Be a Plant-Eater for one month. No meat, no dairy products. Google/YouTube on 'PlantenEter' and you will get inspiration. You will do good for your own health as well as the health of the planet and mankind. Chance that you will continue after one month is rather big. Making it a good investment into a new and better lifestyle. An idea from Hans van Dam

Eating only veggies is not necessary healthy for everyone.

I wanted to click on comments, but accidently clicked on 'I don't get this'...
Anyway, I think you're right. It would be wonderful - and healthier - if everybody would eat LESS meat. But no meat or fish at all, not even milk or eggs, in my view that's too much of the good thing. Maarten is not a rabbit. If he goes for this challenge, I think we must have a little mercy on him and 'allow' him to have milk, cheese and eggs. And eat meat on a Sunday, only if he wants to.

I agree with Firma Fluitekruid.. Maarten is not a rabbit! And o well he will miss his Christmas dinner maybe. But if this idea will be the number one to do, than I have a good friend who can advise you during that month.

I dare say that eating veggies is healthy for everybody. A B12 supplement is not needed, if only for one month. Do some googling on planteneter, look at the vids of the "Planteneter" channel on youtube. If he makes contact with Boele, the guy behind this channel, he will get lots of good advice.

The main advantages are
1. personal health
2. animal welfare, google on "Best Speech You Will Ever Hear"
3. starving and hungry people on this planet, more than 10.000
kids per day die because of other people giving their food to animals
4. the planet, the environment

After the month, Maarten may decide to continue or not or only in weekends, whatever. Many possibilities. It's his choice.

If it has to happen in december, he may take number two, but has to agree on doing it in january.

Afterall, it's Maarten who started the idea, he is a grownup guy, knowing that he might run into difficult/weird/strange/funny situations.

And comparing Planteaters with rabbits is a very good one. Human beings are absolutely not designed to eat meat. Many arguments for that.
They actually resemble rabbits more than lions.
Hans

Besides, look here: http://www.meetup.com/PermanentBeta/events/76688572/

Maarten has a session at 10:00, Boele at 15:00.

So, a super chance for Maarten, to hear about PlantenEten.
And to meet Boele in person.

Maarten was allready a vegetarian I believe, become a 'plant eter' for real ;) Don't you just mean vegan? I don't know if this will make the world a better place.. but who knows!

PS Vegan meals are nice! You don't need to became a 'plant eter' haha that doesnt sound attractive at all!!

Hi Brigitte, that sounds good, than the switch to 'rabbit' is not too big to be done. :)
Agree, Vegan and Planteneter is not so much difference.
For me the word Vegan emphasizes much on what is NOT 'allowed'.

Where Planteneter is mainly looking/talking about the things that you dó eat.
OK, let's say that the differents is only in drinking milk and eating cheese and eggs.
To give these products to the public, animals are living under horrible conditions.

I know somebody, aside from Boele (look at his channel on youtube), who can explain that far better the me: Gary Yourofsky and Philip Wollen.
Watch their videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQCe4qEexjc

I dare say, that the world will be a better place, when all and I mean ALL, turn into herbivore.

And for those, that are thinking to become vegan/vegatarian,there is Graham Hill: http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian.html

Have a nice vid-hour. :)
Hans

Best Speech You Will Ever Hear - Gary Yourofsky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4

Philip Wollen : Animals Should Be Off The Menu debate | Subtitles in 18 languages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQCe4qEexjc

Dear Hans, If humans were not designed to eat meat, how come we're all still alive, eating meat? It exists.
I understand your point of view but i think every person should know for themselves whats best for their bodies. When someone is aware enough to listen to what their body asks for, meat might be just right in their menu.
It's awesome there are so many ways and diets! But we can't declare only one way to be the right way, religion has tough us already how delusive that is.
Everyone has a different body with a different digestive system and therefor is on a different vibration, thus our bodies have different needs.
The issue of how animals r being treat, thats a whole other thing. We can still choose to get Bio-meat. ;)

Hi Orestes,thanks for your comment.

I fully agree, that everybody has to make their own choice and decide what is best for them. I only believe in what I say and will never force people to do as I do. So, feel free, be free.
This website is made for giving Maarten a challenge, that's what I do, plus I give him and others my opion and 'believe'. Without being religious, that is a different story. A non-story for me.

Many people do many bad things to their bodies and are still alive. That is no proof at all for being right and doing the best.
People get over 100 and smoke and drink, but we know it's, in general, not good for anybody.

If you watch Gary's speech and maybe this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zhL1YUd8Q
than you have some arguments for being meateater or not.

I would already be very happy if people only ate meat and use dairy products, produced in a 'humane way'. Whatever that may be, as killing is killing. There is no humane killing.

Fortunately, more and more people are getting the message through. http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/10/02/james-cameron-goes-vegan-for-animals-and-the-planet/

As for me, let Maarten use this month on the subject, as I understood him, he will investigate the subject and I very much like to see what comes out at the end.

Have a nice and vegan time, Hans

Vegan Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zhL1YUd8Q

Besides, I got some people thinking about the subject. :)
That pleases me.

