Category Archives: Veganism

Fat. Just that seemingly simple, three-letter word can conjure up pain for many of us: childhood memories of being made fun of on the playground. A before picture taken at that weight-loss program we tried. A moment full of shame in the fitting room.

Turn the TV to any channel, flip through any fashion magazine, scroll through any social media feed, and you will be thrust into a world where thin people are celebrated and fat people are nowhere to be found. And yet, fat peoplea term increasingly and intentionally used to destigmatize and ultimately emboldenmake up the vast majority of Americans.

In a world where discrimination can range from hurtful (fat people are routinely the butt of jokes in everything from casual conversation to big-screen Hollywood movies) to outright dangerous (doctors regularly advise weight loss, without further analysis, to fat patients while recommending blood work, CAT scans, or physical therapy for patients of smaller size experiencing the same symptoms), fat people are regularly given the message that they are unworthy. And the vegan community isnt immune to this harmful rhetoric either.

Veganism and diet culture have been confused for years, and as the movement grows stronger, the prevalence of health-focused messaging combined with rampant body policing is only doing harm. How can we pry apart plant-based advocacy from societys too-prevalent anti-fat bias and work toward a size-inclusive movement? First, we have to unpack the way we treat fat people. And its a big problem.

When it comes to shifting the conversation about fat bodies and flipping the harmful fatphobic gaze of society on its head, there is perhaps no more visible agent of change than Lizzo. The 33-year-old pop star is as well-known for her advocacy for radical self-love as she is for her chart-topping hits, frequently celebrating her sensuality and proudly flaunting her body across Instagramin and of itself a radical act in a world where fat bodies are expected to cower and hide in shame. Then there are the commenters. The louder her critics become about her near-nude social media posts and brazen captions (the next time you want to judge someone for drinking kale smoothies or eating McDonalds, or working out or not working out, mind your own business), the bolder she becomes.

But as with any challenge to the status quo, Lizzos take-no-prisoners approach is deeply uncomfortable to someespecially those who have built their careers on making thin bodies. When The Biggest Loser star Jillian Michaels appeared on BuzzFeeds digital morning show with a gripe about Lizzos public displays of self-adoration, the fallout was significant. Why are we celebrating [Lizzos] body? questioned the fitness celebrity. Cuz it isnt going to be awesome if she gets diabetes. [] Like, I love her music. [] But theres never a moment where Im like, And Im so glad shes overweight!

In the days following Michaels jab, the public discourse around body positivity was profound, with celebrities and pundits weighing in on what Lizzowho went vegan in 2020 and regularly posts plant-based recipes to more than 14 million TikTok followersshould do with her body. Though such Page Six-worthy discussions are fewer and farther between when it comes to other mega-famous singers whose bodies conform to a social norm, something about Lizzo showing off her curves unapologetically while twerking in a bikini was just the type of envelope-pushing that woke up a society-at-large that, when it comes to confronting their complacent role in fat-shaming, had been largely asleep.

The buzz that Lizzos body-love platform has created is a reflection of a movement that has gained popularity in recent years, thanks to the hashtag-happy culture that helped to popularize it. But before #fatacceptance was trending, there was body positivity.

Founded as a nonprofit in 1996 by author Connie Sobczak and social worker Elizabeth Scotttwo women who are not fatThe Body Positive organization prides itself on teaching people how to reconnect with their innate body wisdom in order to have more balanced self-care. The feel-good pillars that guide the mission include declaring your authentic beauty and cultivating self-love. Though hailed as a corrective to the hatred that so many women have had toward their bodies, the movementwhich has spun out far beyond just the initial organization and become a standalone social media trend (with nearly 16 million posts hashtagging #bodypositive)has also undergone criticism.

