Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more than one million people in 192 countries to try go vegan for the month of January – and hopefully beyond. So what is a vegan diet? The subtle differences between vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based diets have been a source of confusion for many. With the rise of the term ‘flexitarian’ – it hasn’t gotten any easy follow. At first glance, the term ‘plant-based’ may seem pretty self-explanatory, but defining a vegan lifestyle isn’t quite so straightforward. 

Vegetarian vs. Vegan vs. Plant-Based

What is a vegetarian diet?

Vegetarian, the most straightforward of the three diets, basically means “meatless.” Vegetarians

choose to eliminate all meat from their diet (chicken, beef, etc.), often for ethical reasons, but are generally comfortable consuming animal byproducts like milk, eggs and cheese. 

What is a plant-based diet?

People who eat a plant-based diet eliminate all animal products and tend to avoid processed foods. This includes meat, fish, dairy, eggs, gelatin, and other animal byproducts. Their

diet consists primarily of whole, plant foods including fruit, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds. 

What is a vegan diet/lifestyle?

Vegans also eat an entirely plant-based diet, however, the conviction to avoid all animal products and byproducts stretch into every other area of life. Veganism is a philosophy deeply rooted in the protection of animal rights. As such, vegans eliminate animal products not only from their diet, but also from their wardrobes, skincare, and beyond. 

BUT REMEMBER – ONE SMALL CHANGE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

There is no need to change your life drastically overnight. There is no need to purge your cupboards and get rid of everything you own! It takes time. Everyone has their own timeline. Even if it is one meat-free meal a day. One new cleaning product that is cruelty-free. Each of these make a difference. You can make a difference. Slowly and IN YOUR OWN TIME!

As I always say – “We do not need 100 people doing this perfectly, we need 1000 people doing it imperfectly. Together we can make the biggest difference!”