How it all vegan.

I was recently informed by a bumper sticker that "vegetarian" is an Indian word meaning "bad hunter." In which case, the word "vegan" must be an Indian word meaning "now what am I gonna eat?" That thought was certainly paramount in my mind when I first toyed with the idea of taking the plunge and banishing all animal products from my diet.

Thinking back, the process started with the "ick" factor, as in: "Ick, do they really keep chickens in such deplorable conditions and feed them such nasty things?" (Yes they do.) Or: "Ick, do they really give all those hormones to cows and are they then included in their milk?" (Unfortunately, yes again.)

Although the biggest difference between vegetarians and vegans centers on milk and eggs, many vegans take a few more steps. They won't eat honey (made by bees--sort of), white granulated sugar (often whitened with a substance from animal bones), or gelatin (obtained from boiling the skin, ligaments, or bones of cattle and hogs). And they'll often stop using products created from leather or animal-derived fibers.

I figured eliminating dairy products and eggs was as good a place to start as any. So, first I switched to soy milk and eggs laid by chickens that lived on small farms where they are allowed to roam around and do the "Funky Chicken" if they want, and are fed organic food free of additives and preservatives.

While that small change was solidifying, I bought a few good vegan cookbooks and snuck some vegan dishes onto the dinner table--not every night because that would have incited culinary rebellion among my own tribe. Some recipes went over well. Some didn't. And because my family still isn't prepared to give up all their old, favorite dishes, there are times when I rely on prepared organic vegan food just for myself.

Flexibility is important in any diet because the object is to make more and more healthy choices, not to see who can go without a particular dietary item the longest. This is a principle you must bear in mind when traveling (just try to find a fast-food restaurant that shares your health concerns) or when you show up at a family/work/holiday celebration and find not one vegan dish waiting for you on the buffet table.

While the "ick" factor gave me a firm shove down the vegan path, news reports keep picking me up when I fall. With all the health issues surrounding cows and chickens in particular, it just seems to make more and more sense to avoid products derived from them. I must say, there's something very satisfying about looking down at your plate and realizing that not one animal was harmed or mistreated in any way to satisfy your hunger pains. I think of it as my "Garden of Eatin'" feeling. After all, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables were man's first diet, given to him by the Creator Himself. You can't get much simpler than that.

In the end, diet is a very personal choice. Everyone must decide what to put in his or her own mouth. Whether you are a health-conscious nonvegetarian, vegetarian, or aspiring vegan like me, there'll be times when you experience a Big Mac attack and are tempted to throw in the napkin. Don't despair. Think back on how far you've come. And remember how it all vegan.

Celeste Perrino-Walker lives in Rutland, Vermont, where she's a favorite among all members of the animal kingdom.