Okay, I’ll say it.
Jul 16th, 2008 by Lindsay
A few vegan friends emailed me today pointing out that some so-called, self-proclaimed “vegan bloggers” are eating cheese, eggs and meat, happy about it and proudly posting on their blogs. . Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a “vegangelical” and I try my best to spread veganism in a happy, welcoming light… but if you willfully eat dairy or eggs, even sporatically, you’re not a vegan. You’re a vegetarian. and that’s FINE. There is nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. You can say you’re a vegetarian that tries to eat vegan or mostly eats vegan, but you are not a vegan. A vegan abstains from all animal products regardless of situation or cravings. I’m not saying its always easy to be vegan but don’t call yourself a vegan if you’re not 100%. It sends a bad message, prohibits progress and belittles the rest of us trying to lead by example.
Just to be clear: I am not being an “elitist.” Whatever anyone chooses to put in their body is their choice. “Veganism” isn’t a “club” it’s a way of life. It’s not about sacrifice it’s about consciousness.
Myself and the other vegans who inspired me to be the one to write this, are simply suggesting that people accurately identify who and what they are, especially on the web where so many people come here looking for information. We don’t think we’re “better” than someone who occassionally eats cheese or meat. We’re just saying you’re not a vegan, and that is fine, but being misleading or confusing doesn’t help anyone.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Lindsey! All food philosophies merit respect, but it’s important to be honest about one’s own.
They’re kidding, right? I teach a nutrition course and a student told me that his mother is vegetarian because she only eats fish, not meat (I had to explain that eating fish is not “vegetarian.”).
Sometimes I wonder if it’s a definition issue–people just don’t fully understand the definition of “vegan.” Or is it possible that those people who posted about eating meat, milk, etc. were talking about substitutes? When I write, “whipped cream” or “ice cream” in my blog, I am talking about non-dairy versions–but I don’t always spell it out. (I’m in agreement with Squirrel’s Vegan Kitchen, who believes one shouldn’t say “non-dairy milk” because other milks are just as much milk as cow’s milk–if you can follow that).
Amen!!!
I’m so glad you said something because I’ve been noticing it too. Some people say being Vegan is not about depriving themselves of feeling guilty. I believe Veganism is about not eating any animal products or even wanting to eat animal products. Yeah sure sometimes I crave a caesar salad but I’m not going to eat one because to me eating animal products is wrong. I will just make myself a cruelty free caesar salad instead! I don’t know why people say they are vegetarian if they eat fish or chicken…thats not what this lifestyle is about. When I was little I just ate chicken but I didn’t call myself vegetarian because I didn’t eat red meat.
Thank you for speaking up!
Shelby — I agree completely! Deciding to be vegan is about not eating animal products, period. And realizing that certain cravings for foods with animal products (if you even continue have them, which most vegans don’t) can be overcome with a little willpower or satisfied with vegan substitutes (which are probably tastier and nearly always healthier, anyway). Eating vegan isn’t always easy, but it is always rewarding to stick to it.
Ricki, I hate to say it, but they are not kidding and it wasn’t substitutes. As Shelby pointed out, they seem to think veganism is a “suggestion” or “best attempt.” As for that situation with your student, I read recently that “pescatarian” was added in this years edition of Websters dictionary to give people who only eat fish a term… which is good I guess because I get cranky when people say, “I’m a vegetarian but I eat fish” Umm… then you are not a vegetarian.
A friend of mine in law school told everyone she was a lacto ovo vegetarian but she was always eating chicken. I asked her about it one day and basically she thought “lacto ovo veg’s” are people who only eat animal products that come from an egg or is milk… so she was eating eggs, fish, chicken and turkey… I was like “that is not what that means… you’re an omnivore” but she still was determined to call herself a vegetarian…
Thanks for the comments everyone! I’m glad I’m not the only annoyed vegan!
