This is helpful for me, because it reminds me that my only restrictions are ones that I have chosen because of my compassion for animals and because of my concern for their treatment. If I am at a birthday party where everyone is eating cake and ice cream, this way of thinking reminds me about my love for all creatures (including everyone at the party!), instead of feeling mopey that I have chosen not to eat any of the cake. For this reason, I also think that it is important to understand why you are wanting to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Knowing your conviction will help you stick with it.

There are different degrees of dietary limitations, and there are different means of getting there. Some people prefer to go "whole hog" and stop eating meat all at once. Some people prefer to gradually eliminate different foods as they learn more and so that the shock will not be as great. Both methods have created people who eventually return to eating meat as well as people who have become life -long vegetarians or vegans.

Some people eliminate red meat & poultry, but still eat fish. These folks aren't really vegetarians by any definition that I can imagine - but all the same, it's a dietary choice that makes a huge difference on the planet, on the animals, and on the health of the individual. A classic vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat any part of a creature, but does enjoy eggs and dairy products. Many people don't eat any meats or eggs, but do eat dairy products. And then there are vegans who don't eat any products coming from animals. Even along the way there are sublties that each of us can choose to learn about and decide how we feel. Some of my vegan friends don't eat honey. Some of my vegetarian friends still eat geletin. The longer I am vegan, the more I am also choosing to stop buying leather products when possible, and trying to buy fair trade products...

Ultimately for me, veganism is about doing what I can to reduce the amount of suffering on the planet.