Seriously Though, What’s the Difference Between Vegan, Vegetarian, and a Plant-Based Diet?

Vegan, vegetarian, plant-based diet — are all these terms confusing much? If you’ve been wondering what these distinctions mean, you are DEFINITELY not alone.

I mean, what’s the difference between vegan, vegetarian, and a plant-based diet?

I’m so glad you’re asking the question, curious kitty. I’m here with answers.

Here you’ll find all the info you need on the different ways people are opting out of eating meat.

What Is a Vegan?

According to The Vegan Society, “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.”

Basically, veganism means you don’t eat, wear, or use anything that comes from an animal including meat and fish, dairy, eggs, gelatin, wool, leather, silk and so on. (The term animal refers to any living thing that can feel pain and possesses a nervous system. So a goldfish is an animal, a pig is an animal, a cockroach is an animal — but a carrot is not an animal.)

So what do vegans eat? Anything made with vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes (beans) and fruits. Anything that grows, anything that never had a mom — or a face.

Some people choose a vegan diet for health reasons, in which case it’s less of a lifestyle and more of a way of eating. Others may choose veganism for its lower carbon footprint, religious reasons, political or cultural beliefs, and other motivations.

But for most vegans, often called “ethical vegans,” veganism is about rejecting the use and exploitation of animals altogether based on the idea that animals deserve to live free from harm — which means not using them for any human purpose including clothing, commercial goods, entertainment, etc.

What Is a Vegetarian?

A vegetarian is someone who chooses not to eat meat. While the term is often used interchangeably with vegan, the difference is that most vegetarians still eat dairy and egg products while vegans avoid all animal products.

So a vegetarian will eat cheese made from cow’s milk, or a scrambled chicken egg, while a vegan would not.

Different terms are sometimes used to categorize vegetarians including ovo-lacto vegetarian, which is the most common and includes eggs and dairy products; ovo-vegetarian, which includes eggs but not dairy products; and lacto-vegetarian, which includes dairy products but not eggs.

What Is a Plant-Based Diet?

To add yet another term to the mix, plant-based diet is on everyone’s lips these days. It’s a little more of a loose term than vegan or vegetarian. Basically, it refers to a diet that’s primarily plants, with few or no animal products.

Being plant-based doesn’t necessarily mean someone is vegan or vegetarian. They could eat mostly plants, with the occasional animal product. So if an item is labeled “plant-based,” it could still contain an animal product of some kind. Let’s put it this way: a vegan diet is plant-based, but a plant-based diet isn’t necessarily vegan.

Plant-based diets are more commonly adopted for health or environmental reasons versus ethical, since some animal products can still be consumed.

Another term you might hear is whole foods plant based, or WFPB. This refers to a plant-based diet that consists primarily of whole, unprocessed foods including vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes (beans) and fruits. Unlike the general term plant-based, a WFPB diet is typically vegan as it’s based on unprocessed, garden-grown foods.

Don’t Worry About Labels!

Whatever way you choose to eat, labels aren’t what really matters. Worry less about labels and more about making positive choices.

Eating more plants is better for you, the animals, and the planet! Every choice matters.

I hope that helps clear up the super common question: what’s the difference between vegan, vegetarian, and a plant-based diet?!

Still have questions? Comment below! I’m your girl.

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