Thank you so much for saying that. I can’t word it as eloquently as everyone here, but it truly annoys me as well. I’ve been reading several blogs of people, I thought were vegan and then they mention something meaty they’ve eaten. Needless to say, their blog is immediately deleted from my feed. Not because I’m mean and trying to be holier than now, but because I don’t need to listen to excuses from people who know better. Nor do I care to read about their ‘guilt’ over eating meat. It’s great people have more interest in vegan cooking and I hope that continues. I just hope that by learning to cook and eat vegan people can learn how truly easy it is and give up all animals products once and for all.
Thank you! I just started reading your blog (it was linked from someone else’s, I forgot). I’ll keep reading, even though I’ll probably not comment very often.
I am not vegan, but I know what y’all are talking about… Or perhaps I have seen some bloggers who, in the PAST referred to their diet as “vegan” or mostly, but are transitioning to being just vegetarian or an omni. I think if there is a transition, and the blogger acknowledges it, then that is completely understandable, as it is there life and not someone else’s. I hope this has nothing to do with my blog (I doubt anyone on here reads my blog, hahaha), but I have said in the past that I prefer to eat vegan baked goods because I think they taste SO INSANELY AMAZING and are SO superior to omnivorous baked goods. I appreciate the flavors (AND HEALTH! Hello, no cholesterol
) so much more with vegan baked goods! Anyways, sorry if this comment annoys those who are vegan, because I am not, as previously stated. I just thought that I’d add in that I agree with y’all 
Cheers and Linds, I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR COOKBOOK AHH! <33
There are all sorts of life choice diets. I tolerate the others and expect them to be tolerant of me. Hubby only eats what I cook for him at home but I am not a cheese person and hate faux cheese and he eats real cheese, so often I make two dishes, one with and one without. He can eat whatever he wants when not at home (it’s my castle and I am the queen) There are no dead animals served in my home ever! Unfertilized eggs are not dead chickens. A fertilized egg is a whole other ball of yolk however and the places that serve them expect you to pay dearly for them. They also look quite different when out of the shell. No local cow who produced the local produced cheese died for that either-I know what I buy and how its produced. Hubby is willing to give up all dead animal flesh if I give him cheese. What he does when he leaves soon is up to him–its not a pretty picture for dining in Korea if you have a special diet and not idea of how to find those items-hence I am staying in the US. But I am not a vegan. I can’t be. A medicine I have to take for a chronic health condition of which there is no cure at this time is encased in an animal based geletin pill. I have taken this for 10 years now. I tried and begged for another form but there just isn’t any. I was willing to do shots if I could. I can’t beat myself over the head about it but yet it bothers me. My daughter and niece have the same hereditary condition. They have no problem using the meds as I do. Neither is vegetarian in any shape or form. That is where the divide starts.The meds are expensive too. It’s out of formula for my insurance. You don’t want to be in such a position to have to choose like this. Sometimes the guilt is so bad, I will skip a pill and I pay for it the next day. I have refused flu shots because of the egg incubation. I must take the pnuemonia shot every 7 years. I don’t want to get sick again. Almost dying is not fun. So I have to compromise. I just make the adjustment elsewhere, going without shoes for months if I can’t find non-leather running ones on sale (I wear orthotics and must compensate for them) and then stocking up when I do. The thing we all must do is educate ourselves and others but also listen to what is happening in their lives and understand the ways of choice. I won’t smush a bug but many a vegan will if they are frightened or taken off guard-It’s almost an unthought instinct for humans to swat a fly. There is a viable story behind every person. And none of us should treat them with such disdain that we can’t share our lives and choices and hope to educate in the process. Sadly too many of us humans think our choice is the only way and act all high and mighty at those who don’t share all the beliefs in totallity ( a certain offspring’s boy friend comes to mind here and I find myself avoiding him and his sneers). So lets try a little harder to understand and see where it goes.
People who eat fish but claim their a vegatarian is also my biggest pet peeve!
And Julz, your comment isn’t annoying at all! Your not claiming to be sometime your not!
