What about the role of processed foods? Vegans often eat a lot more processed foods (mostly soy-based) to get their daily protein. Even the vegetarians I work with eat a lot of processed food. I've only worked with one vegetarian who would bring in the one quart bowl full of veggies for lunch.

While the ideals of vegetarianism and veganism should have a lower CO2 impact, I'm wondering how this all stacks up when you factor in the eating of processed food.

There is tremendous waste when making soy products, especially tofu. In Japan they used to eat the byproduct after pressing the soybeans--some of it still is eaten (it's tasty too) but not nearly enough to consume all that is made. Some of the byproduct is now used to feed animals, some of it is thrown away, and sometimes it is left to rot--that's what I saw on a television program in Japan a few years ago. Sorry, I don't have a link to this show--I saw it several years ago.

Interesting point. An optimal vegan diet contains few "processed" foods. I eat mainly raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. You can eat too much soy and other more "processed" foods, but the bottom line is that a vegan uses about a third of an acre a year for food, while a meat-eater uses 4 acres.

Most vegans that I know eat far less "processed" foods than meat eaters that I know.

I highly recommend "The China Study" by Dr. Colin Campbell, "The World Peace Diet" by Dr. Will Tuttle, and "The Food Revolution" by John Robbins.These and other books detail the many reasons to be vegan, for the planet, the animals, and human health.

Hmmmm, yes, I suppose there is some waste when producing soy products. But it is nothing compared to the waste of meat production. Of course, the meat eaters have the benefit of grinding up all those intestines, bones, beaks, and feathers and pressing them into fun shapes like hotdogs and chicken mcnuggets.
Sorry, that sounds snarky, but I get irritated when people insist on pointing out the negative reprocussions of veganism when they are minimal compared to the omnivore diet. There are always going to be problems when you have to use resources to feed/clothe/generally sustain a society, but you have to consider what choices and methods are going to have the greatest positive impact in the long run. And it has been proven, time and again, that a vegetarian diet is healthier for the body, the mind, the environment, and society.

And it has been proven, time and again, that a vegetarian diet is healthier for the body, the mind, the environment, and society.

I'll give you the environment, hands down. Not sure what you mean by society, so I'll ignore that one. The body? Yes, IF the person knows how to form a nutritous vegetarian diet (many people new to vegetarianism don't). The mind? I don't know about that one. I think what's healthiest for the mind diet wise is probably what makes you happiest, and may well be in contrast to what's best for the body and environment. For most people being an ominvore is probably what's best for their mental state; those who aren't I imagine are either very environmentally conscious, or have a high regard for animal rights and thus probably derive more satisfaction from the "good" their diet does than the enjoyment that delicous bacon would provide.

At any rate, I'd agree with you that people shouldn't attack vegetarian or vegan lifestyles. I also think though, that those who have chosen those diets should realize that a holier than thou attitude won't make inroads with meat eaters, even if they have a point.