So, the first thing I mentioned was that I discovered there were different kinds of vegans.
1.) Dietary
2.)Lifestyle
3.)Raw
4.)”Part-time”
These are just the 3 most common types I know of. These can kind of interchange, too, because theres no real definition except the ones I put on them for myself.
Dietary vegans are usually vegans for health, new vegans or vegans who otherwise don’t apply the same animal-friendly, eco-friendly , ect, beliefs or example that they lay out on their plate.
Lifestyle vegans live it… usually these people are really into yoga, reducing waste, conserving water,power, ect. Ani Phyo actually talks about how to live garbage free in one of her books and I’m like “what??” hahaha
Raw vegans can have a mix of the other two vegans but with one important difference…. they don’t eat food heated over a certain temperature…. I believe its just below boiling.
“Part time” vegans are people who are just trying to eat less meat and dairy… they traditionally participate in Meatless Monday. The point here is whats in their kitchen. If they still keep and eat themselves any meat or dairy, no matter how little they eat it, they’re still “part time”.
In joining this community, I worried (and still do) about how I should behave and live my life… I believe in a recent tumblr post, I used the term “vegan enough”… this was in reference to not liking an abundance of raw veggies, but the point is still there. Where is the bar? Can I reach it? If I can’t, is that ok?
What kind of vegan am I?
Right here, right now, I’m still just a dietary vegan… I want to fold in some raw foods and reduce my own waste but I’m still reading up that and deciding my next course of action.
I think, though, a lot of new vegans have some sort of identity crisis. They come into this community or just begin eating this way, and all of a sudden its “Should I not do this? Should I not do that? How should I answer this question? Do I do enough of this or that?” and it can be disheartening. See, the first time you tell someone, they’re going to have questions and say things like “That’s crazy!” “I couldn’t do that!” or “I don’t get it.” I’ve been admired and I’ve been made to feel unwelcome … sometimes its a thin line.
If you’re also worried, every vegan cookbook can help a dietary vegan but if you’re ready to start living the lifestyle, there are some really good books out there… these are just ones I’ve had the honor of reading myself and that I’m learning from.
The Vegan Girls Guide to Life by Melisser Elliot
Any cookbook by Ani Phyo
Color Me Vegan by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
The Veganmicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Matthew Ruscigno