In her 2020 book, What We Dont Talk About When We Talk About Fat, author Aubrey Gordon points out what she sees as a glaring omission in body positivity spaces. [W]hile body positivity may be increasing individual self-esteem, it doesnt seem to have made a dent in the prevalence of anti-fat attitudes and behavior, Gordon writes. Further exemplifying this point is a 2019 Harvard study that found that of six implicit biases tested over a nine-year period, anti-fat bias is the only one to have worsened over time.

De-centering the most marginalized bodies from social justice issues that have gone mainstream enough to be somewhat watered downsuch as with the case of body positivity being so focused on self-love that it can feel like an erasure of fat bodies, which are amongst those most victimized in a thin-centric worldis nothing new. As the Black Lives Matter movement grew in popularity and became a mechanism for corporate woke-washing, the group that suffers the most is Black trans people (accounting for the high prevalence of murder and suicide amongst this demographic). Just as caring about racial justiceas well as fancying yourself a feministarguably means the main focus should be on liberating the Black trans community, to be body positive means the focus should be on achieving radical fat acceptance.

Yet for those who continue to suffer at the hands of the institutions and social queues that continue to standardize anti-fat oppression, that moral imperative is missing from the narrative.

If fat people had a nickel for every time a friend was performatively well-meaning in expressing concern for their health, they would be wealthy enough to run the world. And with the wage gap that discriminates against larger bodies (heavy women earn $9,000 less than their smaller counterparts while very heavy women earned $19,000 less), the extra money would be welcomed.

So can you be fat and healthy? According to Dr. Yami Cazorla-Lancaster, the answer is a resounding yes. The pediatrician and lifestyle medicine physician sees healthismwhen a persons worth is judged by their health statusas a way our society paints the so-called picture of health, and it runs deep. Research shows that stigmatizing weight actually leads to worse outcomes for mental and physical health, says Cazorla-Lancaster, whose book, A Parents Guide to Intuitive Eating, covers topics from body acceptance to lifestyle habits. Perhaps a persons health should be just between themselves and their healthcare provider.

And even when the shame and bullying involved with healthism are enough to push fat people into the doctors office, theyre still not safe from weight discrimination. Dr. Reshma Shah, author and instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine, suggests that a comprehensive reworking of the doctor-patient relationship may be in order. Many people have reported receiving advice to simply lose weight as the treatment plan without receiving a proper history, Shah says, which can result in potentially life-threatening delayed or missed diagnoses.

In an effort to find a safer space in which to receive medical treatment, some fat activists have embraced the Health at Every Size (HAES) movementwhich offers a set of principles that removes the emphasis on weight loss and redirects it to the pursuit of wellbeing. Beyond HAES focus on body inclusivity, for Cazorla-Lancaster, its the social justice aspect thats especially motivating. [HAES] prompts us to consider the influences that environment and privilege have on our body size and health, she says.

For Chelsea Lincoln, a 25-year vegan who runs the body diversity-focused platform Fat Vegan Voice, imagining a world without anti-fat bias is challengingbut the vision of what our culture could become if we embraced radical compassion for all beings keeps her fighting. Without fat bias, people would be healthier, mentally and physically, she says, adding that it seems ironic since there is the stereotype that being fat means unhealthy when without weight stigma, people would naturally have intuitive eating, be more comfortable getting medical care, and doctors would actually treat the patients appropriately. Fat bias literally kills people.

One thing that separates Cazorla-Lancaster and Shah from other practitionersincluding some who rally behind HAESis that these two doctors are vegan, which can be at odds with both ends of the spectrum. On one hand, mainstream medicine has historically not embraced plant-based eating, while on the other, even the very progressive HAES is not inherently veganpossibly because veganism can be presented as restrictive and therefore convoluted with toxic diet culture.

Ironically, the HAES movements dismissal of veganism ties into a bigger concern plaguing many fat activists who are also plant-basedand it hearkens back to that very idea that veganism is a weight-loss diet, as opposed to an ethics-driven choice. This is no surprise, given the relentless conflating of plant-based living with weight loss by both the mainstream media and influencer culture.

