I’ve been noticing negativity more and more on many social media platforms and this includes vegan accounts and posts. I wanted to write about my own experiences and give a little insight as to why I started the Big Box Vegan account.
A place to start.
I started my account to highlight the growing assortment of vegan products available in stores and to not only let people know about them, but to help those maybe dipping their toes into plant-based eating see that they may not have to give up as much as they thought. I knew going in that many may fault my posting of what they consider vegan junk food, but I don’t care what you eat as long as you’re not harming animals. There are many trigger foods like palm oil, sugar and others that set people off and understandably so, but I want to tell vegans “don’t hate what they ate.”
Hateful comments and holier than thou attitudes don’t help anyone. There’s a wide spectrum of foods you can eat as a vegan. You can be completely raw or not eat anything processed, and that is valid and aspirational but lashing out at others for their food choices only makes them fight back or feel badly about themselves. We should be trying to lift each other up and supporting the amazing progress made and not trying to choose sides.
Be kind.
Anonymity on social media is like protective armor to some giving them a license to kill, but I don’t support judging others choices. As a 25 year vegan, I’ve gone through many cycles from eating only organic and non-processed foods for months at a time to only wanting burgers and fries every day. I’ve been there and know choosing this lifestyle can be confusing when starting out and some may only choose to eat plant-based a few days a week and we should support that, not try and tear them down.
So next time you want to say Oreos aren’t vegan or that you could never eat anything resembling meat, know that your choices aren’t everyone else’s choices and ask yourself if you’re helping or hurting veganism by shaming others?