Vegan diets comprise only plant foods and exclude all meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, and honey. Their diet of cereals, vegetables, fruit, and nuts must provide all the essential nutrients. The reasons for choosing a vegan diet are similar to those for choosing a vegetarian diet, but the philosophy is more logical. The Vegan founders believed that the first step to creating a better world would be to develop a diet that did not cause the death or suffering of any living beings. The term "vegan" is derived from the Latin word vegetus, which means "full of life," which the founders hoped their system would be. "Vegan" also starts with the same three letters as "vegetarian," and ends with the last two, as its founders believed they were starting with vegetarian ideas and taking them to their logical conclusion. Vegans believe that health encompasses not only individuals' bodies, but also includes healthy relationships between people and their actions towards other living things, the earth, and the environment. Vegans believe that as long as animals are treated cruelly and are killed for meat, then the world's ethical and spiritual health will suffer. Vegans believe that people should become aware of how their food choices are creating suffering and affecting the health of the world as a whole. For instance, it has been estimated that the grain that goes to feed livestock in America could feed 1.3 billion people, which would relieve a large measure of the pain and suffering in the world.
Most research indicates that vegans tend to be healthier than people who eat animal products. They also have a lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and metabolic and digestive disorders. Vegan diets may also be beneficial for those with allergic or autoimmune disorders such as asthma and allergies.
However, the ideas that all life is sacred or that all forms of life have equal value are not universal among vegans, many of whom do not grant moral standing to insects, for example.
But Vegans need to pay extra attention on planning their diets, as they may be at risk of lacking of protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and essential fatty acid. Pregnant women, growing children, and people with certain health conditions have higher requirements for these nutrients should avoid vegan diet.
Famous singers like Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Paul McCartney and Alanis Morissette are also Vegans.
Here is nice website providing recipes for vegans:
http://vegweb.com/