The question of what do you call people who eat only food from plants is common, especially as plant-based diets gain popularity. The precise answer is a vegan, but the term is often confused with 'vegetarian,' which includes several variations that permit some animal-derived products. A clear understanding of these different dietary patterns helps to distinguish the choices people make for their health, ethical beliefs, and environmental footprint.
The Distinction Between Vegan and Vegetarian
While both vegans and vegetarians avoid meat and poultry, the key difference lies in their approach to animal byproducts. The vegan diet is the most restrictive, excluding all animal-derived foods.
Vegan
A person who is vegan consumes no animal flesh, dairy, eggs, or any other animal-derived ingredients, such as honey or gelatin. For many, veganism is not just a diet but a broader ethical lifestyle that extends to avoiding animal-tested products, leather, wool, and silk.
Vegetarian
The term vegetarian acts as an umbrella for several subcategories of plant-based diets that permit certain animal products. The main types include:
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: Consumes eggs and dairy products but no meat, poultry, or fish.
- Lacto-vegetarian: Includes dairy products but avoids eggs, meat, poultry, and fish.
- Ovo-vegetarian: Includes eggs but avoids dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish.
- Pescatarian: A semi-vegetarian diet that includes fish and seafood, alongside eggs and dairy, but excludes meat and poultry.
- Flexitarian: Primarily plant-based but occasionally includes meat, poultry, or fish.
Reasons for Choosing a Plant-Based Diet
The motivations for adopting a plant-based diet are varied and often interconnected. Key drivers include health, environmental concerns, and ethical convictions.
- Health: Many studies show that well-planned plant-based diets can lead to health benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and improved weight management. Plant-based diets are typically high in fiber, vitamins C and E, magnesium, and healthy fats.
- Environment: Animal agriculture has a significant environmental footprint, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, land use, and water consumption. Adopting a plant-based diet helps mitigate these issues by reducing demand for animal products.
- Ethics: A core reason for choosing veganism is ethical opposition to animal exploitation and suffering, including factory farming practices. The conviction extends beyond food to avoid all products derived from animal harm.
Comparative Look at Dietary Choices
To further clarify the differences, here is a comparison of various dietary patterns, from the most restrictive to the most flexible:
| Dietary Pattern | Meat | Poultry | Fish/Seafood | Dairy | Eggs | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes all animal products. Often a broader lifestyle choice. |
| Lacto-ovo-vegetarian | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Includes | Includes | The most common form of vegetarianism. |
| Lacto-vegetarian | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Includes | Excludes | Avoids eggs for various reasons, including ethical or religious. |
| Ovo-vegetarian | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Excludes | Includes | Avoids dairy, possibly due to intolerance or ethics. |
| Pescatarian | Excludes | Excludes | Includes | Varies | Varies | Includes fish for nutritional benefits like omega-3 fatty acids. |
| Flexitarian | Includes (occasionally) | Includes (occasionally) | Includes (occasionally) | Varies | Varies | A flexible approach focused on reducing, not eliminating, animal products. |
Nutritional Considerations for Plant-Based Diets
While offering numerous benefits, plant-based diets require careful planning to ensure nutritional needs are met. Key nutrients to monitor include:
- Vitamin B12: Primarily found in animal products, vegans must supplement or consume fortified foods like nutritional yeast or fortified plant-based milks.
- Iron: Plant-based (non-heme) iron is less readily absorbed than animal-based iron. Pairing iron-rich plant foods (e.g., lentils, leafy greens) with vitamin C-rich foods (e.g., citrus fruits, bell peppers) enhances absorption.
- Calcium: Sourced from fortified plant milks, tofu, leafy greens, and nuts.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and walnuts.
- Protein: Easily obtained from a variety of plant sources, including beans, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
For more detailed nutritional guidance on vegetarian diets, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers comprehensive resources.
Conclusion
In summary, the term you call people who eat only food from plants is a vegan, representing the complete avoidance of all animal products. Vegetarians, on the other hand, follow a plant-centric diet but may still consume dairy and/or eggs. With various motivations driving people towards these diets, from improved health to environmental stewardship, understanding the specific terminology is crucial. A well-planned plant-based diet can be a sustainable and healthy choice at all stages of life, provided essential nutrients are properly managed.
