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
Thank you for being so genuine and for sharing your kind thoughts with us readers.
Just wanted to say I support you Angela! I love your blog and even though I am not vegan I make a TON of recipes off your blog! I’m so sorry you were met with such hostility :( You will always be my favorite blogger!
Hello Angela,
I love your blog and your book, they helped me transition to a plant-based diet and it really has changed my life and I am eternally grateful. That’s all really, I just thought you might want to hear that as it sounds like you’re having a tough time. xxx
Hi, my name is Erika. My mom got me your cookbook for Christmas, and I like it very much.
I wanted to express my support to you, as I have recently been in a similar situation of having the vegan “community” harass and criticize me. I was a staunch vegan because I had been led to believe by the vegan community that all people can thrive on a vegan diet. That turns out not to be true at all, and I was starting to develop very serious health problems that I never had before vegan. Supplements and special foods (thousands of dollars invested) did not help or solve the problems.
It turns out that some people simply cannot thrive on a vegan diet, for many reasons. Some cannot convert ALA to DHA and EPA. Some cannot produce taurine or vitamin K2 in sufficient quantities. Some become deficient in protein. Some become deficient in calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, B12, and the list goes on and on and on … Based on my long list of symptoms, I had multiple deficiencies going on. I would have gone to the emergency room the last weekend of my vegan existence if I had health insurance. I don’t have health insurance, and instead I started eating animal products again. I have not yet fully recovered but I do feel substantially better.
I respect vegan cookbooks like yours, and at the same time, I am very, very troubled by the behavior of the vegan community. I also think it is essential people understand that a vegan diet may be dangerous for many people. Pregnancy is an especially sensitive time, and I respect that you do whatever you need to do to ensure the health of your child.
So just to say you’re not alone, and there are many of us ex-vegans who now see through the vegan scare tactics and propaganda.
Hugs to you,
Erika
Not sure if you’ll see this amongst the rest of the love on this post but just wanted to echo all the above. I am vegetarian, my other half a meat eater (now eating meat less than once a week), but since finding your blog and then your cookbook I am getting a massive new range of foods in my diet (as a runner protein has been an issue as milk and eggs get mucho boringo) and as such my egg and milk intake has dropped as I turn to almond milk and tofu so as I see it I am saving one chicken at a time and I hope to eventually be completely vegan by 2016 and that will be down, in part, to you and your ability to make vegan more appealing and accessible to the mainstream. Isn’t that the idea? Make vegan mainstream and then more people will try it?
Angela, I am so sorry you had to deal with such negativity. You really have such a positive influence on so many people including myself. People who try to paint you in a negative light clearly are unhappy in other areas of their life and projecting that on you . Personally, you have helped me to become healthier over the past few years and I’ve been able to change my childrens’ eating habits as well. Thank you for all that you do!
Wow. Thank you for bringing a voice to this issue. Are labels outdated or what? I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a new era that no longer requires titles and labels to place people in a mental confinement for anothers comfortability and peace of mind. Thank you for putting words to a feeling and insecurity I’ve had for sometime. Imagine the possibilities when we take the competition and expectations out of health and wellness. I strive for my own Improvement, not anothers idea of perfection. Where’s my vitality in someone else’s perfection?
5 years ago I went vegan (I’m now a pescetarian) – I went from fully fledged meat eater to vegan overnight, and I ended up giving up because it was too hard trying to be perfect – I could manage the food side of things, but I felt like I had to be fully vegan in my cosmetic and make-up choices too to not be a hypocrite. A lot of this pressure actually came from my meat eater “friends” who I felt criticised by. The issue with any dietary choice is how far you take it and what you’re comfortable with, and as you say, it’s the issue with labels. Ultimately you do what your comfortable with, and don’t criticise other peoples dietary decisions and in return expect others not to criticise your own. I love how your blog makes vegan food accessible to people, because it’s not all about being 100% vegan – if everyone was to embrace more plant based foods into their diets, peoples overall health and wellbeing would massively improve as would the impact we have on the environment. Pressurising people to be perfect has a tendency to hinder more than help!
I have always enjoyed your blog for your recipes, but also for your writing/style: your enthusiasm, joy and love shine right through! It is readily evident that you have an open mind; it’s unfortunate that not everyone always practices that. However you decide to raise your daughter in regards to food, it will clearly be done with a good deal of thought and love for her. That’s the best she could hope for!
