What is the vegan lifestyle?
Being vegan is first and foremost a mindset and a life philosophy: living in alignment with values of respect and kindness towards animals by rejecting their exploitation, while reducing its impact on the planet.
Everyone has their own entry point into this way of life. Some choose it out of a love for animals, others out of environmental awareness… and very often, these two reasons go hand in hand. We now know that the meat and dairy industry not only causes immense animal suffering, but also has a very significant impact on the environment.
Adopt a vegan lifestyle, it is therefore about seeking to align your convictions with your choices, prioritizing more sustainable and ethical alternatives, without exploiting animals.
Often described as too extreme, the vegan movement is nonetheless simply rooted in simple values: respect, compassion, and a desire to contribute to a more harmonious world.
The vegan lifestyle is far from being restrictive: it opens the door to new flavors, discoveries, and everyday inspiration. This is a choice that brings pleasure, creativity and that feeling of being aligned with your values. It simply involves making conscious choices across different areas of your life, from your plate to your wardrobe, including your leisure activities. This is exactly what we will be discussing in this article.
Difference between vegetarian, plant-based, and vegan.
It's easy to lump everything together, but these different terms have distinct nuances, so let's start on the right foot:
- Vegetarian : a diet that excludes meat, fish, and seafood.
- Vegan : a diet that excludes meat, fish, seafood, and all other foods of animal origin: milk, eggs, honey.
- Vegan (name) : Describes a person who adheres to the ethical principle that animals are not commodities or resources at our disposal, but are individuals with their own unique lives and interests.
- Vegan (adjective) Used to describe something (a product, service, or activity) that does not involve animal exploitation.
For example, so-called "vegan" shoes indicates that they do not contain any animal ingredients and are therefore leather-free.
The term "vegan" was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, co-founder of the VeganSociety and the first advocate of veganism.
The vegan lifestyle excludes all forms of animal exploitation, applying this principle across every aspect of daily life: this covers not just food (following a vegan diet) but also clothing, cosmetics, home furnishings, activity choices, and so on.
1. Vegan diet
As mentioned, a vegan person adopts a vegan diet which excludes all products of animal origin: animal flesh of course, but also milk, eggs, honey, gelatin, and food colorants derived from insects (such as cochineal, for example).
Contrary to common misconceptions, eating a vegan diet is in no way monotonous or restrictive — it is actually the complete opposite. Far from being limited to "salad and a handful of seeds", it is a rich, varied, and balanced cuisine, which covers all of our nutritional needs.
Proteins? They are found in legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans), tofu, tempeh, and seitan. Healthy fats? You can thank avocados, nuts, almonds, and flaxseeds for those. Fiber, vitamins, and minerals? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and oilseeds handle that perfectly (see the website of theONAV: National Institute of Plant-Based Foods).
All it takes is a little curiosity to mix up the flavors, textures, and colors on your plate. You will discover ingredients you might never have cooked with before, expand your recipe repertoire, and open yourself up to new culinary cultures.
Plant-based cuisine is also a real invitation to pleasure and to the treats, and there is no shortage of Instagram accounts to discover even more incredible recipes.
Zebra's recommendations: the most inspiring food Instagram accounts:
2. Vegan cosmetics
Some beauty products contain ingredients of animal origin, such as honey, animal-sourced fats, donkey milk, ...
A vegan cosmetics, in addition to containing no animal-derived ingredients, is also a Cruelty Free product, which means it is not tested on animals.
The ingredient list on cosmetic products is not always easy to decipher. The "Vegan" label is a reliable, trustworthy benchmark you can depend on, and some brands specialize in vegan cosmetics and skincare products.
Zebra's recommendations:
- On The Wild Side : is an organic cosmetics brand with 100% natural origins, manufactured in France using ingredients derived from wild plants.
- Clémence and Vivien : organic, eco-designed, sensory, and affordable cosmetic products
- Heloise : a range of natural, eco-friendly, vegan, multi-functional and minimalist care products.
- Cut by Fred : Shampoo and hair care with natural, vegan formulas
2. Vegan fashion
Shopping for clothing and footwear as a vegan isn't always easy, as it requires carefully reviewing product labels to avoid animal-derived components like :
- Leather : Leather has numerous harmful effects, affecting both animal welfare and human well-being, as tannery workers are exposed to health-hazardous substances (such as chromium). For more details, check out our dedicated article on the impact of leather.
