oprah recaps vegan week today!
This is fantastic news: Oprah and 378 of her staffers are committing to a vegan diet for a one-week "vegan challenge"! Even better, Oprah is going to devote today's episode of"The Oprah Show" to talking about veganism, including interviews with vegan activist Kathy Freston and food writer Michael Pollan, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at a meat-processing plant with Lisa Ling.
I was honored to be asked by Oprah's producers for some behind-the-scenes help with what yummy things to eat. I am so excited that Oprah is spotlighting the issues that all of us Kind Lifers care about so much - I can't wait to hear what you think of the episode! Be sure to watch it or set your DVRs so you can record it! You can find out when the show airs where you are here. I will watch it when I return from my speaking engagements in Boston and Florida.
How do you feel about the possibilities this show will open up?
142 comments
-
I've always admired Oprah's outspokenness and her refusal to give voice to the "pure evil" in our society, but this episode censored so many truths and provided a platform for Cargill PR. It didn't feel right in my heart, and I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I tossed & turned and cried myself to sleep, but I will try and trust that Oprah understands the mainstream mindset better than I do. Perhaps this really was the best way to plant a seed of change rather than trigger a wave of people turning off their TVs and continuing on as usual...
-
I think the show as at least a step in the right direction. I live in the deep south, which is far from vegan friendly. if you ask for something without meat, they ask you if you want chicken instead. There is still a lot of education needed. I have no doubt that even though they tried to put a positive spin on that slaughter house, some people had to have seen past that to the senseless killing that occurs daily. Even without the graphic detail, tears filled my eyes. Maybe, just maybe people who watched that show will think twice before they order that next hamburger or steak. Even better, maybe they won't be able to eat it again at all. Now, what about those horrible chicken slaughter houses? One step at a time ...
-
Karen and Jessie, I could not agree more. I don't live in LA or New York City or Chicago. I live in Oklahoma.
I did not grow up vegan or vegetarian and NO ONE in my family is vegan or vegetarian. I try to do the best I can. I actually had a conversation with my mother-in-law the other day about trying to not eat meat at home so that you are cooking more healthy meals at home and balancing your life a little more.
When I eat out with my family members the most "kind" option is usually a grilled cheese sandwich or a veggie burger that isn't even vegan. I would offend and alienate most of my family if I refused to eat at their homes or at restaurants they have taken me to.
When I talked to my mother-in-law about making tacos with veggie crumbles instead of meat, she actually acted like she might try it. To me this is a victory. It is not a life-changing victory, but a small one.
Maybe if we think in smaller terms we can slowly change the way people think about food. And being tolerant and kind seems to imply that you embrace these small changes and be accepting of others.
The fact that Oprah even tried a vegan diet is amazing to me. And I agree that if it reached even one person it is a victory.
-
-
HI everyone
I applaud Oprah for taking upon this project "1 week challenge" to be aired on national tv to educate her followers and the thousands more about plant based foods. I will send her a note of gratitude. I too got more educated. By introducing "Meatless Mondays" maybe more companies will embrace the same. We will have a healthier generation one person at a time. Congrats to the 378 staff members who not only signed themselves up -- but their families too. Priceless. Not everyone will convert on the spot some takes longer but all in all the show was good. I found it too graphic (slaughter house). Being an animal lover I could have lived without seeing that. Congrats to the staff members who saw the pounds drop, healthier eating and willing to give this a try.
My male friend watched the show and found the education was a good balance, He indicated that he will reduce his own red meat consumption (he's a staunch meat, poultry and fish eating kinda guy). In fact he wants to go out for vegan food tonight.
Alicia congratulations for your part with behind the scenes help with the foods be photographed for the show. They all looked delish.
In closing I thought the show was fair. In life not everyone embraces CHANGE. Those interviewed represent hundreds more that have been lured by food manufacturers and advertisers to eat meats. Its no surprise why North Americans have so many health related challenges. We can only hope that some day happens when the Wheels of Change will be edge them ever so slowly towards plant based foods.
-
God bless you, Jessie of the bottom of page nine of these comments - you are a voice of balance and temperance and...TOLERANCE in a very polarizing area. You're not alone in these comments (others really do strike the balance too), but I just wanted to say you speak for me, too.
I come to this thread, I have to say, dissapointed too...but it's not what you think. My disappointment is in the negativity and sometimes even hostility here in this thread. And let me say that I agree with every point even the staunchest of you make (YES, it didn't do nearly enough, the focus got skewed and blurred, poor Kathy got pretty shut down, or didn't take as strong a stand as she might have, Pollan's defense of meat was shocking to me, there really must be a follow up, and much more). BUT to condemn the show and its effort and intent is the opposite of what I feel this place stands for: KINDNESS.
We Kind Ones more than any others know what those who want to follow a kinder, veg/vegan path are "up against". Diet is deeply personal, powerful, and very often about somuch more than the actual morsels going into our mouths. It's traditions and habits and emotions. I feel hard, shock-and-awe tactics are not the way to go, especially on a massive scale (i.e. millions of viewers). And realizing how the Oprah show has to tread the minefield not only of pubiic opinion, but of legality and all that...I say bravo for taking the risk.
