The words ‘vegan’ vs ‘plant based’ are hot topics at the moment and are often used interchangeably… on menus, in grocery stores, and in the media.
But they are not the same thing – and we are here to unravel the confusion! 🌱
In this article, we take a look at what each phrase actually means. By the end, you’ll know whether you are vegan, plant based, whole food plant based, or something entirely different!
Table of contents
What is Vegan?
Let’s start with the obvious question – what does vegan mean?
Veganism is a philosophy that aims to discourage and avoid the exploitation of animals in all aspects of life – from eating and drinking to clothing and cosmetics.
A vegan would therefore not eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey, or any foods using these items. They would also not eat animal-derived ingredients, like gelatin, cochineal, or beeswax.
Additionally, they would not wear clothing made from leather, suede, silk, or wool. They would not use cosmetics tested on animals. Vegans would also not go to zoos, aquariums, or circuses that use animals.
This is why, when people label vegan as a diet, vegans will politely point out that it extends far beyond that.
What is Plant Based?
Unlike veganism, the focus of plant based is mainly on diet.
As the name suggest, plant based eating centers around foods derived from plants, which include fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It can also include things like meat alternatives, plant-based milks and cheeses, and many other things.
People on a plant based diet will typically choose not to eat animals or animal products (like dairy, eggs, or honey). However, some individuals may still eat some of these items, providing the bulk of their diet comes from plant foods.
The same goes for lifestyle items. Someone eating a plant based diet might still wear a leather jacket or a silk shirt, or use a non-vegan toothpaste if they wish.
What’s the Difference Between Plant Based and Vegan?
Having read the two descriptions above, you may already be able to see the difference!
In short, plant based is focused solely on what a person eats and is often done for health reasons, while being vegan is a philosophy about avoiding animal cruelty, and therefore extends into lifestyle choices too.
What About Whole Food Plant Based?
Just when you were starting to understand, we go and throw in another term!
Luckily, this one is pretty simple to grasp. A whole-food, plant-based diet (often shortened to WFPB) is a plant based diet, but with a stricter focus on eating healthy, unprocessed foods as close to their natural form as possible.
This means someone on a WFPB diet probably wouldn’t eat refined sugars, processed oils, and meat alternatives, even though they are plant based.
So, while plant-based candy is suitable for vegans and people on a plant based diet, it is not suitable for people on a whole-food, plant-based diet!
Check out our article outlining What is a Whole Food Plant Based Diet to learn more about this variation.
Still confused? The following table may help give you a better idea:
| Vegan | Plant Based | Whole Food Plant Based | |
| Eats fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eats meat, fish, eggs, dairy | No | Maybe | Maybe |
| Eats processed plant based foods | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wears leather, uses non-vegan cosmetics, etc. | No | Maybe | Maybe |
What Are You: Vegan or Plant Based?
Have you determined what you are yet? Vegan, plant based, or whole-food plant-based?
Maybe you are just plant curious – a way of saying you are eating more plant based items, but still not at the plant based or vegan stage just yet.
Some people like to commit to a vegan lifestyle, especially if they are driven by animal welfare concerns. Others prefer a bit more flexibility, opting for a plant-based lifestyle. For example, they may not want to eat meat, but occasionally they’ll eat eggs. Or, they’ll eat plant-based at home, and eat animal foods when socializing.
You are a unique human, and you may not fit into one category. And, guess what? That’s perfectly acceptable! It’s more than OK. Sometimes labelling yourself helps, sometimes it doesn’t. We will leave that up to you!
In the meantime, if you are looking for some vegan/plant-based recipes to try out, check out our recipes for inspiration!