DIET

Common Plant-Based Terminology

Flexitarian | A semi-vegetarian, plant-forward diet that incorporates dairy and eggs and allows room for meat from time to time.

Fruitarian | A raw vegan diet centered on fruits. Usually, fruitarians still do eat raw vegetables, as well, but the focus is on fruits. The majority of calories come from fruit. Many fruitarians do not eat nuts, even if they are raw, because of the macronutrient balance.

Nutritional Yeast | This is considered a condiment used by vegans and others who are interested in reducing their dairy consumption and is used to add a cheese-like flavor to many dishes. It comes as yellow flakes which can be fortified with vitamin B12. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor. Referred to lovingly by the vegan community as “nooch.”

Plant-Based | Generally someone that adheres to a diet that is focused around plants and tries to avoid animal products such as meat, fish, dairy and eggs, however “plant-based” does not necessarily mean vegan. There are several categories of plant-based and they can include animal products to some degree. The term “plant-based” can also refer to the food and ingredients themselves. To me, ‘plant-based’ labels on products does not equate to healthy. It just means the ingredients are mainly from plant sources. They are still ultra-processed food products in my book.

Plant Forward | A style of cooking and eating that incorporates foods from plant sources but is not strictly limited to them. The focus is to limit, not avoid meat and animal products and shift more towards a balance of plants that includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, and beans. Meat may be included but it's usually not the main feature of the meal. A dietary and food transformation that includes a healthier, more sustainable diet than the Standard American Diet.

Plant Predominant | See Plant Forward.

Plant Exclusive | A term coined by Chef AJ (the Plant-Based OG).

Raw Food Diet | The dietary practice of eating mostly or completely raw (never heated) and unprocessed foods only. Often called raw foodism or raw veganism. A food is considered raw if it has never been heated over 104–118°F (40–48°C).

SAD | The Standard American Diet is a diet that consists of meat, dairy, animal products and high amounts of processed food (that contain refined carbohydrates, added sugars and refined fats). Also known as a “Western Diet”. This way of eating can be characterized by the consumption of little to no fruit, being considerably fiber-deficient (think perpetual constipation) and full of foods high in sugar and artery-clogging saturated and refined fats.

SOS-free | The elimination of any added salt, oil, and sugar in cooking and purchased foods from your diet.

SOFAS-free | A diet free of any sugar, oil, flour, alcohol and salt.

Veganism | The practice of abstaining from the use of animal product as a lifestyle and in the diet and incorporating an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status, harm and rights of animals. And some vegans eat a diet containing more processed food, so they do not eat a whole food plant-based diet (Oreos are vegan). To me something labeled vegan does not mean healthy, it just means it contains no animal products.

Vegetarian | A diet that excludes meat, poultry, fish and seafood while allowing dairy and eggs.

Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) | This is the most common term used to describe a diet focused exclusively on unrefined, whole foods. The term ‘WFPB diet’ represents less ethical judgments for those that choose to eat this way for their health, as compared to the term ‘vegan diet’ which is based around the value of animal rights. So they don’t mean the same thing exactly. That said, many people who eat a whole food plant-based diet are vegan.