An increasing number of people are reducing or eliminating animal products from their diets.
As a result, a greater variety of plant-based options are now available in grocery stores, restaurants, public events, and fast food chains.
Some people identify as “plant-based,” while others use the term “vegan” to describe their way of life. As such, you may be curious about the distinctions between these two terms.
The following article discusses the distinctions between the terms “plant-based” and “vegan” in terms of diet and lifestyle.
The plant-based movement’s history
In 1944, Donald Watson — an English animal rights advocate and founder of The Vegan Society — coined the term “vegan” to refer to someone who abstains from using animals ethically. Veganism is a term that refers to the practice of veganism.
Veganism evolved to include foods derived from animals, such as eggs, meat, fish, poultry, cheese, and other dairy products. Rather than animal products, a vegan diet consists of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Veganism evolved over time into a movement founded on not only ethics and animal welfare, but also on environmental and health concerns that have been validated by research.
People have become more aware of the negative environmental impacts of modern animal agriculture, as well as the potential negative health consequences of consuming a diet high in processed meat and choosing saturated fats over unsaturated fats.
In the 1980s, Dr. T. Colin Campbell coined the term “plant-based diet” to refer to a low-fat, high-fiber, vegetable-based diet that prioritized health over ethics.
Today, surveys indicate that approximately 2% of Americans, the majority of whom are members of the Millennial generation, consider themselves vegan.
Additionally, many people do not identify as plant-based or vegan but are interested in reducing their animal consumption and experimenting with foods associated with a plant-based or vegan diet.
Summary
The plant-based movement began with veganism, a way of life based on the ethical principle of avoiding animal harm. It has grown to include individuals who make dietary and lifestyle choices in order to minimize negative impacts on the environment and their own health.
Vegan vs. plant-based
Although a variety of definitions exist, the majority of people agree on a few key distinctions between the terms “plant-based” and “vegan.”
What does it mean to live a plant-based lifestyle?
Typically, being plant-based refers solely to one’s diet.
Many people use the term “plant-based” to refer to a diet that is entirely or primarily composed of plant foods. However, some individuals may self-identify as plant-based while continuing to consume certain animal-derived products.
Others use the term “whole foods, plant-based” to refer to a diet that consists primarily of raw or minimally processed whole plant foods (8Trusted Source).
A person following a whole foods, plant-based diet will also avoid oils and processed grains, whereas a vegan or other plant-based diet may include these foods.
The term “whole foods” is critical, as there are numerous processed vegan foods available. For example, while certain varieties of boxed mac and cheese, hot dogs, cheese slices, bacon, and even “chicken” nuggets are vegan, they do not fit into a whole food, plant-based diet.
What being a vegan entails
Veganism encompasses more than a diet; it also refers to the way of life one chooses to live on a daily basis.
Veganism is generally defined as a way of life that avoids the consumption, use, or exploitation of animals to the greatest extent possible. While this allows for individual preferences and barriers, the overall goal is to cause animals as little harm as possible through life choices.
Along with avoiding animal products in their diets, vegans typically avoid purchasing products that have been manufactured or tested on animals.
This frequently includes apparel, personal care products, footwear, accessories, and housewares. This may also include abstaining from medications or immunizations that contain animal byproducts or have been tested on animals.
Summary
The term “plant-based” refers to a diet that is composed entirely or primarily of plant foods. A diet based on whole foods and plants also avoids oils and processed packaged foods. The term “vegan” refers to individuals who abstain from animal products, diets, and lifestyle choices.
You can be both a vegetarian and a vegan.
It is possible to be both plant-based and vegan, as these terms are not intended to categorize people according to their preferred way of life.
Many people begin as vegans, abstaining from animal products for ethical or environmental reasons, but then transition to a whole-foods, plant-based diet in order to achieve their health goals.
On the other hand, some people may begin with a whole-foods, plant-based diet and then transition to veganism by aligning their entire lifestyle, avoiding animal products in non-food areas as well.
Summary
Veganism and plant-based eating can coexist. Some people may begin as one and gradually adopt the intentions or ideas of the other, incorporating ethical, health, and environmental concerns into their overall lifestyle.
The Gist
Many people are reducing or eliminating their consumption of animal products. While some people prefer not to label their dietary choices, others identify themselves as vegan or plant-based.
Typically, the term “plant-based” refers to someone who consumes a diet primarily composed of plant foods, with little or no animal-derived products. A whole-foods, plant-based diet also excludes oils and processed packaged foods.
Beyond diet alone, the term “vegan” refers to a person’s lifestyle choices. A vegan lifestyle seeks to avoid harming animals in any way, including through the use or purchase of products.
Vegans also tend to consider the potential negative environmental consequences of animal products.
While these two terms are fundamentally dissimilar, they do have some overlap. Additionally, both are gaining popularity and, when planned properly, can be healthy ways of eating.