Whether you’re considering going vegan and are interested in finding out more information or you are entertaining friends and want to about the different types of vegans; you’ve come to the right place. There many different kinds of vegans and some will fall under more than one of these categories.
Just Vegan – follows a plant-based diet without other restrictions. They stay away from all animal products but are not strict about following any specific vegan protocol and change up their diet as needed. A meal of brown rice with stir-fried tofu and vegetables would be a great option.
Environmental/Ethical Vegan – takes on a vegan diet for predominantly ethical and/or environmental reasons as opposed to health reasons. Often driven by concern for the treatment of animals and the environmental impact that breeding animals for food has on the planet. An environmental/ethical vegan would enjoy a veggie burger on a whole grain bun followed by a bowl of coconut milk ice cream.
Junk food Vegan – sometimes environmental/ethical vegans can be categorized as junk food vegans. Because they are making this dietary choice for ethical reasons instead of health-conscious ones, they can trend toward eating anything as long as it doesn’t come from animals. Oreos dipped in peanut butter would be right up a junk food vegan’s alley.
Whole Food, Plant-Based Vegan – often take on a vegan diet for health reasons. Eat unprocessed, whole foods and stay away from packaged, processed meals and snacks, so lots of whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies. Quinoa and lentils topped with sautéed greens would be a great option for this kind of vegan.
Paleo Vegan (“Pegan”) – eats a diet of whole, unprocessed foods that adheres to both paleo and vegan principles at once. The paleo diet operates under the principle that humans evolved eating certain foods that were attained through hunting and gathering, and these foods are best suited to human health and well-being. Foods include vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, oils, nuts and seeds. Combined with the vegan diet, there is an emphasis on low carb, high fat plant-based whole foods. Because of the difficulty of finding protein sources in such a diet, some paleo vegans incorporate small amounts of meat, while others incorporate small amounts of grains and legumes. Lettuce wraps with Portobello mushrooms and chestnut filling would be a delicious meal for a paleo vegan.
SOS-Free Vegan – follows a whole foods, plant-based vegan diet free of sugar, oil, and salt. The idea is that taking away these three stimulants reduces the risk of overeating. A fresh green salad with red kidney beans and corn would suit an SOS-free vegan well.
Raw Vegan – eats raw and plant-based foods, meaning food is not heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The idea is that cooking food above a certain temperature destroys important enzymes and nutrients contained within the raw foods. A raw vegan would enjoy a zucchini noodle salad topped with vegan sesame dressing and cilantro.
Raw Till 4 Vegan – eats only raw food until 4 pm. This diet often plays out as large portions of fruit before 4 pm with a large cooked dinner of starchy foods and salad. A raw till 4 vegan could enjoy a large bowl of papaya and kiwi for breakfast, and a plate of basmati rice with chickpea curry for dinner.
High Carb Low Fat (HCLF) Vegan – as it says, enjoys a diet of generous carbohydrates with minimal amounts of fat. Often carbohydrates come from large portions of fruit. A bowl of steel-cut oatmeal topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries would be a perfect meal option.
Starch Solution Vegan – falls under HCLF Veganism. Instead of fruit, however, the main sources of carbohydrates come from starches like oats, rice, and potatoes. A baked potato topped with salsa and black beans would satisfy a starch solution vegan.
Fruitarian – eats only fresh, whole fruits and small portions of food that fell from a tree, like nuts and seeds. This form of veganism includes the 80/10/10 diet, a raw food diet that suggests obtaining 80% of your daily calories from carbohydrates, typically ripe, fresh fruits, and 10% from both fat and protein, respectively. A fruitarian would enjoy a bowl of ripe banana and mango with a small handful of raw almonds.
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