Many people out there are confused about these two terms- vegan and vegetarian. Maybe it seems confusing, but it is not because a vegan diet is a type of vegetarian diet. Although, we can also say vegan is more of a lifestyle rather than calling it a diet.

Since 700 BC, vegetarian diets have reportedly been around. Many diet types exist, and individuals may practice them for several reasons, such as health, environmentalism, ethics, and religion.

Whereas, vegan diets are a little more modern, but are getting a good amount of strain. Not only this, but there are many more differences both have. So, let’s start with a brief introduction to them, then we will compare both.

What is a Vegetarian Diet?

“It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.”
―Joaquin Phoenix

To put it in simple words, someone who does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, or by-products of animal slaughter is who we call a vegetarian.

These diets comprise several levels of vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses, nuts & seeds. It may include dairy and eggs depends on the type of diet an individual follow.

“We are, quite literally, gambling with the future of our planet- for the sake of hamburgers.” 
    ― Peter Singer, Animal Liberation

Types of Vegetarians

1. Lacto-Ovo vegetarians: Those who only consume dairy and egg products, but do avoid all animal flesh.

2. Lacto vegetarians: People who consume dairy products but do avoid animal flesh and eggs.

3. Ovo vegetarians: Those who avoid all animal products except eggs.

4. Vegans: Those who stay away from all animal and animal-derived products are known as vegans.

Apart from all, those who avoid eating meat or poultry yet consume fish are considered pescatarians, and part-time vegetarians are referred to as flexitarians.

However, pescatarians and flexitarians do eat animal flesh sometimes. Hence, they are not technically considered vegetarians.

What is a Vegan Diet?

“I can’t think of anything better in the world to be but a vegan.”
―Alicia Silverstone

As mentioned above, a vegan diet is a type of vegetarian diet. Moreover, it can be viewed as the strictest form of vegetarianism.

A way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty as much as possible is known as veganism.

In simple words, vegan diet excludes dairy, eggs animal flesh, and all animal-derived ingredients. Even they include honey, gelatin, pepsin, carmine, shellac, whey,  casein, and some types of vitamin D3.

However, vegans and vegetarians both avoid eating animal products for the same reasons. And, the major difference is vegan do not consider animal products, but vegetarians do.

Ethically, vegetarians are also opposed to killing animals for food but consider it acceptable to consume animal by-products. For example, milk and eggs, as long as the animals are not harmed.

Whereas, vegans are those who believe that animals have a right to be free from human use either for food, clothing, science, entertainment, or anything.

Therefore, regardless of the conditions in which animals are bred or housed, they seek to exclude all animal by-products.

It can be said that the desire to stay away from all forms of animal exploitation is the reason why vegans choose to avoid dairy and eggs — products which many vegetarians have no problem taking.

“Baby rats need rat milk, baby cats need cat milk, baby dogs need dog milk, baby humans need human milk, baby cows need cow milk, baby chimps need chimp milk.. Would anyone believe it if someone claimed adult giraffes need elephant milk? or adult horses need squirrel milk? or adult possums need goat milk? or adult humans need cow milk? oh, wait, no, that last one makes total sense.. NOT” 
    ― Mango Wodzak

Types of Vegans

1. Raw Vegan

Raw Vegans combines the concepts of raw foodism and veganism. So, a person who excludes all food and products of animal origin from their diet and also avoids food cooked at a temperature above 48 °C (118 °F) is Raw Vegan.

2. Paleo Vegan

A vegan who doesn’t eat processed foods is what we call a paleo-vegan. The diet based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by our Paleolithic ancestors is a paleo diet. And the followers eat a diet comprising only of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit but excludes processed food.

Conclusion

Hence, the whole blog depicts that vegetarianism is a diet, whereas veganism is a lifestyle. Neither vegetarians nor vegans eat meat.

The main difference lies between both is a vegan avoids all animal products, including dairy and eggs, and often inedible animal-based products, such as wool, leather, and silk while vegetarians tend to consume dairy products and eggs.