How to Debate Being Vegan Versus Vegetarian

Beef--it's not what's for dinner. Not on your table anyway. Vegetarianism has always been a popular diet with animal-rights activists and in cultures where eating meat is taboo. There are different degrees of vegetarianism, the strictest being vegan, which forbids animal consumption of any kind. Consider some factors when you're debating with yourself whether to be vegan or vegetarian.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Remove all traces of animal products to become a strict vegan. This includes sweetened gelatin desserts and some brands of wine and beer, because they contain isinglass, a by-product of fish bladders. Marshmallows are out. Bypass onion rings at your favorite restaurant if they use the same oil to fry meat products.

2. Consume enough protein by eating lots of beans, legumes and nuts. To be strictly vegan, check to make sure nuts are roasted only in animal-free oils. Add fruits and lots of vegetables to round out your diet.

3. Include dairy products to be a lacto-vegetarian. Many vegetarians opt for this route, because dairy is an entire food group, making diet choices much easier. Lacto-vegetarians consume no animal flesh or eggs.

4. Add eggs to your diet to be an ovo-vegetarian. Most vegetarians who add eggs have already added dairy products, making them ovo-lacto vegetarians. Eggs provide a good source of protein if you choose to make them part of your diet.

5. Become a lax vegetarian by restricting red meat from your diet but including fish, chicken or both. Some vegetarians do not think of fish and chicken as being "meat," although most vegetarians disagree vehemently with that perception.

6. Pick a diet that's right for your lifestyle and values. Being a vegan is hard for those whose schedule forces them to eat at fast-food restaurants, but you can alleviate some of the problem by fixing vegan meals the night before and brown-bagging your lunch.

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