I’m a vegetarian. I don’t eat fish, chicken, meat, pork, rabbit, canary…Well you get the picture. My main pet peeve is the lack of information that makes people state that they are one thing, vegan for example, when they are not that at all. I don’t know about you all but I took a lot of time to research nutrition to come to my decisions about what to eat. Not to mention the ethical issues involved in my decision. I feel that it is NOT too much to ask that people have adequate information when stating something. Not wanting to learn is just as annoying. I’m with you guys.
Right on, sista!
I totally agree that it is really annoying when people call themselves vegans yet eat dairy/eggs. I think it means that veganism is seen as something that is very hard to stick to in everyday life. People choose to be vegans for all sorts of different reasons but they should all share one thing in common- they do not want to eat or wear any animal products. If that isn’t the case then a person is not a vegan.
I’ve tried and enjoyed a couple of your recipes, and I’ve read your site as a bit of a “lurker” occasionally; however, this makes me want to discontinue reading your blog. It is stupid rants like these that gives vegans a bad reputation, so cut the self righteous crap and get out of middle school with all of your “labels.”
Congratulations-you didn’t eat the cheese/eggs/meat/whatever, but what does it matter to you if someone else does.
And, for the record guys, a person who doesn’t eat animal meat other than fish is called a “pesce-vegetarian” by definition. Look it up. It’s still a form of vegetarianism, whether or not you think it’s good enough.
i have to say i completely agree. ive been a vegetarian for 4 years and even though im vegan 98% of the time i would never call myself a vegan because i know i cheat, i look forward to the day im a full on rocking vegan.
and the vegetarian eating fish thing…ARGGHHH….i get asked soooo often, but you eat seafood right??? why not? oh my god you are so extreme! hahahhaha
keep it up bloggers, you are so inspiring, thank you for helping me on my vegan transition!!
Thank God you said something about it! I thought no one would
I completely agree with your assessment Lindsay. I’m going through a tough time right now b/c I research a food that I can eat (or ask the person who made it) and they said it is vegan. Then I eat it. And get super gassy (sorry, TMI) and know that it had eggs or milk in it. Then I get pissed off and feel like I’m a terrible vegan. Which I am, because I still wear leather and have a purse with leather straps b/c I had them before I did this and I don’t want to be wasteful.
I think I wrote a couple weeks about not being sure about that cruise that I was going on because I was told they couldn’t prepare vegan food. I want to be a strict vegan. In So. Maryland, I’d have to only eat at my home and never go out if that was possible. I do the best I can, all the time. I would NEVER knowingly eat meat, but I do have to be lax in my “fried foods” experience, knowing full well that meat has been fried in the oil, but I don’t have much choice. It’s funny too, b/c I don’t want the fried foods, but its either that or the water for a meal at some of the places I get dragged to. People aren’t so understanding of my decision to be vegan, and it sometimes seems like a joke to see if they can “lie to me and I can tell” if there was egg or dairy in a product.
Despite the fact that I have unintentionally consumed some egg and milk, I agree with the fact that these formerly vegan bloggers are being misleading. Being vegan IS a voluntary sacrifice to the vegan. Not being vegan is an involuntary sacrifice to the animal. I’m just blathering at this point.
Bottom line. I was pissed about those people and SHOCKED that everyone supported them to follow their decision to feed their body what it wants. I don’t think the “body” is making a rational decision for health when it wants a big bbq spare rib.
This reminds me of the whole Tony Gonzalez ‘247 lb. vegan’ story that came out earlier in the year. Tony Gonzalez is certainly not vegan. He isn’t even a vegetarian as the story explicitly mentions he still eats chicken and fish for extra protein. WTF? That story really annoyed me.
I had a personal experience with this also when at a restaurant. I am a vegetarian but eat vegan as much as possible (almost always). I had to go to lunch with some co-workers to a chain steak type place whose name does not need to be mentioned here. There was basically one crappy item I could order off the menu that I think had cheese in it. The waitress somehow figured out I was vegetarian and she said, “oh but we have lots of options for vegetarians”. What options? The steak sandwich? The steak salad? The steak topped with more steak? The two pieces of steak served side by side? I think she thought the one chicken option and one fish option were vegetarian. I guess working in a steak restaurant you don’t worry about what it means to be vegetarian too often.
