Plant-Based vs. Vegan: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

If you’ve ever stood in the supermarket aisle wondering whether to pick up a product labeled plant-based or vegan, you’re not alone. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they actually carry different meanings and understanding those differences can help you make more informed choices about your diet and lifestyle, as well as helping you to understand the difference between the two, once and for all!

Plantbased...what does it mean?

At its core, plantbased refers to a diet that focuses primarily on foods derived from plants. This includes fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and oils. However, the term plantbased doesn’t necessarily mean 100% free of animal products.

A person following a plantbased diet may still occasionally consume meat, dairy, eggs, or honey, but the emphasis lies on minimising these and making plants the foundation of every meal. For some, it’s about improving health, for others, it's a stepping stone toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

Here are some key points about plantbased:

• Emphasises whole and minimally processed plant foods.
  
• They may or may not include small amounts of animal products.
  
• Often chosen for health or environmental reasons.

Vegan...what does it mean?

Veganism, on the other hand, goes beyond diet. It’s a lifestyle rooted in avoiding all animal exploitation and cruelty. Vegans eliminate all animal-derived ingredients from their food (no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, etc.) and also avoid products made from animals like leather, wool, and silk.

Veganism is often driven by ethical concerns for animals, but it can also be motivated by environmental issues or health benefits.

Here are some key points about veganism:

• Strictly excludes all animal-derived ingredients.
  
• Extends beyond diet to other lifestyle choices (clothing, cosmetics, etc.).
  
• Often motivated by ethical or environmental reasons.

At A Glance:

Vegan

Diet includes only plants: Yes

Avoids all animal products: Always

Focuses on whole foods: Not always (can include processed vegan food)

Lifestyle aspect: Diet and lifestyle

Common motivation: Ethics, environment, health

Plant-Based

Diet includes only plants: Not necessarily

Avoids all animal products: Sometimes, not always

Focuses on whole foods: Yes

Lifestyle aspect: Usually diet only

Common motivation: Health, environment

Final Thoughts

While there may be some overlap between the terms plantbased and vegan, they aren’t identical and that distinction matters. Whether you're testing the waters of plantbased eating or embracing a fully vegan lifestyle, every step toward reducing animal products and embracing plants is a step in a more compassionate, healthful, and sustainable direction. At The Mighty Kitchen we can guide you with delicious plantbased and vegan recipes to inspire your food journey here: https://themightykitchen.com/recipes/