Both types of diet can be considered safe for all stages of life, but vegan diets may even offer additional health benefits. However, it's important for both vegetarians and vegans to plan their diets well in order to avoid health complications over the long term.

At a minimum, people who call themselves vegans avoid products including meat, fish, dairy, honey, gelatin, leather, wool, suede, fur, feathers, and silk—but being vegan means more than simply changing one's dietary habits. It's also a lifestyle.

Vegetarians don't eat any food products made from meat, fish, shellfish, crustacea (such as prawns or crab) or animal by-products (such as gelatine or rennet). Vegans don't eat any food products that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

Many people still believe that a vegan diet is deficient in essential nutrients, or that it is not sustainable for long-term health. Additionally, vegans may face negative stereotypes, such as being viewed as “preachy” or “judgmental.”