And because of the anti-fat society we live inand the dominant narratives about vegans, and what they eat and look likethe very idea of vegan food thats not wholesome and healthy can be triggering for some. Follow any popular vegan food account on Instagram and youll spot the comment, Just because its vegan doesnt mean its healthy in less time than it takes to tap the like button beside that snap of rich, layered chocolate cake.

For Jessica Cruz, founder of Vegan Street Fair Los Angeles and Vegan Exchangean annual and weekly event, respectively, featuring everything from burgers and milkshakes to baklava and mushroom baothe melding of veganism with health is exasperating. Her social posts featuring indulgent street fair food are meant to showcase how varied modern vegan cuisine is, and how a diet without animals doesnt have to mean deprivation. But invariably, commenters flock to the feed to offer reminders that vegan French fry-stuffed burritos arent a health food, which of course, isnt the point. My responses to these misinformed comments aim to educate folks on how the ethical part of this movement does not dictate how a person should look or eat in order to liberate animals, just that they do everything they can to liberate animals.

Anti-fat bias is a glaring problem in many vegan circles and the ripples of discrimination are felt far and wide amongst those who identify as both fat and plant-based. Believe it or not, despite the immense pressure for fat folks to feel miserable and ashamed of our bodies, some of us are happy with them, or have at least internalized that our self-worth is not dependent upon the bodies we inhabit, says Andy Tabar, owner of vegan message-wear brand Compassion Co. and co-host of The Bearded Vegans podcast. Weve stepped off the yo-yo diet infinity loop and are merely trying to practice our ethics as best we can, and that means living a vegan lifewhile fat.

Prior to starting his clothing business (which offers sizes up to 4Xhe is currently seeking larger sizes that adhere to his ethical standards of production), Tabar spent years advocating at large-scale events. Ive talked to fat people who care about animals but never thought they could go vegan, or they thought that veganism was something they couldnt explore because they didnt have any desire to fit into that image, he says, pointing out that pro-vegan literature exclusively features slim and athletic-looking people.

Beyond the lack of representation and consideration in brochures, social media, events, and clothing brands (most companies only carry sizes up to XXL), fat vegans also face discrimination in their advocacy. An elephant trainer once told me after noticing my sweatshirt that said Make Peace, Not Pork, that my parents should have thought of that before they made me, recalls Lincoln.

When fat vegans and their allies speak about fat liberation, too often they are met with pushback and non-sequiturs about how fat vegans only exist because of Oreos or other foods stereotyped to be [what] fat people eat exclusively, Lincoln explains. Body sizes are diverse, and you cannot tell what someone eats or how active they are based on their size. And regardless, everyone is worthy of respect.

Honoring bodily integrity, practicing empathy, and boycotting systems that oppress marginalized communities are core ethics for many vegans, and yet, fat bodies are often pushed aside in favor of thinner ones that fit the arbitrary, archaic, Americanized standards of beautythat is, able-bodied, white, and thin. This colossal disconnect begs the question: on what planet is anti-fat bias a part of animal liberation?

To reach a truly size-inclusive movement that embraces everyone, toxic diet culture and veganism need to be permanently pried apart. But confronting a deeply entrenched, oppressive system from which many of us have benefittedwhether it be a culture of white supremacy or anti-fat biasrequires the difficult but necessary process of deep self-examination.

It starts with education. So fill your feed with fat activists (vegan and non-vegan), learn how to identify anti-fat bias, and call it out, suggests Tabar, who says we can also ask animal rights groups, magazines, and other advocacy platforms to include fat bodies in their literature, feeds, and outreach materials. But also, challenge cosmetic diversity, he continues. If vegan organizations pay lip service to fat vegans in a social media post [] but still speak about veganism as a weight-loss plan, address that.

As many vegans know, systemic change starts with a personal act. And when it comes to confronting our anti-fat bias, that means we need to confront self-directed fat-phobia, do the work needed to turn off our inner scripts that tell us we are less-than because we are larger-than, and never joke about or disparage our bodies. Others are watching, listening, and ingesting the negativityeven when we think its only about us.

