20 Reasons You Can’t Go Vegan in 2020 (and 20 bloggers who show you can!)

It’s 2020- Go Vegan Already!

I’ve been vegan for around 5 years, and vegetarian for a couple decades before that. When I first went vegetarian it was a really different landscape than it is today- there were very few vegetarian options, and people looked at you like you had three heads when you told them you didn’t eat meat. I went vegan right at the time when good vegan alternatives really hit the market- all of the sudden it became so much easier to find vegan options. Vegan yogurt, cheeses, meats, and baked goods can be found in most grocery stores- there really aren’t many reasons you can’t go vegan left now in 2020.

What Are the Benefits of Going Vegan?

There are a lot of great reasons to go vegan, and not many good reasons not to! I’m going to be sharing 20 reasons people use not to go vegan, but I also want to share the reasons that being vegan is so important.

1. There are huge ethical reasons in terms of animal welfare– not only is killing animals never a kind thing to do, but the conditions that they are kept in are cruel and make the short lives we allow them torturous and filled with pain. The egg and dairy industry are perhaps even worse, as their terrible lives are extended and they are made to live in those conditions for several years, before being slaughtered for not being able to keep up with production requirements. Read a little more about our current animal agriculture practices here.
2. Health is another big reason people go vegan- people are eating meat at unprecedented levels thanks to readily available cheaply produced meat, and it’s showing in our health. Animal products are connected to several diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, heart diseases, bone density issues and several forms of cancer. Like all diets, getting a variety of foods is important in order to get all the vitamins and minerals we need, but since plant-based foods are more nutrient dense that’s not too hard!
3. Other people choose to go vegan to help the environment. It turns out that animal agriculture is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gasses. It is the largest producer of methane in the US, a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. It also produces 65 percent of the planets nitrous oxide, an even more powerful trapper of heat. Animal agriculture also uses more water and land and is a greater toll on the environment. For more information, check out this helpful graphic detailing some of the ways veganism benefits the planet.
4. Veganism for humanity is another good reason to try a plant-based way of living. There are hundreds of millions of people living across the globe without access to enough food. If the entire world adopted a vegan diet, we would be able to feed everyone (and then some) without any further deforestation. Additionally, in the United States CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) are most often built near poorer communities and generally communities of color. This exposes those communities to the health and environmental impacts that occure from living near those conditions.

Whatever your priorities, there are plenty of good reasons to give veganism a shot in 2020. But what about protein, traditions, time consuming recipes, and BACON? Read on to hear some common reasons people think they can’t go vegan, and some great recipes vegan bloggers came up with that bust those myths wide open.

20 Reasons You Can’t Go Vegan, And 20 Recipes that Prove that Wrong

1. Vegan Food is so weird- it’s all quinoa, wheat grass, and nutritional yeast!

Honestly, I love quinoa and other vegan health foods, but you don’t have be a health nut to be vegan! There are plenty of familiar vegan options, from simple things like pasta and tomato sauce to more elaborate comfort foods like this Vegan Biscuit Pot Pie from Vegan Travel Eats.

2. Vegan Cooking Takes Too Long- I want to get dinner on the table quickly!

It’s a common misconception that cooking vegan meals is more time intensive, but that’s really not true. In fact, vegan food can take less time from a food-safety perspective, because less ingredients need to be thoroughly cooked in order to be eaten. Here’s a recipe from Very Vegan Val (us!) that shows how you can make a great dinner option in under 30 minutes. For dinner, try our Vegan Chickpea and Spinach Curry.

3. BACON!!!

This might be one of the most annoying excuses not to be vegan ever, but it’s one you hear a lot. And I’m here to tell you that you can get smoky, salty, crispy, umami-filled bacon alternatives. This Portobello Mushroom Bacon comes to you curtesy of Veganosity, and makes the “bacon” reason for why you can’t go vegan irrelevant.

4. I don’t want to eat processed, “Impossible” foods

Great news- you don’t have to! There have been plenty of vegans living since long before the bulk of store-bought meat and cheese products came out. And you don’t even need to give up on meaty or cheesy foods. I Heart Veggies shares their version of Vegan Macaroni and Cheese, using potatoes, carrots, and cashews for the sauce.

5. But How will I get Protein?

We are taught that protein comes in animal form- “protein” is sometimes even used interchangeably with “meat” in culinary terms- but proteins don’t originate in meat. Proteins are one of the three macronutrients we eat and our bodies need. Animal proteins come originally from the amino acids in plants, so animals are really acting as a middle man- we can just go straight the plant-source. This Red Lentil Dal from Vegan on Board contains 19 grams of protein per serving!

There’s more than one reason to choose plant-based proteins over animal-based sources. Plant-based proteins are much more environmentally friendly, requiring less land, less water, and creating fewer emissions than animal agriculture. There are obvious issues of animal cruelty involved in animal agriculture. In addition, there are strong correlations between meat consumption and several different health conditions such as heart disease, as well as many types of cancer.

6. Vegan Salads Are So Boring

Because many meat-eaters have salads made up of iceberg lettuce, bacon bits, and ranch dressing, there’s an assumption that a vegan salad would be a bowl of un-dressed lettuce (although fun fact- many bacon bits are actually totally vegan). But it doesn’t need to be that way! There are many delicious and colorful vegan salad toppers. Ve Eat Cook Bake gives us a great example with their Vegan Cobb Salad.

