Getting to the Root of Veganism

In 1944, Donald Watson and Elsie Shrigley in England founded the Vegan Society. Unlike vegetarians a vegan does not eat or drink any dairy products. The first vegan society in the United States was founded in California in 1948 by Dr. Catherine Nimmo and Rubin Abramowitz. Since then the society has broken off into various groups. These vegan lifestyles are known around the world.

What does it take to be a vegan?

Exclusion of the use of animals for food, clothing, makeup or any other products with the use of animals in anyway is not allowed. Vegans advocate a totally plant-based diet excluding flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk, butter and cheese. Vegans believe in the moral conviction concerning animal rights and welfare. There are also spiritual or religious concerns when it comes to the animals. Vegans have strong convictions. They know that animals live and breathe the air in the same matter that we do. All living creatures think, reproduce and feel pain. Main concerns of the vegans are the practices involved in factory farming and animal testing.

Is the vegan diet is healthy?

According to the Mayo Clinic a vegetarian and vegan diet can be very healthy as long it is well planned. To make sure that you receive the right nutrition, a daily vitamin and mineral supplement geared towards this type of lifestyle is needed. Manufactures such as Deva makes their products with the vegan in mind. These vitamins are Vegan certified, 100% vegetarian and gluten free. Regular vitamins may contain the animal byproduct gelatin.

Becoming a vegan takes a great deal of discipline. For me it would be hard. I do love to eat meat. It is not something I do on a daily basis. It may be three or four days in between. Often we will have dinner with just salads or steam vegetables. After eating a steak a feeling of sluggishness follows and it makes it harder on the body to digest. Fixing a bowl of steam vegetables, seasoned with real lemon pepper makes a delicious meal and with no sluggishness afterwards. I could easily become a vegetarian for I am into dairy products and not ready to give them up.

If you want to become a vegan but do not want to give up diary products, try these substitutes below to see if you are ready for this lifestyle change.

Milk: Drink fortified soymilk, rice milk or almond milk in place of cow's milk.

Cheese: Use soy cheese or nutritional yeast flakes, which are available in health food stores.

Butter: When sautéing, use olive oil, water, vegetable broth, lemon juice, wine or fat-free cooking spray instead of butter. In baked goods, use canola oil.

Eggs: In baked goods, try commercial egg replacers. These are a dry products made mostly of potato starch. Or to replace one egg, substitute it with 1/4 cup whipped tofu or 1 tablespoon milled flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Use tofu instead of eggs for omelets. 1/4 to 1/3 cup applesauce can be used in place of an egg in baking.

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