Vegans do not eat chicken or drink milk. By definition, a vegan is someone who rids their diet of all foods that come from an animal. This includes poultry, fish, beef, pork, dairy, eggs and honey. Some vegans also choose to embrace the entire vegan lifestyle and avoid other nonfood products, like clothing, that comes from animals such as leather or fur.
Vegetarians Versus Vegans
Like vegans, vegetarians also abstain from eating chicken and other animal flesh. However, unlike vegans they do choose to consume products that come from the animals, including dairy and eggs. A lacto-vegetarian does not eat flesh but does eat dairy products such as milk. A lacto-ovo-vegetarian does not eat flesh but consumes both dairy and eggs.
Chicken Substitutions
Vegans who are looking for a fake meat replacement for chicken in their meals now have a variety of products to choose from. Most fake chicken products are made from processed soy protein, flour, gluten and flavorings. Some vegans are happy with the texture and taste of this fake meat, but others are not as satisfied with the products and choose to abstain from the fake versions of animals foods. Extremely health-conscious vegans often do not eat meat replacements because they are heavily processed foods. Some plant-based doctors recommend that vegans consume fake meat only as a transitional food but eventually eliminate it once they grow accustomed to their new vegan diet.
Milk Substitutions
Although vegans do not consume milk from cows, goats and other animals, they can choose from a variety of vegan milks, including rice, almond, coconut, hemp and soy. All of these vegan milk alternatives are fortified with vitamins and minerals and contain no cholesterol. These milks come in a variety of flavors including vanilla and chocolate and are available in sweetened or unsweetened varieties.
Flexitarians
One group of people refer to themselves as flexitarians. Like vegans, flexitarians focus on a plant-based diet, but they consume animal products like chicken and milk on occasion. Flexitarianism is a diet option that can serve as a good transition for those who hope to eventually switch over to being completely vegetarian or vegan. Many flexitarians engage in a ritual referred to as "Meatless Monday," when they abstain from the consumption of animal products each Monday.
References
- The Vegetarian Resource Group: Veganism in a Nutshell
- "The McDougall Program"; John McDougall; 1990
- "Time" Magazine; Tastes Like Chicken: The Quest for Fake; John Cloud; June 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Blog: Could You Be a Flexitarian?; Jennifer Nelson, et al.; June 2009
- The Huffington Post; Holy Cow! 5 Healthy Dairy-Milk Alternatives; Jill Donenfeld; May 2010
Member Comments