by Kristopher Oppegaard

Created on: April 22, 2010

A simple definition of veganism will tell you that vegans do not consume any animal products. Obviously, that means no meat, poultry, fish, dairy, or eggs. What many people do not realize is that a vegan lifestyle encompasses far more than that. There are many products that most people do not realize comes from an animal such as gelatin, rennet, and whey. But veganism, does not only pertain to food. It continues to boycott animal clothing such as fur, leather, wool, and silk as well as products that are developed using the method of animal testing and any other product that is developed in a way in which animals are potentially harmed or killed. Veganism originated and continues to serve as an aid to the animal rights movement but is also a very healthy way of living. The average person probably pays little to no attention to what is in the food that they are eating or the clothes they wear, but this is an every day reality of a vegan.

What is important to understand is that vegans are not all hippies and beatniks. It is an increasingly common lifestyle taken on by many otherwise normal members of society. Many people, such as myself, take on veganism to save many consumer animals like cows, pigs, and chickens and many you may not even consider like rabbits, frogs, and mice. However, many vegans choose to live on a vegan diet as a way of making themselves more healthy. Vegan foods and substitutes are typically vegetable and grain-based. These foods are easily digested by the body and typically contain many nutrients.

The main concern non-vegans have with veganism is the availability of Protein, Calcium, and Vitamin D in the vegan diet. In a typical, omnivorous diet, these are found in various meats, eggs, and dairy products. A key to understanding veganism is that these nutrients are not limited to animals. Beans are a common and plentiful source of protein, especially the soybean. Soy is commonly associated with veganism because of its versatility but also due to its nutritional value. Soy is widely considered to be a complete protein. And since it's very possible for more soy to be consumed by any given person than meat, it's also very possible that a vegan will walk away from a meal with more protein than someone with a steak dinner.

In addition to soy, there are plenty of other nutrional foods a vegan can eat. A question I am commonly approached with is "What is there for you to eat?" People tend to forget that the vegetables and legumes that serve as a

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