Oprah and ye almost 400 brave souls who TRIED, succeeded, and even followed the path well past the week - I can only applaud you for this first step and look forward to your adding many more steps, even if they need to be baby ones. I don't know about you, but unfortunately I live in a world where effort isn't recognized and doesn't seem to matter, but me, I do see it, and it matters to me and I applaud it. Thanks for listening!
-
Ditto to what Jennifer Bonikowsky posted, and I am actually going to write to Oprah and express my feelings. While I think it's important that the topic of going vegan is on her show, I think the benefits of a plant-based diet on your mind, body, soul and environment were lost on a show titled "Oprah and 378 Staffers go Vegan: The One Week Challenge." I encourage you all to copy and paste your posting into a message to Oprah! Maybe we can encourage a follow-up show that is more informative about the benefits of consuming plants and living a kinder life.
-
Didn't love the show so much. First of all, it was more about knowing where your food comes from, not really talking about many health benefits from being vegan. And while disgusting, they showed the best slaughterhouse around, so those watching really didn't get a good idea of where most of their meat comes from and the animal suffering. Michael Pollan also kept saying eating meat is okay, just not so much. Cathy kept caving and kind of agreeing that it was just her choice. She didn't really go into all the benefits of veganism. She didn't really stand up to Pollan or Oprah about it. Also, the food cathy talked about, was mostly processed meat substitutes. Most people have this idea that all of us just eat tofu cakes, and she kind of continued that. They talked a little about eating a whole foods diet, but not enough. They didn't show any delicious recipes! Last thing, Oprah said Cathy was THE vegan pioneer, advocating a kind diet!! Uh, ring any bells? On a positive note, it might get some people thinking a bit and to consider eating a little less meat, but they could have done a much better job!!
-
After watching Oprah's show on going Vegan I wrote her a letter to express my disappointment. To say that animals are not suffering in factory slaughterhouses is a vulgar misrepresentation of what is actually occurring in the vast majority of slaughterhouses across North America. They show one of Cargill's newest, cleanest, humane slaughterhouses as though this is the norm throughout the industry, which is the farthest thing from the truth. Perhaps instead of the whitewashed Cargill propaganda campaign, the documentary "Earthlings" could have been used as a more realistic representation of the food manufacturing industry for the Vegan show.
Michael Pollan gave viewers a mixed message on what Veganism is, having someone argue that eating meat is ok a few times a week is not promoting Veganism. One must wonder why Vegans T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II, authors of "The China Study", whose dietary study is the most comprehensive ever conducted, were not on the show. Their scientific findings have found that low fiber - high animal protein diets promote many of the diseases that North Americans currently suffer from.
One can only hope she does a follow up show with the correct information.
-
I finally had a chance to watch the show (recorded it) and I was a little disappointed. They said they could not show the truly gory business of shooting the cows in the head with the bolt or show them bleeding the cows to death, so people still are ignorant to the suffering these animals endure to become steaks and hamburgers. In my opinion, the show did little to hightlight the wonderful vegan foods available for us to eat. I kinda felt sorry for Kathy Freston, I felt she could have done so much more had she been given the chance. But overall, if Oprah's show made even just 1 person try switching to a plant-based diet, then we should be happy she aired the episode.
-
I have to say I was disappointed in this show, but my best friend told me this morning that she was halfway through watching it and is planning on going vegan!!!
If it converted even one person, I'm glad it was on. I just think it could have done more.
-
I feel very proud. I think that shell have some great Ideas and acually, great information. she might be the New super hero.. of the new commer..
-
I was so excited to watch this Oprah! I loved how they are bring awareness to people who may not have been exposed to veganism before. Stupid slaughterhouse made me cry. I don't understand how you could eat meat again after that.
-
A friend of mine who is not vegan made the comment to me that Oprah focused on pooping and that vegans fart a lot. That is part of what she got out of the show because that was a constant theme - again trivializing veganism.
Michael Pollen supported eating meat. And defended it anytime there was a discussion about going vegan.
Some audience members mentioned that they felt better, more energy but Oprah quickly passed by that and did not talk about the biological effects of eating a plant based diet.
I am still pretty upset about this show. I don't think they needed to chastize meat eaters but they could have supported plant based diets better.
-
Did the show talk about the benefits of veganism, even with Michael Pollan there? What did they say?
-
I have to say that although many vegans may be upset about the Oprah show, etc. - I have to agree that it is "baby steps" that will get Americans to rethink what they eat. Personally, I became vegan due to health issues. A year ago, I would not have even imagined myself giving up my meat & dairy. I even remember coming across Alicia's book at a bookstore and picking it up out of curiousity, and then putting it right back down after I realized it was a book about non-meaters. It was actually "by accident" that I became vegan; I have been suffering from chronic digestive issues since the birth of my 2nd child, and when I gave up all meat/dairy for lent last year, I realized my symptoms were vastly improving and thus my vegan journey began (and then of course I went back to that same bookstore to purchase The Kind Diet). In fact, it was Alicia's book and website that opened my eyes past just the health benefits of giving up meat/dairy/etc.
