Privilege, and the Vegan Conversation

Let’s unpack the privilege debate around plant-based living.

Photo by Ava W. Burton on Unsplash

The idea that a whole food, plant-based diet is a privilege has been making the rounds, often used to dismiss veganism as inaccessible or elitist. Let’s take a closer look at this argument and unpack what’s really going on.

First, there’s an undeniable irony in claiming veganism is expensive.

• The cheapest, most resource-efficient foods—rice, beans, lentils, potatoes—are plant-based.

• These staples have sustained entire populations for centuries.

• They’re affordable, nutrient-rich, and widely available in supermarkets.

Somehow, these foods are labeled as “poor people’s food,” and the people dismissing them often equate privilege with the ability to afford meat, dairy, and other animal products.

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🟡 The Historical Privilege of Meat

Meat wasn’t an everyday food - it was a luxury.

• Historically, it was reserved for royalty and the wealthy elite, symbolizing status, power, and affluence.

• Kings and nobility indulged in lavish feasts featuring roasted game, exotic meats, and dairy-rich dishes, while common people primarily ate grains, legumes, and vegetables.

• Even today, as lower-income nations experience economic growth, meat consumption often rises - not out of necessity, but because it’s seen as a marker of success.

• The irony? The same plant-based staples that sustained civilizations for centuries are now dismissed as “poor people’s food,” while meat remains a costly, resource-intensive symbol of privilege.

Yet, meat remains costly in several of the following ways.

• Financially: Meat products cost more than plant-based staples.

• Environmentally: An animal based diet is the leading contributor to deforestation, water depletion, and climate change.

• Ethically: Billions of animals endure immense suffering in factory farming systems.

• Health: High meat consumption is linked to heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses, while plant-based diets are associated with longevity and overall well-being.

Meat as a status symbol is rooted in privilege. Meanwhile, the staples of a whole food, plant-based diet are some of the most sustainable, ethical, and cost-effective choices out there.

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🟡 Addressing Barriers to Plant-Based Eating