What is a Vegan?

The Merriam Webster definition for a vegan : a person who does not eat any food that comes from animals and who often also does not use animal products (such as leather)

Upon research and looking into what vegan and veganism mean, it appears there can be a couple ways of viewing these terms. 

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  1. A dietary vegan would be an individual who excludes all animal and animal products from their diet. This can also be considered a partial vegan since using or wearing animal products supports the needless slaughter of animals.

  2. A lifestyle vegan is an individual who consciously attempts to exclude all animal products from their life including their wardrobe. 

Vegan Guide 101 @ http://vegweb.com/vegan101

What About Vegetarians? How is that Different from Vegan?
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Being a vegetarian and being a vegan is not the same thing.  Vegetarianism and veganism are similar – yes, this is true – however, there are many distinct differences between the two.

Vegetarians abstain from eating animal flesh, aka meat.  "The Vegetarian Handbook" states that vegetarians survive mainly on plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.; however, some also consume animal by-products such as eggs and milk.

Vegans, on the other hand, abstain not only from all animal foods and by-products, but also from using any products derived from animals, as defined by "The Vegetarian Handbook."  Essentially, a vegan is an extremely strict and emphasized vegetarian. 

Many vegan diets are comprised of wholesome, energy-filled foods.  These diets are designed with a focus on unaltered, unprocessed foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, buts, seeds and grains.  There is little to no consumption of anything processed; therefore alcohol, coffee, tea, soda and even tobacco are often considered taboo. 

Vegetarian and vegan diets are both concerned for the well-being of animals; however, their commitment and the degree to which they take action vary.  So, to all of you who think vegetarians and vegans are all the same, hopefully now you will see they are not.  

Source: Null, Gary. The Vegetarian Handbook: eating right for total health. Revised Edition. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1996. Print.

Ok .. so what do I say when people criticize me for being vegan?
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Being on a plant-based diet, for some reason, draws attention by people you know and perfect strangers alike. More often than it should be non-vegans and non-vegetarians are very skeptical and critical of YOUR personal diet choices and are quick to judge telling you that what you're doing is wrong. Probably the most common criticism or question is "where do you get your protein from?"

Having a degree in Biology and being an educator I have a distinct advantage in these situations where I can launch into a lecture about what proteins actually are, how they are formed in the body, and what they are made from. For the critics, it is a humbling conversation when the very person criticizing you for the misinterpreted lack of protein in your diet has absolutely NO IDEA what protein is and where it truly comes from. Now, not everyone is a critic. It is the open-minded individuals that accept new information and are willing to try a new activity or idea that have the opportunity to grow and learn. I make sure not to criticize anyone for their own personal dietary choices but, I am open to discussing the topic of nutrition and diet with curious open-minded people and I often do. Thankfully, more and more people are showing interest in learning about how to get more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole plant-based foods in their diets.

What about those of us that don't have degrees in Biology?

GOOD NEWS!!! I have come across an INCREDIBLE blog that has dozens of informative pages and one of them is titled "A response to 60 comments vegans hear from non-vegans." Possibly one of the most informative vegan resources I have found online, thevegantruth.blogspot.com, is packed with information!