Chapter Two: What’s a Vegan and What’s a Vegetarian?
A vegetarian does not eat meat. This means that a person who is a vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh including cows, pigs, chicken, and fish.
A vegan follows that same regimen and also does not consume eggs and dairy, and refrains from the use of, or wearing of, any product derived from animals.
Further on, we will share some great recipes but first here’s an interview with a Vegan named Mary that pretty much shores up what I have been saying.
(Author) Hello Mary. I must say you sure don’t look like what people think of when people think of a vegetarian. You are well dressed, very healthy looking, and if I may say so, quite attractive. How long have you been a vegetarian?
(Mary) Thanks for the compliments. I am a Vegan, by the way. I am 51 years old and have been free of all animal products for two thirds of my life. I stopped eating meat one day when the sight of a hamburger just made me sick. You commented on my looks. People expect us to look like hippies or some fanatic cult member who wanders around all day thinking up ways to save the cows or how to spring the lobsters from the super market death tank.
(Author) Do you feel that society has an unjust image of Vegans?
(Mary) Of course. One of the biggest injustices we face is what I was just talking about. That and the fact that people expect us to shove vegetarianism in everybody’s face. The truth is that our lifestyle is pretty much like everybody else’s. It’s quite possible that everyone has in their circle of friends or work associates, someone who is quietly living the vegetarian lifestyle.
(Author) Well Mary here’s your chance to educate the public about the negative stereotypes and to understand how a vegetarian actually lives. What is different about a vegetarian’s life?
(Mary) The largest disparity in how a vegetarian lives is obvious. It is in how he or she eats. You will not find any meat in a vegetarian's kitchen if she lives alone. But this doesn’t mean that a vegetarian cannot live in a family and be at peace with meat eaters. If the home has one vegetarian but others who are not, you will be able to tell from the presence of soy and perhaps more fruit and fresh vegetables.
(Author) So the belief that vegetarians cannot be around meat eaters is false?
(Mary) Of course it is. We can even be married to them! Vegetarians are peace loving and can live their lifestyle around others who do not have the same feelings that we do.
(Author) Shopping has to be challenging. Can you walk me through a trip to the market?
(Author) When I’m shopping for myself I don’t spend much time at the super market. I buy grains and beans in bulk at a warehouse store. Back in the old country, Italy, my ancestors had little or no meat. They discovered that foods like lentils and beans gave them all the protein and other nutrients of meat, without the problems associated with meats. I am a patron of farmer's markets and also shop in a vegetarian specialty store for some high nutrition meat substitutes like tofu.
When we are in the super market two things give us away. We spend a lot of time in the produce section and when we check out, our baskets are overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables.
(Author) You mentioned the lifestyle. What else is different about it.
(Mary) I don’t want to get preachy on you, but our movement is in harmony with many of the earth movements such as the organic movement and the green movement. So a vegetarian kitchen will have more organic foods on hand to reduce the presence of pesticides and other substances in the diet. Also vegetarianism affects the lifestyle beyond just the refrigerator. We Vegans don’t wear any clothing made from animals such as leather and fur. We are sensitive to animal rights and don't want to see the skin of animals used for clothing. We don’t believe in using animals for testing products. Also the vegetarian home hones in on recycling. We try to cut down on our waste. We have a compost pile. Along with recycling bottles and cans as you might expect, a vegetarian does a lot of other recycling right at home. Many Vegans have a compost pile in the yard that helps to support a spacious garden that uses the compost to grow organic foods. A properly planted and well tended ‘V’ garden can supply an amazing amount of food. I am able to ‘jar’ hundreds of pounds of tomatoes, squash, peppers and such, for the winter.
For obvious reasons, a vegetarian will have vegetarian friends and belong to social groups and attend functions that support the vegetarian lifestyle. Eating out with a vegetarian will mean going to more ethnic food restaurants and you will see a lot of creativity in how to order foods in a restaurant. And contrary to popular opinion, vegetarian eating is more flavorful and diverse than the normal diet.
(Author) Here’s a chance to prove that Mary. Can you give us some of your recipes?