Is Veganism Really Healthier?
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Vegans, in a way, have become their own culture. The food pattern has swept through society, from the assortment of non-dairy milks at Starbucks to the “meatless Monday” movement. The “vegan option” seems to be a fixture on restaurant menus.
The campus has seen growing numbers of students subscribe to this eating pattern, and there are vegan stations at all three campus dining halls.
“In the past two years, I would say is where there have been a lot more students interested in the vegan pattern of eating,” said Jane Jakubczak, University of Maryland’s campus dietitian.
Jakubczak, however, cautioned that veganism is not always the healthiest diet. She pointed out potential pitfalls in this way of eating, like how it can make someone more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies. However, Jakubczak emphasized that when a person has strong motivations, such as sustainability or animal rights, and puts in the effort, the diet can be nutritionally successful.
“I became a vegan mostly for the environment. Since I was vegetarian for my whole life, the animal rights didn’t play a huge role in my decision to jump from vegetarian to vegan, because I was already conscious about the treatment of animals,” said Devanshi Kanani, a junior psychology and biology double major.
In order to eat healthy on a vegan diet, a person must be willing to try a variety of foods. If not, veganism can potentially turn unhealthy. It is a common myth that eating vegan cannot be unhealthy, but snacks like Oreos, Pop-Tarts and fries are all vegan. Therefore, it is imperative to replace nutrients traditionally acquired from meat with plant-based foods of similar nutrient profiles.
“I actually don’t go out of my way and get enough protein just by eating plants. It’s totally a misconception that we need meat to get enough protein,” sophomore Carmen Borgia, a student in the individual studies program, said. “But, if I want extra protein, I’ll eat peanut butter, protein bars, tofu, or imitation dairy or meat products.”
One common issue those following vegan diets experience are vitamin deficiencies. The best way to attain necessary vitamins, said Jakubczak, is through consumption of non-dairy and non-meat foods, not through the use of vitamin supplements.
“People should be fully attaining their nutrients through food, as that is its purpose,” Jakubczak said. However, she said that taking some B12 or calcium vitamins, if necessary, is not harmful.
The vegan diet has its challenges in the college bubble, where options, money and time are often limited. However, there are ways to work around these obstacles, such as spending more time thinking about what you will eat before going out with friends or before a long day of classes.
“It’s definitely a challenge being a vegan in college, but just in America in general,” Kanani said. “I always have to do my research on restaurants.”
Thus, when thinking of following this diet, it is necessary to evaluate your motivations and potential difficulties that could go hand in hand with following it.
“It’s important to take small steps and realize that every decision you make to cut down on consuming animal products makes a difference,” Kanani said.
Interested in vegan recipes? Check out these Instagram accounts recommended by Carmen Borgia: @plantbasednews, @bosh, @livekindlyco
