Guide Note

Vegan food does not incorporate any animal products at all; it avoids meat and fish as well as eggs, dairy, and sometimes honey depending on how strictly the cook defines veganism. Vegan food also avoids foods processed using animal products, such as white sugar (as bone char is used to bleach it) and beer and wine that is clarified with isinglass (derived from fish) or other animal proteins. Some vegans even avoid commercial bread, as the dough conditioner L-cysteine is made from human hair or duck feathers.

Fast Facts

1. U.S. vegans: About 1 million
2. Easy vegan meals: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, beans and rice
3. Famous vegans: Paul McCartney, Fiona Apple, Dennis Kucinich, Woody Harrelson
4. Term "vegan" coined by Vegan Society

1. Veganism: Only plant-based foods
2. Raw Veganism: Plant-based foods that are raw, or cooked at a temperature below 115 degrees Farenheit
3. Fruitarianism: Ripe fruits of plants or trees only

It is difficult for vegans to consume certain nutrients via their diet alone, as the vitamins and minerals are not prevalent enough in plant sources to fill a person's nutritional needs. Vegans may need to supplement the following nutrients.

1. Vitamin B12
2. Calcium
3. Vitamin D
4. Iodine
5. Omega-3 fatty acids