecued but if I want to eat my dog thats what works for me.
It seems by the comments anyone who disagrees or doesn’t like to live in the whishy washy grey area is negative or tearing Angela down. Do you want to know what’s negative? That animal you paid someone to kill on your table, that momma cow with engorged utters who perpetually has her babies stolen, that wolf who spent agonizing hours in a trap freezing to death for a little trim on your coat, the outlook you have on life that is all about you and your happiness with the ignorance of your day to day actions and what they enable. You like to stay in the comfortable grey area where it’s sunshine and lollipops because conscious awareness and the change that comes with it would be too hard.
When Angela talks about tearing each other down and how it’s not conducive to the “movement” I wonder what she means? What movement is she talking about? She avoids saying anything substantive at all except that she’s moving away from the vegan label. I think these were well played posts designed to allow her to move away from the vegan label with support instead of backlash. She has a master’s degree in Social Psychology there is no way she didn’t already know what was going to happen when she posted about allowing her daughter to be omnivorous. I agree it’s time to move on.
I agreed completely. Only your last paragraph makes me angry. I hate assumptions based on nothing.
Rebeccake8, You seem to need a bone to chew on !!
Jealousy is sooooo uncool !
♥♥♥♡ BRAVO ANGELA , COMME TU ES MAGNIIQUE !!
With love from Québec, Montréal Canada
Brigitte Estelle
Angela,
I’m saddened by this post. Because of your blog and cookbook, I transitioned from vegetarian to vegan with ease and never looked back. I am constantly recommending your recipes to family and friends. Thank you for all you share with us. You are a true inspiration.
My husband and 17-year-old eat meat and my 6-year-old is a vegetarian. That’s how it shook out for us even though everyone of course eats a lot of veggies since I am a 5-year vegan. I don’t think it’s right to judge; we all make decisions for ourselves. For example, I “grandfathered” in some of my non-vegan items when I went vegan. I have been wearing my grandfather’s leather belt almost every day in the 20 years since he passed away (clarity – I DID have to punch a new hole :)). Anyway, I love feeling close to my grandpa and this is the one item of his that resonated with me when he passed. I will wear it forever and not worry that it’s leather. If that ruins my vegan cred, then so be it. Do your thing, Angela.
Angela,
I’m not sure you will read this but I really want you to know how special your blog is to me. Growing up I experimented with vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free and many other diets. I love food, I love my body, and I find nutrition fascinating. Your blog is truly special. You remind us all of the true beauty that can be unearthed within food through your intricate and well thought out recipes. When I cook something off of your blog I never have to worry how it will turn out because you put your heart and soul into your recipes and it shines through, they never disappoint! Thank you for all you do for us all. We are lucky to have you. The world is a better place label free. Just be Angela, we all love her.
Bless your heart! Let me say that your Blog Oh She Glows is my go-to source for recipes and information and I have recommended it to everyone I know! I am not vegan, or paleo, or gluten intolerant. But I rely on your recipes because I cannot have dairy, or almonds, or sodium, and I use a low fat diet. So what you provide fits the bill. It is my favorite blog with the beautiful pictures and your lovely enthusiasm. I have learned so much from you and appreciate you. Your daughter is lucky to have a mom who cares so much.
I agree with all the positive posts here. Don’t put up with the hate or scrutiny, you’re an amazing inspiration to so many :)
Some many people have expressed my sentiments in the comments already, I don’t know what else I could add, but I felt I had to say something! You are truly an inspiration to me and my family. I am not a vegan, but trying to add more plant-based meals into our diet and I always find myself praising your blog/recipes/cookbook to everyone I know. I rave about the latest recipe I’ve tried to friends all the time. I found your blog about a year and a half ago. My only regret is not stumbling upon it sooner! Know that there are so many of us who appreciate all your hard work. Please don’t let the trolls get you down – I know it’s easier said than done. You are changing the world in very positive ways. Thank you for everything!
I recently stumbled upon your blog and after a few minutes of glancing through recipes, I fell in love with your work and quickly bookmarked the site as a favorite. I can only imagine how you feel when your hard work is harshly criticized by people who don’t even know you, especially when you’re openly sharing your life. I rarely leave comments, but I just wanted to let you know that I think your work is great and that I’ve been trying out your recipes for a week now– and I’m in love. Thank you!
Just wanted to let you know that you and this blog have been a source of inspiration for my health and happiness for a long time now, and I hope that the sting of those people’s hurtful words will fade over time!
Very well said, Angela! Love your recipes and am totally inspired by and in awe of you!
Just wanted to add my voice of support. As a medical doctor, I wholeheartedly approve of feeding children a wholesome, omnivorous diet, until they are grown up enough physically and mentally to make their own choices. Children need nutrients from both plants and animals, for variety of reasons, from ease of digestion to availability of calories and bioavailability of specific nutrients. Best of luck and I hope you can just laugh off any unwarranted criticism, because you can please some people some of the time, but you can never please everybody all the time.
I’m not a vegan, but I love your recipes (and my meat eating boyfriend does too!). I love your cookbook and can’t wait for your next one. I’ve found that eating a combination of veggie and non-veggie meals is what works best for me, and I appreciate an open forum where everyone is welcomed. Also, we are both gluten free, and appreciate your GF options! I don’t normally comment, but after reading this, I wanted let you know how much we appreciate you!
