Vegan describes a way of eating and living that avoids all animal products. A vegan doesn't eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy products like milk or cheese, or honey. Instead, vegans eat foods that come from plants: fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans, and seeds.

The word can describe both the person (she's a vegan) and the food itself (this soup is vegan). People choose to be vegan for different reasons. Some believe it's healthier. Others want to avoid harming animals. Some think raising animals for food uses too many natural resources like water and land.

Being vegan takes planning because many common foods contain animal products you might not expect. Regular bread can contain milk or eggs. Many candies contain gelatin, which comes from animals. Vegans learn to read ingredient labels carefully and find plant-based alternatives.

Vegan is more restrictive than vegetarian. A vegetarian doesn't eat meat but might eat eggs, cheese, or drink milk. A vegan avoids all of these. At restaurants, you may see menu items marked with a small “V” to show they're vegan-friendly, helping people quickly identify what they can eat.