If you caught the Oprah show today, you may have been surprised to see that Oprah and her staff- some 378 men and women- participated in Oprah’s Vegan Challenge. For 1 week, they left behind their usual fare of dairy, eggs, butter, meat, fish, and all other animal products and even the HARPO cafeteria started serving some vegan options. I thought I was dreaming when I saw the preview for this show because I did not expect this, but I was so proud of Oprah and her staff for bringing attention to this topic. I took some notes to share with you because I know many of you were not able to watch the episode.
Journalist and food expert Michael Pollan, vegan author Kathy Freston, and journalist Lisa Ling were invited onto the show to talk about veganism and being conscious of where our food comes from. Oprah was clear in stating that everyone needs to make the choice for themselves and the show was neither pro-vegetarian nor pro-vegan, but pro-education, much like her show with Pollan several months ago.
Oprah claims that many of us are ‘disconnected’ from the animals, meat industry, and the food we eat each day. As reported by the USDA, 10 billion animals are killed in the US each year for consumption. With such a staggering number, it is important to question how our food gets to our plates.
Michael Pollan thought the Vegan Challenge was fun because it makes people conscious of what they eat. I had to agree with this because when I became a vegan, for the first time in my life, I started reading the ingredients that were in my food. I was shocked to find out that I didn’t know what half of the ingredients were and I still find myself looking up mystery ingredients on a weekly basis.
Oprah’s staff member, Jill, emptied out every item in her fridge that had an animal product in it. By the time Jill went through her fridge, it was virtually empty. She was shocked how much food contains animal products.
Pollan admits to eating meat 1-2 times per week, but states that he doesn’t eat industrial or feed-lot meat and he supports small-scale, local farmers that do not feed the animals grain (i.e. corn or corn by products). Michael’s goal is to REFORM the meat industry, not eliminate it. While I would love to see a meat-free society some day, I do realize that Michael’s approach is probably the most realistic.
As a rare look inside a meat farm, Lisa Ling travelled to Cargill Meat Solutions– one of the largest meat companies in the US. This part of the episode was the most emotional for me to watch. They described the process that each cow goes through from the feed lot to the slaughtering to the processing. Each cow at Cargill spends 200 days at the feed lot where they are fed corn and corn by products. This is to fatten up the cattle where they gain about 3 pounds per day. Each day, 4,500 cattle are sent to the slaughterhouse where they will be guided through maze-like pathways for 2 hours to calm down prior to slaughter. I could almost feel the chill in the air as I watched this somber part of the clip.
It was extremely hard for me to watch the animals looking into the camera, just moments before death. Kathy Freston described how I was feeling when she said, ‘watching the animals in the slaughterhouse didn’t sit right with my soul.’ I could not have described my own emotions any better. It is one thing to read something from a book, but to actually see it happening is very real.
Not surprisingly, the episode did not show the 4 inch bolt that is shot through every cow’s head during slaughter. They did, however, show the pain on Lisa Ling’s face as she watched the slaughtering. The carcasses then go through the process of skin removal, sawing, and chopping/grinding the parts. This part was very graphic, but I was happy that they did show this behind the scenes look because I think it is important to connect ourselves to what we eat. The most shocking thing about this slaughterhouse was that it was supposed to be one of the ‘better ones’ and that many, unfortunately are much, much worse than was portrayed.
The show ended with vegan author, Kathy Freston who served as the vegan guide for Oprah and her staff members during the vegan challenge. Kathy took staff member Jill to Whole Foods to show her examples of vegan foods she could cook for her family. I expected Kathy to show her beans, legumes, lentils, vegetables, fruits, nuts, or seeds, but sadly, Kathy showed her a plethora of packaged fake meats, fake mayonnaise, fake cheese, and fake ice cream sandwiches. I strongly believe that a vegan diet does not need to rely on processed, imitation products, so I was disappointed to see this focus. When I first went vegan, I tried all the fake meat products because that is what I thought I was supposed to eat, but my real satisfaction with veganism only came when I experimented with non-processed foods like grains, beans, lentils, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. That is when it all clicked for me and I knew that I could do it long term.
