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Living with Compassion
Becoming vegan is the best way to help animals, the environment, and your health.
Going vegan (eliminating all animal products from your diet) really is easier than you might think. This compassionate lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people turn to ethical food products and take their health seriously. As a result, the market for vegan food is growing each year and most supermarkets now stock a wide variety of animal-free foods.
There are a number of reasons why people choose to go vegan. The most popular ones are:
- It eliminates suffering and saves the lives of thousands of animals;
- It boosts your health and increases your life expectancy; and
- It's a lot kinder to the planet.
In this section you'll find more about reasons for going vegan, tips for making the transition and loads of recipes and cooking shows to introduce you to exciting and delectable vegan foods. And make sure you check out the downloadable veg starter kits.
What is a Vegan?
Veganism denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
The term ‘vegan’ (pronounced "vee-gun") was coined by Donald Watson in 1944, taking the first three and last two letters from the word ‘vegetarian’ as he believed that veganism starts with vegetarianism and carries it through to it’s logical conclusion.
Vegans choose not to eat any foods derived from living or dead animals - no animal flesh (that includes chicken and fish!), no animal milks (or products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt derived from these), no eggs, no honey, nor any other animal products (such as gelatin, cochineal, shellac etc.).
Vegans enjoy all kinds of plant foods - like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes (beans, lentils and split peas) - and fungi (mushrooms, yeasts), and food made from these.
Being vegan is not about restrictions or limitations or rules. Being vegan is about not wanting to eat animals and products derived from their exploitation. It's a choice - and a powerful choice that opens up a new way of eating and freedom from the guilt of exploiting other animals.
Going vegan is a powerful statement of refusal to take part in not only violence against other animals, but also the violence that affects society as a whole. Veganism works to expose and end the subtle indoctrination of industries that wish to desensitise humanity to the violence against the many for the gain of the few.
Tips for Making the Switch to Vegan Food
Going vegan has never been easier. Here are some quick tips to help your transition:
- If you are someone who needs to take small steps when making kifestyle changes, try designating particular days as 'vegan days' and increase the number of these as you get more familiar with vegan foods and cooking. Before you know it you'll be eating vegan every day of the week.
- Convenience foods such as veggie sausages and burgers, vegan canned soups and beans, and vegetarian frozen foods cut cooking time and can ease the transition by using familiar foods.
- Order your next pizza without cheese but with a mountain of vegetable toppings.
- International restaurants are the best bets for finding vegan food when dining out. Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Spanish, Thai, Japanese, and Indian restaurants all offer a wide variety of vegan dishes.
- Ask for it! Even restaurants that don’t offer vegan meals can usually whip up a meatless pasta or vegetable plate if you ask.
- Summer barbecues are healthy and fun with meatless hot dogs and burgers. Or, for a real change of pace, grill thick slices of marinated vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, or tomatoes.
- Find vegan cookbooks at your local library or bookstore and have fun experimenting with new foods and recipes.
- Don't be afraid of healthfood stores. They stock a range of delicious vegan foods that you may not be able to find in supermarkets.
- When travelling, pack plenty of vegan snacks like instant soups, fresh fruit, raw vegetables, trail mix, muesli bars, and homemade oatmeal cookies. Fill an eski with sandwiches and individual containers of juice and soy/rice/almond milk.
- Most airlines offer vegan meals if you ask in advance; and you can always bring extra snacks on board with you.
For some, becoming vegan is a snap decision. For others, it’s a process with many steps along the way. Don’t get frustrated if you aren’t able to make the transition to veganism overnight. Each compassionate decision you make sends a message to those around you as well as to food industries that exploit animals that you don’t condone animal abuse. Keep striving towards vegan eating . . . you are making a difference!
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