I've been a vegetarian for about 8 months, and vegan for about 2. The thing is, sometimes at restaraunts, etc, I can accidentally order dairy products. I usually take them off, but I'm still supporting the cause... now I feel ashamed to call myself a "vegan". What do you guys think?
I don't think it's really as important what you call yourself as what you are doing. Is it really important to you that you are a vegan? Because that requires some strict hard-core discipline whether or not you feel ashamed when you accidentally order dairy. If it really is important, don't feel ashamed, just learn from that lesson and try harder next time. I do know what you are going through though. I am 85% vegan. I always cook vegan at home but sometimes I get cottage cheese or order something with dairy when I'm out. I used to feel guilty because I was "supposed" to be vegan but I realized that (and don't boo me here, I'm just being honest) I don't have it in me to be hardcore about veganism. So I just consider myself a vegetarian who tries to eat vegan most of the time. Another case is my sister. She eats like a vegan alot of the time but she's not even a vegetarian because she still eats meat sometimes. Instead of getting on her case about eating meat, it got me thinking that some is better than none. Sorry I'm rambling on, I guess my point is...do what is right for you. If you really want to be a "vegan" then do what you must to walk the walk.
If you've been vegan for two months ... You're going to make mistakes. We all do. After a year or two, you'll learn how to avoid most of them. I'm still figuring out how to go to a pizza shop and order a veggie grinder, and how to get it through their thick skulls that I don't eat cheese, and I rarely actually get it without, even if I tell them to write down "no cheese." Grr. If you accidentally order it, I'd still call you a vegan. If you order it whilst knowing it contains dairy ... then I wouldn't. If it comes with cheese on it and you ordered it with cheese ... I wouldn't eat it, but I'd still pay for it (since it was ordered). I'd give it to somebody for free. But that's just my opinion. If you ate it once you ordered it without knowing that there was something non-vegan in it, I wouldn't blame you; you ordered it, it's a mistake that you'll just have to stomach this once (literally). But don't sweat it. We all make mistakes, don't be ashamed about it, just make sure, when you make a mistake, you correct yourself and learn from it. =)
You can get vegan pizzas from the pizza shop??!! They don't do that in this country thecrowing86 - like everyone said, it is very hard adapting to veganism - if that's what you really what to do. In the beginning if I ate something with eggs or dairy that I didn't know about I would go ballistic, it happens very rarely now (who the hell would put milk in jam?! ) but if it does I just have to accept it and give the food to my husband
if you wish to be vegan, you must also look to your lifestyle: wool, silk, leather, animal testing, animal parts in your shampoo and so many other issues. You will have to make difficult choices you might never be 100 percent comfortable with. (Do you use leather shoes or shoes from petrochemicals that harm the Earth as much as factory farming? Do second-hand leather items still feed into others' perception of fashion, and indirectly make them desire having leather goods? Do you finish the animal in your 'fridge or throw out food? How will you select a life mate? Raise your kids? will they HAVE to be vegan in your home? What about in restaurants? What choices will those individuals have? Is it OK to have pets? everyone's answers will be different , and probably at different times. My son was veg until he started spending long stretches of time at his father's. Veg is a cuisine for my kiddo, not a choice per se. My sweetie is omni who respects my choices in my kitchen. I occasionally treat him to a meat dish about once a year, and he orders what he wants when we are out.) I find the label helps in restaurant where the server knows what it means (or the person who answers the phone, as I often call ahead to see what my options are) In the same way, I go to a Kosher restaurant ONLY if it is a dairy one. You need to ask YOU why the label is important. Then if it is important enough for the full change. The way we say "veggies don't eat fish," I believe it is fair to say "vegans don't eat dairy." If you use a label, use it correctly. That said: "Labels are for wine bottles."--Christo
They don't do that in this country either, dear. I said a veggie grinder: That means, a toasted sub/hoagie/hero/whatever, with vegetables and no meat and no cheese. It's not a pizza. Great quote! =)
Actually, there are parts of "this country" that will do a vegan pizza (with the cheese!). I went to a restaurant in Berkeley where they have vegan options. I had a Hawaiian style pizza....soy cheese, veggie canadian bacon and pineapple. And it rocked!! And as Drumminmama said, you can order a pizza without the cheese almost anywhere, although that kind of takes the fun out of pizza. If you like cheese alternatives, it's almost better to make your own pizza at home.
i agree w. drummingm...: you need to look att your clothes, additives(gelatin:made of pig) etc.... But i still respect the philosophy of all of this "vegan" lifestyle. You have to find alternatives, and i respect that, because in the end, other will follow, beleive me veganism is gonna frow, here in north of europe we already filnd alternatives to milk/cheese etc.... so much easier now than one year ago. It is always tough to go AGAINST the herd..... but i believe there is a good purpose behind it.
gelatin can be made of any animal. Here are a couple places the new vegans might get surprised: wines and beers: clarified with isinglass, also called fish bladders (yum) even organic wineries/brewers might do this. Pizza shop sauce: beef boullion in the canned base. ask. Pizza dough: casien in the conditioner
WOW! Thanks drumminmama, I was actually thinking about the whole beer/wine thing last night as I was throwin' a few back. I had no idea that beer or wine could be un-vegan. What do you know about specialty brews? How do you find out which beers/wines are clarified with isinglass?
as far as I know, german beers should be free of these additives, as there is a beer purity law in germany, that allows only water, malt, and yeast as ingredients. The biggest german beers such as Beck's are available in the US.
Here's one site listing vegetarian & vegan beers & wines: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geraint.bevan/Vegetarian_beers.html
I'm a vegan too and have been one all my life. I've not touch 1 piece of meat or dairy product ever in my life. Not by choice but..... ya know!
Oooohhh I love that quote. I agree though, Veganism take GREAT discipline (which is why I'm not vegan ). And I think people are very quick to throw the term around, when describing themselves. When it comes to veganism, I believe a lot of people don't think about the clothing, shoes, etc.
Don't be ashamed because you're doing better than most of us! I always thought it was almost impossible to be completely vegan in this friggin' world, but good luck to you.
