Ola my friend! What is vegan? What exactly does it mean to be vegan? I have been asked these questions many times. Most of the people asking were always interested for health reasons. They were looking for a way to give their bodies some sort of break or reset. My conclusion from these conversations is that people prioritize convenience and familiarity over better health. I am not saying going vegan is the only way to better health. However, going vegan conditions your body to desire more vegetables and fruits which is healthier for you.
In this post, I’m going to share a simple vegan definition, vegan categories, and the foods you can enjoy on your vegan diet. Ready to understand veganism clearly? Let’s go!
Table of Contents
What is Vegan (Veganism)?
Simply put, a vegan is someone that don’t eat anything with or that comes from anything with eyes.
So no honey because it comes from bees which have eyes, no eggs because it comes from chickens, etc.
Veganism is a plant based eating lifestyle. Foods you can eat include: fruits, vegetables, dry fruit, seeds, whole and ancient grains, beans and legumes, herbs and spices, sweeteners, and oils.
Now there are two vegan categories:
- Raw vegan: uncooked and non-processed (minimally processed) plant based diet i.e. raw vegetables, fruits, seeds etc.
- Regular vegan: vegetables, fruit, seeds etc. can be cooked, processed, or raw
Foods You Get to Eat
Fruits
- Apricot
- Lemons
- Lime
- Blueberries
- Papaya
- Plums
- Apples
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Pears
- Cactus fruit
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Cantaloupe
- Honey Dew
- Mangos
- Watermelon
- Kiwis
- Nectarines
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Coconut
- Pomegranate
- Pineapple
- more fruits here
Beans / Legumes
- Black beans
- Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans)
- Lentils
- Peas
- Pinto beans
- Black eyed peas
- see more legumes here
Vegetables
- Spinach
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Leeks
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Bell Peppers
- Avocados
- Mushrooms
- Corn
- Egg plant
- more vegetables here
Whole / Ancient Grains
- Oatmeal
- Wheat Flour
- Quinoa
- Spelt
- Bulgur
- more grains here
Dry Fruit / Seeds
- Pecans
- Dates
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pepita seeds
- Raisins
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Pistachos
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Pine Nuts
- Dried mango
- Dried plantain (chips)
- Dried banana ( chips)
- more dry fruit (nuts) here
- more seeds here
Herbs / Spices
- Mint
- Cordamom
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Parsley
- Black / White Pepper
- Pink Himalayan Salt
- Paprika
- more herbs and spices here
Sweeteners
- Maple syrup
- Agave
- Monk fruit
- Date sugar
- Coconut sugar
Oils
- Olive oil
- Grape seed oil
- Mustard oil
- Peanut oil
- Avocado oil
- Sesame oil
- Coconut oil
- Sunflower oil
How I Transition from Vegan Seasons (Example)
Here’s an example timeline of how I transition out of my vegan seasons.
I wean myself back to eating meat gradually.
| Raw Food Only | Live Foods Only, nothing from anything with eyes | Jan 21-Jan 28 (1 week) |
| Vegan | Nothing from anything with eyes | Jan 21- May 21 (4 months) |
| Vegetarian | A little eggs but no dairy | May 22-Sept 22 (4 months) |
| Pescatarian | Mostly salmon | Sept 22-Nov 22 (2 months) |
| Manifesto | Goat meat- yay!, Thanksgiving turkey, beef | Nov 22-Dec 31 (~1 month) |
Until Next Time
Well, what do you think? What is vegan … made simple. Do you have a better understanding of what vegan / veganism is? I would love to hear your feedback and/or stories. If you’re planning to go vegan then be sure to check out my 9 Best Vegan Protein Sources post. This is where many people including myself struggled when going vegan for the first time. Protein is vital for our bodies’ health and strength.
Well, I will take my leave for now. I look forward to our time together again soon. Be inspired to have an appetite to Live and Live well.
Adaeze
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