For fat vegans, achieving that size-inclusive liberation movement where everyone indeed feels they belong remains an uphill climb. Aside from Lizzo, there are very few reflections of larger bodies in the cultural zeitgeist, the institutional animal protection movement, and the digital universe of vegan influencers.

In order to end anti-fat bias and extend a justice-based worldview to include all individuals, the representation of fat (and other marginalized) bodies needs to become commonplace. Vegan messaging has to be removed from damaging weight-loss rhetoric altogether. Nosy friends must stop suggesting that their fat buddies should lose weight and instead work aggressively on their own damaging perceptions and behaviors.

To really get there, the liberation of all oppressed bodies needs to be a core value and practice amongst those who abstain from eating animals. Medical professionals need to treat the patient, not their size. For Tabar, these changes cant happen soon enough. Understand that this is a social justice issue, not just a matter of body positivity, he says. There is systemic anti-fat bias that we cannot self-love our way out of.

Jasmin Singer (jasminsinger.com) is the author of The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan, the editor of the forthcoming anthology Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation, and the co-host of the Our Hen House podcast.

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Original post:
The Big Fat Problem with Veganism: Why Body Discrimination Needs to End Now - VegNews

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've wanted to become vegan for a few years now, but I still live in my parents' home. My mom has made it clear that she won't cook vegan, but she also gets offended when I say I would make my own meals. She thinks dinnertime is a bonding experience and somehow me choosing to not eat animal products would hinder it. I don't get her perspective, but it's gotten to the point where I'm ready to proceed to veganism even if she disapproves. What should I do? -- Parents Disapprove of Veganism

DEAR PARENTS DISAPPROVE OF VEGANISM: Changing your eating habits while living at home can be extremely difficult. Somehow your choices probably make your mother feel that you are rejecting the food she makes for you. While that is true, in a way, your choice to become vegan is not about her -- it is about you. That's what you need to get across to her. Tell her how much you appreciate her, and assure her that your choice today is not an indictment of her cooking. Point out the foods she cooks that you can eat so she can see that you are not rejecting everything.

Offer to work in the kitchen side by side so that you can enjoy each other's company. Show her that your new eating plan is not a threat to her. Continue to eat together. This will show your mother that dinner remains a special time for all.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm bisexual, and my hometown friends are all openly homophobic. I keep defending LGBTQ+ rights in the group chat, and they make fun of me for it. The environment makes me feel really unsafe, so I haven't told them about my sexuality. Each day, I'm feeling more and more tempted to just drop them and move on. I don't think I can mentally handle knowing they don't accept me. Is it too rash? -- Experiencing Homophobia

Read the original here:
Mom doesn't support reader's veganism | | thetandd.com - The Times and Democrat

One of the only things that seems more timeless than a leather jacket is the debate over the ethics of its iconic material. Leather, mostly made from the hides of cattle and calves, is highly contested in the fashion industry, along with real animal fur and feathers.

Veganism and using fewer animal products, whether in food or in fashion, is often touted as a sustainable solution. However, some industry experts and environmentalists argue that leather is a difficult material to find a high-quality sustainable dupe for. Though consuming less meat and dairy and having a more plant-focused diet has been proven to be better for the environment, consumers can be misled to assume that all things vegan, including pleather, are sustainable.

Most mainstream vegan leathers are largely made from polyurethane leather (PU leather) which is not sustainable or even biodegradable. Tanja Hester, environmental activist, writer, and the author of Wallet Activism says that the idea of vegan leather is just greenwashing.

Its truly just plastic, which is rarely recycled and in vegan leather form its impossible to recycletheres essentially no sustainable vegan leather, she says.