At any rate, my point is that most people were not born vegan (only a handful are). At some point in your life, you were still eating that piece of meat and cheese and poultry - think about how it would have felt if someone chastized and criticized you for what you put in your mouth (back then). I can guarantee that "militant-type" persuasion, won't get any positive results. I understand that it's also about animal rights, etc. - but once again, we have to put ourselves in their situations. The fact of the matter is, some people are more passionate about this than others, and we can't change everyone's minds. The best that we can do is to get the information out there, and if Oprah took the time to introduce millions of Americans to the benefits of veganism, than that's a start.
Take it from someone who is still "veganish" and often feels like not belonging in either the omnivore nor herbivore world (based on people's opinions/criticisms of what I eat, don't eat & still wear).
-
Mark - some have posted how disappointed they are. I don't have cable, so I couldn't watch it, but from the little I have seen and read, I think I'm actually glad. It seems, just from what I gather from what others have said, that veganism in totality was trivialized - from the health and environmental aspects, and of course to the humane aspects of most slaughterhouses. It is disappointing that in addition to that, people will still not have a full picture of what a lot of us vegans actually eat - and it is not substitute this and that for every meal. Simply giving guidance in the form of a collection of recipes (maybe they did?) to her staff that included whole foods and not all the fake stuff would have gone a long way to helping people understand the variety that is out there and how delicious it all is, and how healthy it all is, instead of leading others to believe we are just trying to find substitutes in our diet for all the 'real' stuff.
-
Are you guys serious? Did you watch it? Fellow Vegans are in an uproar about it.
It was not benefiting our cause and animal rights at all! So no, please do not give her praise for doing this show. Alicia if you haven't see this taping, I would love to hear your honest feedback. Just because it's Oprah doesn't mean it has value.
See links for comments
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=500479688854&id=1081730989
-
I was hoping for more of a vegan slant on Oprah, but after viewing the entire show I think it was obvious she was intent on presenting a more balanced show. Seems to me that taking babysteps into this new way of eating is probably going to end up w/more successes rather than a radical change. It's why I think Alicia's book is so good, there are different levels to try (flirting to superhero & inbetween) Maybe Oprah just wanted to expose veganism to the general public for the moment...I hope that at some point in the future she'll devote the whole hour to being vegan. I'd also love to see the author of The China Study, I haven't finished it yet, but, wow, it's research is undeniable. I know many more would go vegan after reading it!
-
I was so bummed when Oprah got bumped to cover the winter weather here in Dallas. Thankfully, I've got the re-airring from 2:40 AM recorded at home. I can't wait to watch!
-
I felt like the show validated meat eaters. If anyone was flirting with the idea of going veg, this show basically said well no, you shouldn't. Eating meat isn't bad. Michael Pollen said that several times. And the fact that they stated that the cows don't suffer makes people believe eating meat is humane. Those cows suffer every day of their lives on a feed lot. The show was pretty infuriating to me. A big opportunity was missed and in some ways I think it did a disservice to veganism. It gives us less credibility when you have Oprah and Michael Pollen (and even Kathy Freston) say eating some meat is ok and in fact, don't stop eating meat just know where it comes from - wth! How many Americans are really going to seak out their slaughterhouses and visit them, talk to the farmers and makes sure their meat is killed in a humane way? Not many!
-
In reference to slaughter houses, one thing Pollen said was that people should be aware of and have access to where their food comes from (something like that) and my coworker who loves animals said "well I guess I can't eat meat anymore because I can't watch that". So I think it was a stepping stone for people who are thinkers and who want to grow.
-
It's a good thing that the subject got some exposure - a follow up show does need to be aired.
To hear the statement 'the animals don't suffer" was unbelievable. Maybe the follow-up show should have footage of one of the hundreds of undercover videos taken over the past few years. I think it would read very differently to the viewer and create a very different line of thought.
However, if only a couple of vegetarians/vegans emerge from the show - it was worth it!
-
If nothing else it opened up communication about the topic of responsible eating. I have my evening meal at work 3 nights per week with my cowprkers and usually they just ignore my meal because it's weird or gross to them which is fine because at least they dont give me a hard time about it s some folks deal with from their fam or friends or coworkers, but Oprah was on while at work and they were asking me thin gs like..."is that the same butter you use?", or "do you find it expensive to eat the way you do?" One even asked details about Alicia's book and if the recipes were easy so the wheels were turning. They say questions are a sign of interest.
-
I wish they had talked more about why we don't eat dairy and eggs. I think people will understand why we don't eat meat but I find it a struggle explaining why vegans don't eat dairy and eggs as well. They should of showed pictures or a segment of with the slaughterhouse segment.
Available at:
Available at:
Join the Discussion!