Vegan vs Vegetarian
A vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and fish but typically includes dairy and eggs. A vegan diet goes further: it excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs, honey, and often non-food items derived from animals like leather and wool. The two share a foundation but the additional restrictions are meaningful in daily life and in nutritional planning.
Last reviewed on 2026-04-27.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Vegan | Vegetarian |
|---|---|---|
| Excludes meat, poultry, fish | Yes | Yes |
| Excludes dairy | No | Yes |
| Excludes eggs | No | Yes |
| Excludes honey | No | Often yes |
| Lifestyle scope | Diet only | Often a lifestyle (clothing, products) |
| Common subtypes | Lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, pescatarian (loose) | Strict, plant-based, raw vegan |
| B12 supplementation | Sometimes (fortified foods or supplement) | Required (no reliable plant source) |
| Restaurant friendliness | Wider menu options | More limited; growing rapidly |
Key Differences
1. What's included
A vegetarian diet centres on plants but typically includes dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt), eggs, and sometimes honey. The most common type, "lacto-ovo vegetarian," includes both.
A vegan diet excludes all animal-derived foods. No dairy, no eggs, no honey, no gelatine. Many people who identify as vegan extend the principle to non-food items: avoiding leather, wool, silk, and products tested on animals.
2. Why people choose each
Vegetarianism is often driven by ethical concerns about animal slaughter, religious or cultural traditions (Hinduism, Jainism, parts of Buddhism), environmental considerations, or health goals.
Veganism shares those motivations and adds concerns about the broader use of animals — dairy and egg industries, leather, animal testing. The motivation often pushes the dietary boundary further.
3. Subtypes
Vegetarian branches into lacto-vegetarian (dairy, no eggs), ovo-vegetarian (eggs, no dairy), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (both), and pescatarian (sometimes counted as vegetarian, sometimes not — includes fish).
Vegan branches into strict vegan (no animal products in any context), plant-based (a dietary label without the broader lifestyle commitments), raw vegan (uncooked plant foods), and others.
4. Nutritional considerations
Vegetarians get easy access to complete protein, vitamin B12, iodine, and calcium through dairy and eggs. Iron and zinc require attention from plant sources, but the major nutritional gaps are smaller.
Vegans need more deliberate planning. Vitamin B12 has no reliable natural plant source — supplementation or fortified foods are necessary. Calcium, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, and iodine all benefit from active attention.
5. Practical day-to-day
Vegetarian options are widespread in restaurants, packaged foods, and most cuisines globally. Eating out is straightforward in most places.
Vegan options have grown enormously but remain less universal. Restaurant menus often have one or two vegan options or none; many packaged foods contain hidden animal ingredients (whey, casein, gelatin).
6. Environmental impact
Vegetarian diets have a meaningfully lower environmental footprint than typical omnivorous diets, especially in greenhouse gases and land use, primarily by removing meat.
Vegan diets typically have an even smaller footprint — dairy and eggs add land, water, and emissions costs that vegan diets avoid entirely.
When to Choose Each
Choose Vegan if:
- Anyone moving away from meat for health, ethical, or environmental reasons.
- People in cultures or religions where vegetarianism is well-established (Hindu, Jain, Buddhist traditions).
- A practical first step for someone considering plant-based eating without the full vegan transition.
- Households with mixed dietary preferences — vegetarian meals are easier to prepare for groups.
Choose Vegetarian if:
- People committed to avoiding animal products for ethical, environmental, or health reasons.
- Anyone with strong views on dairy and egg industries beyond meat.
- Those willing to plan around B12 and other potential gaps with supplementation or fortified foods.
- Long-term lifestyle commitment beyond just diet.
Worked example
A long-time vegetarian considers veganism. The dietary jump is real — coffee gets oat milk, breakfast omelettes give way to tofu scrambles, restaurant menus are scrutinised for hidden dairy. After three months, she plans the diet carefully (B12 supplement, fortified plant milk, a varied legume-and-grain rotation), and the everyday rhythm settles. Same general direction as before; a meaningful next step.
Common Mistakes
- "Vegetarians don't eat fish." Strictly speaking, no — pescatarian is a separate category, even if often grouped colloquially with vegetarian.
- "Vegans don't need supplements." Vitamin B12 supplementation is essentially required on a vegan diet; the body needs it and plants don't reliably contain it.
- "Plant-based and vegan are the same." Plant-based usually refers only to diet; vegan typically extends to lifestyle.
- "Going vegan automatically means a healthier diet." Plenty of processed vegan food is calorically dense and not particularly nutritious. The diet is what you make of it.
This is general educational information, not personalised advice. See the disclaimer for the full note.