Much respect to you,
Kathleen
Hi Angela,
Just wanted to say that you’ve inspired me to eat more plant based foods. “Oh she Glows” is one of my very favorite cookbooks offering vegan recipes. Thank you for the blog and all you do to continue to inspire us all ~ much love~
I am typing this on my laptop, which has the OSG recipe bundle on the desktop, next to my heavily stained OSG cookbook, and I have OSG all over my Pinterest. We are mega fans and have been for years. Made the delectable Chana Masala from the book last night. I cannot remember if I have ever commented but if I have, it hasn’t been recently. I have been a vegetarian for 16 years and lean more vegan as the years go by. We eat vegetarian, and often vegan at our home. But my husband is not a vegetarian (he eats meat when we go out) and we’ve given our child (4 y.o.) choice in what she eats. She’s certainly aware that I am a vegetarian and the questions she’s asked and I’ve answered about production of animal products have not made her want to give them up (YET! ha). I’ve always thought of the term vegan in relation to one’s own diet, or alternatively to one’s own lifestyle (not personally wearing leather). Of course, I don’t own the term and NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE. But, I understand your discomfort in continuing to use it. I’m a little worried that without the term, I would have never found your blog. I wouldn’t have been looking for “plant-based.”
The care and feeding of infants and young children is a sensitive issue, and not totally without merit. (Some vegan babies need supplemental vitamins.) I got flak for not eating meat during my pregnancy and many relatives and friends were “worried” about whether I would let my child try meat. When I was breastfeeding for a year and not eating meat, they feigned concern – but my child grew ridiculously well and my extra breastmilk was just fine for donating to preemies (through a HMBANA milk bank).
All that to say – I hate that you feel the need to do this, but understand. I’m glad you’re more focused on your family than your blog. That makes you even more likable, which I didn’t think was possible. And I can’t wait for the new book!!
Hi Angela,
I confess that I rarely visit your blog, although I did buy your cookbook and have enjoyed the recipes. But that’s not what I wanted to share with you.
I wanted to tell you that “Internet Vegans” can be some of the most cruel, judgmental, manipulative and deceitful people I’ve ever had the chance to encounter (not all “Internet Vegans” are like this, but there is always a few squeaky wheels who call out for attention). I tell you this because my run-ins with them over the last… more than 20 years… turned me off veganism after 3 years of being a committed vegan, and 12 years of being a lacto-vegetarian. I actually turned into one of “them”. I woke up one day and I really didn’t like the person I had become.
I took an immediate leave-of-absence from the vegan/vegetarian internet and started walking in the real world with real vegans and vegetarians… That really soothed my soul. That was my cure for my corruption. And now, knowing that practicing veganism is really practicing COMPASSION for ALL sentient beings, I am much more at peace with the term “vegan”, and I am no longer affected by the “internet vegans”. I call them “internet vegans” because that’s where they live: on the internet. What gives me hope is that I have yet to meet one in real life :) And I know half of them aren’t practicing vegans, anyway. I’ve quite literally caught them in their lies. They are just trolls… lonely people looking for attention wherever and whenever they can get it. It’s pretty sad.
But you are doing a great job! I really appreciate this post you wrote. I just want to encourage you to practice compassion on those that sling darts at you. Soon enough, they will no longer affect you. Buddhism and Yoga philosophy helped me a great deal in dealing with this.
Good luck to you :)
Denise
Oh man, so not being completely 100% supporting of something makes it cruel? Come on. When will this notion stop that people taking a stand for those without voices are perceived as being annoying or mean?
I read your column all the time and have your cookbook but rarely leave a comment. (I’m sorry – I love what you write!!)
But I had to say that I cannot even believe that people tear you down for making eating healthy more mainstream. This makes me so upset because you are such a force for good in the world.
I will tell you that I wanted my second child to be vegetarian like me, but when he was 1.5 years old, he grabbed chicken from my husband’s plate (he is not vegetarian) and stuffed it in his mouth. I was horrified, but that was that.
My point is that we never know what will happen with kids and families and most of life is unpredictable. We just do our best. Your daughter is graced with you as a mom and whatever you choose will be the right decision – no matter what she eats. Be GOOD to yourself and remember, likers gonna like. xoxo
Some people are terribbly insecure without a label. I personally cant stand labels and think they are debilitating. Clearly you are true to yourself and have the confidence to just be who you are! I’m sorry to hear you had negative feedback, but sadly i guess its not surprising to get at least a little from people who only know how to judge…The hate you have experienced is never personal, although hard to keep in mind sometimes. As you know it stems from others flaws, not your own:) I love your recipes! And I dont care what you call yourself. You are an inspiration to many!
Angela,
Your post really moved me. I am so sorry that you have had to endure this criticism. While I am not necessarily very active with posting or blogging myself, I have followed your blog for a couple of years now, and it has truly changed my life. You are such an inspiration. You have helped me to be a much healthier and happier version of myself than I would have been otherwise, to say the least. First of all, you have such strong and respectable values, and you just emanate love, happiness, and balance. Second of all, you are honest and relatable in a way that is just too rare these days. And this is not even to mention the fact that you are an amazing chef. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has been from sloppily trying to recreate the amazing recipes you have shared with us. I have been a vegetarian for 15 years, and a “vegan” for about three now (I support it but I am not the picture of perfection and discipline that some people make it out to be – that can be very difficult and confusing to convey though). Thank you for sharing with us, and I hope you know that your story has reached further than you can imagine, and you are a catalyst of good change. <3
I think this is the first time I’ve ever posted a comment on one of your posts, but I couldn’t resist after what I just read. I’m one of those vegans whose life you’ve changed. I am a vegan for the ethical reasons, never once caring about my health. While interning at Farm Sanctuary I was tasked with finding vegan recipes, and your blog appeared as a godsend. You taught me to love my body enough to want health, and with your help I learned how to cook properly. I also struggled with being pregnant last year, and lo and behold you were expecting too (I think our daughters are 1 month apart lol). Yet another way you inspired me- the way you embraced both the life living inside you and the life surrounding you was so admirable. And now I come to find people are actually criticizing you, and it breaks my heart.
There is no way to be perfect, no matter what you are. That’s just how humans are, imperfect. Concerning veganism, we live in a nonvegan world. Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary, once said he was striving to be vegan. Being vegan isn’t, and can’t, be about being perfect. It’s about doing what you can. And surely you have done more than a grand majority of us have for this movement.
However, what really bothered me was that I’ve been feeling the same way, though not about veganism. Every day I see examples of people in my religion behaving so poorly, so downright mean, that I don’t feel comfortable labeling myself with them. I still believe in my religion, but I’m at a loss as to what to call myself. So I’m just… me. And that’s ok. And it’s ok for you too. You are an excellent person. Please, please continue to be you. The world will be better for it <3
I love your response to this. Being deemed ‘this’ or “that’ is meant to bring us into community with people on similar journeys, not to condemn for “failing”. Becoming vegan has always been a journey toward a kinder lifestyle for me and your blog has always been a huge inspiration. I started cooking your recipes three years ago when I was just branching out into vegetarian cooking. Ever since they have always been my husband and my favorite recipes, vegan or not, which allowed us to brave vegan eating. Thank you for choosing to be positive and inspiring so many people!
Hi Angela,
I’ve never commented on your blog before but I really wanted to say something to voice my support for you. Your story, your outlook and your non-judgmental approach came into my life quite by accident. I’ve suffered with emotional eating for years and finding your blog finally felt like home.
Since finding your blog, I’ve stumbled, eaten more or less vegan at times and fallen back into behavioural patterns. Things don’t change overnight. But your positive attitude toward your own journey had a profound effect upon my ability to get back up and to view these stumbling blocks as part of the journey.
Your blog radiates a beautiful energy that is truly transformative and so I want to send you some light. Keep doing what you’re doing. I know that sounds trite, but, from the bottom of my heart, know that what you do and the way that you approach what you do makes a huge and beautiful impact.
Hi Angela!
I’ve only left comments on your blog a couple of times and feel compelled to take a moment to comment on this post especially… I find it beyond well written- it’s very beautiful!
I feel your message and lifestyle are * light filled *. It inspires me to experiment, explore and continue to take small steps towards continuously improving my food choices and keeping it fun and interesting as well.
I always feel uplifted by your posts, your attitude, your message, your cooking.
I have your wonderful cookbook. I bought one for a friend. I tell friends about you and I can’t wait to get your new cookbook.
I’m so grateful to have found you. A profound thank you from Montreal to beautiful you, Angela!!!
I value your honesty, authenticity and transparency. It is so clear to read what you write and to empathize with the situation. Thank you for your openness. I start today a journey of quasi-veganism after 20 years of vegetarianism (and pescaterianism for the last few) and was delighted to find this blog. I with that you do what feels right for you, in terms of how open you are about your life, but based on what feels right and true, leaving aside closing or fear based decisions. I say this to you as I say this to myself as well… as I journey this path called life. Thank you!