Vegan Diet Poll
Hey everyone,
As a new vegan, I'm curious about other vegans' diets. What is and is not acceptable to vegans varies wildly from person to person. I have heard everything from "lanolin is murder" to "you'll squish more bugs with your car on the way to buy a honey alternative, therefore honey is acceptable" on my path to becoming a vegan and it can all be really confusing. I guess the best thing to do is "follow your heart" (pun intended) and decide what's acceptable to you.
Thanks for sharing!
P.S. "I've never formally introduced myself, although I have been lurking for over a year now! My name is Angie, I'm a 21 year-old writing and communications student. I go to school full-time and work weekends at a bakery. I'm from Vancouver, Canada and I hope to get into development and outreach with a non-profit organization in the Downtown Eastside: a very poor and marginalized neighbourhood.
Welcome VV,
I honestly believe that vegetarianism and veganism is like religion and politics. Everyone is entitled to make their own decsions and choose their own path. It may be strict veganism or it may be occasional omni bouts. As long as YOU (that means each and every one of you out there) are happy, don't let anyone tell you that you are wrong.
It helps if you don't misrepresent concepts but should you need to label yourself to keep you safe and happy then so be it.
I am vegan 99% of the time due to allergies to dairy and IBS. I can't consume meat or dairy and only less than 2% of eggs. Sometimes I consume soy cheese with casien in it, but only in the privacy of my own home. Occasionally I buy MorningStar Farms Chik Patties that contain less than 2% eggs but only in the privacy of my own home for my daughter. I wear leather occasionally because my husband and I are ren faire fanatics and pleather is not period, sorry!
Everyone chooses what path to take. Just because someone says "Your not vegan if you eat honey" smile politely and walk away. They apparently don't know that the only perfect vegan is a dead one. Do what YOU feel comfortable with.
Welcome VeggieVulture. Cool screen name.
Cali, very well said! Ours is such an imperfect world & animal cruelty in grained so finely in our culture. It's amazing where animal products turn up -- like gelatin in some brands of nail polish remover. ???
I believe the key thing is to accept where you are on the path & work to improve in any way that you can.
Cali brought up some good points.
We all have to find our own path, and we should allow each other that without judgement.
I'm not vegan. I'm just coming back from vegetarianism after almost three years, but I remember before not wanting to call myself even a vegetarian because obviously cheese and eggs aren't vegetables. But I don't worry about labels, but following what my inner voice tells me. If I personally am uncomfortable with eating something or a product, I'm going to listen to that.
Obviously, I'm influenced by the experience and teaching of others, in books and message boards. But I'm least of all influenced by self-righteous judgementalism.
I know you were asking about veganism, but I still could relate and hope you don't mind.
Good luck and nice to meet you.
I'm in the eat and let live camp...I eat what I eat and let others make their own choices. If I am asked about my diet, I'll be honest...I've been known to gross people out with farm horror stories. BUT! I don't push it on people. I think the in your face approach is the fastest way to slow down the 'veggie movement.' I think helping society change to a more compassionate plant diet based one requires us to be compassionate as well...and perhaps a wee bit sneaky. I think more 'converts' can be made by taking delicious veggie dishes in to share at work than by standing in the meat department of the grocery and getting up on a soapbox. That's just my opinion...and what's worked in the past for me. :)
I eat strictly vegan, but my lifestyle is a bit different. I avoid leather where possible, but I'm not crazy about checking every personal product. As a college kid just moving out on my own, it's way too expensive to be picky like that.
I avoid eating animal products entirely, and won't buy anything containing animal products first-hand. Second-hand is a little more of a grey area for me.
Cali brought up some good points.
We all have to find our own path, and we should allow each other that without judgement.
I'm not vegan. I'm just coming back from vegetarianism after almost three years, but I remember before not wanting to call myself even a vegetarian because obviously cheese and eggs aren't vegetables. But I don't worry about labels, but following what my inner voice tells me. If I personally am uncomfortable with eating something or a product, I'm going to listen to that.
Obviously, I'm influenced by the experience and teaching of others, in books and message boards. But I'm least of all influenced by self-righteous judgementalism.
I know you were asking about veganism, but I still could relate and hope you don't mind.
Good luck and nice to meet you.
Wow this thread is almost 4 years old. I'm proud of what I've become during those four years. Over time I've eliminated all animal products in my diet, home and clothes. w00t
Wow this thread is almost 4 years old. I'm proud of what I've become during those four years. Over time I've eliminated all animal products in my diet, home and clothes. w00t
Holycrap, I didn't see how old this thread is! *blind* But wow. And congrats, Tweety. :)
Holycrap, I didn't see how old this thread is! *blind* But wow. And congrats, Tweety. :)
LOL.....actually I'm glad to see it bumped up. It gave me a timeline as to when my journey towards veganism began. I held true to my word, not being influenced by holier than thou vegans, but the good people here at VegWeb.
