30 Problems That Vegans Will Not Tell You About
1. Vegan cheese tastes like plastic
Image Source: RedditCheese has to be one of the biggest sacrifices when going vegan and despite efforts to create an amazing substitute, it just hasn’t happened. Vegan cheese looks like plastic and it tastes like plastic with absolutely zero chance of melting so say goodbye to cheese pulls!
2. 99% of vegan options probably involve mushrooms
Image Source: Allrecipes
If you don’t like mushrooms then being vegan must be a difficult task…from mushroom burgers to mushroom bolognese, they feature as a staple in a lot of vegan dishes in restaurants and ready-made options in the supermarket making them pretty much avoidable if you’re not a fan.
3. Your friends will stop inviting you round for dinner
Image Source: Daily Record
As long as you have kind and accommodating friends you won’t stop being invited to dinner parties…but there is the overwhelming guilt that takes over when you realise they have to go through the extra hassle of preparing you a separate vegan-friendly dish.
4. You will be asked endless questions about being vegan
image source: bbcThe vegan diet seems to fascinate the human population as something new and exciting that wasn’t as popular in the past. Now it has become more well-known, people can’t help but bombard others with their questions wanting to know the intricate details of what it is like being vegan.
5. Plant-based substitutes are probably more processed than meat ones
Image Source: MyLondonJust because it’s plant-based doesn’t mean it’s good for you…there is an on-going debate about whether plant-based meat substitutes should actually be placed under the ‘processed foods’ category as the process of making these products strips the nutritional content of their ingredients.
6. A vegan diet will empty your pockets
Image Source: Review of Optometric Business
Veganism can have an expensive price tag, with new plant-based meat products and vegan options hitting the shelves in supermarkets coming in at a higher price. There is also the additional cost of vitamins and don’t forget the extra fee on plant-based milk in coffee shops.
7. Watch out for a leaky gut
Image Source: Wales OnlineA vegan diet involves eliminating all forms of animal protein, which leads to people turning to legumes or more commonly known as ‘beans’. Although they have health benefits in moderation, they contain high levels of anti-nutrients which can increase intestinal permeability or ‘leaky gut’ when eaten in large quantities.
8. People will assume you're coeliac
Image Source: Gluten Free Labels
As soon as someone finds out you are vegan they will most likely lump you into every other dietary requirement category possible, including being coeliac and maybe even assuming you have a nut allergy. Most vegans have been served a gluten-free meal at least once in their lives!
9. You have 1 vegan option at most restaurants and it's probably a burger
Image Source: Vegan Food & LivingWe’ve all noticed the lonely vegan section on all restaurant menus, hidden in the bottom corner with a maximum of three options usually involves a sad looking vegan burger or something involving sweet potato…it’s probably best to stick with the chips.
10. Plant-based milk tastes like baby sick
Image Source: Good Housekeeping
How many times has someone claimed their oat milk cappuccino ‘tastes like the real thing’…too many times is the correct answer. Despite what anyone says, plant-based milk has a watery consistency and an over-whelming taste that would ruin anyones morning coffee.
11. Theres a higher risk of becoming anaemic
Image Source: OopsVegan
A vegan diet can increase the risk of anaemia, a condition caused by an iron deficiency or sometimes a vitamin B12 deficiency. This is when the body does not produce enough red blood cells, meaning it is important to get iron and vitamin B12 from other plant-based sources or supplements.
12. The KFC vegan burger is actually gross
Image Source: PETA
KFC were one of the last major fast food chains to finally introduce a vegan option on their menu, creating a lot of excitement that this could provide a tasty substitute for their famous original recipe chicken. Sadly this was not the case, the taste and texture leaves a lot to be desired.
13. Be prepared to take loads of extra vitamins
It can be difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs on a vegan diet. This means that most healthcare provides recommend vegans to take up to 9 different supplements to meet their nutritional needs, including vitamin B12 and omega-3.
Image Source: I Am Going Vegan
14. Eating enough protein can be hard work
Image Source: Vegan Meal Prep Sunday
Compared to a vegetarian diet where you can get protein from sources like dairy and eggs, being vegan and cutting out all animal products can make it difficult to get enough protein into your diet which is essential for our body to grow and repair itself.
15. You will accidentally eat animal products at some point
Image Source: This Is Money
Although people following a vegan diet will always try their best to avoid animal products, there will be the odd occasion where someone makes a mistake when preparing a takeaway or coffee by using an animal-based product instead of the selected alternative…oops!
