On My Menu

     On many an awkward occasion, after stating to an acquaintance -- whether we are familiar or unfamiliar -- that I follow a vegan diet, I find myself having to answer the question "What do vegans eat?"
     No matter how many times I have been asked this question, I feel that I am never fully able to answer it justly. I can tell the asker what I eat, but to speak for all of us vegans is not something I can do, because we don't have a club, I don't attend online vegan forums, and there is not vegan Book of Books. Veganism is not a cult, it is not a religion, if anything closely related, it is a philosophy, but most often it is a lifestyle. 
     Every vegan has their own levels and interpretations of a vegan lifestyle, whether they are a tofu-tempeh-seitan-meat substitute kinda' vegan or a whole foods-raw-veggie kinda' vegan.
     In an attempt to partially answer this common question I can introduce three foods that are most generally integrated into the diet of a typical vegan.

Tofu

Also known as bean curd, it is a delicate, mild, white cheese-like product made from soymilk instead of cow’s milk. A curdling agent is added to soymilk; the resulting curds are then pressed into blocks.

Tempeh

It is made from hulled, cooked soybeans that are fermented and compressed into a cake. Indonesian in origin, tempeh is a good source of high quality soy protein that is both satisfying and savory.

Seitan

Also known as ‘wheat meat’, it is made from cooked gluten, one of the concentrated proteins in wheat. It is succulent, hearty and chewy. Used since ancient times in China, it is believed to have been developed in the 7th century for Mahayana Buddhists monks, who are strict vegetarians.

     The other side of that question really can't be answered because every vegan has their own approach to their own diet and nutritional needs, not unlike any omnivore.
     I personally try my best to balance the meat substituting, soy ice cream eating vegan and the holistic, leafy green chomping, food group balancing vegan that both reside within me. I did not make the choice to "go vegg" easily. I grew up an avid burger eater and was a cheese fanatic. I have always been quite the foodie as well, so this was never about depriving myself either, because if it was my choice be vegan would not have lasted the first week. 
     I primarily made this choice because I became disgusted by the way humans recently approach the treatment of animals in the food industry -- but that's a discussion for another day -- also, I have an inexplicable fondness for all farm animals, and secondly for health reasons. In my early teens I became very passionate about nutrition and a holistic, somewhat eastern approach to health... and my interest in a plant based diet quickly followed suit.
     To wrap up this rant, I'll finish by saying that I hope to offer various angels on veganism through this blog and most importantly bring it down to an accessible level for those who are already vegan, for those interested in possibly becoming vegan, or for anyone simply looking to get healthy and incorporated more veggies into their diet!