PU leather is a thermoplastic polymer and is mainly used in vegan shoes and furniture. Other vegan leathers are polyvinyl chloride aka PVC leather. Both often come with the threat of micro-plastic pollution due to the amount of energy, water, and chemicals used to produce fake leather materials. The plastics release harmful toxins during manufacturing that can get into the air and into water. Some of the plastics can even release some toxins later when worn down.

[Related: Thrift shopping is an environmental and ethical trap.]

Vegan leathers, especially PU leather, are littered all over fast fashion websites, including brands like Shein that are consistently lambasted for being low quality and unsustainable. The material is easier to make and cheaper than genuine leather because genuine leather requires finding the right animals with the right skin and multiple stages of artisan processes.

Hester says animal-loving consumers should instead search for second-hand, high-quality leather items like boots or bags that can last for years. She says that long-lasting materials are better than cheap vegan leathers that will sit around in a landfill for centuries.

Its understandable that many people are drawn to vegan leather because they care about animal welfare, but theyd certainly make a different choice if they understood that its really just plastic made from petroleum, she says. Its a product that poisons workers involved in its production.

Ana Kannan, the founder and CEO of Toward, an ethical and sustainably-minded luxury shopping marketplace, argues that there may not be any truly sustainable leather option. One is fast-fashion quality and filled with plastics, while the other comes from the pollution-heavy livestock industry. There is no perfect solution to alternative leather, she says, if whats most accessible on the market is made up of plastics. However, some brands have already begun developing solutions to keep pleather out of the landfill once a jacket or purse is no longer used.

Stella McCartney is a great example. Theyre using KOBA, which uses [about] 40 recycled polyester, she says. Theres also the option of regenerated leatherbasically [animal] leather thats been used before.

[Related: What actually happens to the clothes you donate depends on where you live.]

Kannan says she is also excited about plant-based leather. There are several companies including one called Piatex that takes the long fibers of pineapple leaves and felts them together to create the leather-like material. Since pineapple plants are only grown for the fruit, the pineapple-based leather uses up parts of the plant that would otherwise be thrown away.

Libie Motchan, the co-founder of Fulton, a company that makes insoles for shoes using sustainable cactus leather, says that customers often respond to the product with wanting to learn more about the environmental impacts and quality of the sustainable materials.

I didnt realize how much consumers care about it and how much theyre willing to prioritize and ask questions and understand where their products are coming from, she says. Consumer inquiries have led Motchan to test materials for biodegradability and compostability, unlike real leather products that dont biodegrade if processed with chrome or other metals.

Were starting a life cycle analysis of the products I think thatll give us more insight into its end to end of life and impact, she says. We felt there was an opportunity to innovate.

When in doubt, start by shopping in your own closet or buying second-hand before heading out for a new leather jacket, fake or real. If you really need something new, do your research to find something that fits your style and moral codedemand for more sustainable products is the ultimate fuel for better, more environmentally-friendly products.

Original post:
Is 'vegan' leather really better for the planet? - Popular Science

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

European plant-based food and beverage market in is likely to progress with a CAGR of 8.76% between the forecast years 2021-2028.

Veganism is becoming increasingly popular in France, with 30% of the consumers making efforts to reduce their meat consumption. Animal care activists in the country are working relentlessly to spread awareness among people, which has resulted in the reduced meat consumption.

In 2017, Danone acquired WhiteWave, a US-based organic food producer, for $12.5 billion. In February 2021, the company entered into the agreement to acquire another US-based company, Earth Island, a plant-based foods specialist.

In February 2020, Limagrain, an agricultural cooperative, announced its plans to launch a new legumes business aimed at delivering plant-based food products, in order to tap on to the fast-growing plant protein sector and the rising trend of eating less red meat.

A month later, The Bel Group signed an agreement to acquire the French startup All in Foods, which owns the Nature & Moi brand, to add more products to its range of 100% plant-based products to its current product portfolio. Therefore, the growing adoption of plant-based options is expected to fuel the growth of the market in France in the coming years.

