Vegan struggles

Today marks the last day of my month-long experiment with veganism.

Having been a vegetarian for two years, I agreed to do this 31-day challenge with another vegetarian friend who also wanted to try it. I aimed to learn more about animal-free dieting and see exactly how hard it would be.

I did manage to make it through the entire month without eating any animal products including milk, eggs, whey, fish oils, gelatin, animal lipids or anything else deemed “an animal product,” though, I’ll admit, I did still eat honey.

My reasons for animal-free eating are more health-related, though ethical reasons do play a part. Veganism was a foreign concept in my upbringing, as my mom’s side of the family consists of dedicated cattle ranchers and my dad’s side is heavily Mexican. In silly adolescent rebellion, I developed an aversion to eating meat.

Through January, I came to many conclusions about animal-free eating. The most prominent would be that it is exceedingly difficult to maintain a vegan diet with variety solely on a Residential Programs and Services meal plan.

If you plan on going vegan on campus, some frustrations may arise. I found myself repeating meals over and over again, buying loads of groceries from an overpriced Union Street Market and exhausting salads and wraps as a refuge.

Though plenty of substitutes and alternative meal options exist, the pamphlet found in IU dining halls reading “Vegetarian Vegan Diets” lists only 16 entrees and sides that a vegan can eat from traditional buffets. Alternative options have since been added; however, RPS has not updated the pamphlet.

Despite noble efforts that RPS makes to accommodate specific diets and clearly label alternative eating options, vegans can’t help but feel a bit ignored.

The RPS website yields no information or further support for animal-free eating on campus other than menu listings and a definition of the word “vegan.”

Peta2, a youth animal rights group, has named IU’s campus number one for veg-friendly eating, though I would challenge that ranking because IU, for some bizarre reason, puts milk in many of its hummus selections.

Veganism is sometimes difficult to defend. But vegans choose this lifestyle, so we have to learn to accommodate ourselves.

Unfortunately, egg and milk intolerances are among the most common allergies in the U.S. Whether deathly allergic or mildly discomforted, it makes avoiding dairy and poultry a task for a significant population.

While I am thankful to have a campus that provides admirable options for animal-free eating, I would be lying if I said there is little room for improvement.

I challenge you to try going vegan for a week, or even for a few days. Upon reading labels and paying more attention to what you put in your body, you may encounter some of the same difficulties I did.


E-mail: ftirado@indiana.edu