What the hell? I feel like I totally missed out, but not on anything important. Hypocritical behaviour is all over the blogosphere, but how ridiculous can you be? Let’s look at it this way : Let’s pretend I’m a religious person (so not) but today I’ll go shoot someone because I disagree with what they do. But tomorrow I’ll be holy-poly again.
Same for the vegan-wanna-bes. Being vegan isn’t about deprivation or self-sacrifice, it’s about being conscious. I don’t know which blogs are in question, which is a good thing, cause that means I probably don’t visit them. Nor will I in the future!
I’ve reached a point where I say, “if it had a face, I don’t eat it.” Usually that works. However, I am still working on an argument for mollusks. Let’s say if it had an active life source and a drive to live I don’t eat it. Just had to add a little more for our so-NOT-vegetarian-pescatarians. It had a face after all.
Hopefully the people doing this are simply making an honest mistake. I have a family member who does this and it drives me crazy.
I can definitely see the reasons for telling someone when you feel they’re not using the vegan label accurately. Still I think it’s important that you explain tactfully to the person why this kind of misuse is a problem. Otherwise there’s the risk that the criticism will come off as petulant and holier-and-thou. Not only will they be less likely to change their behaviour, they’ll be hostile to veganism (and less likely to become vegan).
I am a vegetarian and have decided to pace myself becoming vegan. I have my own personal reasons for this and the 83 animal lives that I save every year I am vegetarian make me feel pretty darn good about being an ethical vegetarian. My mother who calls herself vegetarian (when she feels particularly pro-veg) is not really vegetarian since she still eats fish. This is a point of contention with us. But you know what - she’s 63 years old and she can eat what she wants. If eating fish means she won’t eat meat for the rest of her life then so be it.
You’ve got to know where to fight your battles though - when to practice the middle way. Being holier-than-thou (even if it is justified) is not the way to promote veganism.
I understand how it can feel (since I don’t appreciate people who eat fish calling themselves vegetarians) but labels can be dangerous. For instance in Japan most vegetarians do eat fish. They don’t eat dairy as a rule but to be vegetarian in Japan means you eat fish. Also in many European countries their definitions of vegetarian differ from ours. On one blog I read, a girl in Italy eating vegetarian kept getting offered fish for her vegetarian entrees, so it really just depends on location.
In general though its best to be more concerned about your own ethics and health because most of the world is still going to be eating meat tomorrow no matter what you call yourself.
Spot on Lindsay! Thanks so much for posting about this issue. It frustrates me too. I have a friend who calls himself a vegan, yet he eats bacon, dairy yogurt, and tuna! I’m like, “Seriously?!”. This is why words have definitions. Thanks again for bringing the issue to light!
One of the biggest problems facing these diet choices are celebrities. There are many who have jumped on the bandwagon, preached and prodded, gotten and given free publicity for veganism/vegetarianism and then when the whim passes, they are gone. Yet some people follow the hip new starlets with their tongues hanging out, hanging on every word or action from them-what they eat, wear, live,own. Its sick and if a celebrity endorses any product, I will not use it for this reason. Were they getting paid to be a vegan? Pamela Anderson wears those butt ugly leather boots (then said she didn’t know they were leather-which stinks!) but still wears them anyways, Drew Barrymore went on and on about being for the animals but has since come out and says she is no longer not eating steaks. She wanted to lose a few pounds so she eats a cow? We are in a culture where we think those who make ungodly amounts of cash and have their photoshoped faces all over the place are the be all to end all and we follow like puppies. A few weeks ago Entertainment Weekly said that being Vegan was “IN” and vegetarianism was so 5 minutes ago. So how long before either are not relevant in the entertainment community and omni is in? Yet people still follow the rags and trash magazines and hang on because their own lives are so bland. An endorsement by a starlet or hunk does not make it good. What makes it good is how YOU feel about the choices you are making in your own lives for health, compassion and your communities.
