A rising number of people are reducing or eliminating animal products from their diet.
As a result, a greater variety of plant-based foods are available in grocery shops, restaurants, public events, and fast food franchises.
Some people prefer the word “plant-based,” while others use the term “vegan” to describe their way of life. As a result, you may wonder what the distinctions between these two words are.
This article compares and contrasts the words “plant-based” and “vegan” regarding food and lifestyle.
History of the plant-based movement
Donald Watson, an English animal rights campaigner and founder of The Vegan Society, coined the term “vegan” in 1944 to define someone who avoids using animals for ethical grounds. Veganism is the practice of going vegan (1).
Veganism grew to encompass a diet free of animal products such as eggs, meat, fish, poultry, cheese, and other dairy items. A vegan diet consists of plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Veganism evolved through time into a movement focused not just on ethics and animal welfare but also on environmental and health concerns that have been supported by science (2, 3).
People have grown increasingly conscious of the negative environmental implications of modern animal husbandry and the possible adverse health effects of eating a diet heavy in processed meat and preferring saturated fats over unsaturated fats (4, 5, 6).
Dr. T. Colin Campbell coined the phrase “plant-based diet” in the 1980s to describe a low fat, high fiber, vegetable-based diet that prioritized health above ethics.
According to current studies, roughly 2% of Americans identify as vegan, with the majority belonging to the Millennial age (7).
Furthermore, many people may not identify as plant-based or vegan but are interested in lowering their animal consumption and experimenting with items popular on a plant-based or vegan diet.
Plant-based vs. vegan
Although other definitions exist, most people agree on particular critical distinctions between the phrases “plant-based” and “vegan.”
What it means to be plant-based
Being plant-based often relates only to one’s diet.
Many people use the phrase “plant-based” to describe a diet that consists totally or mainly of plant foods. Some people may claim to be plant-based while still eating animal-derived items.
Others use the phrase “whole foods, plant-based” to denote a diet that consists primarily of whole plant foods that are raw or barely processed (8).
Oils and processed grains are also avoided on a whole food, plant-based diet, but these items may be taken on a vegan or other plant-based diet.
Because there are so many processed vegan meals available, the “whole foods” difference is critical. Certain types of packaged mac and cheese, hot dogs, cheese slices, bacon, and even “chicken” nuggets are vegan, but these would not fit into a plant-based, whole-foods diet.
What it means to be vegan
Being vegan extends beyond eating and defines the way of life one chooses to live daily.
Veganism is often characterized as avoiding consuming, using, or exploiting animals as much as is reasonably practicable. While this allows for individual preferences and obstacles, the ultimate goal is to do as little harm to animals as possible through life choices.
In addition to avoiding animal products in their meals, vegans often avoid purchasing anything that was created from or tested on animals.
Clothing, personal care products, shoes, accessories, and home goods are frequently included. Some vegans may also avoid drugs or vaccines that have animal byproducts or were tested on animals.
You can be both plant-based and vegan
It is possible to be both plant-based and vegan, as these phrases are not intended to segregate individuals based on their preferred way of life.
Many people begin as vegans, eliminating animal products in their diet for ethical or environmental reasons, but subsequently transition to whole foods, plant-based diet to fulfill their health goals.
On the other hand, some people may begin by eating whole foods, a plant-based diet, and then opt to extend into veganism by harmonizing the rest of their lifestyle, eliminating animal products in non-food areas.
The bottom line
Many individuals are reducing or eliminating their use of animal products. While some people choose not to name their eating habits, others identify as plant-based or vegan.
“Plant-based” often refers to a diet that is mainly composed of plant foods, with little or no animal-derived items. Oils and processed packaged foods are also prohibited in whole and plant-based diets.
Beyond eating, the word “vegan” refers to a person’s lifestyle choices. A vegan lifestyle avoids harming animals, even through the things one uses or purchases.
Vegans are more likely to consider animal products’ possible negative environmental consequences.
While these two words are essentially distinct, they do have certain similarities. Furthermore, both are becoming more popular and, when well planned, may be healthful eating methods.
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