Vegan by Choice, Not by Protest: What It’s Really About

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You’ve probably heard someone say, “Oh great, a vegan at the braai—here come the lectures.” But the truth is, most vegans aren’t there to ruin your lunch or stage an intervention between you and your steak. The decision to go vegan is personal, not a protest. It’s not about superiority, purity, or being that person at the table. For most, it’s about choosing something that feels right—for their body, their values, their environment, or their conscience. Not because they hate your food. Or you.

So, why do people go vegan? Well, it usually starts with one of three things: animals, health, or the planet. Sometimes all three. And often, one reason quietly leads to another until it all starts making sense.

Let’s start with the animals. It’s the most common motivation, and it’s not hard to understand. Most people don’t enjoy the idea of animals suffering. But we’re taught to separate what’s on our plate from the life it came from. For some, all it takes is a documentary, a farm visit, or a late-night Google spiral to connect the dots—and once you see how animals are treated in modern farming, it can be hard to go back to “don’t think about it” mode. So people make a change. Not because they want to shame others, but because they realised they didn’t want their choices to support that system anymore.

Then there’s the health angle. For others, veganism starts as a way to feel better—more energy, less inflammation, improved digestion, lower cholesterol. Some are trying to manage health conditions, some are just experimenting to see what happens. And sure, not every vegan is a glowing beacon of green smoothie vitality, but many do feel lighter, more energised, and a lot more in control of what they put in their bodies. It’s not about being skinny or perfect—it’s about feeling good from the inside out.

And then there’s the planet. Climate change is the big, looming backdrop to everything these days, and animal agriculture plays a hefty role in greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water use, and pollution. Some people go vegan because it’s one of the most impactful choices you can make to shrink your environmental footprint. It’s not about being an eco-saint—it’s about knowing that three meals a day adds up, and choosing a path that aligns with wanting a future that’s less on fire.

But here’s where it gets tricky—because the moment someone says they’re vegan, it can feel like a moral grenade has been thrown into the room. Suddenly, everyone’s reflecting on their own food choices, and it can feel like judgement—even if it’s not. That’s not the vegan’s fault. It’s just how defensiveness works. And to be fair, there are loud, preachy vegans who’ve made it harder for the rest. But they’re not the majority. Most vegans aren’t trying to change you with guilt. They’re just living in a way that works for them.

Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up social skills. It doesn’t mean being difficult, or picky, or walking around with a lettuce crown and a moral superiority complex. It just means asking, “Is there a way to live that’s a bit kinder, healthier, or more sustainable?” And for a lot of people, the answer is yes. That’s it.

And here’s the surprising bit—most vegans weren’t born that way. Many grew up with Sunday roasts, boerewors rolls, and biltong. They didn’t hate those foods. They simply chose something different later on. So when someone goes vegan, it’s usually not a rejection of their upbringing or culture—it’s an evolution of it. They’re still the same person. They just swapped the mince for lentils and the milk for oat.

It’s also worth saying: going vegan doesn’t mean going militant. Some people ease into it. Some mess up. Some do it strictly, others flexibly. It’s a spectrum, not a purity contest. And vegans don’t sit around crying over cheese or seething at their friends’ braai plates. Most are just quietly trying to live with more alignment between what they believe and what they do. Not because it makes them better. Just because it makes them feel better.

So if you know someone who’s gone vegan, the best response probably isn’t, “But I could never give up bacon.” They’ve heard it. Repeatedly. Instead, try, “Cool. What’s been the hardest part?” or “What do you actually eat?” or even just, “Want to split the chips?” Because veganism doesn’t come with a side of attitude—it only does if someone brings it to the table.

At the end of the day, people go vegan for personal reasons. They stay vegan for personal reasons. And whether you’re curious, sceptical, or somewhere in between, just know: it’s not about you. It’s about them. Their journey. Their values. Their body. Their choice.

And no, they’re not judging your plate. They’re just thinking about theirs.