Well, I already DID think about the subject. You just have to look at our teeth to see that we are omnivores: almost the same as a pig or an orang-utang. That means that we should eat leaves, fruit, roots and seeds most of the time. And every now and then an insect, egg, fish or bird. Just what we can find, just like our forfathers did on the savanne. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that: there are even PLANTS that eat meat! But I agree that the extreme amounts meat we eat now are over the top and not healthy, and the way we treat animals and ruin or environment, just to eat meat every day is horrible. Anyway. As Maarten already is a vegetarian, I think there must be a better challenge for him. I just suggested a new one...

Eh.. as a non-vegeterian.. I see a lot of discussion here and the word 'vegan'.. which makes me think of the vegan streaker some time ago at Paul de Leeuw. Sorry for this funny association which has no relation tot being vegetarian at all. Nice act for Maarten at a rich Christmas dinner with too much meat anyway?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVOIY-5YQPw

Paul de Leeuw Vegan streaker - Meniere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVOIY-5YQPw

Thanks Amanda for the funny input. Some people do a lot to get the message through. That was one of the good acts of Paul.

Hey Maarten, als je het gaat doen mag je bij mij aankloppen voor hulp en tips ;) Je woont toch ook in Rotterdam?
Plantaardig eten doe ik al een tijdje en ik volg je pagina op Faceboek!

Geweldig Julia, ik zie op je weblog dat je dit initiatief volledig steunt. Ben je al lid van http://deplanteneter.ning.com?
Dan ontmoeten we elkaar daar ook vast wel. :)
CU

I stil wonder... is Maarten allowed to eat meat-eating plants?

I'd say yes! Kill the bastards!

@Juffrouw Kachel I once took my two vegetarian friends with me to the Mont Ventoux and we ate at a restaurant on the way, ordering 'les petits gris', thinking this was fish. So to say shrimps. When it got on the table it seemed they were snails.. and my friends ate them! And I asked: how can this food be typed? Is this a vegetarian meal or not?

Hans, het ziet er naar uit dat jouw idee gaat winnen, of er moeten nog hele gekke dingen gebeuren. Gefeliciteerd! Niet alle argumenten in je filmpjes vond ik even overtuigend (dat wij een herbiborengebit zouden hebben, de holocaust er aan de haren bijslepen, etc.), maar niettemin: wat meer planten eten en wat minder vlees is om heel veel redenen een goed idee.
Dat 'weekday-vegetarism'vind ik wel wat! Ik ga in de maand november doordeweeks geen vlees meer eten. Ben heel erg benieuwd naar de effecten op mijn fysieke en geestelijke gestel. Misschien word ik wel een heel ander persoon... :-)

Hoi Fluitekruid. Ja, dat lijkt mij ook wel, alhoewel.... een eindsprint voor #2 zou daar snel een einde aan kunnen maken. Wat mij betreft kan Maarten zonder enig probleem die 2 kombineren. Zingend met een selderiknol in zijn hand lijkt me heel ludiek. :)

Wat het gebit betreft, ik wil daarover niet in discussie gaan, anderen zijn veel beter dan ik. Feit is, dat als je voldoende onderzoek doet, dan zijn er argumenten genoeg, zowel voor het gebit als voor het niet eten van dierlijke proteinen. Heb je de film 'The end of the line' gezien? 'Forks over knives'? En zo zijn er vele, indrukwekkende verhalen.

Voor mij, los van mijn eigen gezondheid, is het simpele rekensommetje, dat wij stervende kinderen (duizenden per dag!!) op ons geweten hebben omdat we goed eten aan dieren voeren een heel steekhoudend argument. Zolang dat niet opgelost is, wil ik geen stukje vlees meer eten.

Google eens op 'factory farming' of op 'factory fishing' meer dan 100km kabel met duizende haken er aan, de verspilling van de visvangst, waarbij bijna 50%!! dood in zee geworpen wordt. De manier waarop vis in farms, gevoerd met GMO corn, de zee bodem verpest voor vel vele jaren, ik kan er niet meer aan mee doen.
Temeer, daar ik alles, wat ik nodig heb om gezond te leven , uit planten kan halen, waarmee ik dan ook nog eens de kans vergroot, dat mijn kinderen me als vader hebben ipv een grafsteen.

Het is een triest verhaal en de enige manier waarin ik een steentje bij kan dragen, is zélf niet te gebruiken en middelen zoeken om de boodschap verder te brengen en Maarten (met zijn idee) helpt daarbij. Zelfs als mijn idee niet wint.

Sterkte met je weekday-vegetarian. Dat jij omgegaan bent, althans op weg daar naartoe, is voor mij reeds genoeg winst.
Groeten van Hans uit Denemarken. :)

Ja, die feiten ken ik. Voldoende redenen voor een weldenkend omnivoor om de vis- en vleesconsumptie drastisch te matigen!
Heb je wel eens gehoord van het vegafonisch orkest? O wacht, laat ik even verder gaan in het engels:
Did you ever hear of the Vegafonic Orchestra? They make music with vegetables! Wouldn't that be a good one to combine idea 1 and 2?

