A vegan diet is one that excludes all animal products, including meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs and honey. Most vegans also avoid wearing animal-derived materials such as fur, leather, silk and wool and using household products and cosmetics containing animal-derived ingredients. The Vegan Society defines veganism as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. You may have heard the term 'plant-based', which is sometimes used interchangeably with 'vegan' but sometimes with a vegetarian, pescatarian (includes fish), or flexitarian diet that still includes small amounts of animal products. In fact, there is no universally agreed definition of the term, which in my view renders it rather meaningless. So, I have used the term 'vegan' throughout this book.
