# My dad just started a vegan diet, and it's charmingly funny **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202 "2013-07-11T04:00:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/21 "2013-07-11T21:19:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Tofu is wonderful when it isn’t trying to be something else. Our favorite Thai place does a tofu krapow that is borderline transcendent. Agreed. I love the stuff, and I doubt there’s a bigger fan of animal flesh on this planet. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/22 "2013-07-11T21:28:31Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) Vegans and vegetarians (hell, everyone) have to figure out what they’re personally OK with and set their standard there. If you’re eating vegan for health reasons, you may well have that method of eating only to avoid as much (for example) cholesterol as possible, rather than being concerned with animal welfare. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/23 "2013-07-11T21:52:35Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) Holy shit. I thought this was a total woooooooooooosh until I clicked the link. Ho-leeeeee sheeeeeyit. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/24 "2013-07-11T22:06:23Z")
Just make sure he doesn’t lose his [Vegan powers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLpCZ8g5uK8)! (One of my favourite clips from ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/25 "2013-07-11T22:39:57Z")
I once at in a restaurant in Kyoto in which EVERY SINGLE ITEM on the menu was made from tofu. It was good, too, but I wouldn’t go back because you had to sit on the floor. Okay there were thin cushions, but I wouldn’t repeat the experience. I especially like fried tofu in Chinese restaraunts. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/26 "2013-07-11T22:54:53Z")
Tofu is wonderful! Stinky tofu, sweet silken tofu in ginger sauce, fried tofu, mapo tofu, tofu in soup, cold tofu with 1000 year egg…there’s a million things to do with them! ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/27 "2013-07-12T01:42:28Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Is your dad aware of how deep down the rabbit hole some vegans go? Particularly regarding things like honey, gelatin and beer filtered with animal products (more common than you think). Heh, he won’t do that, I think. He’s doing a trial short term to see if it helps with his weight loss (which he has already done admirably.) But he doesn’t care about any of the ethics of it and he’s a Wisconsinite so he’ll keep it up as long as he feels like it’s doing good, but it’s not like he suddenly hates cheese and bratwurst. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/28 "2013-07-12T01:52:51Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) Figs? Well, that’s a new one for me. At least that seems to be a fringe, fringe opinion on that vegan website. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/29 "2013-07-12T03:44:02Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) Oh bloody hell. If we start like that we’ll end up eating pills. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/30 "2013-07-12T04:09:04Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) I suppose that particular person never learned about the amount of bugs/bug parts that are in all grains. It’s funny how some choose particular rabbit holes to fall into, when there are so many they need to climb out and jump into the next one. I feel lucky that the number of vegans I know just aren’t that crazy or dumb. Most don’t really even talk about it. I hope the OP’s dad carries some of what he learns for life! I bet he falls off the wagon with either cheese or bacon, though. It’s nice to hear about someone who has figured out that meat and animal products don’t have to be part of every meal, and I think that’s what’s really important. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/31 "2013-07-12T04:12:33Z")
Do you have any Supreme Master restaurants near you? If not, you should look for one. For the uninitiated, the [Supreme Master Ching Hai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai) is a person/personality cult that also runs a number of vegan restaurants. The [one near me](http://www.yelp.com/biz/vegetarian-house-san-jose#query:supreme%20master) is quite good, even speaking as a meat eater! But the restaurant has several TVs playing Supreme Master TV, and a bookstore of Supreme Master literature, and a wall of pamphlets of Supreme Master information… you get the idea. It’s all really bizarre and amusing. But the food is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/32 "2013-07-12T04:18:28Z")
