With the whole world (social media) harping on about plant based diets, it feels almost vile to eat anything milk, eggs or meat.
I mean plant based diets and foods are good, of course they are, but most people who advocate these diets assume an almost patronising mantle, so much so that they're convinced of a halo hovering over their heads.
When I say plant based diets I'm talking about vegan foods and that they're wonderful and wholesome is anybody's guess, but disparaging anything that isn't vegan is not very wholesome, now is it?
Veganism has added another dimension to the eating world and brought into foray the benefits of eating various obscure foods that were earlier mostly region/country specific and vastly unknown and has helped spread the word about little known superfoods and healthier, nutritious diet options; not just, it has branched into a lot more vigorous diets and movements like raw foods or juice based diets which need a certain amount of dedication and willpower to follow.
The thing with veganism, and I don't say this with any insolence is that one has to explore a lot of options that it makes available (though not easily accessible) to make for a complete diet. The elimination of milk, milk products and meats makes it that much more difficult to follow and easy access to quick proteins, probiotics, calcium etc becomes greatly absent.
Veganism as a diet therefore is easy to pursue for people who live in bigger cities where plant based products are easier to find.
For example a non vegan (that includes vegetarian or carnivore) would eat yogurt or curd for much needed probiotics in their system, but a vegan would probably rely on soy milk yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut etc to fill that probiotic void and that's perfectly fine, except that these items are not somethings easily found in all parts of the world.
Ditto for calcium needs, when a glass of whole milk or cheese or fish would suffice for someone who doesn't follow veganism but a vegan would probably be hunting calcium fortified soy milk or tofu in supermarkets that might or might not always be available everywhere.
Having said that, most vegetarian homes at least in India usually end up having vegan meals complete with proteins (in the form of lentils) and vegetables, along with high fiber carbs, and are rounded off with milk based products that add as meal accessories in the form of curds or dessert, but if one were to eliminate them then most Indian vegetarian meals would be vegan, but delve a little further and the thin boundaries between vegan and vegetarian become harsher, because milk products are commonly used and added to vegetarian foods and following strictly vegan methods can become that much more difficult, in which case a safer bet would be to follow South Indian vegetarian diets where coconut milk is more commonly used.
Of course, a vegan would have to specifically mention about not using any 'ghee' which is clarified butter made from milk, used in almost every food product throughout the nation.
But that's about Indian food and veganism is more of a fad than reality here, because of the over abundance of vegetarians and vegetarianism.
Veganism as a lifestyle choice is a harsh pursuit one that needs dedication and commitment to the cause, not to mention existence in a bigger city/country with easy access to vegan foods; what it doesn't however need are militants who only ever talk about virtues of veganism while degrading or disregarding other commonly practised diets.
Including the benefits and options of vegan diet to a regular diet (be it vegetarian or carnivore) is an easier, not to mention a lot more healthier key to both palate and sustenance.
I mean plant based diets and foods are good, of course they are, but most people who advocate these diets assume an almost patronising mantle, so much so that they're convinced of a halo hovering over their heads.
When I say plant based diets I'm talking about vegan foods and that they're wonderful and wholesome is anybody's guess, but disparaging anything that isn't vegan is not very wholesome, now is it?
Veganism has added another dimension to the eating world and brought into foray the benefits of eating various obscure foods that were earlier mostly region/country specific and vastly unknown and has helped spread the word about little known superfoods and healthier, nutritious diet options; not just, it has branched into a lot more vigorous diets and movements like raw foods or juice based diets which need a certain amount of dedication and willpower to follow.
The thing with veganism, and I don't say this with any insolence is that one has to explore a lot of options that it makes available (though not easily accessible) to make for a complete diet. The elimination of milk, milk products and meats makes it that much more difficult to follow and easy access to quick proteins, probiotics, calcium etc becomes greatly absent.
Veganism as a diet therefore is easy to pursue for people who live in bigger cities where plant based products are easier to find.
For example a non vegan (that includes vegetarian or carnivore) would eat yogurt or curd for much needed probiotics in their system, but a vegan would probably rely on soy milk yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut etc to fill that probiotic void and that's perfectly fine, except that these items are not somethings easily found in all parts of the world.
Ditto for calcium needs, when a glass of whole milk or cheese or fish would suffice for someone who doesn't follow veganism but a vegan would probably be hunting calcium fortified soy milk or tofu in supermarkets that might or might not always be available everywhere.
Having said that, most vegetarian homes at least in India usually end up having vegan meals complete with proteins (in the form of lentils) and vegetables, along with high fiber carbs, and are rounded off with milk based products that add as meal accessories in the form of curds or dessert, but if one were to eliminate them then most Indian vegetarian meals would be vegan, but delve a little further and the thin boundaries between vegan and vegetarian become harsher, because milk products are commonly used and added to vegetarian foods and following strictly vegan methods can become that much more difficult, in which case a safer bet would be to follow South Indian vegetarian diets where coconut milk is more commonly used.
Of course, a vegan would have to specifically mention about not using any 'ghee' which is clarified butter made from milk, used in almost every food product throughout the nation.
But that's about Indian food and veganism is more of a fad than reality here, because of the over abundance of vegetarians and vegetarianism.
Veganism as a lifestyle choice is a harsh pursuit one that needs dedication and commitment to the cause, not to mention existence in a bigger city/country with easy access to vegan foods; what it doesn't however need are militants who only ever talk about virtues of veganism while degrading or disregarding other commonly practised diets.
Including the benefits and options of vegan diet to a regular diet (be it vegetarian or carnivore) is an easier, not to mention a lot more healthier key to both palate and sustenance.
