Vegetarian vs. Vegan — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 15, 2024
Vegetarian diets exclude meat, fish, and poultry, focusing on plant-based foods and sometimes dairy; vegan diets eliminate all animal products, emphasizing ethical and health considerations.
Difference Between Vegetarian and Vegan
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Vegetarianism excludes meat, fish, and poultry from the diet, allowing options like dairy and eggs. Whereas, veganism is stricter, excluding all animal-derived products, including dairy, eggs, and even honey.
Vegetarians often adopt their diet for health, ethical, or religious reasons, incorporating dairy products like cheese and yogurt. On the other hand, vegans follow a more comprehensive ethical stance against all forms of animal exploitation, which influences their exclusion of all animal products.
The health benefits reported by vegetarians include reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Meanwhile, vegans may experience the same benefits but often have a lower risk of obesity and more pronounced cholesterol improvements.
Social dining can be more challenging for vegans, who must navigate a narrower range of food choices in typical restaurants. In contrast, vegetarians might find it slightly easier due to the more frequent inclusion of dairy and eggs in menu items.
Many vegetarian diets are flexible in terms of consuming byproducts of living animals, such as honey. Conversely, vegans strictly avoid these, aligning with their philosophy against using any animal-derived product.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Excludes meat, fish, and poultry
Excludes all animal products
Common Foods
Dairy, eggs, vegetables, grains
Fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts
Health Motivations
May aim to reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes
Often includes same health motivations, plus lower obesity rates
Ethical Considerations
Can be motivated by animal welfare, without complete abstention from animal products
Motivated by animal rights, avoiding all forms of animal exploitation
Dietary Challenges
Easier to find options in standard diets/restaurants
Faces more restrictions, especially in social settings
Compare with Definitions
Vegetarian
Flexitarian: Primarily vegetarian but occasionally eats meat or fish.
They identify as flexitarian, eating meat very rarely.
Vegan
Whole-food vegan: Focuses on whole, unprocessed plant foods.
She shops for whole-food vegan ingredients to cook her meals.
Vegetarian
Ovo vegetarian: Consumes eggs but not dairy, meat, fish, or poultry.
As an ovo vegetarian, she relies on eggs for breakfast.
Vegan
Low-fat vegan: Limits fat intake, focusing on fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Following a low-fat vegan diet, he maximizes his vegetable intake.
Vegetarian
Pescatarian: Avoids meat but includes fish, often considered a type of vegetarian.
Opting as a pescatarian, she includes salmon in her diet.
Vegan
Junk-food vegan: Eats plant-based but often includes processed foods.
Despite being vegan, he enjoys vegan burgers and fries regularly.
Vegetarian
Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Excludes meat, fish, and poultry but includes dairy and eggs.
She chooses lacto-ovo vegetarian meals to maintain her protein intake without meat.
Vegan
Raw-food vegan: Consumes only raw or minimally heated plant foods.
As a raw-food vegan, she prepares dishes below 118°F.
Vegetarian
Lacto vegetarian: Avoids meat, fish, poultry, and eggs, yet includes dairy.
He follows a lacto vegetarian diet, including milk and cheese.
Vegan
Dietary vegan: Excludes all animal products from their diet.
As a dietary vegan, he avoids cheese and honey.
Vegetarian
A person who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons.
Vegan
A vegetarian who eats plant products only, especially one who uses no products derived from animals, as fur or leather.
Vegetarian
Relating to vegetarians or vegetarianism
A vegetarian restaurant
Vegan
(of a product or practice, especially food) Not containing animal products (meat, eggs, milk, leather, etc) or inherently involving animal use.
He eats a completely vegan diet.
This chocolate cake is vegan.
Vegetarian
One who practices vegetarianism.
Vegan
(of a person) Committed to avoiding any product or practice that inherently involves animal use.
She is not vegan as she eats eggs and wears leather.
Vegetarian
Of or relating to vegetarianism or vegetarians.
Vegan
Relating to vegans or veganism.
Yesterday I went to a vegan party.
She is interested in vegan philosophy.
Vegetarian
Consisting primarily or wholly of vegetables or plants
A vegetarian diet.
Vegan
A person who does not eat, drink or otherwise consume any animal products
Vegetarian
A person who does not eat animal flesh, or, in some cases, use any animal products.
Vegan
A person committed to avoiding products and practices that inherently involve animal use, including all foods containing animal products, and to abstaining from direct and intentional harm to animals as far as possible; an adherent to veganism.
Our vegan-friendly shaving brush is made with synthetic bristles instead of badger hair.
Vegetarian
An animal that eats only plants; a herbivore.
Vegan
A vegetarian who does not eat any animal products, not even fish, eggs, or milk.
Vegetarian
Of or relating to the type of diet eaten by vegetarians (in all senses).
Vegan
A strict vegetarian; someone who eats no animal or dairy products at all
Vegetarian
Without meat.
Vegetarian
Of a product normally made with meat, having non-meat substitutes in place of meat.
Vegetarian
That does not eat meat.
I have a vegetarian brother
Vegetarian
One who holds that vegetables and fruits are the only proper food for man. Strict vegetarians eat no meat, eggs, or milk, and are sometimes referred tro as vegans.
Vegetarian
Of or pertaining to vegetarianism; as, a vegetarian diet.
Vegetarian
Eater of fruits and grains and nuts; someone who eats no meat or fish or (often) any animal products
Common Curiosities
What is a vegetarian?
A vegetarian avoids meats, including beef and poultry, but may consume dairy and eggs.
What are the health benefits of a vegan diet?
Includes reduced cholesterol, lower risk of heart disease, and often a lower body weight.
Why do people choose a vegetarian diet?
Health reasons, ethical concerns, and sometimes religious beliefs are motivations.
Can vegetarians eat fish?
Typically no, though pescatarians, often grouped with vegetarians, do eat fish.
What is a vegan?
A vegan avoids all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and often honey.
Is honey vegan?
No, vegans do not consume honey as it involves the exploitation of bees.
Can a vegetarian diet be unhealthy?
Yes, if it relies heavily on processed foods and lacks variety.
What do vegans eat for protein?
Legumes, nuts, seeds, and tofu are common protein sources for vegans.
Are vegan diets more expensive?
They can be, depending on reliance on specialty or organic products.
How do vegans get B12?
Vitamin B12 is typically obtained from fortified foods or supplements.
What kind of snacks can vegans eat?
Fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and vegan bars are typical.
Do vegetarians eat cheese?
Yes, most vegetarians eat dairy products including cheese.
Can vegans eat bread?
Yes, but they need to check that it does not contain animal-derived ingredients like eggs or butter.
What is the difference between vegan and plant-based diets?
Vegan diets exclude all animal products for ethical reasons, whereas plant-based diets focus primarily on health and may include minimal animal products.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
