Does being vegan mean you cut out dairy products?
The confusion about veganism
When I first began following a vegan diet, I found that some people thought vegan and vegetarian meant the same thing; others defined vegan as vegetarian minus eggs and some thought it meant vegetarian minus dairy products.
None of the above are correct! :)
The reality of what being vegan means
Following a vegan diet means cutting out dairy and anything else which came from an animal.
Many vegans don't limit this to ingredients. They also, think about the process involved in making food and drink. For example, some fruit juices and fizzy drinks are 'sieved' through pork/beef gelatine. Therefore, those who pay attention to processes, as well as, ingredients, wouldn't consume drinks like these.
Embracing veganism beyond food and drink choices
Other vegans have made it a lifestyle choice, rather than, only focusing on their diet. I am one of those people. :) I follow a vegan lifestyle, so I will avoid products that have been tested on animals; I won't buy materials, such as, leather, fur, wool and silk and I won't consume things where the process has involved any part of an animal. However, I do cut myself some slack! I don't know how every single product is made, so if I have something in error, through ignorance, I won't do it again but I won't beat myself up over doing it by mistake.
There are lists available, which detail various animal products and define what they are. Some vegans ensure that they don’t consume any of these products and others aren't as strict about it.
My vegan journey
I started with following a vegan diet and then embraced it as a lifestyle choice.
A tip that may make all the difference to your vegan journey being smoother
Do what's feels right and be open to that changing.
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"The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?"
Jeremy Bentham