What’s your point here?

First off, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about B12, in part because some supposed sources have turned out to be analogues that are not useful (or at least not in the same way) and, unfortunately, not everyone’s research is up to date.

However, the B12 I’m talking about in supplements and fortified foods is — unless mislabeled — not B12 analogues but actual B12. That is important because nutritional yeast *by itself* does NOT contain B12. However, some kinds of it are *fortified* with B12. That B12 is made using bacteria, just as the B12 found in animal products originally came from bacteria. The difference is that this B12 CAN be grown in a lab without harming animals or coming in contact with poo.

Of course, I don’t know your situation. If I might ask, how do you know that you and your partner can’t absorb B12 from fortified products like nutritional yeast? Are you sure that you were using a nutritional yeast that actually had B12 added to it? Are you sure it wasn’t another problem? How long did it take to manifest (usually B12 deficiency takes many years to develop)? Were you getting enough and using other supplements? Did you have a condition that made it harder to absorb B12 in general? B12 absorption and deficiency can be a problem for meat eaters as well. It is not just a vegan problem. And, unfortunately, many doctors are quick to tell people just to start eating meat the moment they have a problem on a vegan diet. What most people don’t seem to get is that doctors are (generally speaking) NOT nutritionists. I have a lot of respect for docs, but most do not spend much time learning about nutrition and staying up to date on advancements nutritional science. Of course, if you and your partner have a specific medical condition then I wouldn’t mind looking into it further if you’d please give me the name.

As far as your argue about “converting” people goes, which type of B12 would you rather take: from poo, from animals that ingested poo (or whose meat was contaminated with poo — hence the problem with e. coli. and all those meat recalls), or grown in a lab sans poo? I don’t see how that’s an argument against veganism.

I’m a longtime male vegetarian. This is very indicative of the sorts of attitudes I get when people find out about it (you’re already a sissy, so better stay away from other sissy stuff to compensate!). How very frustrating for it to come from a “health promotion” sort of source.

This is not just about semantics, but has real health implications. You cannot–CANNOT–become or remain a vegetarian or vegan without taking an active role in your own diet, and that means figuring out what meals you need to eat. Even if you have someone generous enough to cook for you, that probably entails looking through a few cookbooks to let them know what kinds of things you’d like them to make. I find it very troubling that they left off that vital information from the “male” version.

Maybe more guys would be able to swallow the idea of learning to cook more if they thought of it in terms of self-sufficiency… or if they knew that if you get good at it, your friends will love you for it.

Also, i have a guy in mind right now who I know is a huge fan of cooking but mocks male veggies all the time.

Seems I have pretty much no valid answer to this, just complaints.

I almost think that cooking is less “feminine” than vegetarianism. There are a fair amount of male chefs out there, almost all of whom are respected (they’re not even called “gay” or anything), but I’ve met few male vegetarians, and, from what I’ve heard male vegetarians get teased.