This post is exactly why I follow your site. Your meals, thoughts, evolution as a person are inspiring. Label them what you will, I enjoy all of it!
as my good friend says, “you be you”. hang in there!
I am saddened to hear the comments you are faced with. People are no better than our elected politicians who we are wary of for their divisive ways.
I love your blog for several reasons. Obviously I love the recipes but I also love that you provide sound informative reading material without being judgmental. Personally my diet is strictly vegetarian while being predominantly vegan. There are many vegan blogs out there that have good recipes but I won’t follow simply because of their harsh views at those who do occasionally eat a little dairy and eggs. I don’t need to apologize to anyone for my choices and neither do you. P,ease keep up the great job you are doing. Looking at these comments I would say those who enjoy and respect you greatly outnumber the naysayers.
Hi Angela,
I love your blog, have been reading for years, am from the east coast, and have been a vegan for fifteen years. I want to say that I know how hard committing to a 100% vegan lifestyle is. Over the years I’ve had many struggles trying to find running shoes, skates, snow boots, warm parkas etc… that are also ethically made and vegan. When I first went vegan, giving up cheese took me like six months! Every time a restaurant would sprinkle some cheese on something as a garnish, I’d tell myself “I’ll go vegan tomorrow”. When I met my husband ten years ago, he was a vegetarian because, “eating beans is cheaper”. Now we joke that he is vegan until dessert, lol. He can’t resist sweets in any form.
The impact your blog has had on me as a vegan is amazing. First of all, my family (being from small east coast fishing towns) and my in-laws (Chinese Canadian) are all omnivores who don’t spend much time thinking about food at all. Your recipes have bridged a huge gap for us because they are familiar and tasty enough to satisfy our entire omni family. My mom uses your blog exclusively for holiday dishes and my sister bought your cookbook a few months ago. We love your work.
I don’t look down on my husband for eating the occasional sweet at a party or gathering. He is still a vegan in my eyes because he eats vegan 95% of the time and I can’t begrudge someone for making an occasional exception. I am not always able to find good vegan alternatives to things like snow boots and the pair I currently have has leather trim. We operate from a “trying our best” mentality. For my husband, that means the occasional sweet and for me it means leather trim on a pair of shoes here or there.
With that said, I’d never dream of losing the vegan label. Some people approach veganism from a “healthy lifestyle” framework. This is great! Plant-based eating has awesome for your health and the environment . Any change can make a positive impact. But I myself became a vegan because I believe in animal rights. I don’t make exceptions for non-vegan food because I’m lucky enough to live in a city that has lots of vegan options for me. I don’t mind missing out on wedding meals, or eating a crappy salad at a staff event once in a while. These things don’t matter to me anymore. The big picture for me is about trying my best to avoid contributing to the unnecessary pain and suffering of animals.
This is why my husband and I decided to raise our daughter vegan. We’ve faced a lot of scrutiny, but also support from places we weren’t necessarily expecting (day care!
paediatrician!). It’s always so exciting and empowering to read about other vegan moms since I don’t know too many in my day-to-day life. That’s why I was a little sad to read these,last two posts. It feels like a loss to the vegan community. I think it’s hard for many vegans who turn to veganism from an animal rights perspective to understand the diversity of things that motivate people to become vegan and the ways in which veganism can be complicated by other factors (health, recovery, access, affordability). For some (myself included), I just can’t get past the animals.
With all this said, I’m looking forward (as I have been since you announced your pregnancy) to all the “plant-based” baby and toddler meals upcoming. Please don’t forget you are a resource to a very diverse audience and loved by many vegans, even the 100% kind, regardless of what you decide to feed your kid. ;)
I’ve been reading your blog now for the past 4 years or so, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented. Your recipes, enthusiasm and love of food is such an inspiration, to me and my family, and by the sounds of these comments, to so many others too.
I used to work for an animal rights group a couple of years ago and unfortunately I heard so many comments like these from a few vegans that I met. I found these people to be the most hurtful and judgmental towards those that were vegetarian, that were trying to eat less meat, or those that they weren’t being “vegan” enough. They were turning against some of the people who were most supportive of the animal rights and plant-based eating movement – it just didn’t make sense to me. Why tear others down who have ultimately the same or similar goals?
Your recipes and love of plant-based cooking has inspired so many people to eat less meat. Your open fresh take on good food has saved so many more animal lives than the few judgmental vegan activists – people get turned off by that rhetoric. Keep doing what you’re doing and what’s best for you and your family :)
It is so surprising to me that people would leave you nasty comments! I am not vegan and don’t plan to be. I love your recipes, and have tried many new foods and served many delicious vegan dishes to guests because of you.
Oh, and your daughter is so stinking cute!
Your post actually got me re-thinking my stance on our daughter’s diet. I don’t eat pork or beef, and have been restricting that from her diet. Now I’m thinking that she should be able to make her own choices, like I did. I really respect that you will value your daughter’s independence and ability to make her own decisions…so thank you for sharing that!