I am a vegetarian who tries to eat vegan as much as possible and I sympathize with the frustration on this. I try not to shove my food choices down other’s throats and if you want to eat meat, while I might not like it, it is your choice. If you are using a label incorrectly out of ignorence that is okay too, so long as you are willing to be corrected. You obviously didn’t know it wasn’t right. But when people pretend to be vegan or vegetarian that is not okay.
I personally feel that no one should have to justify their food choices to others if you don’t want to. If, however, you’re going to stop being vegan or vegetarian and are advertizing yourself in a public forum, like a blog, you should have enough respect for those who are veggies to say so. Just be honest about it. It is hard enough to get omni’s to accept veganism/vegetarianism without hypocrites getting in the way and causing more confusion.
There are so many awesome comments (thank you!) & I would love to take the time to write a response to everyone individually (but that would leave for one ridiculoysly long comment by me). However, there were a few questions/points that I feel compelled to respond to. For everyone else, thank you for your thoughts!
Pamela, I plan to delete them from my blogroll as well. The way I see it, by linking myself to a blog or website, I am sending the message that I support or endorse the actions contained therein. Since I do not support meat or dairy consumption, I don’t support them and off they go. That aside, I know most of my readers are vegans and I don’t want them seeing a piece of dead chicken because they clicked on a link from my site. I might come across as a snob about it, but no matter how nice a person is, I don’t want to endorse those choices.
Julz, I want to thank you personally for your comment. Thank you. I was not at all annoyed by your comment and I’m sure everyone else found your thoughts were as refreshing and spot on as I did.
M, I’m not a big fan of ‘labels’ in the “grouppie” sense but I look at the word “vegan” the same way I look at the word “kosher.” I feel the word is a tool of information, explanation and expectation more than anything. For a food or person to be “kosher” there are certain guidelines - there is a firm, black and white definition. “Vegan” is no different. There are certain guidelines, there is a definition. If a person or a food doesn’t fit the definition, the word should not be used. Not to be trivial but, you don’t see bacon with a kosher label on it. For me, it’s not a pride label, it’s a definition and I take it very seriously - the same way my kosher friends take their practices. So yes, I do care when others crap on something I hold dearly.
Karla, I think you’re amazing. Honesty truly is a virtue. I wish you the best of luck with your transition and let me know if I can help.
Kate, I think every vegan has had the unfortunate encounter of asking if something was vegan, assured it was vegan and then after the fact learned it was not. I recently read the pinto beans at Chipotle had lard in them (black beans are clean). I’m sure other vegans and vegetarians have ordered what is seemingly a vegetarian item completely unaware.
When I was a child-vegetarian, my mother fed me meatballs that she said were by boca and made from soy. I threw up all night and when I was older, I realized she had lied to me. I’m 26 and still haven’t forgiven her and I never will. I’m fortunate that most of the people in my life are supportive, but I have delt with people who are not, too. I feel that even if someone doesn’t believe in or agree with my choices, they should still respect them and if they don’t, they aren’t really my friend. I have friends that are strict kosher and while I am not jewish, if having a rabbi come and bless my kitchen means they can eat dinner at my place, bring it on.
As for the leather, I know plenty of vegans who still have leather from their pre-vegan days and will keep it until it wears out or they can afford to replace it with something vegan. When I first went vegan I was broke, so Icouldn’t run out and replace everything but I haven’t purchased leather since, replaced what I could as I could financially and donated what was left to Goodwill. I think what you’re doing is just fine
Last note: cravings are chemical or emotional. For instance when people “think” they are craving “sweets” the body is asking for fruit but go eat cookies and desserts instead. A nutritionist friend told me to always examine my cravings and when you do that, you see what you need or whether it is emotional eating.
Shellyfish - I loved your comment. I feel the same way completely.