Oprah and her staff member’s reactions to The Vegan Challenge were very interesting to watch. One of Oprah’s staff members, Joe, said he felt so amazing that he was going to convert to a vegan diet. Oprah, said it was definitely ‘doable’ to eat a vegan diet, but she would be ‘veganish’ from now on, meaning that she will think more about the food she eats and try to eat more animal-free foods. Her partner, Stedman, wants to continue the vegan challenge because he enjoyed it so much. Other staff members admitted that they wouldn’t be converting any time soon, but they did admit that it made them think about what they eat each day. Out of 379 participants, they lost a total of 444 pounds and gained a total of 84 pounds. Some participants said they gained weight because they relied on ‘vegan junk food’ too much. I thought it was great that they showed both sides of the story because it is just as easy to eat unhealthy on a vegan diet as it is a non-vegan diet! I don’t like the portrayal that veganism is some kind of weight-loss diet though.
To end the show, Oprah and staff members at HARPO announced that they will be holding a Meatless Monday each week in honour of this challenge. I think this is a great idea and it shows that no matter what kind of diet you do chose eat, you can always make changes, big or small, to impact the system.
If you are interested, there are a bunch of video clips from today’s show on the Oprah website.
Did you see Oprah’s Vegan Challenge show? What did you think? Do you ever go meat/animal-product free or participate in Meatless Monday?
Yes, I did! I was cringing when I saw the poor cattle being round up to be shot in the head with a bolt. Such a horrible, horrible thing. I’ve never been so happy to be a vegetarian after seeing that.
P.S- How awesome would that be to get two large sacks full of vegan groceries from Kashi and Whole Foods like Oprah’s staffers? :)
I saw the show and thought it was a great start to get people thinking about where their food really comes from. I think Michael Pollan made some good points for people who still eat meat — conscious consumers would be a great start to turning around North America’s eating “catastrophe”. I also found the slaughterhouse video very disturbing although I do think that it was not as bad as some places that we read/hear about….I have seen the trailer from the documentary Earthlings and those images haunt me. It’s so wonderful to see vegetarianism/veganism becoming more widely respected and accepted. The only things I wish that they had spent a bit more time discussing were the environmental impact that raising billions of animals for food causes and that so much food goes to feeding this livestock when there are so many people in this world starving. When I stopped eating meat, I did so because I did not want to be responsible for inflicting fear/pain or death on another living thing….it wasn’t until later that I discovered all of the other problems raising animals for food created. I think people need to be made more aware of these reasons, as well as the animal suffering…..I guess an hour just isn’t enough…..this topic could go on & on for hours!!
Wow I had no idea that Oprah episode was on. Why do i always hear of these things AFTER the fact. Darn!
I am vegan 99% of the time. If there is trace dairy in something, I am not going to freak out. I don’t seek it out, I don’t eat animal flesh, or fish, but trace dairy IN packaged items, well, it happens.
I think that any awareness that can be brought to the vegan issue is good. However, some people will always eat animals or animal products and that is their choice, for whatever the reasons. I can only hope they are choosing to eat that way b/c they have truly THOUGHT about it and for them, it works and is best. And not just mindlessly doing it.
Such a touchy issue on both sides of the fence. All I can do is do what I do and be as compassionate as possible, and hope others feel/act the same :)
I completely agree with your review. I also felt like they were so spotty – jumping between staff interviews and with the guests and the show didn’t have a clear flow. I feel like they lacked a lot of “bulk” that would have helped people become really informed. Information about why a vegan diet is so healthy and can reverse or prevent diseases and not that it’s just expensive or you need to shop at Whole Foods. I also wish they’d highlighted a lot of the super athletes or amazing people who thrive on this diet. I do like that Kathy managed to get in a few lines about getting plenty of protein from vegan foods since this is such a common misconception.
I was also disappointed that she focused so much on the fake meats, cheese and mayo. She also called earth balance butter “so healthy for you” which is SO UNTRUE. 100% of the calories in Earth Balance come from fat and it’s mostly all oil. Is it a suitable vegan substitute for regular butter? Absolutely. But is Earth Balance “so healthy for you”? Absolutely not. No more healthy than gnawing on a stick of overly processed butter.
I wish more “real” vegans had been interviewed as well. Oprah really showed the disconnect between her and the real people when she talked about the fact that she has expensive organic produce available to her, but understands that a lot of people can’t afford this. I found that disheartening rather than inspiring.
Overall – if nothing else – it brought more awareness to the cause and I enjoyed that portion of it. I was also pleased to hear so many people saying it gave them energy and made them feel better.
I agree! I would have loved to see the “real” people eating vegan. The joke in our house is that Whole Foods=whole paycheck! I love the store-don’t get me wrong, but it can be expensive and it is important to help people understand that you don’t need to be a million like Oprah to eat this way.