COMPETITIVE OUTLOOK

Some of the players dominating the plant-based food and beverage market include Amy's Kitchen, Moving Mountains, Pacific Foods Of Oregon, Sweet Earth Inc, Morningstar Farms, Conagra Brands, Blue Diamond Growers, Sunfed, and Field Roast Grain Meat Co Inc.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market - Summary

2. Industry Outlook

2.1. Impact of COVID-19 on the Plant-Based Food and Beverage Industry

2.2. Key Insights

2.2.1. Awareness About Animal Health and Safety

2.2.2. Manufacturing Plant Expansions

2.2.3. Concerns About Health and Changing Lifestyles

2.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

2.4. Market Attractiveness Index

2.5. Vendor Scorecard

2.6. Key Market Strategies

2.6.1. Product Launches

2.6.2. Contract & Partnerships

2.7. Market Drivers

2.7.1. Shift Towards Veganism

2.7.2. Rising Lactose Intolerance

2.7.3. Advantages of Plant-Based Diet

2.8. Market Challenges

2.8.1. High Cost of Plant-Based Products

2.8.2. Limited Awareness

2.8.3. Disparity in Perception of Dairy and Plant-Based Food and Beverages

2.9. Market Opportunities

2.9.1. Availability of Sustainable Products and Recyclable Packaging

2.9.2. Revolutionary Manufacturing Procedures

2.9.3. Introduction of Brand New Products

3. Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market Outlook - by Type

3.1. Dairy

3.2. Meat

3.3. Other Types

4. Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market Outlook - by Source

4.1. Soy

4.2. Wheat

4.3. Almond

4.4. Corn

4.5. Other Sources

5. Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market Outlook - by Distributors

5.1. Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

5.2. Convenience Stores

5.3. Specialty Stores

5.4. Online Retail

5.5. Other Distributors

6. Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Market - Regional Outlook

6.1. United Kingdom

6.2. Germany

6.3. France

6.4. Spain

6.5. Italy

6.6. Russia

6.7. Rest of Europe

7. Competitive Landscape

7.1. Amy's Kitchen

7.2. Beyond Meat Inc

7.3. Blue Diamond Growers

7.4. Califia Farms

7.5. Conagra Brands

7.6. Daiya Foods Inc

7.7. Danone Sa

7.8. Field Roast Grain Meat Co Inc

7.9. Impossible Foods Inc

7.10. Kikkoman Corporation

7.11. Morningstar Farms

7.12. Moving Mountains

7.13. Pacific Foods of Oregon

7.14. Quorn Foods

7.15. Sunfed

7.16. Sweet Earth Inc

7.17. The Hain Celestial Group Inc

7.18. Yofix Probiotics

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ee4hq

Read more:
Europe Plant-Based Food and Beverage Markets 2021-2028: Shift Towards Veganism / Introduction of Brand New Products / Rising Lactose Intolerance /...

How did you feel when you changed your diet?JO: Better. My energy level is incred- ible. When you eat vegan, you feel much lighter. Your body doesnt work so hard to break things down.

What are some of the big misconceptions about veganism?JO:The first question Im asked is how do I get protein. You get what you need if you eat a balanced diet of greens, healthy plants, fruits and vegetables along with beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. Soybeans, tofu and tempeh are great protein options.

Do you miss things like cheese?JO: Id say 90 percent of vegetarians cant make the switch because theyre hooked on dairy. But there are so many non-dairy options out there now. Miyokos Creamery has an incredible unsalted butter. Theres Cheezehound and Just Mayo and everyone is making non-dairy ice cream.

So its easier than ever before to go vegan?JO: Yes. Beyond Beef and the Impos- sible Burger are everywhere. Nathan has announced theyre doing a vegan veggie dog.

Whats your advice for people thinking about making the change?JO: Most people say they hardly eat meat, but if they added up how much they eat in a month, it would shock them. So make a list. Write down, No eggs, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no animal products, and carry itaround.