Maria, my husband was wondering about clams (he too had the “face” mantra) and eventually decided that anything that was living, deserves to keep on living and shouldn’t be killed for his food… I’m not trying to sway you, I just thought you might be interested in knowing someone else had the same question. On the other hand, I do have pescetarian friends who (obviously) came to a different conclusion.
Nikki, I have traveled to over 30 countries and had different experiences from what you described, which could just be my luck. I had to explain what I meant by “vegan” and “vegetarian” a few times and even in America I’ve had to clarify a time or two, but for the most part, the terms seemed quite universal, even in Africa. Point is, here in America, the words are very clearly defined and aren’t “subject” to interpretation as they may be with other languages and cultures. In that light, it seems quite fair to ask people to stick to the terms for the sheer sake of information and simplicity (see my comment to M re: labels). You’re absolutely right about picking battles and I purposely picked this one wisely. People who are calling themselves vegan and eating dairy or eggs while still boasting they are vegan stops the progress of the vegan movement and inhibits it in so many ways.
Jan, vegetarianism and veganism are huge buzz words right now because PETA told Jessica Simpson off for her T-shirt that she wore to “allegedly” bash Carrie Underwood (vegetarian). There are tons of celebs that are vegetarian or vegan or straight-edge and I think most of them do it for their own personal reasons, whatever those reasons may be. I don’t think they are being paid to be veg.
Some celebs (such as Joaquin Phoenix, Pam Anderson, Alicia Silverstone) are open about their veganism and others (Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman) keep it to themselves. I applaud these celebrities for speaking out and saying they are vegan, vegetarian or straight-edge because it makes those lifestyles that much more known - they bring awareness to causes. They “spread the word.”
In many ways, if it wasn’t for them, we probably wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Celebs are a big factor in how being a vegan or vegetarian became so mainstream. Similarly, music and bands helped spread the emo movement and the straight-edge lifestyle.
“Veganism” is “in” because this current teen generation is full of vegetarians. I’m not saying fads are great and we should embrace them and I think people should think for themselves. However, I still think its AWESOME celebs speak on behalf of this lifestyle. Thanks to them vegetarianism as a whole has become more “mainstream” and “Acceptible” and more and more companies are making products to cater to us. Growing up there were few and far between meat substitutes now there are 100s of options.
Johnny, I made the administrative decision to not approve your comment. I felt it was not relevant to this discussion and inapprorpiate.
Well said Kelly!!!!!!!!
Yikes! I hope I’m not to blame. I get annoyed with people that claim to be something and then go against it as well, which is why I never once stated I was a vegan on my blog at all. And I have gravitated back to eating meat but I think everyone knows that since I never made any special claims!! Don’t get mad at me! I think all people just need to find the right balance for themselves and leave it at that.
I am offended that you published this. As a vegetarian, I feel as though this post probably turned off far more people than it “educated” What was the purpose of this post? To deliberately point blame at a few people who may have a difficult time being a vegan 24/7? Remember– most people aren’t born vegan and weren’t raised vegan…it’s a lifestyle that takes a lot of time to adapt to, so if people are writing blogs expressing how difficult this transition is…power to them! I understand that going from vegetarian to vegan is extremely difficult and I admire people who have so much discipline but your self-righteous rant disgusts me.
If you personally have problems with people calling themselves vegan on their blogs when they are otherwise…why not just quietly delete their blogroll? Why make a huge deal? Or better yet, why not take the high road and focus on yourself?
I appreciate those who have blogs depicting their vegan or vegetarian lifestyles because oftentimes they are honest about slip-ups they may have (which I know can accidentally or purposely happen A LOT among newtimers) and the reasons why they chose/have continued to remain vegans or vegetarians…but your post literally demeaned all of that. As a fellow vegetarian, and as an EQUAL member of society, I am really sad that vegan snobbery has peaked it’s ugly head in the blog world.
