"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose." - The Vegan Society

Vegans avoid meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products since we recognize farming and slaughtering animals as abusive when there are alternatives available.

Plant-based diets can be incredibly beneficial to the environment and offer great health benefits, but the harm modern agriculture inflicts on thinking, feeling animals is why veganism is imperative. Sentient Media estimates 99% of US farmed animals live on factory farms. We look at family dogs and feel a deep connection with their vibrant emotions, but we condemn billions of cows, pigs, and chickens capable of these same emotions to overcrowded cages, pens, and sheds to live miserable lives before they’re marched in fear to their slaughter. 

There is no humane way to kill someone who doesn’t want or need to die. The meat industry knows this, so they make vague promises their animals lived and died happy for your meal without showing you the process. They know their customers would be horrified if they saw how they humanely exterminated male chicks in the egg industry or humanely slaughtered a pig in a gas chamber. 

Dairy and eggs appear harmless on the surface, but they may be the most unethical animal products on shelves. Artificially inseminating dairy cows annually is a standard practice so they continue producing milk for their calf, which farmers take away at birth. It’s a standard practice to gas or grind up male chicks alive in egg hen hatcheries, and the female hens are bred to lay hundreds of more eggs annually than they would in nature. Farmers slaughter nearly all animals they profit off of once their bodies can no longer bring in enough revenue. Vegans exclude all animal products, because we respect all animals' interest in a life free from harm.

There is no way to humanely farm sentient individuals. Learn more about today’s standard animal farming practices at watchdominion.org

Definitely not! A single vegan meal is a meal that no animals were slaughtered for. It also minimized your environmental footprint and may have even benefited your health! Unless you grow your own food and never leave the house, even long-term vegans can slip up or unknowingly buy something that harmed an animal. 100% purity is unrealistic and not what we advocate for.

Instead, you make a meaningful difference for animals by being a voice for them. Advocate for policy change and share the principles of animal rights with others. Judgment and purity raise the barriers of entry to veganism, but loosening restrictions and inspiring others lowers those barriers. Not eating animals is a passive retraction from causing harm. Farmed animals need people like you to stand up for them, not just to avoid eating them.

Yes! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that appropriately planned vegan diets are "healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits." They also view the diet as appropriate for all stages of life, from infants to athletes. These health benefits include reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer.

Appropriately planning your vegan diet is key, and that’s easier than ever today. While a vegan diet is higher in fiber, vitamin C, and many other nutrients than the Standard American Diet (SAD), it may also be lower in some nutrients like B12, vitamin D, and iodine if you don’t learn where to get them. Eating a varied plant-based diet is key, and there’s fortified foods and vegan multivitamins that make eating a healthy vegan diet a breeze. 

All aspiring vegans should see this article written by a Registered Dietician breaking down the essentials of plant-based nutrition: https://veganoutreach.org/plant-based-nutrition/

Vegans eat anything without a mother! Some vegans focus on whole foods, and others eat a Standard American Diet except they use meat, dairy, and egg substitutes to make all their old favorite recipes. It’s up to you and your goals!

One thing many long-term vegans have in common is that they didn’t start out making the diet overly restrictive. It’s tough to go from regularly eating pizza, tacos, and spaghetti to eating salads and smoothies every day. It’s so much easier to switch to vegan pizza, tacos, and spaghetti first! You just need to find vegan substitutes you like, and you’ll still be eating a diet that doesn’t slaughter animals while minimizing your environmental footprint and potentially benefiting your health. Once you see how easy and delicious eating vegan food can be, then you’ll be ready to incorporate more healthy whole foods if that’s your goal.

Learn more about what vegans eat at https://veganoutreach.org/vegan-food/

You can shop for vegan items at all major grocery stores in our area. Many foods are unexpectedly vegan (Oreos!) and most stores also carry plant-based meats, cheeses, milks, and more.

In Springfield, Meijer, Walmart, Hyvee, Aldi, and Target all carry everything you need. Food Fantasies on Wabash is the best place to find vegan brands you will not find anywhere else in town. The Asian Market, Masala Mart, Almadina International Foods, and Little World International Food Market also carry unique vegan products. Stay active in our online groups for local shopping tips.

See great online guides here:

• 🛒 Vegan shopping guide organized by aisle! https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegetarian-shopping/

• 🏪 Meijer shopping guide: https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegan-at-meijer-shopping-guide/

• 📰 18 best vegan foods at Aldi: https://vegnews.com/2021/8/18-vegan-goods-at-aldi-you-need-to-know-about

Most restaurants have vegan options, and you can find some of the best at HappyCow.net. Veggl.com also lists vegan options at most chain restaurants. Springfield has received media attention for city-wide Vegan Chef Challenges and our chapter hosts regular vegan food meetups at vegan-friendly restaurants. La Fiesta Chatham and Pita-or-Bowl have been longtime favorites of the vegan community because of how well-labeled their extensive vegan options are.

Generally speaking, many American restaurants now carry plant-based burgers to eat. Asian restaurants often can replace meat with tofu in most dishes, just make sure the dish has no egg or fish sauce. Mexican restaurants often have vegan fajitas and other options available, just make sure to ask for no sour cream or cheese and that the rice and beans are prepared without animal products. You can usually order falafel dishes at Mediterranean restaurants if you order with no Tzatziki sauce. For specific recommendations, ask our Facebook or Discord group!

The exploitation of animals is normalized in every facet of our society, and it takes a curious mind to unpack the misconceptions we all learned about the role animals play on farms, on plates, and for our health. 

Vegan activists have made great speeches, documentaries, and books to give you a huge jump-start on your journey of understanding what the meat industry hides and how to enjoy the vegan lifestyle. Here are some excellent places to get started. Some of the content describing or showing the standard practices in factory farms can be hard to witness, but Gary Yourofsky said it best. “If it's not good enough for your eyes, why is it good enough for your stomach?”

• 🎤 (Speech) Gary Yourofsky - The Most Important Speech You Will Ever Hear - This speech was delivered to a non-vegan classroom and has woken up millions of people to the realities of modern animal agriculture. The limited graphic content is preceded by a warning.

• 📺 (Documentary) Dominion - Must-watch documentary with undercover footage of the standard farming practices for commonly consumed animals. Timestamps in description.

• 💻 (Webpage) Nutrition Tips for Vegans - Nutrition primer by vegan Registered Dietician Jack Norris giving just the facts on what aspiring vegans should know about plant-based nutrition.

• 📖 (Book/Audiobook) Ed Winters - This Is Vegan Propaganda: (And Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You) - Groundbreaking book by one of today’s most public vegan activists debunking myths and uncovering lies perpetuated by the meat industry. Covers everything from the environmental impacts to animal agriculture to the humane meat myth.