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Are there different terms for different types of vegans?
MelaniaTrump
Posts: 2,694 Member
1. Are there official terms for both kinds?
They seem worlds apart to me.
One type would never touch beans, asparagus, beets, spinach, kale, etc.
And eat lots of highly processed foods such as doritos and twinkies.
Another type are whole foods only. Lots of greens and beans.
2. What % of the population do you think are healthy natural foods only vegans vs. the vegans that will eat any processed foods.
Just seems like they should have different names.
Last time I typed the word processed it started a long debate. Hence why I ask here.
They seem worlds apart to me.
One type would never touch beans, asparagus, beets, spinach, kale, etc.
And eat lots of highly processed foods such as doritos and twinkies.
Another type are whole foods only. Lots of greens and beans.
2. What % of the population do you think are healthy natural foods only vegans vs. the vegans that will eat any processed foods.
Just seems like they should have different names.
Last time I typed the word processed it started a long debate. Hence why I ask here.
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Replies
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Neither Twinkies nor Doritos are vegan.
Not every distinction between groups needs a name.2 -
JanetYellen wrote: »1. Are there official terms for both kinds?
They seem worlds apart to me.
One type would never touch beans, asparagus, beets, spinach, kale, etc.
And eat lots of highly processed foods such as doritos and twinkies.
Another type are whole foods only. Lots of greens and beans.
2. What % of the population do you think are healthy natural foods only vegans vs. the vegans that will eat any processed foods.
Just seems like they should have different names.
Last time I typed the word processed it started a long debate. Hence why I ask here.
I understand why no vegans would eat Twinkies or Doritos but asparagus, spinach and kale? Why on earth would vegans class them as non-vegan friendly? Or do you simply mean that they don't eat natural food sources but processed foods instead?
Agree with the above poster, I'm not sure this really requires distinction. I have however had the same thoughts about vegans who strictly follow diet only and those who stringently make sure they go near no products what so ever, soaps, make ups etc.
I think the population percentage is irrelevant, I read somewhere that less than 6% of the worlds population are vegan, the difference in the two are that minuscule I don't see what anyone would gain from doing the math.
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Do you just mean "junk food vegans"? I've heard that term, along with "junk food vegetarian".
I have several friends who used to be both. They all lost weight when they started eating meat/dairy again.0 -
I think I'm a healthy balance between the two. I eat tons of fruits and try to eat lots of veggies, but I can be found eating boca burgers rather than making them from scratch. The real junk I have maybe once a month, but my boyfriend has frozen vegan meals for lunch at work most days.0
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The only distinction is between plant based and vegan. Vegans are vegan for health, the environment, and the animals. Plant based will still buy leather/wool/silk and only focus on the health benefits of excluding animal products from their plates.7
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I've heard junk food vegans called "grainatarians" since they eat less veggies (or fruit) and tend to eat more grain based products.2
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Yes, depending on their motive for adopting veganism. The three main reasons usually being health, animals rights (ethics) and the environment. People who do it for the health are just described as having a plant based diet. I have also heard of the term cheagan, freegan etc. Someone who is majority vegan but have brief moments when they will eat an animal product for thr sake of convenience.1
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When I was eating exclusively plant-based for health, I described myself as a lowercase v vegan, because few people understood what plant-based meant. Most people understand what vegan is, though, so it was helpful in restaurants and situations where you want to convey your dietary preferences clearly and quickly. Few servers asked what the lowercase v meant, but I was happy to explain to anyone who expressed interest or curiosity.0
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This debate section is not turning out the way I thought it would... I had such high hopes for a place where we could discuss thought provoking topics with science and logic and get to the heart of some issues without worrying about offending posters just looking for support.
Alas, this thread proves that is just not the case...15 -
I've heard of raw food vegans. Other than that, I don't really see a need for more distinction.0
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Why would a vegan not eat beans, asparagus, beets, spinach, kale???
My understanding was that a vegan doesn't eat or use anything that comes from or harms animals. I never heard of the idea that there are different "types" of vegans. It's a lifestyle built around an ethical belief in not harming animals. I've always understood that being "mostly vegan" was like being "a little pregnant". Either you are or you're not. If you are vegan, you don't eat any animal product, you don't wear leather, you don't use personal care products that use animal-derived ingredients, you don't use brands that test on animals, etc.
There are lots of types of vegetarians, and different reasons to become a vegetarian of one kind or another. Is that what you're thinking of?3 -
No one's mentioned frutarians yet?0
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WinoGelato wrote: »This debate section is not turning out the way I thought it would... I had such high hopes for a place where we could discuss thought provoking topics with science and logic and get to the heart of some issues without worrying about offending posters just looking for support.
Alas, this thread proves that is just not the case...
I was wondering what we are supposed to be debating in this thread.
