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“Why are you vegan?”
I asked many of my vegan friends to give their answers to this never-ending question. In a social gathering, it is important to be able to give a succinct, yet honest answer. If you can, it is better if they begin to think about their own lifestyle after hearing your testimony. From your answer they should understand where you’re coming from and that you’re not trying to belittle their lifestyle. It is always a good idea to view your answer first from their perspective to keep from sounding rude, to avoid turning people away from you and off of vegans and veganism.
If they are interested and keep asking, you’ve got an opportunity to explain to them the “how”. They’ll usually be curious as to how the vegan diet and lifestyle works. For smart, efficient ways to respond check out Seattle Vegan Examiner Virginia Messina’s answers in her article, "When friends ask about vegan diet: fast answers to frequent questions".
Here are some great examples of how to style your “Here’s why I’m vegan” elevator pitch:
I’m vegan because…
For the animals:
- I don't think that any animal should suffer for my tastebuds or convenience. It's just gross.
- I don't want to kill anyone unless I absolutely have to.
- Not being vegan means contributing to enormously more suffering and killing than not - my compassion demands I go vegan.
- Less is more!
- Avoidable suffering and death are, well, avoidable. To the degree I'm able, I seek to avoid causing those things.
- The pledge says "liberty and justice for ALL" or the Bible says "thou shall not kill". I'm vegan because it's the right thing to do. Slavery and murder is not something I stand for, and it's healthier anyway.
- No other personal choice has such a positive impact for our animals, our world, and our health.
- I go for the moral reasons rather than the health ones (as compelling as they are).
- I'm vegan because factory farming is disgusting, and I can't eat or hurt anything that can look back at me.
- I say there are many reasons why, and it would take me all day to explain them, but the main one is to boycott cruelty.
- Denial finally broken about where meat comes from. And dairy - cows still get killed [and] suffer and it's not my milk to drink.
- I'm vegan because production of all animal foods involves horrible suffering. Since we don't need those foods for health, I could never justify eating them.
- I did it for the animals. I have been vegan for 20 years.
- Since I do just fine on [a] vegan diet, animal food is violence I can avoid in my daily life.
- I don't think we have the right to use other animals. They're not ours and they suffer when we use them.
For life:
- I usually start with "Why aren't you?" and go from there.
- Because it's healthy and I've never felt better.
- I haven't found a good reason not to live a vegan lifestyle.
- Being a vegan is about having compassion for all life, starting with each other. Because you are a conscious soul, you feel the energy of all living beings, it's a beautiful thing really.”
- I'm Vegan because I'm healthier that way.
- Then, it was because I was on a diet. Now, I can’t see any other way of life. It is the best way to make a difference.
- I say vegan works for me; whatever works for you is ok too... I avoid the who is right and wrong [argument] and stay in a place of LOVE.
Finally, a legend:
Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends. -- George Bernard Shaw
A formula for a really great vegan pitch:
Sit down and brainstorm the first 10 reasons you can think of that you are vegan. Take the two or three that are most personal to you and make them flow together. If you can’t combine them in a sentence, cycle them or choose which ones to use based on which one will impact your audience more. If someone is really interested, they might get to hear more than three, but keep it simple, true and easy to convey. It helps to have a personal yet succinct answer that is easy to remember. If you have trouble coming up with a reason why you’re vegan, do some soul-searching and make certain to yourself what your reasons are. Honesty is the key to trusting yourself and others trusting you as an “expert” on veganism.
Does your answer change every time? What makes those little changes happen?
Does it depend on who you’re talking to? Which parts do you add or take out when talking to family? Omnivores? Vegetarians? Vegans?
What is your “why I’m vegan” speech? I want to hear it!
Special thanks to the following for offering their hearts:
Virginia Messina, MPH, RD
Ryan Andrews, RD, MS
Twitter friends:
Veganginger
mary_martin
BJBlunt
Brukins
Veganacious
Wchanley
Stephendavis02
VeganCapitalist
Matts_Kitchen
Gymgirl7593
Lazylizzie
DailyVegan
Bradgosse
Sedria
Deantheghost
RawmanWalking
Glittergoggles
InAGaddaDaVegan
Rawfoodbliss
rgendron
Photo:Boulder Baked
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Comments
My favorite: "I don't think we have the right to use other animals. They're not ours and they suffer when we use them."
I guess that might go over better with some people than talking about "exploitation." I know I can use "exploitation" when talking to other activists who address exploitation as a core of their actions, but otherwise I'm afraid it might go over their heads.
moonpointer dot com recently posted my "Tit for a Tat":
Tit: Why did you become vegan?
Tat: Compassion, love, and understanding. What did you become a carnivore?
Vegetarian here. My wake up call came when I observed chickens crammed into cages with their wings pointed in numerous directions. It was mortifying and all I could think: I had just removed a whole chicken to thaw that a.m. before going to work. Also, deep down, I luv animals. They need us to protect them.
Louche:
I liked that one too; my favorite ones are in italics. :) Exploitation is so overused and almost hippy-sounding nowadays, unfortunately. Explaining it is much easier, you're right.
That's such a great answer!
Green Countess:
That's so true, I have done the same thing, still can hardly handle living with a meat-eater and seeing that stuff in my fridge.
have you considered veganism? Chickens farmed for eggs are still kept in cages and killed. If you want to protect them completely, go vegan!
Quick version: "Health reasons: mine and the animals'."
And another legend:
"A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral."
- Leo Tolstoy
I love this article. It's so helpful :)
I am vegan because I believe that all creatures deserve love and respect, and that includes cows, pigs, and chickens.
Funny how it's perfectly normal to quiz vegans about our food choices, yet they are so shocked when we turn the same questions on them. That's why I love the "Why AREN'T you vegan?" response and think it is so effective. If nothing else, it usually helps illuminate to someone that they have very little idea of the implications of their diet.
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