16. The vegan option isn't necessarily healthy
Image Source: Vegconomist
Another false assumption is going for the vegan option will automatically make it ‘healthier’…but this is not necessarily the case. Although this option is likely to be plant-based which will increase your veggie intake, it may be just as high in calories as other options on the menu.
17. Meat-free nuggets aren't better than chicken nuggets
Image Source: Birmingham Live
We all know that chicken nuggets are everybody’s weakness…well maybe not everyone but for most of us, they are irresistible. Can vegans really tell us that meat-free nuggets are better than a McDonald’s chicken nugget? I think not, they are unbeatable.
18. Strangers will lecture you on how humans were made to be carnivores
Image Source: The Flinstones Fandom
Even when you don’t ask, people will feel the need to preach to vegans about how ‘good’ meat is for the body and how humans survived in the stone ages on a carnivore diet. But let’s face it, things have changed since then and it’s time to accept people eating what they want.
19. You will become reliant on carbs
Image Source: Little Paper Swans
One staple food group that vegans can continue enjoying are carbs. Bread, potatoes, pasta - the list goes on. Although this is a great way to fuel the body with energy, it can be easy to start relying on carbs during mealtimes which doesn’t maintain a balanced diet.
20. The overwhelming guilt when people go through the effort to make you a separate vegan dish
Image Source: Bravo TV
Being a vegan at social occasions can make people feel awkward and guilty when others have gone through the effort to prepare them separate vegan dishes. Not only that, but it can make them stick out because they are eating something different to everyone else.
21. Tofu tastes like a wet sponge
Image Source: Garlic Delight
Admittedly when carefully taken care of in a home kitchen, tofu can be jazzed up to make a tasty dish. But if you’ve ever experienced eating it out in restaurants…you’ll relate to the ‘wet sponge’ reference, not to mention the fact it often tastes like musty air.
22. Being vegan can make you gain weight
Image Source: The New York Times
Despite the common assumption that a vegan diet must also be an easy way to lose weight, this isn’t necessarily the case. Like any diet, you can choose how balanced or unhealthy you want it to be and it can be just as easy to pile on the pounds eating vegan junk food.
23. Everyone thinks you only eat lettuce leaves
Image Source: Vecteezy
Every vegan has experienced the assumption that they only eat lettuce leaves and carrot sticks. People still have no idea about the number of vegan options there are in this day and age, with even a lot of ‘normal’ food items being unintentionally vegan.
24. Watch out for being 'hangry'
Image Source: Public News Time
Feeling hungry and unsatisfied can be a common experience when following a vegan diet, simply by not fuelling the body with enough calories and protein to meet its nutritional needs. This can be a tricky task in situations when vegan options are limited.
25. Non-vegans steal all the Greggs meat-free sausage rolls
Image Source: iNews
If there is one meat-free vegan item that everyone raves about, it has to be the Greggs sausage roll. This tasty treat is an identical replica to the original sausage roll, which has become popular with even the meat-eaters of the UK…hence them stealing all the supplies.
26. There is an increased risk of hormone disruption
Image Source: billion
Another popular plant-based protein source that vegans include in their diet is soy. Processed soy foods, such as tofu and soya milk, are just as bad as any other processed foods. However, there is an additional risk with soy products as they contact phytoestrogens which can interfere with hormones.
27. You will constantly be criticised by other vegans for 'not being vegan enough'
Image Source: HuffPost
Although you would expect fellow vegans to stick together and support each other within their community, this isn’t always the case. Some people can’t help but comment on other peoples dietary or lifestyle choices to make themselves seem like a ‘superior’ vegan.
28. You have to drink a LOT of water
Image Source: Weight Watchers
We all need to be drinking plenty of water, but it is particularly important for someone following a vegan diet as they will most likely be consuming more fibre than others. It is important to drink enough water when eating a diet high in fibre as this helps it move through the digestive system.
29. Vegan Haribo taste like candle wax
Image Source: The Brick Castle
If you’re a sweet treat fan, Haribo will not be at the top of your list if you’re vegan. Unfortunately they haven’t quite nailed a vegan-friendly gummy sweet, with an honest review comparing them to eating candle wax…not exactly an enjoyable experience.
30. There's always one person who says "what about bacon?"
Image Source: Kristine's Kitchen
No matter how hard you try to explain to people that being vegan means eating NO animal products…even bacon…there will always be someone who doesn’t quite catch on to the concept. Some people just can’t look past their undying love for the stuff, pardon the pun.
