Vegan Vs. Vegetarian
August 27, 2010, By Sylvia Cochran 26 comments
Meat, eggs, dairy products, honey, gelatin, whey, rennet or any other animal-derived products are all off the menu. Strict vegans will also avoid animal products like wool, silk or beeswax in daily living. Not surprisingly, splinter groups in the vegan movement have already formed. Currently there are:
- Raw Vegans: Strictly vegan diet that is also raw - foods are not cooked at temperatures above 118 degrees Fahrenheit
- Fruitarians: Fruit and plant diet (think nuts and legumes) that doesn't require killing a plant – or a fruit-only diet
- Macrobiotics: The main staple in this diet is grain, which these vegans augment with vegetables, legumes and assorted fruits
Ready for a Lifestyle Change?
Of course, becoming a vegetarian – or vegan – is a complete lifestyle change, not just a list of foods to add or avoid. If you're looking for a first step in this direction, some flavor of vegetarianism is the easiest path to travel. Most restaurants feature vegetarian dishes, and there are some good meat substitutes in the supermarket like tofurkey and quorn to ease the transition. You may even save some money by eating a meat-free diet – or by introducing a few all veggie dinners into your meal planning.
Going vegan is much harder and requires a concerted effort to purge the pantry (or at least your plate) of ingredients that contain animal products. And as a parent, it typically means preparing one set of meals for the kids – and another for you. It also makes eating out a challenge. If you want to give it a shot – plan carefully and consider bringing it up with your physician or enlisting the help of a dietician. Pre-existing medical conditions may make some aspects of veganism impractical.
But if you're ready for a food adventure, you'll find a whole new world of ingredients and taste ahead of you.
Sylvia Cochran is a contributor to Six Apart Media.
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