What Is A Plant-Based Diet?

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is a diet wherein the majority of your meals are made up of plants. Typical foods such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, pulses and grains make up the majority of what someone on a plant-based diet eats each day. However, plant-based is a pretty flexible term — this can encompass a vegan who would consider themselves 100% plant-based — but also someone who would describe themselves as a flexitarian. Plant-based means that there is an emphasis on your plate being full of plant-based foods rather than meat, seafood or dairy, however someone who still eats these things occasionally can still be considered plant-based.

What’s the difference between a vegetarian, a vegan and a plant-based diet?

A vegetarian may still eat dairy and eggs, but they would technically also be on a plant-based diet. Similarly, someone who is typically vegan and eats no animal products would also still be plant-based. The term plant-based may come in handy for people who avoid meat, dairy, eggs and most seafood, but make an exception for things like mussels and fish since bivalves are sustainable and not sentient. The beauty of being plant-based is that if you’re already making the effort to eat less meat and dairy, chances are you are also on a plant-based diet. 

This article on how Emily went plant-based should be your next read!