Meh. The point of being vegan is not to avoid getting animal parts inadvertently, it’s to avoid killing/exploiting animals. If the wasp was held down and forced to pollinate the fig, the fig isn’t “vegan” even if he or she lived and flew away. And as for tofu, it’s only cube-like if it’s been shaped that way. It’s not like real animals are hot-dog- or hamburger-shaped, ya know. At least tofu isn’t made of lips, ass and entrails. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/33 "2013-07-12T04:21:33Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Wait until he finds out that fresh figs are not considered by many to be vegan either and the philosophical reasons for that. Repeat testing that line of logic for every ingredient and it starts to be mentally exhausting. > > [http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052](http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=7052) Well, I’m not vegan, but now I know I can’t eat fresh figs. _vomit smiley_ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/34 "2013-07-12T04:34:48Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Meh. The point of being vegan is not to avoid getting animal parts inadvertently, it’s to avoid killing/exploiting animals. Exactly. If the stuff is already dead by course of nature, why should it bother a vegan? I mean, I’m not a vegan, so I don’t know, but I like to think I understand vegetarianism/veganism to a reasonable extent. Why would it be unethical to eat living matter that is “naturally” dead? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/35 "2013-07-12T16:09:47Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Do you have any Supreme Master restaurants near you? If not, you should look for one. > > For the uninitiated, the [Supreme Master Ching Hai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai) is a person/personality cult that also runs a number of vegan restaurants. The [one near me](http://www.yelp.com/biz/vegetarian-house-san-jose#query:supreme%20master) is quite good, even speaking as a meat eater! But the restaurant has several TVs playing Supreme Master TV, and a bookstore of Supreme Master literature, and a wall of pamphlets of Supreme Master information… you get the idea. It’s all really bizarre and amusing. But the food is pretty good. Wow, they run the Loving Hut restaurants! I think those are fantastic vegan restaurants, I eat there semi-regularly! Its quite delicious. I do wonder, however, how good they are for you. There seems to be a lot of oil in some of their dishes ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/36 "2013-07-12T17:55:20Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Is your dad aware of how deep down the rabbit hole some vegans go? Particularly regarding things like honey, gelatin and beer filtered with animal products (more common than you think). You want down the rabbit hole? Remember, hardcore vegans need to eliminate most sugar as well as things like cauliflower and broccoli. ETA: or, you know, kinda what other people said, about the sugar. But my understanding was it wasn’t bone char, it was lard or other fats they used to keep the machinery running. ---
**Author:** ![QuarkChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c5a1d2/32.png) [@QuarkChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuarkChild)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/37 "2013-07-12T19:40:16Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wow, they run the Loving Hut restaurants! I think those are fantastic vegan restaurants, I eat there semi-regularly! Its quite delicious. I do wonder, however, how good they are for you. There seems to be a lot of oil in some of their dishes Oooh, I love those restaurants. I’ve been to a couple in Silicon Valley, and I recently found one in San Diego. I think I’ve been to one in Seattle, too, IIRC. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/38 "2013-07-13T00:13:22Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > You want down the rabbit hole? Remember, hardcore vegans need to eliminate most sugar as well as things like cauliflower and broccoli. Why would they eliminate cauliflower and broccoli? ETA: OP, your dad is adorable. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/39 "2013-07-13T00:25:17Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > You want down the rabbit hole? Remember, hardcore vegans need to eliminate most sugar as well as things like cauliflower and broccoli. > > ETA: or, you know, kinda what other people said, about the sugar. But my understanding was it wasn’t bone char, it was lard or other fats they used to keep the machinery running. Not sure about animal fats being used for machinery myself, but as I understand it, the “whitening” of sugar with bone char is the reason some sugars are not considered vegan by some vegans. What’s the deal with cauliflower and broccoli? My googling is failing me. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202/40 "2013-07-13T00:32:36Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Why would they eliminate cauliflower and broccoli? > > ETA: OP, your dad is adorable. Same reason why they’re very rarely, if ever eaten in orthodox households who keep kosher: there are lots of crevices where bugs can hide and an uncertainty if you can ever properly clean them enough to ensure you don’t consume one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-just-started-a-vegan-diet-and-its-charmingly-funny/663202.md?page=3)