Veganism

• Horeca, Bakkerij en Recreatie
• Middelbare school
• vmbo g
• Leerjaar 1

What do you know about
the vegan diet?

Learning objective

To understand what a vegan is, be able to explain what vegans do and do not eat and know what nutrients need to be given extra attention when having a vegan diet.

The Vegan diet

Veganism is a stricter from of vegetarianism which means that vegans exclude all animal products altogether. Although most people think veganism is a diet, it is more of a life style.  It influences their food, clothes and utensils. 

This means that vegans do not eat anything that comes from an animal. They do not eat seafood, eggs, dairy products, honey, meat or any foods which contain them.

A vegan based diet will get all its nutrients from a plant-based diet. Foods that vegans will eat include vegetables, fruit, beans, seeds, nuts and grains. 

reasons for going vegan

- for the animals: animals in the food industry are often mistreated

- for health: A vegan diet is mostly healthy products

- for people: veganism requires less production, therefore can feed more people per production cycle

- for the environment: veganism puts less strain on the planet

Nutrients

People who follow the vegan diet, get all their nutrients from plant-based foods. These foods will include vegetables, fruit, beans, seeds, nuts and grains. 

Where other people get a lot of nutrients from eggs, meats and dairy, vegans have to make sure they have platbased replacements. The nutrients that need special attention are : 

 calcium, protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as B12. 

Nutrient

Purpose

calcium	Helps keep bones, skin, nails, hair and teeth strong
protein	Helps build new cells for your body
Iron	Helps the red bloodcells carry oxygen
omega-3 fatty acids	Helps keep the brain and heart healthy
Vitamin B12	Helps in the production of red bloodcells.

Can you match the nutrient with its benefit?

Protein

Vitamin B 12

Omega 3 fatty acids

Iron

Helps build new cells int he body

Helps the red blood cells carry oxygen

helps to produce red blood cells

helps keep the brain healthy

Where do vegans get their nutrients from?

Nutrient	Vegan Sources	Non-vegan sources
Protein
Calcium
Iron
Vitamin B12
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

What is veganism?

What nutrients do vegans need to be extra carefull with in their diet?

for higher ability groups

Veganism in the news

Doctors in Belgium have stated that raising children on a vegan diet is "unethical" and should be a criminal offence. Vegans refrain from consuming any animal products, including meat, eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances. The Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium has declared that veganism is "unsuitable for unborn children, children, teenagers, and pregnant and lactating women". Professor Georges Casimir said vegan parenting qualifies as "non-assistance to a person in danger," which is a criminal offence that carries a prison sentence of up to two years. He said children need "higher requirements for protein and essential fatty acids" and that these nutrients must be from animal products.

The animal rights group PETA reacted angrily to the ruling of the Belgian medical association. It rejected the ruling and called it "ignorant codswallop". PETA spokeswoman Dawn Carr said: "Nutritionists confirm that while a meat- and dairy-based diet is what strikes people down in adulthood (as it can lead to hardened arteries that cause stroke, brain aneurysms, and heart attacks) a well-planned vegan diet is perfect for babies and children." She added: "Kids, including my own, thrive on a balanced vegan diet, but as with any dietary regime, it's the parents' responsibility to ensure their child is getting all the necessary nutrients." Around three per cent of Belgian children live in vegan families.

Link the correct term with its definition 

read the article again, then answer the questions

1. In what country might it become illegal to raise children on a vegan diet?
   
2. What did doctors say raising children on a vegan diet was?
   
3. Who is Georges Casimir?
   
4. How long could a prison sentence be for raising children on a vegan diet?
   
5. What essential things did the doctors say must be from animal products?
   
6. How did the animal rights group PETA react to the doctors' ruling?
   
7. Who is Dawn Carr?
   
8. What did the article say hardened arteries could lead to?
   
9. What did a vegan say her children thrived on?
   
10. Whose responsibility did a vegan say it was that children got nutrients?

Students who need more help

In pairs / groups, think about these topics or words; What can you say about these words and your life?

      write down what you know about these words

 doctors / vegan / diet / dairy / animal products / teenagers / parenting / protein /

       animal rights / dairy / adulthood / stroke / brain / heart attacks / regime / nutrients

optional