What Kind of Vegan are You?

Knowing the different way vegans identify themselves.

---

It is not surprising that vegans come in all shapes and sizes, but what about choices? Can the choices that vegans make vary from individual to individual? It is easy to categorize every vegan out there as a person who does not eat or use animal products because every book and website tells us so. But is it really that easy? In a broader sense, it is logical to group vegans together, but if we dig deeper it is hard to categorize so many individuals into just one group. This is because everyone has their own beliefs and opinions and that would not change even within the vegan community. By now I am sure I have got you thinking about how there could possibly be different types of vegans, but, let me share what happened to me on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to St. Martin/Maarten.

When I first became a vegan, I felt like I was tagging myself with a clear label; I am a vegan and vegans do not eat, wear or use brands that have animal products. Sounded simple enough. But then on a long haul flight that all changed when I discovered that the person sitting next to me was also a vegan. I remember our conversation clearly.

"HEY! You're a vegan too?"

"Yeah. What a coincidence! I've been a vegan for six months now."

"Nice...I have been vegan for five years. How do you like it?"

"It's great!"

"Back home, I'm a plant-based vegan but on this flight I'm just accepting anything that is vegan. You know what I mean? What type of vegan are you?"

"Huh?"

"What kind of vegan are you?"

I stared at him blankly.

"Ethical, environmental, raw, high-carb, part-time, plant-based, spiritual..."

I had no clue what he was meant so I could only reply with, "I have no clue yet!"

This conversation had me Googling for hours during my layover. I felt like there was a whole new planet to the 'vegan universe' I just entered. I had no clue what to do with this new found information. As I read and watched videos about the different practices of vegans, I found ones that I could relate to and ones I could not. After hours of research it became clear and when I boarded the flight I started to organize what I had read into organized notes.

Environmental and Ethical Vegans

• people who become vegans for animal welfare and/or environmental benefit

• do not really care about aspects related to health

• they eat food that is cruelty free

• want to reduce their carbon footprint

Raw Vegans

• does not eat food that is cooked

• mainly eat fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds

• care about health benefits

High Carb Low Fat (HCLF) Vegans

• consume large quantities of carbs but as little fat as possible

• can get carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.

Part-time Vegans

• People who are vegans most of the time but may consume milk or honey at other times.

• People who are vegans but when they travel will stick to vegetarian options if fully vegan options are not available.

• People who are vegan for a duration of time and then go back to being vegetarian or eating meat after that.

Plant-based Vegans

• Care about health aspects

• Some continue to use animal products such as leather and silk.

• Some consume honey.

• They mainly consume things hat have been grown in the ground.

• They do not believe in eating processed foods.

Spiritual

• Someone who has become a vegan due to spiritual or religious practices.

• They follow the religious and spiritual guides provided by the path they follow.

As I studied the notes I made, I started to think about what vegan was I? I had to go back to the reasons why I became a vegetarian and then a vegan. After my sixteen hour flight, I came to the decision that I would create my own label. And hence, I became a Palm-Oil Cruelty Free Vegan! I guess it was easy enough to label myself once again, but what exactly did it mean? Well, Palm Oil Free because I do not consume or use products that use palm oil, and Cruelty Free because I do not buy from brands that use animals products or support animal testing, and Vegan because I do not eat any products that derive or are made by animals. Thus, Palm Oil Cruelty Free Vegan, has been a term that I have used for a long time now. I must admit it does cause a lot of debate, but at the end of the day, it is one that I can relate to. This is because it summarizes all the lifestyle choices I have made.

I guess the best way to end this would be...Every vegan feels differently and practices veganism differently. There is no distinctive or standardized way of being a vegan. There might be those who just change their diets to become a vegan for a period of time, and there might be those that do a 360 degree turn and go out of their way to make their homes, food and family vegan for a lifetime. So, no matter what type of vegan you decide on becoming, I support you. You do you and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

---

#vegan #ms.veganastic #foodgloriousood #foodporn #malaysianvegan #veganastic #veganlicious #cruetlyfree