7. But I need Meat to Feel Full!

Sometimes it does take a little while to adapt to the way your stomach feels when you’re not eating meat, but there are filling options out there! I challenge you not to feel full after eating this Vegan Steak with Roasted Potatoes from Elepantastic Vegan.

8. Nostalgia- I can’t not have my Mom’s sugar cookies

While this specific example probably doesn’t apply to you, we all have recipes from our childhood that are near and dear to our hearts. For Sarah at Fried Dandelions, it’s her moms Classic Sugar Cookies. The good news is you can make pretty much any recipe vegan! Let the traditions remain, but adapt to your new kinder lifestyle.

9. I need Calcium for my Bones

While we often hear milk makes our bones strong, we don’t hear the newer studies showing that animal proteins actually cause calcium to leach out from the bones. In addition to calcium, vitamin K is very important to preventing osteoporosis. So you know what’s much better than milk? Kale- it has a lot of vitamin K and calcium!. Try our Crispy Kale White Vegan Pizza as a great bone-strengthening option!

10. I Like Cream in my Coffee, and Vegan Milk Curdles

Different vegan milks will work differently, so you have to find the ones you like best for every application. For example, I like to use oat milk in hot chocolate, but I prefer soy milk when baking. If you’re particular about your coffee creamer, try this lightly sweetened Coconut Oat Vanilla Coffee Creamer from Healthy Slow Cooking. It’s even nut-free!

11. Veggie Burgers Taste Like Cardboard

There are a variety of veggie burgers out there, from ones that taste like meat, to those that taste like beets! While they might not all be winners, there are tons of delicious options out there like these Tempeh, Quinoa, and Sweet Potato Burgers from Up Beet Kitchen.

12. Vegan Food is SO expensive!

Look, I’m not saying all vegan food is cheap. There are plenty of vegan cheeses, baked goods, and other alternative products that will cost you a pretty penny and are more of a special occasion treat. But some of the cheapest foods- beans, lentils, rice- are healthy, filling, and vegan. Recipes like this Vegan Chili from Full of Beans will keep you full and won’t break the bank.

13. I can’t live without cheese!

This is probably the one I hear most often, and with good reason- cheeses contain casomorphines, a compound that acts like a mild opioid in your brain. Basically, you’re literally addicted to cheese. Vegan cheeses aren’t addictive, but they can still be delicious! Try this Vegan Provolone from The Hidden Veggies.

14. What Do I Eat for Breakfast?

Some meals are harder than others, and breakfast can be tough. It’s basically synonymous with “eggs and bacon”, and while lots of items can be easily made vegan (waffles, pancakes, oatmeal), they usually aren’t. What I love about this Vegan French Toast Breakfast Sandwich is it takes several elements that shouldn’t be vegan, and makes the greatest, junk-food vegan friendly sandwich. Thanks Vegan Travel Eats for this art!

15. I Can’t Go Vegan, I’m Already Gluten-Free

You might have to work a little harder, but there are so many vegan and gluten-free recipes and bloggers out there dedicated to making those with dietary restrictions still get delicious food. This example of a Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake from Tess Challis was so good, it convinced her husband he could be vegan too!

16. Tofu is so gross- I hate the Texture!

A lot of people have issues with the texture or taste of tofu, but don’t let that get you down. Tofu is very versatile and can take on lots of different flavors and textures. This is one of the recipe for Tofu Crumble for Vegan Tacos that helped Bree of Bree’s Vegan Life embrace the deliciousness that is tofu!

17. I can’t Go Vegan Because Soy will Give Me Man-Boobs

While I can’t really address this concern with a recipe, I do feel the need to set the record straight- soy will not give you man boobs. Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are similarly shaped compounds to estrogen but don’t bind to the body in the same way estrogen does. You know what does contain estrogen? Cows milk- real, mammalian estrogen. So if man-boobs is your reason why you can’t go vegan in 2020, think again, and enjoy this boob-less, high-protein Roasted Black Bean Tofu.

18. If a Vegan Diet was really “Natural”, You Wouldn’t Need B12 Supplements

This is another myth that needs some busting- it’s true that without supplements vegans can develop B12 deficiencies. But about 40% of the population struggles with B12 levels, vegan or not, so there’s more going on here. B12 is made by bacteria, and we used to get it in the dirt on our food (before we were as good at getting them perfectly clean). Animals too used to get B12 through grazing, making milk and meat products a rich source of accumulated B12, but since the start of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, cows get their B12 the same way vegans do- supplements. To get the right amount of B12, your choices really are supplements, or lick dirt.

Nutritional yeast is a great vegan option, as it is often fortified with vitamin B12. Try this Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce from Watch Learn Eat. Just make sure to buy nutritional yeast that says it’s been fortified if you’re looking to boost your B12!

19. I Love Comfort Cooking

Veganism isn’t about giving up your favorite dishes- it’s about finding alternative ways of making it that still give you the same warm comforting feelings inside. You can’t go vegan if you’re not willing to experiment! Here’s a great alternative to chicken and waffles- and it’s allergen-friendly as well as being vegan! Vegan Chicken and Waffles by Strength and Sunshine.

20. But I Don’t Like Vegetables…

That’s not an easy one, but baby steps. You might not like all vegetables, but start with ones you do. Add little bits of other vegetables in, and soon you’ll be eating a rainbow of plants! There are also other ways you can start- this Dairy-Free Pistachio Ice Cream from Unconventional Baker may not be health food, but it does have spinach and avocados hidden inside!