V is for Vegetarian vs. Vegan

 

I was raised mostly vegetarian; my mother never cooked meat at home. Well, not quite true; she did have a yummy tuna casserole that she'd prepare. We never ate any Biblically unclean foods in our home: no pork, or shellfish, etc. 

After I graduated from high school, I worked in a health reconditioning center just outside of New York City, which is where I learned about vegan cooking...well, that's what we called it then. I think, looking back on it, it was more of a whole food plant based diet that we were preparing. 

The difference between vegetarian and vegan, according to current definitions I believe is that vegetarian eats no animal flesh, but will eat eggs and dairy products (milk, cheese, etc.). Vegan means using no animal products of any kind, whether eating, or wearing, etc. 

I think some people are vegetarian or vegan because they are animal-rights activists. I think others do it for personal health reasons. Maybe there are others like I am, who hate the idea of killing animals, eating animal flesh, but also choose to eat this way for health reasons.

Think about it! All the chemicals and hormones that are poured into animals. All the diseases in the animals. 

Ever since my own cancer diagnosis and treatment, I have done my best to avoid eating animal products. Hopefully it has prevented further growth of cancer.

Do you consider yourself vegetarian, or vegan? Or are you carnivore, or omnivore?