Whether you’re an animal lover, prioritizing your personal

health, or both, the benefits of consuming less meat and

animal products are seemingly endless.
It may seem that there are a lot of terms tossed around these days
describing those who choose to restrict or eliminate animal products. It’s no
surprise people may be getting them confused.

Similarities
There is one key similarity between the terms vegetarian, vegan, and plant-
based: they indicate refraining from consuming animals. There are many
reasons why someone may choose to adopt any of these words to define
their diet, lifestyle, or philosophy. While there are many reasons, animal
welfare, personal health, and environmental stewardship are the most
common.

Generally speaking, anything that is considered vegan is also vegetarian.

Differences
But not everything that is vegetarian is vegan. Vegetarians may consume
products that come from animals, such as milk, eggs, and honey. Vegans,
on the other hand, remove all animal products, including meat, dairy, and
eggs. Beyond food, the term “vegan” is used to also describe those who
eliminate apparel or household items that are made from animal parts, like
clothing, shoes, or bags made from wool, leather, or fur, or were produced
with animal testing, such as shampoos and laundry supplies.
Essentially...

 A vegetarian avoids eating animals but may include animal by-products

like milk and eggs.
 A vegan refrains from all animal products, and extends into a
comprehensive lifestyle of not using animals for food, clothing, etc.