Why vegan?

Jérôme Eckmeier - vegan chef and author

When I was a student, I took pictures with a few fellow students on the premises of a chicken farm at night and documented the conditions: no windows, containers full of dead animals. It was then clear to me that I was now a vegan. That was at the beginning of 2009. I came to veganism out of ethical and moral conviction.

For me, vegan didn't mean giving up anything, but rather enriching my culinary delights. And the advantages are clear, because although I'm not exactly a lightweight, I have an incredibly good physical constitution. Then came my YouTube channel, my blog, my first book and I somehow slipped into it and started doing it professionally. And there's nothing better than doing what you're passionate about and being able to earn a living from it.

Roman Witt - owner of the vegan restaurant "Happenpappen" in Hamburg

I just wanted to find the perfect diet for me. I read various cookery books and tried out a lot. Then I invited friends over and impressed them with the good, wholesome flavours of my dishes. I enjoyed cooking vegan food so much that I started giving cookery courses. And my enthusiasm has not waned to this day. In my restaurant, I try every day to conjure up a dish on my guests' plates that not only fills them up, but also tastes good. For me, as soon as a meal tastes so good, I always try to eat very slowly so that it never ends.

Rüdiger Dahlke - doctor, psychotherapist and author

My concern is "peace food" and goes beyond vegan, because white flour and sugar are vegan, but unhealthy. "Peace food" means plant-based, wholesome food and is scientifically proven to be healthier with regard to the main modern health scourges of heart problems, cancer, rheumatism, gout, both types of diabetes, Alzheimer's... In addition, "peace food" is effective against the world hunger catastrophe, which is now causing streams of refugees. It is also ideal in view of the impending climate catastrophe, as described in "Veganise your Life". Pleasant side effects are a reduction in vapours and an improvement in your appearance, your relationship to life, your own and that of others. And even better, "Secret of Life Energy" shows what is possible in terms of vitality, which, in addition to eliminating mucilaginous milk (products), also means eliminating glutinous gluten, resulting in nourishment for the heart and brain.

Surdham Göb - vegan chef and author

Vegan for a clear mind, a clean body and as an expression of the gentle soul that lives within us. Vegan for an efficient, short cycle in nature, our environment and the world we live in. Vegan for a more non-violent coexistence of humans, fauna and flora. Vegan as a small contribution, as a start, as a statement about how I want to treat myself and my environment. In a world that is moving as fast as our world is today, it is simply inevitable to take the path, even if only in small steps, towards a vegan life.

Stina Spiegelberg - blogger on "Veganpassion" and author

At the time, the decision to go vegan felt like a conscious decision, but in hindsight I think it was and is an opportunity. A chance to see things in a new light, to dedicate myself to new things and to get to know new culinary worlds. As a vegan for ethical reasons, this lifestyle goes far beyond nutrition for me. For me, this decision means "living consciously". With consideration for others, with love for my environment and with joy in life. I want to eat good food, make others happy with it and share my joy. Together is so much more than against each other. Be veggie ;-)

Patrick Bolk - Author and blogger

I didn't become a vegan overnight. It took me almost 10 years in total to go from a thoughtless meat eater to a conscious vegan lifestyle. By the time I started to think about my diet and its consequences, it was almost too late to turn back. late to turn back. And I'm very happy about that! I simply want my lifestyle and my consumption as a whole to cause as little harm as possible to other people, animals and my environment, and a vegan lifestyle is one of the most important and effective factors in this. The decision to go vegan has absolutely enriched my life in every positive way!

Carmen Hercegfi - nutritionist for vegan families and author

A few years ago, I was plagued by serious health problems, so I switched to an animal-protein-free and alkaline diet with a high raw-food content. My problems disappeared within a week and my health continued to improve.
My diet was therefore already predominantly vegan. Three years later, I attended a lecture by Rüdiger Dahlke on his book Peace Food. That evening brought about a change on a moral level. So I started to look into the complex aspects of a vegan diet: the terrible suffering in factory farming, the effects of this on our climate and world hunger and much more. However, a healthy implementation of the vegan diet is particularly important to me. I make sure I eat wholesome meals - without any compulsion, but with a lot of fun and the joy of discovery, and sometimes I treat myself to vegan chocolate.
It's a process, an attitude to life, which for me includes much more than just animal-free products, but also avoiding unnecessary packaging (especially plastic and disposable nappies), ethical production conditions, ecological production and so on.

Ariane Sommer - Author, columnist and model

Why vegan? Because the vegan lifestyle is not only the common thread, but also the solution that runs through all the big issues that are close to our hearts. If you are in favour of animals and their welfare, if you are in favour of environmental protection and sustainability, if you care about social justice and feel connected to and responsible for people at home as well as those on the other side of the globe, if you are in favour of your own health and that of the society in which you live, if you are in favour of a future worth living not only for your own children but also for their children's children, then you are in favour of the vegan lifestyle.

Lea Green - author and blogger on "Veggi.es"

Around three years ago, it was only supposed to be a short experiment: "Four weeks completely vegan" - but what followed was a complete "reboot" - both physically and mentally. Never before had I felt so fresh, fit and alive. I was finally able to accept that a vegetarian diet is only half the battle. Any production of animal products involves an infinite amount of suffering, oppression and injustice that could not be more unnecessary.

find the vegan lifestyle incredibly enriching. I am fascinated by the abundance and flavour of vegan food. The numerous possibilities to replace animal products in everyday life with vegan alternatives impresses me every time. "Being vegan" has given me a complete change of perspective on my previous life and our world. I feel more at one with myself today than ever before. Today I realise: "Living vegan means giving yourself and the world a gift every day" and I hope that as many people as possible will discover and learn to love this healthy and positive lifestyle.

Nadine Horn - author and blogger on "eat this!"

When I was twelve years old, I decided to stop eating meat and fish because even then it was a horror idea for me that a living being would have to die because of me. After a long time as a vegetarian, Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer and finally my sister and my mother, who had already taken the step towards veganism some time before, opened my eyes to the fact that the production of dairy products is also associated with an incredible amount of animal suffering. That was ten years ago now and was definitely the best decision of my life. For people, animals and the environment - anyone can go vegan!

Jörg Mayer - author and blogger on "eat this!"

Somehow, eating meat has always felt "wrong" to me in a certain way. Why should some animals end up on the plate while others are practically part of the family? The only logical thing for me back then was to become a vegetarian. Ten years ago, however, I realised that this step alone was not enough - a fun "30-day vegan" bet turned into a life decision.