OP, what is the debate you envision?0 -
Lindsay Nixon's (of Happy Herbivore) distinction between plant-based and vegan might relate to OP's question (not debate topic). I don't know if anyone follows it but her, of course: https://happyherbivore.com/2013/07/what-is-plant-based-diet-difference-from-vegan/
I do see a reason to distinguish between people who go "plant-based" for health reasons and those who do so for ethical reasons, although most of the latter whom I know eat a reasonably healthy diet including vegetables.1 -
WinoGelato wrote: »This debate section is not turning out the way I thought it would... I had such high hopes for a place where we could discuss thought provoking topics with science and logic and get to the heart of some issues without worrying about offending posters just looking for support.
Alas, this thread proves that is just not the case...
It's because people only read Health & Fitness and ignore/don't see Debate. There's already a Fitness sub forum, but not one specifically for Health. Then again, there are people who only see Debate and want to discuss whatever their internet link-clicking takes them.0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »This debate section is not turning out the way I thought it would... I had such high hopes for a place where we could discuss thought provoking topics with science and logic and get to the heart of some issues without worrying about offending posters just looking for support.
Alas, this thread proves that is just not the case...
Amen. This thread along with about 50% of the rest of them in here. This section has just become an amalgamation of General, Food, Fitness and Chit-chat. Kind of a catch-all....or maybe more like a garbage can.6 -
I think breatharianism should be considered a valid lifestyle choice. Remember that lady who wanted to try breatharianism for a few months and actually put up webcams in her home so she had proof she wasn't eating? She had to quit when people were sending her bad vibes to make her fail. People can be such trolls.2
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WinoGelato wrote: »This debate section is not turning out the way I thought it would... I had such high hopes for a place where we could discuss thought provoking topics with science and logic and get to the heart of some issues without worrying about offending posters just looking for support.
Alas, this thread proves that is just not the case...
Amen. This thread along with about 50% of the rest of them in here. This section has just become an amalgamation of General, Food, Fitness and Chit-chat. Kind of a catch-all....or maybe more like a garbage can.
Yes, but threads in here are often given more leeway and not shut down or poofed as quickly as in the general forums.
But yes, do agree there are many non debate topics posted here.1 -
OceanicMelody73 wrote: »The only distinction is between plant based and vegan. Vegans are vegan for health, the environment, and the animals. Plant based will still buy leather/wool/silk and only focus on the health benefits of excluding animal products from their plates.
Oh, and this is how I think of the terms too.1 -
Vegans who choose to eat processed foods (which wouldn't include Twinkies, because they are not vegan) still eat beans and vegetables. People who are labelled "junk food vegans" (or who self-describe that way) don't eat *just* junk food, just like non-vegans who eat processed foods don't eat *just* processed food.0
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No takers on my topic of debate? Probably just as well.
My apologies for a lame attempt to be funny.
Carry on! 0 -
Neither Twinkies nor Doritos are vegan.
Not every distinction between groups needs a name.
Actually, Doritos can be. Most aren't, but the Sweet Chili flavor is.
Otherwise, I agree with you. I find it fruitless to further divide vegans. Some eat healthy foods, some eat junk food, some eat a mixture of both. They don't need separate categories.2 -
Wicked_Seraph wrote: »Neither Twinkies nor Doritos are vegan.
Not every distinction between groups needs a name.
Actually, Doritos can be. Most aren't, but the Sweet Chili flavor is.
Otherwise, I agree with you. I find it fruitless to further divide vegans. Some eat healthy foods, some eat junk food, some eat a mixture of both. They don't need separate categories.
Sweet Chili Doritos are my go to junk food snack. I love them... until I've eaten them all... then I hate them for leaving me so unsatisfied.
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SingRunTing wrote: »I've heard of raw food vegans. Other than that, I don't really see a need for more distinction.
But then there'd be no way to turn your nose up at the vegans you don't approve of.3 -
BecomingBane wrote: »Wicked_Seraph wrote: »Neither Twinkies nor Doritos are vegan.
Not every distinction between groups needs a name.
Actually, Doritos can be. Most aren't, but the Sweet Chili flavor is.
Otherwise, I agree with you. I find it fruitless to further divide vegans. Some eat healthy foods, some eat junk food, some eat a mixture of both. They don't need separate categories.
Sweet Chili Doritos are my go to junk food snack. I love them... until I've eaten them all... then I hate them for leaving me so unsatisfied.
When a bag of those are around, I am a Doritos vegan until they are gone.3 -
extra_medium wrote: »SingRunTing wrote: »I've heard of raw food vegans. Other than that, I don't really see a need for more distinction.
But then there'd be no way to turn your nose up at the vegans you don't approve of.
Seems to me there might be some people (not necessarily the OP) who need a reason to feel smug about the fact that they're "proper vegans", as opposed to the "convenience vegans" who are only avoiding animal products for health.
