The 3 differences between being vegan and being vegetarian

Vegan and vegetarian diets often cause confusion, as both have plant-based diets as part of their principles. These are two alternatives to traditional food that eliminate the consumption of meat as part of their philosophy about health and life.

They are two lifestyles founded on very similar habits. Although both creeds place great tangible importance on food control, they are also about philosophies and lifestyles. So what are the differences between being vegan and vegetarian?

The differences between veganism and vegetarianism

Veganism and vegetarianism are different positions with different habits. Although the diet between one and the other is very similar and they share as one of their fundamental principles not eating meat, they separate deep distinctions.

Within each of these two positions, there are differences that include or exclude certain foods, the way they are prepared and even their origin. We explain here what these 3 fundamental differences between being vegan and vegetarian consist of.

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1. Your views on the consumption of food products of animal origin

Neither vegans nor vegetarians eat meat, but vegans go further. This is the most notable difference between veganism and vegetarianism.

On the one hand, vegetarians eliminate from their diets all types of meat from any type of animal. This includes fish and shellfish. It is an alternative to increase the consumption of all kinds of vegetables and natural foods to promote the health of the body, without eliminating milk and its derivatives, egg and honey.

These three products continue to be consumed as they do not harm health, much less in a moderate way. This is also because vegetarians consume foods prepared from different ingredients, which can include these three base foods: cakes, cookies, and some desserts.

Due to all this, it is understood then that the reasons why vegetarians do not consume meat, to a large extent are You should seek to eliminate one of the types of foods that you consider to have the highest amount of toxins and damage to the Health. Although there are also vegetarians who share a principle of vegans: respect for animals.

The reasons why vegans don't eat meat go beyond food. Vegans firmly believe that the life of all living beings must be respected and that animals should not be products at the mercy of human use and exploitation. For this reason, they also do not consume products derived from animals.

The main difference between being vegan and being vegetarian is that the former do not consume meat or any food derived or produced by animals. They do it for ethical reasons and respect for the lives of animals. Vegetarians do not eat meat, but they do eat meat derivatives, and although their reasons may also be ethical, they are more related to the type of diet.

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2. Positions about the use of all kinds of products of animal origin

Being an ethical stance, vegans do not consume other types of animal-derived products, they do not only deprive themselves of meat. As is well known, many industries involve animals in some way or another in their processes. The food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, textile and entertainment industries make use of animals in some way.

Either using the animals' own bodies, such as their skins, bones or antlers, or consuming the products that they make or arise from them, such as honey, milk and eggs. They are also often used to test the efficiency or possible adverse reactions of foods, cosmetics, creams and medicines.

The entertainment industry is no exception. Zoos, circuses, and movies tend to be disrespectful to animals and subdue them in cruel ways only to serve the entertainment of the public. All these activities are categorically rejected by vegans, so they do not consume any product that requires this type of practice.

Vegans are extremely careful not to use for their personal use or consumption, any type of product that involves any type of animal cruelty. So in addition to food, vegans transfer this ethical stance to all aspects of their lives, taking care that no animal has been used in any of them.

On the other hand, as already mentioned, vegetarians only restrict animal meat from their diet. They do it mainly for health reasons, although ethical reasons about caring for the environment and respecting the life of animals could also be involved.

However, some vegetarians consider the possibility of consuming meat, if it is organic. That is, it can be certified and ensured that the animal from which the meat comes, was raised in natural conditions, respectful and without adding any type of substance to cause its growth accelerated.

3. The type of food preparation

Another difference between being vegan and being vegetarian are their derivations and the way they are prepared. As in all social trends and positions, there are ramifications or aspects that derive from the main idea. This is how ovo-lacto-vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians, semi-vegetarians, flexitarians or raw vegans exist.

The differences between one and the other are small, and usually lie in consumption habits, or in the licenses that are given. in some cases in the way of preparing food, as in the case of flexitarians, who can consume a little meat on certain occasions, often social. Some of these trends do not consume processed foods in any way.

Vegetarians often continue the trend of mixing and cooking foods. In other words, his food undergoes a process before being consumed. In the case of vegans, most of their dishes consist of the raw foods themselves, simply presented and combined in a certain way or crushed and ground.

It is common for vegans to choose to prepare some products themselves, such as dressings or jams, with the aim of ensuring that they are prepared in a way that is respectful not only with animals but also with the environment. In contrast, vegetarians may be more inclined to purchase ready-made products.

Due to all this, the consumption habits between vegans and vegetarians are significantly different. As vegans increasingly turn to looking for natural ingredients and preparing themselves the products they require, vegetarians focus only on everything related to feeding.

For all these reasons, the difference between being vegan and vegetarian has to do with their philosophies and conception of health and life. While vegans maintain an ethical stance and a philosophy of life that is respectful of animals and the environment. Vegetarians are people focused on health care through a meat-free diet.

Bibliographic references

• Deckers J. Animal (De) liberation: Should the Consumption of Animal Products Be Banned? London: Ubiquity Press; 2016. Might a Vegan Diet Be Healthy, or Even Healthier?

• Appleby, P., & Key, T. (2016). The long-term health of vegetarians and vegans. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 75 (3), 287-293. doi: 10.1017 / S0029665115004334.