Hearing the words plant-based and vegan, you may think that the two diets are very similar in the sense that they only eat products that are made with all plant-based ingredients. However, there is a difference between plant-based and vegan and with the rise in both diets, this blog post will help define the two and how they differ from one another.
Is plant-based the same as vegan?
Plants are making their way into American diets and become a staple in their lifestyle. Since 2004, the Ipsos Retail Performance group has conducted an ongoing survey asking Americans about turning plant-based. Over the 15-year period, 9.7 million people have adopted a vegan diet. That means, people are clearing their plates of meat and seafood, and loading up on veggies, fruits, and grains. But what is the difference between a vegan diet and a plant-based diet?
You know that old saying, “what came first? The chicken or the egg?” The same idea can be said for a plant-based diet and a vegan diet. Well, the plant-based diet began with the help of the vegan diet, so technically veganism came first, then plant-based.
Plant-based
First, the term plant-based refers to a person’s diet alone. That means, that individuals’ personal diet, rather than a collective diet. A plant-based diet refers to a diet that is primarily plant-based. However, individuals who are plant-based will also include animal-derived products in their lifestyle which includes clothing, shoes, accessories, or household goods.
Vegan:
Being vegan is a lifestyle change, rather than a simple change in your diet. Veganism embraces the idea of avoiding the consumption of all and any animals or animal-derived products. This includes vegan clothes, vegan shoes, and vegan household cleaners. Aside from products that are derived from animals, vegans will stray away from all products that have been tested on animals.
What foods can you eat on a plant-based diet vs vegan diet?
Primarily, a vegan diet and a plant-based diet are allowed to eat grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and SIMPLY DELISH! In other words, the two diets differ when it comes to meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, and lifestyle factors. A vegan diet restricts those items whereas a plant-based diet chooses whether they want to restrict those items or not.
How can Simply Delish be Vegan and Plant-Based?
Simply Delish jels and puddings are great for everyone, including those who follow a plant-based or vegan diet. You might be wondering, how is that possible since the two are considered different? The ingredients in our range of desserts are free of animal-derived products such as animals, fish, and dairy. Those who follow a plant-based diet or vegan diet can enjoy our desserts knowing that they are free from animal-derived products. Here’s the bigger question, what kind of vegan dessert recipes and plant-based desserts recipes are you going to use? Check out this recipe for a kick-start of inspiration!
What About Your Facility?
Even the facility that produces our desserts is completely dairy-free and is approved by major food auditors! Not to mention, the facility that our product is produced in has strict cleaning, sanitation & allergen measures in place to prevent cross-contamination. So no need to worry when you’re creating your next plant-based recipe! No animals were involved in the making!
Overall, if making the switch to a plant-based or vegan diet is something you’ve been considering, ease into it! Start off by planning ahead and dedicated two days to eating plant-based or vegan. Then increase the number of days each week. One of the great things about choosing a plant-based or vegan diet is that you don’t have to give up the foods you once loved! There are plenty of plant-based products! Restaurants, bakeries, even fast-food companies offer great vegan and plant-based options! Along with books, podcasts, and blogs, there is plenty of online support and educational resources. So, why wait?
