Recently, I have been in the habit of abstaining from the consumption of meat 
Oh, like a vegetarian! Why did you choose to stop eating meat?
Exactly, I have too much respect for sentient life.
That's a very good reason! Do you still eat eggs or dairy foods?
Sadly, such ethical motivations do not allow me to even consider having eggs or dairy items.
So does that make you a vegan? What's the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian?
Veganism is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products whilst vegetaraism is just abstinence from meat