The vegan lifestyle is getting more and more popular. Do you think that will continue?JO: Veganism is most likely to be the diet of the 21st century. It encompasses a whole new way of life as people become more aware that our mainstream di- ets are not as healthy and have devastating effects on the planet. Those are big reasons for people to change.

Excerpt from:
Going Vegan Can Be Easy Thanks to Connecticuts West Street Grill Chef James OShea - inTouch Weekly

Tell me about Plant Grants.

I hooked up with [vegan cheese brand] Violife because we have a similar philosophy about eating plant-based foods: making them more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for everybody. There are three things that are important to this program. First, of course, is funding. Violife is giving out five Plant Grants, $20,000 apiece, to Black-owned restaurants.

Second, it's about mentorship and knowing how to incorporate plant-based ingredients into recipes. That's where our [partnering] chefsLemel Durrah of Compton Vegan and Laricia Chandler Baker of Can't Believe Its Not Meatcome in because vegan restaurants around the country are getting better and better and people are really taking their time [to make good food].

Third, it's about information. People are becoming more conscious of how they eat and of the effects their diets have on problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. A plant-based diet has been actually proven to reduce these factors in our community, and getting this information into the hands of Black chefs and restaurants will just only expand it.

What do you envision when you dream of a plant-based future, especially in Black communities?

To quote my son, the dream is that we are all happy and healthy. When I ask my son how hes doing, he says, happy and healthy, Dad." That's all we can ask for. That's my dream, that we all are happy and healthy, and that starts with our body and our minds.

Life grows through the food we eat to sustain our bodies, so a plant-based life and balanced diet will only improve our bodies. Plant Grants supports my vision by making a plant-based diet readily and easily available. This grant for Black-owned restaurants, some of which are the heart of their communities, gives them a chance to have an economic infusion, to have chefs [share] mentorship and information, and turn their best dishes into something that's more healthy without compromising the taste.

How have you seen attitudes around veganism culturally shift among men, specifically Black men?

At one point people thought veganism was preppy, but it's shifted and I think hip-hop has helped. You see some of the hip-hop heroes being conscious of their diet and sharing it in their lyrics and in their lifestyles because theres truth to it. There's a truth to it, that on this planet that's full of plants, you could flourish and be nourished from that plant.

There was a point in life where meat was a sacrifice. If your only way to survive is to sacrifice this animal to get you back to a place where you can start farming again, that's an understandable sacrifice. But today we actually breed animals and kill them more for pleasure versus necessity. I think that consciousness is growing and Black men are saying to themselves, Yo, I don't need it. I feel better. I think we are getting away from it being stereotypically uncool to be healthy.

Take our Plant Grants chef Lemel Durrah of Compton Vegan, for example. When you think of Compton, you think about Eazy-E and all the gangsterism, but in the midst of that community, theres a restaurant that's flourishing where people can go and start changing their diet. They're not far from Roscoe's House of Chicken n Waffles or whatever, but there's a choice now, and I think that's only going to grow.

How do you think we can start changing the cultural view of meat as crucial to masculinity and therefore crucial to survival?

A few bits of wisdom: A man is known to be strong, as they say, and that man eats steak for strength. Steak comes from a cow and the male cow, a bull, is a very strong animal that can grow up to around 1,500 pounds and move tons. All the cow eats is grass. All the muscles he has, all the steak, every part of him that we're consuming, is all built from plants. This is the animal we are consuming for strength, but what does that animal consume for strength? Plants.

You're dealing with organic, animated lifefrom a fly to a chicken to a fish, these things are striving to live. In all reality there's nothing that needs to die for a man to live. Everything is provided. I'm here as a living example of over 20 years of not putting dead animals in my body. There's no flaw in not eating meat. I don't have a flaw from it, and I've got children with no flaws from it. When I was young, I wasn't conscious of just how much death that we cause just to try to have a life. We delude ourselves into thinking that the only means of survival is for something else to die.

Read more:
Wu-Tang Clan's RZA on Meat and Masculinity - Bon Appetit