> what I'm try to find out is: over the course of a week, how much do you
> have to eat of the food you eat to get the essential fatty acids, amino
> acids, and B vitamins. Do you know what a human needs? One of the
> arguments Carrol draws on is that our bodies evolved under conditions of
> eating animal products, thus we have developed to require amino acids
> and fatty acids as well as certain vitamins. B12 comes from animal
> products and hardly anything else provides it. that's why they are
> called essential.
>
> as vegans i know have told me, you have to carefully eat the right
> combinations to get it all in.
Why not pills? Pills do fine. I'm not a full-on vegan, but a vegetarian who doesn't even particularly like fruits and vegetables, and there are lots of supplements that cover all the bases. They're not as expensive as one might think, if one does one's homework.
As for the protein, I've been paying attention to that since I was a kid, making sure I get 60-75 grams every day. I do eat some cheese now and then, but soy and other well-known sources cover the protein needs quite nicely, regardless.
Of course, if one has an objection to pills and supplements, then it becomes a major undertaking unless one is predisposed to lots of food prep/cooking (or well-off enough to eat out on a frequent basis).
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/ dave /