What does it even mean to be vegetarian? Why are there so many types of diets? Can I eat eggs if I am vegetarian? Mayo is vegan? These are some of the questions I often see in my comments and I want to answer them for you! There can be a lot of confusion around the vocabulary of diet and lifestyle, so let me clear up what it means to be vegan vs. vegetarian and other things in between.
Sweet Potato Soul’s journey began in 2010, but my vegan journey began long before that. Growing up we never ate red meat in our house: only chicken and fish. As I got older, cutting out animal products was a no-brainer for me. I started eating a vegetarian diet before becoming a full vegetarian, slowly removing all animal products from my plate.
Vegan vs Vegetarian
In simple terms, vegetarianism It is not a meat diet of any animal, but it is okay to eat byproducts like eggs or milk. Veganism A diet in which no animal products are consumed at all. In reality though, it’s much more than that!
Diet vs Lifestyle
A food the food you eat Following a vegetarian diet, no animal products are consumed. A lifestyle A way of life. By following a vegetarian lifestyle, you don’t just consume animal products, you no wear or use them; You practice veganism in every area of your life. These include fashion items and cosmetics.
Other types of diets
Pescetary A vegetarian diet with seafood and shellfish.
Lacto-vegetarian A vegetarian diet that includes dairy products, but not eggs.
Lacto-ovo vegetarian A vegetarian diet that includes dairy and eggs.
Ovo-vegetarian A vegetarian diet that includes eggs, but no dairy products.
A plant-based diet In some cases animal products may not be completely eliminated, but focus primarily on eating plants and vegetables.
flexible A diet is similar to plant-based, but more flexible in allowing for animal products. It’s still vegetarian-forward.
Read the label
It might surprise you what is and isn’t vegetarian. Always check the label! For example, white granulated sugar is often processed with bone char, which is not vegan-friendly. I like to use cane or coconut sugar instead. Other things to look for on the non-vegan ingredients list include gelatin, honey, leather, wool, silk, lanolin, casein and rennet. Things may seem vegan friendly but contain things like animal fat or gelatin. And yes, there is such a thing as vegan mayo!
How can I go vegan?
Making the transition to a vegan lifestyle is easier than ever. I have many guides on my blog and on my YouTube channel. In essence, be consistent! To stay consistent, I try to follow an 80:20 diet. That means 80% of my diet is healthy whole foods like plant proteins, whole grains, nuts, seeds and other things with high nutritional value. The other 20% is where I allow processed foods such as meat substitutes and other vegetarian-friendly junk foods. Ideally I try for 90:10, but that’s not always possible. I follow it to get the right nutrients into my body and keep my nervous system in check for health benefits like preventing heart disease and high cholesterol.
I take a multivitamin supplement daily to ensure I get the right vitamins and minerals, avoid nutrient deficiencies and hit my nutritional needs. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement to find the right one for you. It is also important to read the label of supplements. Some omega-3 supplements contain fish oil, while some calcium and vitamin D pills contain gelatin.
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know that eating vegan isn’t boring and shouldn’t be! Having a colorful plate not only makes eating more fun, it almost always guarantees a more balanced meal. Two of the easiest foods to help you transition are tempeh and tofu. They take on whatever flavor you cook them with and are extremely versatile in cooking.
Why should I go vegan?
You want to go vegan because you want to. A vegan lifestyle promotes a healthy diet and clean living, a way to help prevent animal slaughter and cruelty. I am vegetarian for the health aspects, but more importantly for the ethical aspects. It’s not a process that has to or will happen overnight, and there can be obstacles along the way. And see all the delicious vegetarian food you can eat! By following my advice and your own research, you’ll be on your way to a vegan lifestyle in no time. Take a scroll through my blog and you’ll find tons of delicious, vibrant vegan recipes to get you started.
What did you learn from being vegetarian vs. vegetarian? Leave a comment below with your favorite plant-based recipe!