The Vegan Debate

The trainer room at KFS is an exciting place. Office, change room and refuge, it’s a coveted cubby where knowledge, experience and innovation meet to create individual client programs. This 50 sq. ft. crawl space provides a breeding ground for ideas and debate. One hot topic that has been generating conversation is the vegan diet. Is it superior, if at all sustainable, to a conventional diet? Arguments support various view points but to make things easier we have provided a diplomatic summary of the discussion so that you don’t have to sneak into to trainer’s room (again).

What is a vegan diet?  A vegan diet is one that avoids all animal products, including meat, cheese, eggs and dairy and obtains it’s nutrients from fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds and nuts.

Are there special considerations? People who follow a vegan diet must eat a variety of foods and take supplements if nutrients are lacking. Special attention should be paid to protein, iron, B12, vitamin D and calcium. Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as people over the age of 50 should pay close attention to meeting nutritional guidelines set out by Health Canada.

Should I follow a vegan diet?  That depends on you. People have unique nutritional needs that will depend on various factors, including lifestyle, sex, ethnicity and age. While a vegan diet may be beneficial for some people it can be equally detrimental to others. If you are following or considering following a vegan diet it is advisable to discuss with a registered dietician and assess what you need to be healthy and adopt sustainable food habits.

Remember that a diet is what you ALWAYS eat and not just once in awhile.

Want more information? Check out these sites…

Dieticians of Canada

The Vegetarian Resource Group (non-government)

Vegan Recipes

Written by Lyz