Vegans in general are heavily scrutinized by both fellow vegans and non-vegans. Many people expect vegans to be extremists and go “all the way” without understanding that there are different factors as to why people have the boundaries they do have. There are people who don’t try as hard but shame others who try harder than them…for not trying harder.
For example, a meat eater who contributes to animal agricultural farming will post on social media about how soy farming is bad for the environment – most likely to make themselves feel better. Obviously, animal agriculture is way more detrimental to the environment but people like to deflect from themselves. For many non-vegans, shaming vegans truly is their way of coping and the rationalization is real.
So it’s like…”I eat meat and know it’s significantly worse for the environment and all that yet I’m still going to make it a point to make you feel bad about you eating soy and soy farming even though it’s way better for the environment. Why? Because I can.”
Yeah.
Individual vegans have different boundaries for those exact same reasons. When it comes to what they/we are individually willing to consume, there are still quite a few gray areas out there.
If I had to categorize myself, I am mostly a dietary, ethical and environmental vegan with a relatively well-balanced diet. I do try to stick with “cruelty-free” products (ex: shampoo) in general, which usually means they are vegan and not tested on animals. I also try not to buy leather products if I can help it. Although all my jeans have leather labels on them sadly.
I’m not perfect.
I also won’t purchase products with conventional sugar due to the bone char filtering process, making them not vegan. So this includes products like Oreos, Sriracha, etc. or anything labeled “accidentally vegan” but still uses conventional sugar. I used to buy “accidentally vegan” stuff all the time but that was when the sugar content just wasn’t on my radar. In all honesty though, I will accept food gifts from friends that have conventional sugar. To some people, it’s hypocritical but that’s where I personally will draw the line.
I also don’t eat honey in general. I’ve had it twice in six years and both time I knew I was having it. (Uh oh: here come the judgmental vegans!) However, I usually, don’t as the process of the honey making includes the nectar being inside the bee’s mouth.
Many vegans do knowingly eat and purchase “accidentally vegan” products that have the conventional sugar filtered with bone car even if they are strict about not eating honey.
Interesting right?
It’s just different for everyone.
My recipes will have no animal byproducts listed as ingredients whatsoever. It’s just easier for me to draw a hard line. If I ever list “sugar” as an ingredient, it will always mean organic sugar. If something is listed as a burger, it is obviously be always a vegan version of the burger. If I ever end up listing something as “beef” it always means “vegan beef”.
So just to make it clear: I’m just a vegan trying her best. This is a vegan blog.
Thanks for reading!
