Veganism…what exactly is it? I get questions like this a lot. Most people know what a vegetarian is, but believe it or not, many folks still aren’t familiar with the term-vegan. I still have to explain to some of my older family members that it means I don’t eat certain foods, and what those foods are. So, what is it? According to Merriam-Webster; a vegan is “a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products; also :  one who abstains from using animal products (as leather).” I would say that about covers exactly what the basis of being vegan is. We choose not to eat animals, or animal by products including dairy, eggs, leather, wool, suede etc.

So now you understand what veganism is on a very simple level but veganism is much, more than just not eating animals, or wearing animals. Veganism is about ethics. Okay, what exactly are ethics? Well, lets ask Merriam to help us with that one again; “1) involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval <ethical judgments> 2) conforming to accepted standards of conduct <ethical behavior>.” So really it’s about our morals, what we know is right and wrong, and living those guidelines even when we know it can be hard. Choosing what we know is right.

It’s about choosing to making ethical decisions everyday. Choosing whether to contribute to suffering, or not contributing to suffering when picking what foods to eat, choosing our planets health and future over our taste-buds, and choosing health and longevity over illness, weight gain, and a shorter lifespan.

Suffering? Our planets health? Illness? What do these have to do with veganism? Find out in the next blog post!