I'm a new vegan. Once I got my personal head around the ethics, there was no going back for me. I'm gluten intolerant, so my only grey area is that I'd rather consume gluten than anything from an animal!
Everyone chooses what path to take. Just because someone says "Your not vegan if you eat honey" smile politely and walk away.
So I know this thread is super-old by now, but I always wondered what people who adamently insist honey is NOT vegan would like to call vegetarians who don't eat eggs or dairy? Strict vegetarian or something?
But I really appreciate your viewpoints. I am really sick of feeling like other people are always judging my food choices- Both other veggies and omnis. I think everyone should be able to choose what is best for them and not have to fear that other people may disapprove. I think the level of judgment given is often contradictory. I think the real aim is to Be Concious- By including or disincluding certain foods only because of the opinions of others, then we are not really giving full consideration to what is on our plate and that is what I want to see everyone doing no matter what conclusions they should draw from that consideration.
So I know this thread is super-old by now, but I always wondered what people who adamently insist honey is NOT vegan would like to call vegetarians who don't eat eggs or dairy? Strict vegetarian or something?
Been there, done that with the honey convo.
Honey (30 pages)
Insects are animals? (8 pages)
I am really sick of feeling like other people are always judging my food choices- Both other veggies and omnis. I think everyone should be able to choose what is best for them and not have to fear that other people may disapprove.
This theme does come up, in lots of threads here... I think it's unfortunate that group-labels can be so exclusionary/ divisive. Planteaters get enough aggro from (uninformed!) omnis; we shouldn't give it to each other! Like HH said, there's a lot of good back-&-forth about this on those two other threads... I agree with you though, that the important thing is to make decisions based on your own sense of what's right, & do THAT -- regardless of what anyone else says you 'should' do. People are bound to see things differently, & have different interpretations of things.
So I know this thread is super-old by now, but I always wondered what people who adamently insist honey is NOT vegan would like to call vegetarians who don't eat eggs or dairy? Strict vegetarian or something?
Been there, done that with the honey convo.
Honey (30 pages)
Insects are animals? (8 pages)
OK, seriously now? Did it seem to you like I had asked if honey was vegan? Noooo, I did not. I was inquiring what the correct terminology was for someone who occassionally eats honey, but is otherwise pretty vegan. As I implied, probably just strict vegetarian.
But I have to tell you dude, your tone with me is really starting to irritate me.
I am really sick of feeling like other people are always judging my food choices- Both other veggies and omnis. I think everyone should be able to choose what is best for them and not have to fear that other people may disapprove.
This theme does come up, in lots of threads here... I think it's unfortunate that group-labels can be so exclusionary/ divisive. Planteaters get enough aggro from (uninformed!) omnis; we shouldn't give it to each other! Like HH said, there's a lot of good back-&-forth about this on those two other threads... I agree with you though, that the important thing is to make decisions based on your own sense of what's right, & do THAT -- regardless of what anyone else says you 'should' do. People are bound to see things differently, & have different interpretations of things.
I agree. :) Except for the part of "good back-and-forth." I didn't think it was good back-and-forth. Just a lot of petty bitchiness for the most part- that I saw anyway on those threads. But ya :)
I think wool is my sticky. I have lived on a farm where the sheep were treated like outdoor pets and spring shearing was about as traumatic as a haircut. It's super funny to see the oldest ewe in the flock capering about like a lamb after we sheared off all that heavy winter growth, and they shed it/scrape it off/pull it off each other in chunks anyhow. I'd rather shear a sheep than have to go untangle the poor thing from the fence when she gets stuck while tring to shed.
This is NOT to say I support the factory wool farms, but I will buy and use wool from small responsible farms.
I try to be as vegan as is possible. This includes honey, leather, silk, wool, trace animal products, etc. I have a small amount of leather from before I went veg, but when it's worn out (or I take it all to Goodwill) I certainly won't be purchasing similar products. I would not knowingly consume any product which is nonvegan.
I think that no one should worry about judgment when choosing their path.
The only person you have to live with is yourself. So do what makes YOU feel good about your choices.
... I have a small amount of leather from before I went veg, but when it's worn out (or I take it all to Goodwill) I certainly won't be purchasing similar products...
I have to agree with this logic. Rarely does (or could) one become vegan overnight. It's a process that involves trial and error, planning, and some fiduciary sensibility. Not many of us can afford to replace a leather couch or even all of our shoes. But the important thing is to plan future buying so animals are not harmed and our consciences are not burdened with guilt.