There’s no way to get a fix on the number of vegans in the U.S. You hear a lot about it, and you probably know someone who identifies as “vegan.” But the statistics depend on self-identification surveys, and that’s a risky away to do research.

For one thing, you must define “vegan,” a diet and mindset. The Vegan Society says, “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”

Vegan.com claims, “Vegetarian diets eschew meat and fish, but commonly allow eggs and dairy products. Veganism takes this idea to the next level, cutting out every item of animal origin.” In doing so, “Vegan choices deliver three big advantages over their vegetarian counterparts:

additional avoidance of animal mistreatment and slaughter reduction of certain health risks decrease of environmental footprint.”

This approach pushes veganism into political and societal realms most individual vegans only toy with. After all, it seems pretty elitist to “meat and potatoes” folks.

What’s an everyday vegan?

Vegans opt for plant-based foods and avoid any consumer product that uses animal-derived ingredients. But even here, there is some differentiation. There are “Lacto-ovo” vegetarians who will eat eggs and dairy. “Lacto” vegetarians eat dairy but no eggs. And, “pescatarians” who like fish or shellfish but avoid poultry and meat.

The most dedicated protest entertainment vehicles and celebrities that do not comply. And, they now link meat consumption with its environmental impact.

Setting aside lifestyle issue, vegan diets should include three servings of proteins per day including beans, tofu, nuts, and nut butters. There is a need for fats like those found in avocados, seeds, and related butters and oils. Without dairy, you must replace the calcium with plant-based milks, kale, greens, and other calcium-rich vegetables. And, you should supplement the nutrition with Iodine, B12 and D vitamins.

Start with vegan-friendly strains:

Strict vegans must look into how their cannabis is raised. It must be farmed with compliant soils, fertilizers, and pesticides, and that includes elements that do not aggravate environment concerns.

The following strains have been catching attention for medical and/or recreational use:

Vegan Safari Sativa-dominant hybrid

Bus & Roses Veganic High-CBD

Veganic Strawberry Cough - 1st place, High Times Seattle, 2013

Veganic Rosin extract from a Strawberry Banana Flower - 1st place, High Times Non-Solvent Medical Hash Award, 2016

Veganic Platinum Cookies

You can turn your strain into high-flying vegan recipes, but you’re going need to create your cannabutter first with a coconut oil base. You’ll need 209 grams of melted Coconut Oil and 0.72 grams of ground dried bud. And, you’ll use a fine sieve, small saucepan, parchment paper, herb grinder, and a candy thermometer.

While you preheat the oven to 245°F, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. You should calculate the dosing and weigh the weed to suit your plans. After grinding the cannabis finely and removing any debris, spread it across the parchment paper.

Toasting the weed for approximately 35 minutes, you can warm the coconut oil to melting. Once it is ready, you stir in the ground bud and stir over low heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and add your candy thermometer. Stirring it occasionally, you let it work its magic for 4-6 hours at 180-200°F. Pressing the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, you refrigerate it for up to six months or use it in your next recipe.

3 vegan-friendly recipes from soup to nuts:

1. Hot Thai Vegan Soup should burn the paint off a vehicle. But you can moderate the following ingredients to your taste: