What is veganism?

Veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to exclude all animal products in day to day living. In terms of diet, this means that vegans do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs or honey. They also avoid eating products derived from animals including things like gelatine, rennet or whey.

Examples of foods that vegans don’t eat are:

• Beef, Chicken, Duck, Pork, Fish, Seafood, Eggs, Sausages, Hamburgers
• Milk (from cows or goats), Milk powder, Whey, Cheese, Yoghurt, Cream, Butter, Mayonnaise, Honey
• Gelatine, Rennet, Casein, Insinglass

Don’t panic!

Thankfully, if you enjoy these foods there are lots of vegan alternatives that are usually healthier for you too. These include meat, dairy and cheese alternatives as well as vegan processed and snack foods such as biscuits, sweets, crisps and chocolate. These are available at most supermarkets. 

However any healthful diet, vegan or otherwise, should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The variety of these foods in most countries is amazing and means you can have endless fun experimenting with different foods.

Here’s some of the foods vegans do eat:

• Spinach, Capsicum, Tomato, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Mushroom, Corn, Avocado
• Orange, Melon, Plums, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mango, Peaches, Figs, Passion fruit, Bananas, Dates
• Lentils, Black beans, Chickpeas, Couscous, Oats, Wheat, Quinoa, Rice
• Sunflower seeds, Pecans, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Chocolate, Olives

These are just a fraction of the foods that make up a vegan diet. There are hundreds more! Many of which you probably already enjoy regularly. 

Beyond Food:

Veganism is about more than food. It also involves avoiding products that come from industries that profit from animal exploitation.

• Many vegans do not wear leather, wool, fur or silk. 
• They avoid buying cosmetics, toiletries and household products that have been tested on animals.
• Most do not support the use of animals in entertainment such as zoos and circuses.

In doing so they are withdrawing their support from these industries and signalling that there is something wrong with the idea of animals as property.

Veganism and health:

A varied plant-based diet that includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds can be healthy and nutritious. Veganism is now widely accepted in the medical industry as a sensible choice for all stages of life.

However, it is important that vegans (as well as other people who want to be healthy) know about the relationship between food, nutrition and health and pay particular attention to calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D intake.

• For more information on veganism and nutrition, check out the Becoming vegan page.

Types of veganism:

• Raw Veganism: A diet that excludes all animal products and foods heated above 48 degrees Celsius.
• Dietary Veganism: Refers to someone who follows a vegan diet (ie; no animal products) but does not avoid animal products in other areas of their life.
• Frutarianism: A vegan diet that only includes ripe fruits of plants and trees.
• Macrobiotics: A diet consisting of grains as a staple, with the addition of vegetables and beans. Avoids highly processed and refined foods.
• Locavore: A diet consisting of locally grown or produced foods, not necessarily vegan.
• Freegan: A diet consisting of food that is obtained by foraging. Usually this is found food that has been discarded by restaurants or supermarkets.

Why vegan?

There are many reasons for choosing to go vegan or vegetarian. These are three of the most common:

• For your health
• For the animals
• For our planet

Many people are also vegan for spiritual or religious reasons. 

The history of veganism:

The term ‘vegan’ was created by Donald Watson who founded the UK Vegan Society in 1944. It comes from the word ‘vegetarian’ and was invented to distinguish between vegetarians who ate dairy products and those who didn’t. 

• UK Vegan Society definition of ‘vegan’:

“[T]he word “veganism” denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”

In 1960 the American Vegan Society was formed.

Notable vegans:

Many well-known thinkers and artists have been vegan. Here’s a few you might know:

• Natalie Portman
• Pamela Anderson
• Clint Eastwood
• Woody Harrelson
• Drew Barrymore
• Alice Walker
• Bryan Adams
• Lenny Kravitz
• K D Lang
• Paul McCartney
• Moby
• Morrissey
• Sinead O’Connor
• Shania Twain
• Peter Brock
• Carl Lewis
• Ken Bradshaw
• Gary L. Francione

Hungry for more?

If you want to know more about veganism or have a question, email me at sarahATtheveganmentorDOTcom or leave a comment on the blog.