Happy Herbivore-
I saw your comment on my site and I came upon your own blog. I understand the concept of veganism and that, it seems, vegans are very proud. As someone who was strict vegetarian for 3 years and pescetarian or whatever you want to call it for 15, I have always said that when people attempted to taunt me to eat meat they were just as likely to change my mind as I was to change theirs. Let them eat their steak and be happy. I think that eating a meat-free or almost meat-free diet is better for the environment, the animals, and the body, but I think acceptance is also key. You ask people to respect your diet, then you need to respect theirs. It seems as though it is against your ethics, but you cannot accept to receive behavior you refuse to give.
I put myself and my meat-eating boyfriend on a vegan diet for a week for a variety of reasons. We had been at a lot of events recently where the food wasn’t very healthy and he has been trying to drop some weight. I also want to debunk the myth that he “needed” meat or dairy. And I have proven it thus far. We have had a lovely week of veganism and I did taste a piece of cheese, so I guess I get booted from the club. (For the record, the tiny piece of cheese was from Cowgirl Creamery which treats its animals with honor and respect AND is local).
I think what the vegan community should strive for is not militance but acceptance. If Americans ate one vegan meal a day we would GREATLY reduce the amount of animals slaughtered and our economic dependence on the meat industry. People should start with baby steps and yes, eventually you get to the point where meat simply becomes a non-food. At 12 I stopped eating cows, pigs, lambs etc and it has gotten to the point where I don’t even consider salami a food. It is simply a non-edible for me. And it takes a while to get there. But vegan eating, whether it is for a week, a month, a lifetime, or just one meal, should be PROMOTED and ACCEPTED by the vegan community.
We are not striving for perfection here. Let’s start with the reduction of animal products in a diet and then eventually move to a more structured dietary plan. But being extreme with behavior is not a way to win over people. I believe veganism and vegetarianism starts with the heart, and if we feel such compassion for our animals, we should be able to feel it for one another as well, regardless of diet.
Thanks, Evan (muffinsmuffins.blogspot.com)
Anne, I think you may have misred. My comment was not directed at bloggers trying to transition or new to vegetarianism and having a hard time - I regularly encoruage and support those people and admit it can be a challenge for some to change their dietary choices. The people noted were long-time vegans who misused the name and not accidentally. The point of the post was not to educate either, it was merely a thought - which I’m entitled to.
I or any other person that left a comment here is not being “self-righteous” or a snob and its mean of you to say that. I can’t speak for everyone of course, but my feeling is, its easy to be straightforward in how you identify yourself and its better for everyone if the terminology is clear and consistent. That’s all - I don’t look at a vegetarians or omnivorses or anything inbetween as a less-equal person as you imply. I’m just saying you should be honest and accurate out of respect.
Evan, I agree with in the “baby steps” approach. I tell every omni I meet that even one vegetarian meal a week will help animals, the environment and most importantly - their health. The SAD diet is terribly flawed and it takes effort and willpower to change. Every little bit helps and I know that and encourage it.
In this post, I’m not saying “all or nothing!” and demanding everyone be a vegan. I am aware that other people are going to eat meat and dairy, regardless. I think that is wrong but they clearly do not and we’re both entitled to our respective opinions.
My point was very simple: if you’re going to call yourself a vegan, than be one. If you can’t for whatever reason, they have the respect of vegans and call yourself a vegetarian. I meant no insult by it and we’re all on the same team, team herbivore, but it doesn’t help it only hinders to be confusing or misleading…
y’all should spend more time in the kitchen and less time on the computer.
Lindsay - I also have traveled extensively and I guess I have been unlucky, for as a vegetarian, it was difficult in some places to make it known exactly “how” vegetarian I was. That was just an aside though. I still believe that an elitest attitude will do more harm than good. It is fine to acknowledge that there are people who do this but to judge them or take umbrage is counterproductive. It will just turn people off. Any reduction in meat-eating is a triumph for those animals that won’t be born, tortured and murdered for consumption.
I think Gena’s comment pretty much sums up what I want to say … and I quote “Couldn’t have said it better myself, Lindsay! All food philosophies merit respect, but it’s important to be honest about one’s own.”
Just to be clear: I am not being an “elitist.” Whatever anyone chooses to put in their body is their choice. “Veganism” isn’t a “club” it’s a way of life. It’s not about sacrifice it’s about consciousness.