I saw the preview for this show but did not get to watch it. I love Michael Pollan so I was happy to see he was going to be on the show. His views are so realistic and are probably revolutionary to the average American. I am also disappointed to hear that they put a lot of stress on processed vegan “junk” food. These prepackaged fake foods are just as bad for our planet and our bodies (if not more so) than animal products themselves. I have never gone “meat-free” or vegan for an extended period of time. I have probably unintentionally gone meat-free for a few weeks as I do not eat much meat. I rely on eggs and dairy on a daily basis however. I believe in making conscious daily choices that are right for your body and not classifying the diet to any particular “type” (vegetarian, etc.). I am glad Oprah covered the topic however becuase it is important for people to realize the impact of each and every food choice they make.
I wish I could have caught this! Maybe I’ll look for it online. I don’t know about the animals I harm when I eat animal products, and I definitely do feel detached from the source. I’ve never been fully vegetarian except as an excuse not to eat during my eating disorder, but now I hope that I can be fully vegetarian and aware of what I eat.
However, while I know that while Oprah’s show meant well and intended to get the point across, I don’t believe that it’s necessary to use shock tactics such as showing a slaughterhouse on public television. It’s the hard truth, and I don’t know how else you would show it, but veganism is a serious issue/concept that can easily be exploited by marketers of vegan processed products, by using these shocking images and following it up by introducing vegan processed food products. I agree with you that vegans should (like the rest of the world) eat as unprocessed foods as possible, but it would be pointless on television to say “eat more nuts, lentils, fruits and veg, just avoid the animal products!” because that’s generally good advice for eaters of all omnivorities, no?
Sorry for the novel! I just like to keep aware of the commercialist aspect of things, and thought it would be an interesting thing to discuss. Your summary was very well written – you go, Angela! :]
Thanks for reviewing this, I wasn’t able to watch it. I watched the videos on Oprah’s site, the slaughterhouse in particular was really eye opening. It’s a great reminder of why I choose to eat the way I do.
I totally agree with your disagreement over all the “meatless meat” and other “vegan” products at the grocery store. There are SO many better alternatives, all of which you pointed out.
This is a touchy subject, and I am not a vegan, but I agree that the show could have done a better job describing the vegan lifestyle and what it can mean.
Although Oprah’s episode was very graphic and eye opening, I still believe that everyone should have their own right to choose how/what they eat. I have been called “ignorant” “un-ethical” and “morally unsound” by vegans and vegetarians for being a meat eater. I really don’t think that morals has to do with anything. If I want to eat a steak or chicken because I think its delicious and I feel great after eating it, versus when I eat beans or lentils and I feel sick and have no energy, then I will choose to do so. In my experience, vegans criticize meat eaters just as much as meat eaters criticize vegans. If you look at some of the comments on Angela’s post so far, they are in plain site. Why don’t both parties live and let live?
I didn’t see it, but this is a very good summary. I’ve read two of Michael Pollan’s books, and they were so informative and helped change some of my misconceptions. I am mostly vegetarian, and I love that he offered alternatives and wants to change the meat industry. I think it’s realistic for people to eat less meat instead of the HUGE amounts people eat now, but nutrition & food education is such a big problem in this country. The majority of people do not know where there food comes from, what it is made of, or how to eat any type of diet (vegetarian, vegan, or not). I think it’s great Oprah did this show to bring awareness to the tons of people who watch her show.
I was very excited when I heard about this Oprah show and watched it as soon as I got home. Last time Michael Pollan was one Oprah with Alicia Sliverstone it really changed the way I looked at food/ went shopping for food. I really enjoy Michael’s books, but I did not care for the vegan woman. I wanted to learn about more ways that I could have fruits/vegetables in my diet, maybe even some recipes. Like some of the people above me I was disappointed to see how it was all processed food she showed the family. What about some roasted veggies with a veggie burger; or an amazing crockpot/homemade veggie/bean soup?
Great post and sounds like it was a really good show.
I did see this episode and I am very happy that Oprah used her enormous clout to present this issue to her large audience. I feel that other aspects of industrial livestock and animals farming should have been brought up – maybe she’ll do another show!
Angela, I completely agree with everything that you said and I also agree with what Katie said as well! I heard about this show and got so excited that I ran home and rushed through my laundry so I could sit and watch it undisturbed.