Zoiets: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfYt7vRHuY ?
Alleen zou het Vegafonic Orchestra waarschijnlijk een orkest zijn dat tijdens het concert steeds een hapje van de instrumenten neemt

the vegetable orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfYt7vRHuY

What a nice music they make. Thanks a lot for sharing Marije.
Yes, WhistleHerb, at least 'drastisch matigen' (drastic moderation) is the least you ought to do.
As said before, it's up to Maarten whether he wants to combine #2 with #1. I think it's a splendid idea and than maybe go out in the streets and play Xmas carols.

I'm very greatful that I got such a strong support for the idea of becoming vegan for a month.

Hope it stays #1. :)

i think this idea is very boring to do because it is not challenging enough for Maarten.

Maarten writes about his actions, which may inspire other people that follow him, like you and your friends.
Besides that, whatever the effect is for Maarten, the world and many animals benifit of it.

Yes we can eat meat (meanth to survive) but that's not the point!
The point is WE CAN CHOOSE!
Animals can't choose, we can!!! Choose to evolve yourself or stay as an old fashion, ignoring human. Evolving humans feels and understand what will happend with this world in the future. Changing our ignorancy would be better for all of us, especially for the new comming generations. So don't just think for yourself. Very soon we all have 2 deal with a serious human disaster, overpopulation! 7 billion people, 400.000 new born and 200.000 deaths = means 200.000 new humans every 24 hours! It's time to start with less consumption, we all must stop eating or buying animalproducts. It's NOW time to change, we all!
I've been a veg/vegan for +20 years and I've been never sick even not a single day, never had a B12 or iron problem. So stop the excuses and Eat a tasty various vegetable food and learn about it. Everything will changed positively inside you. Being an evolving human make you a strong and better person. No excuse anymore, just do it!

Vegazosten, it's so true what you say.
Itøs another argument on the long long list of good arguments against eating, killing, starving, hungry, overconsumption.....
The list is endless, there is NO good reason to eat animals or use them in any other way.
Thanks again.

I hope Maarten and all his friends will change into veganstyle.
I should have added, that he had to spread the message, but I'm sure, he will do that anyway.

So, good luck to Maarten and the rest of the world, it will be a better place.

Hey Maarten ;)

En, ga je het doen? ;)
Zo ja, dan wil ik je hierbij uitnodigen voor een vegan Halloween potluck in Utrecht a.s. zaterdag!
https://www.facebook.com/events/285698088205928/
Als je nog geen idee hebt wat je zou moeten meenemen qua eten, dan hoeft het ook niet. Er zal genoeg eten zijn.
Gezellig als je wil komen!

Groetjes,
Julia.

Julia!!!

Tuurlijk ga ik het doen! :-) Ik zou heel graag bij de Halloween potluck willen zijn, lijkt me super, maar ik ga een paar dagen het land uit en ben zaterdag dus niet in NL. Vind je het leuk om een andere keer af te spreken? Lijkt me leuk om deze maand met verschillende mensen te koken en tips etc te delen...

tnx! M

Good luck with the plant eating/vegan experience! I am a vegetarian but I did had a lack of enough B12 though ( but maybe because I am less healthy then Maarten :) )

It's indeed so important that people choose and be aware of why they eat or don't eat meat. A lot of people just eat without thinking, they ignore the fact that they are eating a living creature (well it's dead when it's on their plate).... Well... I am curious about this action.. is Maarten allowed to eat vegan cheese and soya stuff?

Hoi Brigitte, there are more meat eaters than vegans with a lack of B12 and or iron. I've seen it more than once in hospitals. Food is not just the only one reason having problems with iron or B12. Maybe your body can take it, or you loose it by a little wound inside...periods, disseases, myoma uteri (vleesboompjes), etc...
(sorry 4 my bad english).
Veggies, please think. What happend with mother cow if she can't give birds and milk? It's DEATH as salary/reward! And she been raped every year for giving a new calf. No calf no milk. So we can steal their milk. Same with chickens. I would say there are veganproducts enough to eat or drink these days.

Hey Maarten, cool ;)
Stuur me een mailtje? forisma at hotmail.com!

Of course Birgitte. Maarten may eat everything not meat / not dairy. So vegan cheese is absolutely one of the 'allowed' products.
But .... he might investigate a bit on soya, GMO and the like. Soya is only good in certain ways, GMO soya, which is sold in large amounts in NL, as I understood, is allowed, but very very bad. A lot of severe diseases are linked to that.
Watch this video please. http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

Hey Maarten, eind november hou ik een potluck bij me thuis, kom je ook? ;) https://www.facebook.com/events/448045911908925

Ben sinds 2009 een fulltime planteneter geworden. Heb gezien op plekken in de wereld waar kinderen honger hebben dat het verdelen van voedsel tussen mensen en dieren eerlijker kan. Dode dieren zijn op zich smakeloos. Door mijn planteneten en er over vertellen heb ik invloed op de mensen om mij heen. Ik hoop dit jaar in mijn achtertuin een eerste eigen groententuin te beginnen en hoop zo nog meer bewust met planteneten verder te kunnen gaan.