Links to other sites with FAQs
The following sites all have answers to frequently asked questions about vegetarianism.
PETA has a good Vegetarianism/ Vegan
FAQs page covering:
- Why do you try to force vegetarianism on others? Isn't it a personal choice?
- Animals kill other animals for food, so why shouldn’t we?
- The animals have to die sometime, so what's wrong with eating them?
- Don't farmers treat their animals well so they'll produce more milk or eggs?
- What will we do with all the chickens, cows, and pigs if everyone becomes a
vegetarian?
- If everyone became vegetarian, many animals would never even be born. Isn't that
worse for them?
- If everyone only ate vegetables and grains, would there be enough to eat?
- Don’t vegetarians have difficulty getting enough protein?
- Don’t humans have to eat meat to stay healthy?
- Aren't humans natural carnivores?
- Don’t dairy cows need to be milked?
- I know a vegetarian who is unhealthy. Is vegetarianism really good for people?
- Why should I feel bad about eating meat? I didn’t kill the animal.
- Chickens lay eggs naturally, so what's wrong with eating eggs?
- Can fish feel pain?
- Isn't seafood healthy and low in fat?
- Why should animals have rights?
The VRG has heaps of answers to questions. They are on the following pages:
Frequently asked questions including the following:
- Where can I find vegan marshmallows?
- Is kosher gelatin vegan? What is pareve?
- How many people are vegetarian?
- What are the different types of vegetarians?
- How do I become a vegetarian?
- Why do people become vegetarian?
- Help! My teenager wants to become vegetarian. Is it safe?
- What are the nutritional needs for young vegetarians?
- What about protein? Calcium? Iron?
- Where can I find a recipe for...?
- I have food allergies. Can I still be a vegetarian?
Answers to general questions including:
- Who are some famous vegetarians?
- What is the history of vegetarianism?
- What can I do about cooking on holidays? Christmas?
- What about parties and cooking for large groups of people?
- How do I make a vegan cake?
- How many animals are killed a year for food?
- Are there flu vaccines acceptable for vegans?
- What about dogs and cats? Can they be vegetarian?
- Why don't vegans drink milk or eat eggs?
Food ingredient questions:
- What is vitamin B12 derived from? Isn't it always from an animal product?
- What are "natural flavours"?
- Why won't some vegans eat sugar?
- Why are some cheeses labelled as "vegetarian cheese"? Why wouldn't cheese
be vegetarian? What is rennet?
- What is chewing gum made out of?
- Is the ingredient known as pre-gelatinised wheat starch vegetarian?
- What is whey?
- What are enzymes, and are they vegetarian?
- What is amylase?
- What is Royal Jelly?
- What is wrong with using honey?
- What about those ingredients that sound like they are from milk, such as lactic
acid, lactose, and lactate?
- What is the difference between vitamin D2 and D3?
- What are agar-agar and guar gum?
- Does "lecithin" come from beans, such as soybeans, or is it from an animal?
- What are dextrose and maltodextrin?
- What is gelatin made from?
- Is kosher gelatin vegetarian?
- Is glycerine safe for vegetarians?
Travel and Restaurant Questions:
- I'm going to be travelling to Europe. Where do I start?
- Is there a guidebook to vegetarian restaurants available?
- Is there a book of natural foods stores available?
- Where can I find out about vegetarian restaurants online?
- I'm going to be travelling to Europe and Asia, and I need translations to show
waiters and chefs in several different languages. Do you know where to look?
- Do you have any vacation ideas for vegetarians?
- I'm very interested in learning about all the different veggie B&B's throughout
the U.S. Does anyone know of a guide to this sort of thing?
- Do you know of any restaurants that will accommodate vegans in Israel?
- Within 3 weeks I will be travelling around in Zambia. What are the
possibilities for vegetarian food?
- Any advice for travellers going to Central and Latin America?
- I'm travelling to the Dominican Republic very soon. What is the possibility of
getting vegan (or vegetarian) food there?
- I just moved to a small town where there are no local 'health food stores,' any
ideas?
- Do you have any tips for travelling with veggie kids?
- We are looking for help on some ideas for cheap eats while on a cross-country
road trip. We will have a camping stove and a hot pot.
They also have a Frequently Requested Recipes page.
PCRM has a FAQ page covering:
- How can I get enough protein?
- Shouldn't I drink milk?
- What's wrong with dairy products?
- How much calcium's in my food?
- What is lactose intolerance?
- How do I cook without eggs?
- Essential fatty acids?
- How will a vegetarian diet affect my athletic performance?
- Power up vegan style
Virginia Messina, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian with a masters in public health nutrition from the University of Michigan. She has been a dietitian, public health nutritionist and vegetarian for nearly 20 years.
VegRD is a vegetarian and vegan nutrition question and answer page covering topics including:
- Are Magnesium Supplements Worth Taking?
- Zinc and Supplements
- Cravings for Cheese
- Weight Loss and Protein
- Digesting Vitamin B-12
- Calcium for Vegan Toddlers
- Iron and Calcium for Vegans?
- Too Many Grains?
- Osteoporosis and Menopause
- Copper, Soy, and Depression
- Calcium Absorption
- Protein Needs for Teen Males
- Vegans and Iodine
- Must Vegans Supplement Omega-3 Intake?
- Constructing an Adequate Vegan Diet
- Nutrient Needs for Six Month Old Babies?
- Diets and Eye Damage?
- Should Men Worry About Estrogens in Soy?
- Is Vegetarian Eating Unnatural?
This website has answers to commonly asked questions about vegetarianism including:
- What's a vegetarian? Why would anyone want to be one?
- I'm concerned about my health and I've cut down on red meat. Why do I have
to do anything else?
- Are fish and chicken more healthful than beef?
- What about lean meat?
- I've heard that some foods such as oat bran, and nutrients such as beta
carotene, offer health protection. What if I just eat more of those?
- Aren't most cancers caused by environment, chemicals and heredity?
- Where will I get protein if I don't eat meat? Isn't it complicated to make sure
you're getting enough of the various amino acids?
- Where would I get vitamins and minerals?
- If I switch to a vegetarian diet, won't I have to eat more dairy products?
- How come vegetarians sometimes seem to eat more and yet are not
overweight?
- A vegetarian diet may be OK for adults, but is it a safe way to raise children?
- Aren't people physically designed to eat meat?
- Weren't animals put here for food?
- Why should we worry about animals when there's so much human suffering?
- Aren't there more pressing animal causes?
- Aren't farm animals raised humanely?
- I am concerned about the environment and I'm doing my part by recycling.
Isn't that enough?
- Won't a vegetarian diet cost more money?
- Don't people get tired of 'just lettuce and carrots?'
- Won't it take a long time to prepare?
- Isn't it hard to shop?
- What about eating out?
- Where do I get started?
- What are some of the changes I can expect?