What I found was a very frustrating hour filled with misinformation or half information- I feel the show only skimmed the surface of what a vegan lifestyle is and can provide! Oprah frustrates me a little bit when she interviews individuals she doesn’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with. It was very clear with how much Michael Pollan vs. Kathy Freston got to talk. Oprah kept cutting off Kathy but Michael was able to speak freely. I understand you may not love the vegan lifestyle or be able to ‘give up’ those foods, but she seemed to be so anti-vegan when talking about it, almost dismissing it as a serious life choice for many people.
I was disappointed with all of the processed foods Kathy talked about- they were in a Whole Foods (the heaven of whole, fresh, organic and amazing superfoods) and not one of them was mentioned, giving the spotlight instead to meat substitutes and dairy substitutes- we should be teaching that these things do not NEED substitutes. I think it’s sending a confused message to America that being vegan somehow creates a void that you need to fill, rather than opening you up to a whole new world of foods and healthy options.
I could go on and on but I’ll end with this- Oprah is an extremely powerful woman with a wide range of resources and knowledgeable individuals at her fingertips- the fact that her show felt as though they did not want to offend anyone seriously offended me as a vegan who was really hoping for an informative show with substance.
Due to a massive blizzard in my area Oprah was “postponed” until 12:30am. I can’t wait to watch it, so it looks like its going to be a late night. So worth it. The funny part, was that my Grandma was the one to call and tell me what it was about, since I’m not a regular Oprah watcher. She seemed so pumped to watch it and then called to tell me how disappointed she was that it was being interrupted. So cute.
Thanks for the post, and summary of the show. As a journalism major in college, we watched all the documentaries for assignments– Super Size Me, Fast Food Nation, and Food Inc. As a meat eater, I felt so disgusted and sad. But the worst part is– after a day or two of “I can’t do this, I can’t eat meat anymore!” I began to crave it. And then I would find myself chowing down on a hamburger two weeks later, without little to no thought.
Now, I’ve been with my boyfriend for 7 years– who is vegetarian. When I went to college, it was rare to have meat around, simply because he didn’t eat it and it was too expensive. But we did rely on fake meats– and while they were good, there wasn’t really any difference in our diets. I could very well have eaten more veggies than he did!
We’re just now, after seven years, changing our diets once again– I am feeling a very strong conviction to not eat meat anymore, because I can’t stand the thought of how they are treated. I could never do that with my own.
But what I’m so thankful for is this blog, and my friends who also eat a vegan diet– you have opened my eyes to a wonderful “diet”– one that I think is clouded by stereotype. I’m also glad Oprah did the show too, but disappointed that the focus was turned to fake products, which only adds to the stereotype.
I love all your recipes– and thank you for sharing your thoughts with this community!
Thanks Ashley :)
Angela,
What an Oprah Show! I’m vegetarain (*leaning into* Veganism everyday), and let me tell you, the part about the cows just reconfirmed my feelings about why it is so important. I felt emotional watching it, and actually had to walk away, I was getting so upset. I hope that this show makes an impact, and brings veganism and it’s importance to the front lines.
Oprah said she’s “veganish.” LOL!
Actually… I’d say that’s what I am… somewhat accidentally. After doing a basically vegan cleanse, I realized I felt SO much better eating cleanly and now I roll with almond milk and flax. I will occasionally eat chicken… but I have to say, I’ve developed a love of tempeh and pressed tofu.
Thank you, thank you for keeping me in ample supply of delicious, clean recipes!
I missed this episode, but I bet I would have loved it! I’m not a vegetarian or vegan but do try to eat meat less than 5 times a week in total. The meats we do eat are wild salmon and halibut that we personally caught, as I feel much better about wild meats and humane harvesting.
This is the first time I’ve commented, though I’ve been reading for awhile. I guess it was about time I de-lurked ;)
I watched today, and got a little bit frustrated, but realized *why* I was frustrated, which I think was really good for me. I didn’t realize how foreign this concept is for so many people, and was getting upset at how basic they were being, how unwilling to try some people were, the constant iterations of “do what is best for you”. I know they were trying to not force the issue, but I felt like Pollan did not do a very good job of pressing the fact that if you’re eating meat you should really only be eating humanely/ethically. Basically it just irked me. But I also realized that most of the people I associate with probably know multiple people who are vegan, and so they are educated on what it means.
Ultimately, I was really glad they did the program (though I wish they would have shown the full slaughter. Meet your meat, people) and hope that it encourages people who would have otherwise not entertained the idea of veganism or even eating vegetarian once a week (or even thinking about where their food comes from).