For linguists who poo-poo the addition of words like "blog" to the dictionary, they'd better take out "vegan." It's actually a combination of the beginning and end of the word "vegetarian" and was coined in the late 1940s by Donald and Dorothy Watson, founders of the Vegan Movement. A vegan is someone who doesn't eat anything produced from an animal (meat, eggs, milk, any products made from any of these items). People are vegans for a variety of reasons, some by choice, some by necessity.
I feel guilty after talking with a Militant V (militant vegetarian/vegan). I walk away feeling that not only do I lack all compassion and mercy, I'm going to die earlier because I don't eat all those great things like Mashed Pinto Bean Flan. Some of you readers can identify with the guilt. But notice that we are still eating meat...
I have a brother who decided he couldn't eat any meat he couldn't bring himself to kill with his own hands. (He and others in my family are absolutely not in the "Militant V" category.) He could kill a fish, so he adds this to his diet, but he is mostly vegetarian. Further, he needs to because of his digestive system. There are also vegetarians who will allow milk or milk/eggs in their diet.
I'm married to a man whose family raises grass/grain fed steer for food. Organically, I might add. I love the taste.
I've accepted the fact that with this post, I might to offend someone I love or offend vegans. Here it is for the rest of the readers who are not offended. In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan succinctly sums up what I believe most of my readers will identify with.
If you have looked at any of my lessons in "Nutrition YOU!", you will see the science of how our body uses food to regulate chemical reactions in the body. The fact is, good meat helps a person avoid deficiencies of the six classes of nutrients we need to survive. Anyone can meet their required dietary needs for the body to maintain its stability without meat, except for Vitamin B12. I don't want to do that. I believe most of my friends respect that, and I respect them.
Pollan says, "Mostly plants." He neither says "Just plants" or "Mostly fruits and veggies." You actually probably eat more plants than you realize. Enjoy your chicken, steak, pork, and lamb now. I personally can't do the lamb or veal, because I know how most are raised and I do have a teeny-tiny bit of compassion and mercy in my body. I guess those Militant Vs are wrong.
BTW, in America most pronounce it Vee-gin. (Hard "g" as in goat).