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Learn About Vegans
Thursday, December 29, 2005

Veganism is probably one of the least understood lifestyle and diet trends out there. People hear the word and either say, "huh?" or "what weirdos." There is a lot to learn about the vegan lifestyle, so let us start with some of the basics.

First, what is a vegan?

Veganism, more than vegetarianism, is a lifestyle choice and not just a diet. Vegans do not eat meats, which they define as beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and seafood. They also avoid any foods, such as honey, salad dressing, eggs, and milk, which come from any type of animal by-product. The place where vegans really differ, however, is that they also do not wear animals, such as in silk, fur, or leather. Most vegetarians avoid these fabrics, too, but it is important to the vegan lifestyle.

Why do people want to live this restrictive lifestyle?

Well, in short, they do it because they believe it is the moral decision. Some vegans are very interested in the health benefits to an appropriately created vegan diets. Others, however, have more concerns about the way animals are treated in slaughterhouses and hen houses. Still, other vegans believe that people should not eat animals at all because we could feed the world with the grains we use to feed cattle in the United States and because it is unethical to treat other animals as inferior. Vegans go a step farther than vegetarians because they believe that by eating by-products, it only encourages the meat industry.

What dishes do they eat?

People who are not vegan but are looking at the lifestyle often focus on what foods they cannot eat. If you look at the foods you can eat, though, you will see that there are plenty of choices. Plus, many vegans find that they eat a wider variety than do meat eaters because they have to search for good nutrition. A few good vegan dishes include vegan lasagna, hummus, eggless cookies (using applesauce as a substitute), and fried corn. There are many soy-based products as well, such as flour and milk that allow vegans to make typical dishes with only a slight variation. Trying out different spices sometimes can make the vegan diet seem like a much better choice. If you think in terms of bland foods, then the diet will not be appealing, but if you are willing to experiment a bit, then you will find some tasty foods.

Can They Go To Restaurants?

Many vegans tend to stay home. For one, they often find that when you accustom your body to less processed foods, which they must do to ensure that they are vegan, the body is not interested in taking on the grease and fat of restaurant cooking. That does not mean that vegans are forever kept away from restaurants, though. They may find that they can eat at Chinese restaurants if they select carefully. Other ethnic restaurants, such as Indian and Thai also are good choices because those diets naturally rely on meat less than American dishes.

Is It Safe To Avoid Dairy?

Vegans can safely avoid dairy foods if they work on using dairy substitutes. For example, there are several ways to substitute for eggs in baking recipes where the egg just serves to hold everything together. You can try a mashed banana, applesauce, two ounces of soft tofu, or an egg replacer. If you want to substitute for milk or cheeses, try soy-based replicas of the dairy product. Rice milk also is a choice for some people. If you need crumbled cheese, like bleu cheese, try adding crumbled tofu instead. Because tofu takes the flavor of its surroundings, it is a good choice for these dishes.

Being vegan does not mean giving up your lifestyle. Instead it means opening your mind to new possibilities for eating. While you may have to work on your vegan diet, it is possible to put the right combination of foods together to make for wonderful and healthy meals. The danger with veganism, and the obstacles potential vegans should watch out for, is munching on only lettuce or other veggies or stocking up on non-dairy-based carbs and not getting any real nutrition from their diets. If you are thinking about a vegan diet, be sure to research it and select good foods that will keep you healthy.

By Julia Mercer

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