Does Plant Based Mean 100% Vegan?
Mostly plant based? Totally plant based? Diet or lifestyle?
That is an interesting question and one that may be describing terms that are moving closer to a distinction without a difference.
Though from a logical perspective the conclusion that the term “plant-based” means based upon plants, but not exclusively plants, it seems the term is more often used to describe a diet that is exclusively plants and their products.
I have read marketing studies that indicate that the term “plant-based” is preferred by consumers over the term vegan as it regards dietary choices. That being the case there are economic drivers to the replacement of “vegan diet” with “plant-based diet”.
The above observations apply exclusively to diet, and as the reader may know, the term "vegan", to a vegan, means life choices that extend beyond dietary options. Vegans choose to avoid any activity and product that results from, or will result in, the exploitation and/or suffering of animals.
- A vegan eats a plant-based diet
- A plant based eater may not necessarily live a vegan life style.
Though “plant-based diet” may become interchangeable with, and eventually replace “vegan diet” in the marketing and consumer world, there is no indication that the term “plant-based lifestyle” is growing more common. More, many vegans bristled at the term plant-based and associated it with a less than a full on commitment to preventing the suffering of animals.
From a Vegan Gently perspective, "plant based", or "100% plant based" are useful descriptors for food choices. Like the term "vegan" if it is applied as a label and worn like a badge it may become restrictive. In the commitment to cause as little suffering as possible concern for one's own life state is a good place to start and avoiding restrictive labels may be valuable.
If there is interest in learning more about plant-based eating and living a vegan lifestyle, Amazon offers some books on plant-based eating such as:
Julieanna Hever M.S. R.D., Raymond J. Cronise, Penn Jillette: 9781465470201: Amazon.com: Books
and several books related to a vegan lifestyle:
Vegan Gently Blog
