Being Plant-Based Doesn’t Always Mean Vegan. Here’s Why.

There are so many different diets and ways of eating out there that it can be hard to keep up with all the names and terms.  This is especially true when diets are very similar with a few slight differences.  Take all the different kinds of vegetarian diets there are.  Ovo, Lacto, Lacto-Ovo, Pollotarian (just poultry), Pescetarian (just fish)…. it can make your head spin.

Which is why I understand the confusion between plant-based and vegan.  They are almost exactly alike, but there are a few key differences that set them apart from each other.  So instead of constantly being confused, I thought I would help you discern those subtle differences and learn what it means to be plant-based and what it means to be vegan.

How Veganism and a Plant-Based Diet Are Similar

We’ll start with the biggest similarity between these two.  People who follow a vegan diet or a plant-based diet avoid all animal products and by-products.  That means no meat, eggs, milk, butter, gelatin, honey, or any other animal by-products that are sometimes used in processed food.  Instead, they choose to eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.  Now, here is where start to get into their differences.

Veganism: It’s a Whole Lifestyle

Being vegan is more than just a way of eating, it’s a moral choice.  In addition to not eating animals or animal by-products, vegans choose not to use animals or their by-products everywhere in their life.  That means they don’t wear fur, leather, or wool, they don’t buy products that could have animal products in them like shampoo or soap, and they are morally against the killing of animals for our use.  Veganism is much more than just food, it is a personal and political belief that animals have rights and we shouldn’t be able to take that away.

People who are plant-based don’t necessarily share those personal or political beliefs beyond the food they eat.  That means while they won’t eat anything with animals or animal by-products, they might still wear leather or not feel morally opposed to killing animals for food.  Plant-based focuses solely on food and choosing foods that are as close to their natural and whole state as possible.  Which leads to another difference between vegans and those who follow a plant-based diet.

Plant-Based = Whole Foods

Vegans don’t necessarily eat only foods that are in their natural state.  There is such a term as “junk food vegans” and it’s entirely possible to eat a vegan diet of entirely processed foods.  This includes things like Oreos, store-bought frosting, Bac’O’s bits, and many other products that do not resemble whole foods at all.  Those that follow a plant-based diet try to eat food as close to its natural state as possible.  Things like fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are all on the menu and make up the majority of their meals.

This in no way means that all vegans eat junk food because there are plenty of vegans who choose a plant-based way of eating while still believing in animals rights.

The Big Takeaway

The biggest thing to remember about veganism and a plant-based diet is that being vegan is a lifestyle choice that encompasses more than just the food you eat.  A plant-based diet focuses solely on eating a whole foods diet that is free of animal products and highly processed products.  Both diets and lifestyles are a personal choice and each have their merits so it’s important to choose one that makes you feel happy and healthy!