Are You Vegan Or Plant-Based?

If you aren’t sure what’s the difference between the two or wondering if there’s any, then this article is for you.

(And this is where you suppose to see an eye-catching picture, but since Medium has been experiencing some technical issues with uploading photos, now you won’t. Sorry.)

In short, as a vegan, you’re automatically plant-based too. But being plant-based doesn’t necessarily make you vegan.

I know.

It can be a bit confusing. So let’s make things clear.

First of all, vegans and plant-based people have one very noticeable thing in common.

Yeah, you guessed it. It’s the food.

People in both groups tend to eat the same. Or, more importantly, they both choose to avoid the same.

Animal products of any kind. That means no meat, dairy, eggs or honey.

So, what’s the difference, you might ask. Well, nothing, reallly.

In terms of food choices having vegan is the same as having plant-based.

However, pretty much this is where the similarities between the two ends. But before we point out the main difference, here is the official definition of veganism defined by The Vegan Society:

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

So, as you see, veganism isn’t just about what we consume. It’s way more than that.

Although killing animals for food is one of the most common and apparent forms of animal exploitation, nevertheless it’s not the only one. Whether we wear them as clothes or accessories, like shoes and bags or use their body parts in everyday products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and fabric conditioner, we still exploit them. The same is true when we use them for scientific research or entertainment. Ultimately, we continuously exploit animals in various ways for personal benefits.

Unless we intentionally choose not to. And in that case, veganism is our best and only option.

With all that being said, a plant-based diet has great advantages, and it’s undoubtedly the most ethical one, still, as the name suggests, it’s only a diet. And whether we aim to lose weight, improve our health or just wanting to look or feel better, our primary focus is what’s in it for us. Frankly, when it comes to diet, it’s about us, not others.

Veganism, on the other hand, focuses entirely on the animals and their wellbeings. Therefore, if we choose to become vegan, we must do it for their sake and nothing else. Veganism isn’t about personal gains but about living in a way that causes the least harm to others.

However, to genuinely want to cause as little harm as possible, first, we need to look at animals through a whole new set of eyes. Ultimately, we have to have an entirely different perspective. Although the definition of veganism doesn’t require us to change, yet, without a profound shift in our attitude, we most likely will never find the courage to ditch animal products altogether. Nevertheless, this is precisely where the main difference between veganism and plant-based living lies.

Because it’s not the different actions we choose to take but the motives behind those actions that make all the difference. In the end, it all comes down to that.

As soon as we can shift our mentality from humans vs animals, or us vs them to just us living beings then, and only then we can fully understand the fundamental difference between veganism and plant-based living.