What is the difference between a plant-based and vegan diet? Is there a difference? In recent years, both plant-based and vegan diets have become widely popular. There are lots of plant-based and vegan food options now stocked in the local supermarkets. Interestingly, since the start of our plant-based journey, I have been asked by people whether we are now vegans. Just to clarify, we are not vegans nor are we aiming to become vegans. Some people are confused by the terminology and they use the terms interchangeably, there are some similarities but there are some significant difference between them.

The term “vegan” was first used by David Watson in 1944 to describe a person that eliminates all use of animal products and by-products for ethical reasons. Veganism is more than just a diet, it is a lifestyle choice that avoids consuming, using or exploiting animals. A typical vegan diet excludes meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs and honey. Vegans refrain from purchasing items that were made from or tested on animals including: clothing, personal care products, shoes accessories and household goods.

A plant-based diet predominately focuses on eating foods mainly derived from plants sources such as: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Meat, poultry, seafood and dairy are not eliminated but are minimised. Within the plant-based diet, there is also a distinction between whole food plant-based diet and plant-based diet. Whole foods plant-based diet, in addition to eating mostly plants, also avoids or minimises the consumption of oils and highly processed foods.

Within our personal journey, we are focusing on eating whole, unrefined or minimally refined plant foods and minimal meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products and eggs. As I mentioned before, before we began this journey, we were eating meat, poultry or seafood practically every day of the week. We had tried the meat free Monday movement but with limited success. We have now managed to limit our meat, poultry, seafood consumption to only once per week. To my surprise, our plant-based journey to date has been relatively easy. The whole family is engaged. It’s not a faddish diet that we are embarking on, it’s a lifestyle choice we are making for the betterment of our health and the environment. Even my youngest is enjoying some of the dishes that I am experimenting on. I’m not saying that I have won her over but it’s a move in the positive direction.

Plant-based vs. Vegan Diet