Are We Moving Or Being Forced To A Plant-Based Diet

Tucked away in a roundup of the hottest food fads coming our way this year was a small article about the growing popularity of plant-based-protein.

Those who eat only this type of food are known as Vegans.

Their diet is free of all animal products such as meat, eggs, fish, and dairy with the ultimate goal of ending exploitation of animals.

The article in Tuesday’s Courier Mail said that: With Australia the third fastest growing market in the world for vegan food, it’s no surprise plant-based proteins are tipped to become even  bigger business this year.

Tofu, tempeh, legumes and pulses will only continue to see their popularity grow among both home cooks and professional chefs.

It will follow a greater focus on vegetables as a whole, with eateries from casual cafes to fine diners now embracing vegetarian and vegan menus as people look to reduce their meat intake for environmental and health reasons.

Committed adherents to Veganism are very passionate about their cause as was shown on Saturday when a group of vegan protesters stormed a Melbourne steak restaurant chanting slogans through loudspeakers and yelling at customers.

News.com.au reported 35 activists from Direct Action Everywhere Melbourne and Melbourne Cow Save Animal Liberation Army entered the Rare Steakhouse on King Street in the CBD at around 6.30pm “to speak up for animals where their dead bodies were being consumed”.

In a video posted to Facebook, the group can be seen protesting on both levels of the restaurant as around 25 bemused customers eat their dinner.

“In order to create change in our society, we must challenge current belief systems and force people to take a side — oppression or justice, cruelty or compassion,” Melbourne Cow Save wrote on Facebook. “There is no humane way to kill someone who does not want to die.”

Diners plus the restaurant owners were obviously not impressed and the police were called. There were no arrests after the protesters left peacefully.

Commenters on Facebook had mixed reactions to the stunt. “Great work! If people want to eat the corpses and secretions of animals then they can face the hard truth of how it ended up on their plates,” Katrina Larsen wrote.

But Amber Marie said she was vegan and “this is not cool”. “Best way for non-vegans to think ill of vegans,” she wrote. “People are spending money, buying a meal, uniting with family, celebrating their life’s joys, on dates. You have successfully ruined these moments for them, they will never want to hear from a vegan again.”

A Vegan protest in the court of Henry the V111 in the early 1500s would have had much to complain about (not that they would have survived the executioner’s axe).

A typical menu would have included:

First course

Brawn (Boar Meat). Roast Tongue, Leg of Pork, Roast Beef, Roast Venison (deer), Meat Pie, Vegetables in season, Bread, Wine

Second course

Roast Lamb, Rabbit, Bread

What do you think about Veganism and the Melbourne protest? Send your views to SheSociety…….

Just for the record, the No 1. 2018 food fad listed in the Courier Mail article was gut-friendly menus. Where cafes and restaurants are expected to embrace the trend, delivering menus filled with prebiotics such as garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke and dandelion greens; fermented foods such as miso, tempeh, tamari, sauerkraut and kimchi; and high fibre foods such as legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.