People Who Eat Plants

People Who Eat Primarily Plants

(17 types of plant-powered diets)

There are significant differences between the terms vegan, plant-based, and whole plant based (aka whole foods plant-based - WFPB). Heads up: some vegan sites inaccurately describe WPF diets as flexitarian (ie plant-forward omnivores). Actually, WPF advocates don't usually eat animals or animal products. Keep in mind that labels can be limiting and these are tendencies only. Armed with food, beverage, and food-system education, I trust you'll find YOUR own approach.

ON THIS PAGE:

Intro: Vegan, Plant-Based, and Whole Plant Based / Flexitarian / Reducetarian / Vegetarian / Classic Vegan / Climate Vegan / Detox Vegan / Engine 2 Diet / Ethical Vegan / HCLF Diet / Junk + Faux-Food Vegan / No SOFAS Diet / Nutritarian Diet / Paleo Vegan / Raw Vegan / Starch Solution Diet / WPF - Whole Plant Foods Diet (aka WFPB) / Cheat Sheet 1.0: Cookhouse Hero's High-Low-Ox "Diet" (in English and Spanish)

Vegan diet: generally speaking, a vegan is someone who tends to...

never eat foods that have eyes, have a mother, and are alive
never eat foods or compounds that are produced by animals – honey, eggs, and dairy products (cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc)
never wear fur, leather, silk, and wool products; they also oppose animal use in laboratories
possibly eat vegan convenience foods, processed foods, faux-vegan foods (vegan mayo, Beyond meat, etc), and/or vegan junk food
add oils, sugars (including refined), and flours (including bleached white flours) to recipes

Plant-based diet: generally speaking, a plant-based eater is someone who tends to...

generally avoid foods that have eyes, have a mother, and are alive
generally avoid foods and compounds that are produced by animals
possibly wear fur, vintage leather, silk, and wool products (or not at all)
possibly eat vegan convenience foods, processed foods, faux-vegan foods, and/or vegan junk food products
add oils, sugars, and flours to recipes
also: they might eat animals and animals products in small amounts (or not at all)

Whole plant-based diet (WPF): generally speaking, a whole plant-based eater is someone who tends to...

avoid or never eat foods that have eyes, have a mother, and are alive
avoid or never eat foods and compounds that are produced by animals
possibly wear vintage leather, silk, fur, and wool products (or not at all); they generally oppose animal use in laboratories
possibly eat a small amount of whole plant-based packaged foods (Engine 2 or Amy's products, etc)
consume foods at or very close to their natural state
add whole plant-based fats and sugars to recipes (avocados, nuts, dates, and pitted plums vs olive oil, avocado oil, and cane sugar)
avoid or significantly limit fat-based foods, salt, flours, alcohol, and tobacco
avoid or significantly limit processed foods and faux-vegan foods

"The Gods created certain kinds of beings to replenish our bodies;

they are the trees and the plants and the seeds."

- Plato, Greek Philosopher (died 347 BCE)

Plant-Forward

Flexitarian

The flexitarian diet is a combination of a classic vegan and vegetarian diet. People might also eat chicken at their Grandma's 75th birthday, grilled salmon at their favorite restaurant, pizza on Friday nights with their kids, or turkey jerky during a road trip.

Rabbit Hole

Reducetarian

The reducetarian diet can often look like a flexitarian diet. The focus is not only on reducing animals and animal products, but also shedding light on horrific conditions for food animals called CAFOs - concentrated animal feeding operations (animal factories).

People Who Eat Primarily Plants

Plant-Forward

Plant-based + Vegan + WPF