- The wool : this so-called " natural " material hides practices that are far from natural at all. 80 % of the wool used in the fashion industry comes from Merino sheep raised in Australia. These are intensive farming operations where Mulesing is a standard practice: a technique that involves cutting away the skin around a sheep's tail, and in some cases even the entire tail, as this area is prone to bacterial proliferation, particularly myiasis (fly larvae), which harms wool quality and therefore reduces production yield.
In addition to this barbaric practice, the wool industry is directly linked to the meat industry, as sheep raised for their wool very often end up on dinner plates.
- The fur : Long a symbol of luxury, fur raises significant ethical concerns. Produced at the cost of suffering for millions of animals bred or trapped solely for their pelts, it is increasingly rejected by consumers looking to live in alignment with values of respect and compassion. Faced with this reality, a growing number of designers and major fashion houses are moving away from fur, adopting innovative alternatives such as Ecopel, a high-quality faux fur.
- Silk : this is the fiber that silkworms use to spin their cocoons. To harvest this fiber intact, you must prevent the worm from emerging, as it would create a hole in the cocoon... so cocoons are submerged in boiling water to kill the worms. It takes killing 6000 silkworms to obtain 1 kilo of silk.
Zebra Vegan Shop handpicks the very best of vegan fashion for you, every listed brand, every item's composition is analyzed upfront to guarantee you products that are both beautiful, ethical, and high-quality. Trendy items that make you forget all the preconceptions about vegan fashion.
3. In a vegan's home
Around the home, we don't always realize it, but animal-derived materials can make their way into our living spaces without us noticing. Cozy sofas, plush cushions, and even mattresses sometimes contain feather or down filling. Fortunately, there are now plenty of equally comfortable alternatives made from synthetic or plant-based fibers, that let you keep a warm, inviting home… that is also 100% animal-friendly.
Zebra's recommendations:
Onature eco-friendly and vegan sofas : made exclusively from materials sourced entirely from the plant kingdom.
allnatura vegan pillows : crafted from organic cotton and filling made from natural plant-based materials.
4. On the leisure front, a well-considered choice
Vegan people also pay close attention to their leisure activities, avoiding any that harm animal welfare. This means no circus performances featuring animals, bullfighting, water parks, or zoos where animals' freedom is replaced by enclosures.
While traveling, they also opt out of dromedary rides, photo sessions with monkeys, and tourist attractions in Thailand where elephants are trained to provide entertainment.
Instead, they prioritize respectful experiences : observing animals in their natural habitat, supporting sanctuaries, or simply enjoying activities where everyone is free… humans and animals alike.
Zebra recommendations:
For vacations :
The Vegan Surf Camp : a little slice of paradise in the Landes, perfect for learning to surf in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, trying out or honing your yoga practice, and above all indulging in delicious meals: 100 % vegan and 100 % delicious meals are included in your stayNot having to decipher food labels or restaurant menus takes a huge weight off for vegans, and lets you enjoy a truly relaxing, stress-free vacation!
The Instagram account @connie.needham: Connie is passionate about travel and wild animals. A wildlife documentary filmmaker, she shares information on her account about the ethical tourism focused on wildlife, and also offers services to help you organize your own trip. Whatever type of experience you are looking for, whether it is observing wild animals in their natural habitat, visiting sanctuaries, or a mix of both, Connie selects the best ethical options, ensuring your trip supports conservation and animal welfare while matching your interests and needs.
For a volunteer experience with animals:
Vervet Monkey Foundation (VMF) : a rehabilitation center that takes in orphaned or injured vervet monkeys in South Africa. They help these primates be reintroduced into their natural habitat. Volunteers work closely with the animals while maintaining the necessary distances to avoid interfering with their wild lifestyle. All meals served to volunteers are vegan.
Useful everyday apps:
- 321Vegan : an app that lets you quickly check the composition of products by scanning them.
- Happy Cow : The app locates vegetarian and vegan restaurants in over 180 countries.
- Potato and Gherkin : Eline, a professional chef, shares tons of recipes, cooking tutorials, and also "M on her appeal Plans" with Custom meals tailored to your tastes and needs, easy, healthy, and delicious, no need to overthink it.
In short, the vegan lifestyle means living with your heart wide open, biting into a burger… 100% indulgent, 0% cruelty, dressing and putting together stylish outfits and footwear with no leather, traveling to see animals… but in their natural habitat, not in a cage !
The vegan lifestyle is neither a passing fad nor a trend — it is a commitment to making the world kinder and more free!
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