This post is a part of a series about the Vegetarian Lifestyle, called Going Veggie Style!

So what's the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan?

A vegetarian doesn’t eat any animal flesh. Traditionally, you might say a vegetarian doesn’t eat meat, but in some countries “meat” refers to just beef. A vegetarian does not eat cow, chicken, fish, pig, or any other animal. Some vegetarians do not eat chicken broth, lard, and even marshmallows because these items are made with animal by-products.

A vegan, or lacto-ova vegetarian, does not eat any animal products. Like the name suggests, a vegan does not consume milk (lacto), eggs (ova), or meat (vegetarian). Obviously, a vegan diet avoids the “gray area” items mentioned above, like chicken broth. A vegan diet is far more restrictive than a vegetarian diet and includes mostly fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.

Why do you want to change your diet?

To figure out which diet is right for you, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

Image by Computix

• Are you considering vegetarianism or veganism for health reasons, for environmental reasons, for ethical reasons, or for all three?
• Are you pregnant, anemic, a serious athlete, or for some other special reason in need of a high protein diet?
• How much time do you have to plan meals and shop for food?
• Do you love eating out at restaurants and friend’s houses?
• Do you have extra money to spend on protein powders and nutrition bars?
• What are your favorite foods?
• Do you have support from your friends and family to change your diet?
• How disciplined are you?

In general, the more you answers lean towards needing more protein or being less disciplined, you should first try vegetarianism. Even if you are dead-set on veganism, I highly recommend you start with vegetarianism. However, consider the following arguments before you make your decision.

Defensiveness and hypocrisy

Most people who want to become vegetarian like the fact that their diets will no longer be supporting the killing of animals. However, if you are new to vegetarianism, be prepared to put others on the defense just with your mere presence. Any time you sit down to eat with coworkers, family, or random strangers, be ready to hear things like:

• “You say you’re vegetarian because you don’t like hurting animals, but you’re wearing leather. You’re a hypocrite!”
• “How can you eat eggs if you don’t eat meat? It’s the same thing! The “egg chickens” are just as mistreated as the “eating chickens” at the big chicken-factory ranches.”
• “You know that cheese you’re eating has just as much bovine growth hormone in it as my steak does. Being vegetarian doesn’t make a bit of difference!”

It takes a thicker skin to be a vegetarian than a vegan because you will hear these attempts to prove your hypocrisy constantly. Your mere presence makes a lot of people feel guilty. They will try to justify their meat-eating and/or animal-product consumption by poking holes in the logic of your diet. If this is going to bother you, go vegan. As a vegan, you are less of a “hypocrite.” Of course, you will inevitably own some leather, be in a vehicle that at some time or another kills a bug on its windshield, and live in a structure that steals habitat from animals, etc.

These sentences have helped me greatly in my 15 years of vegetarianism:

• “Vegetarianism (or veganism) isn’t right for everyone, but it works for me.”
• “You’re right, I could go live in a cave eating only animal dung, but I still need to function in society, so I’ve chosen to be vegan (or vegetarian) because at least I’m trying to make a difference.”
• “I’m not hassling you about what you’re eating. Perhaps you could return the favor.”
• “Being vegetarian is very personal to me--like religion. I’m not trying to convert you, so just let me be.”

Vegan Discipline

Ideally, most vegetarians would like to be vegans because veganism is better for the planet and less hypocritical. I have seen many people trying to save the world that embraced a vegan lifestyle, only to be chomping on steak a few months later. A vegan diet is very restrictive. It requires a lot of discipline, time, and energy to plan balanced meals. To eat healthy, you will most likely need supplements, which can be expensive and tedious. It is virtually impossible to eat at a restaurant as a vegan, unless you’re in the mood for salad with no dressing on it or a dry baked potato.

Remember, there are no rules

I highly recommend you let your body decide which diet is right for you. Perhaps try no red meat for a week, then see how you feel. Then try no meat at all for a week. Are you tired? Is your weight fluctuating? Are you getting enough protein? Don’t be disappointed if the transition takes time. It took me about 9 months to transition to strict vegetarianism.

Furthermore, if you want to be an ova-vegetarian (no meat, no eggs, milk OK) or a vegan-tarian (sometimes vegan, sometimes vegetarian), then do it. Don’t worry about the rules or definitions unless you want to. The bottom line is to do what is best for you.

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Comments (2)

Vegetarian
written by Heidi , March 14, 2008

I enjoyed this b/c I think sometimes people get confused on the whole vegetarian vs vegan thing. I am a vegetarian (no meat, chicken, fish,leather,fur, etc) but do drink organic milk (trying to quit). Maybe I am a vegan wannabee.

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written by Shawn , April 29, 2008

First, chicken broth is not a "gray area" item and neither is lard. Both are products of a dead animal and anyone calling themselves vegetarian shouldn't kid him or herself.
Second, a vegan diet is not as restrictive as most people think. I have no problem finding food anywhere (even at a lodge on top of the Prior Mountains in Wyoming), and I'm not stuck with a baked potato or a salad. There are more and more options at chain restaurants, including Taco Bell, Panera, Taco Del Mar, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesdays, and Subway. There is also a substitute for everything, including sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, cheese, eggs, and of course, the plethera of vegan mock meats.
There are so many reasons to be vegan, I don't have space to list them all, but for more information, check out goveg.com.