What's the difference between a Vegan and a Vegetarian?

Answer 1

Lillyian gave the only good answer so far. Most of the answers above her are only partially correct. And many of them out right wrong.

Simply put, vegetarianism is a diet. Not a diet to lose weight, but a diet as in a way of eating.

Whereas veganism is a lifestyle.

While a vegetarian draws the line at eating an animal, they have no problem wearing leather shoes and jackets. Wool sweaters or silk shirts. While they may balk at the idea of veal, they don't have problems with calves being murdered for the creation of cheese. Or that cows are needlessly tortured and maimed for milk production.

Vegans take everything seriously. They do not consume, do not wear and do not use - ANY product derived from an animal. Vegans will read each and every label of a product not marked specifically VEGAN to search out animal products.

Even certain kinds of plastic. Who thinks of animal products in plastic? Vegans do! For instance Polyurethane (PU) is vegan - Polyvinyl Cloride (PVC) is not. Yes, some plastic is made with animal product.

No wool. No silk. No leather. No honey.

Vegetarians don't worry much about their shampoo or cosmetics. Some may try to be sure that no animals were tested with it. But they rarely look to see if there are animals IN it. Such as most red lipsticks are derived from crushed beetles. Cetyl Alcohol in many of your cosmetics, soaps and shampoos comes from whales and dolphins. Cetaceans.

Vegans are usually more aware of what is healthy, verses simply cutting out the meat. For instance, a vegan can spot toxins and animal products at 100 yards. Ok Ok. I cracked a joke. So much for "serious" vegans... But it's more truth than jest. Vegans will have a litany of "hidden" animal products that they are aware of.

Did you know many black teas are dark due to pig's blood being added? Tetley is safe. Lipton refuses to cough up just what is in it's "natural flavorings." Pig blood is natural...

See where I'm going with that? I could go on. But I don't want to write a novel.

Answer 2

Vegetarians eat neither dead fish nor flesh nor fowl.They will eat eggs and/or dairy = milk, cheese, yoghurt. They also eat Fruits, vegetables, pulses,mushrooms and nuts.
Vegans don't eat any animal products so in addition to not eating fish meat & poultry they do not eat eggs or dairy and honey. If you like vegan is a little stricter than vegetarian and is more of a life change than a 'food regime. It is easy to go vegan if you are a vegetarian but if you eat meat and want to convert to veganism I'd strongly recommend being a vegetarian for a while and easing yourself into the lifestyle slowly. Yes vegan is a lifestyle you don't buy leather or wool etc and have to use vegan toiletries and cosmetics I'm lucky as my local supermarket sells 'The original source' range!

Answer 3

There are many levels of vegetarians. Vegans will not eat meat or animal by-products. The others get more complicated. I've included a link below check out because some vegetarians will eat eggs, some won't. Some will eat dairy, some won't. I've even heard of some vegetarians that don't count fish as meat. (Although I don't understand that, even though I'm Catholic and we do the same thing during Lent...no meat on Fridays, but fish is okay!) You get the idea.

Answer 4

A VEGAN (pronounced like "begin", VEE-gin ) (some say veg like beg) is basically someone who shuns all animal products, from their diet, their clothes, and even other items they use.
While some choose being vegan for health reasons and environmental reasons, most choose it because they don't believe in causing any pain to any creature, particularly since it is so unnecessary, and/or they believe we just should let all animals live their own natural lives, without our interfering.

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Vegan----Slang for Vegetarian.....one that believes in or practices living solely on plant products.

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The main difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that a lot of vegetarians still use dairy and egg products and aren't as strict in their lifestyles. Some people are vegetarians for supposed health reason, and/or environmental protection reasons, while some are for anti cruelty/animal rights. Although cutting down on any animal product will be better for ones health, the environment, and reduce some cruelty, to be truely best for ones health, the planets health, and to reduce animal cruelty to a minimum, one must be a vegan.

Answer 5

Wow, there are a lot of confusing answers here. Hopefully this Will be helpful.

VEGETARIANS:
*Eat NO dead animals, whether they walk, swim or fly
*There is no such thing as a vegetarian who eats fish or birds
*Vegetarians do not eat foods that are *code words* for dead animal, such as "geletin"
*they can eat dairy and eggs but some choose not to
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VEGANS
*Same as vegetarians
*They also do not eat products that come from animals, including eggs, dairy or honey
*They do not eat code words for products that come from animals such as casien (and many others)
*Vegans do not wear products from animals either. This includes: leather, wool, suade, down, silk etc.
*They (whenever possible) purchase products that were not tested on animals or contain animal parts (soaps, health&beauty, toiletries etc.)

Answer 6

Vegetarians don't eat any meat and stuff. Vegans eat no meat, or any products that come from animals.

Answer 7

Vegans avoid all animal products. And the harcore ones also avoid wearing furs, and leather. They don't use or consume any products that are derived from animals. It might be a politically correct term to classify someone with this obsession. But personally I have more respect for vegetarians!

Answer 8

Most vegetarians will still eat dairy products, but vegans won't, including milk whey.

Answer 9

Vegans don't eat any animal products like milk, cheese, eggs, butter, milk products, or anything containing those things, so basically they just eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Vegetarians still eat milk, cheese eggs, etc, they just don't eat meat. Some vegetarians still eat fish also. My daughter is a vegetarian and she says she does not eat anything with a face.

Answer 10

Vegetarians don't eat meat, but may eat other animal products which include, eggs, cheese and butter.

Vegans don't eat any animal products.