There's already enough of a divide between the meat eaters - clean eating, paleo, junk food, whatever. We're all omnivores, vegans are not. Does it really matter exactly where our nutrition comes from? Why do we always have this need to divide ourselves into groups? Is it really just so that we can just feel superior to others?
Wikipedia had this to say on the subject of veganism:
"Distinctions are sometimes made between several categories of veganism. Dietary vegans (sometimes referred to as strict vegetarians or followers of a plant-based diet) refrain from consuming animal products, not only meat but also eggs, dairy products, and other animal-derived substances. Dietary vegans are often more focused on the health aspects of whole foods, and, as such, may consume honey or wear clothing that include animal products (for example, leather or wool). The term ethical vegan is often applied to those who not only follow a vegan diet, but extend the philosophy into other areas of their lives, and oppose the use of animal products for any purpose. Another term is environmental veganism, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the premise that the harvesting or industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable."
I would think that "dietary vegan" and "ethical vegan" are enough of a distinction in the lifestyle, without worrying about the percentage of processed content in one's diet. 3 -
extra_medium wrote: »SingRunTing wrote: »I've heard of raw food vegans. Other than that, I don't really see a need for more distinction.
But then there'd be no way to turn your nose up at the vegans you don't approve of.
Seems to me there might be some people (not necessarily the OP) who need a reason to feel smug about the fact that they're "proper vegans", as opposed to the "convenience vegans" who are only avoiding animal products for health.
There's already enough of a divide between the meat eaters - clean eating, paleo, junk food, whatever. We're all omnivores, vegans are not. Does it really matter exactly where our nutrition comes from? Why do we always have this need to divide ourselves into groups? Is it really just so that we can just feel superior to others?
Wikipedia had this to say on the subject of veganism:
"Distinctions are sometimes made between several categories of veganism. Dietary vegans (sometimes referred to as strict vegetarians or followers of a plant-based diet) refrain from consuming animal products, not only meat but also eggs, dairy products, and other animal-derived substances. Dietary vegans are often more focused on the health aspects of whole foods, and, as such, may consume honey or wear clothing that include animal products (for example, leather or wool). The term ethical vegan is often applied to those who not only follow a vegan diet, but extend the philosophy into other areas of their lives, and oppose the use of animal products for any purpose. Another term is environmental veganism, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the premise that the harvesting or industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable."
I would think that "dietary vegan" and "ethical vegan" are enough of a distinction in the lifestyle, without worrying about the percentage of processed content in one's diet.
As a vegan, I will say it is less about smugness and more about identifying people who share my position on unnecessary animal exploitation. If someone wants to avoid eating animal products for health reasons, I don't have any problem with that. But veganism is a term that was coined to describe a specific ethical position and it can get confusing when people adopt it when they have no issues with animal exploitation and/or suffering.
It isn't about feeling superior to anyone (I don't feel superior to people on plant-based diets, I don't feel superior to people who consume foods made from animals). Given that veganism is an ethical position, I agree with you that I don't see the point in further labels based on the percentage of processed food in one's diet (although someone who is raw vegan probably finds the term useful to help others understand what they wish to eat).4 -
Jane, you and @BecomingBane are a couple of the most reasonable people I've seen on these boards - I've never seen you put people down or try to shame them for what they choose to eat regardless of your own ethical standpoint, and I salute you for that!
There just always seem to be a few that have a need to feel superior in some way, and to look down on others for their lifestyle or dietary choices. I'm not saying that anyone in this thread is one of them - I was using "we" to refer to humans in general - but it does feel sometimes that labels and group names are used for that reason even if that wasn't the original intention.
I do understand what you're saying about the confusion, though, and perhaps if people were to call themselves "dietary vegans" that would be enough to sort them out from those on the ethical side?
None of which really answers the OP's question about whether 'processed' vs. 'non-processed' vegans need different names, although I think my answer to that would be no, they don't. They're all vegans, either ethical or dietary. But, I'm not vegan or vegetarian, so that's only my uninformed opinion.
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Jane, you and @BecomingBane are a couple of the most reasonable people I've seen on these boards - I've never seen you put people down or try to shame them for what they choose to eat regardless of your own ethical standpoint, and I salute you for that!
There just always seem to be a few that have a need to feel superior in some way, and to look down on others for their lifestyle or dietary choices. I'm not saying that anyone in this thread is one of them - I was using "we" to refer to humans in general - but it does feel sometimes that labels and group names are used for that reason even if that wasn't the original intention.
I do understand what you're saying about the confusion, though, and perhaps if people were to call themselves "dietary vegans" that would be enough to sort them out from those on the ethical side?
None of which really answers the OP's question about whether 'processed' vs. 'non-processed' vegans need different names, although I think my answer to that would be no, they don't. They're all vegans, either ethical or dietary. But, I'm not vegan or vegetarian, so that's only my uninformed opinion.
Thank you. It's an honor to be grouped together with @BecomingBane. 1
This discussion has been closed.
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