Myself and the other vegans who inspired me to be the one to write this, are simply suggesting that people accurately identify who and what they are, especially on the web where so many people come here looking for information. We don’t think we’re “better” than someone who occassionally eats cheese or meat. We’re just saying you’re not a vegan, and that is fine, but being misleading or confusing doesn’t help anyone.
I don’t think asking people to correctly use a definition is being elitist. Y’all need to calm down and go read the post more clearly before getting offended!
Thanks Cecilia! I love your blog.
I should of clarified. I don’t eat clams. They are alive, faceless, but alive. I didn’t mean to imply that I ate them. Oops. I don’t eat anything that had a drive to live. There. That’s better. I just couldn’t come up with the right argument. I’m going to have to say it like your smart hubby does.
Clarifying again: I don’t eat any mollusks or shellfish.
testing-am I being blocked?
2nd try with this one!!
I wrote quite a long response on the celebrity involvement in food trends both good and bad-posted and HH must have crashed-could not get the site to load at all at 3AM. Not going to rewrite and post. I will leave you with a quote which summed it up.
“If we can find ways to love life and be joyful without being wasteful and destructive, that’s what’s important.”
I don’t want to be a “vegan” even though I eat a mostly vegan diet. Labels imply far too much.
I’m a little late, but this kind of all reminds me of a scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, when Toula’s aunt invited Ian over for dinner, and Ian was like, “I’m a vegetarian,” and Toula’s aunt was like, “That’s okay. I make lamb!” lol!
I agree that people should be honest about their diets, and not title themselves as “vegan” if they know they are going to eat dairy/meat sometimes. That’s why I just say I’m a vegetarian, because even though I shy away from milk, cheese, and eggs, I’m definitely going to indulge in cream cheese, yogurt, ice cream and sour cream on occasion!
But whatever your diet is, there is nothing wrong with it, and vegans aren’t *better* than vegetarians. It’s like if someone had blue eyes but they were saying they were green. They’re not green, they’re blue, and that’s still cool!
Vegan, vegetarians and feminists get the same treatment or misunderstanding. It’s just too bad. People make so many assumptions. I’m transitioning to vegan but don’t know if I’ll totally get there; it’s complex (obviously). I cut out dairy completely in January (I had gone off dairy for six months at another time and when I went back to ice cream and cheese, I couldn’t deal with milk or yogurt). I never can understand how people can stop and then go back to eating meat so easily. Though I guess it depends on how long you had stopped. For me, it’s been over twenty years on the red meat and poulty etal. and I have gone back and forth with fish.
Your recipes look great! I like the no added oils, just the sort of stuff I need, thanks! And I love the “Happy Herbivore” name!
Being strict about the definition of the word vegan is essential if you’re buying food claiming to be vegan or selecting a dish at a restaurant proclaiming to be vegan. It would be wholly unacceptable for that food to have any animal product involved. Perhaps a person could say I am not “a vegan”, but I eat and make vegan dishes. I look at it from essentially a health standard–I don’t like to identify myself as a vegan because I don’t want people to make automatic assumptions about everything else I must believe in . . . I’d rather be descriptive of the health implications instead of the prohibition by saying I’m on a whole foods diet — I’ve noticed friends responding much more inquisitively when I say that . . . .Some people use the word vegan as a proclamation of self-image with implied beliefs–that’s fine. Healthwise, what the conscious brain chooses for the body to eat should be a dialog between the brain and one’s cells. I can kid myself that because I eshew animal products that I am definitely eating healthfully, I could exaggerate to others, but whatever “label” I use I cannot deceive my heart and arteries . . .
On the lighter side, some suggestions for those “vegan” misrepresenters:
Quasi-vegan, Near-vegan or Veganear, Cheatin’ vegan (or Chegan, as one site said) Vegan sympathizer, Veganish, Veganesque, Vegan friendly, Veganophile (I mean c’mon they need a name too!)