Lead Tidbit
There's a Big Difference, e.g.
"For you are a holy nation to HaShem your G-d, and it is you that G-d has chosen to be His "AM SEGULA" (His treasured nation), from among all the nations on the face of the Earth." Let's take a look at one example of this pasuk, as presented by several mitzvot in Parshat R'ei.

Of the people of the nations of the world, G-d demands/requires/expects one rule to be followed concerning the food that they eat: EIVER MIN HACHAI, limb (or meat) from a living animal. This prohibition is among our Taryag Mitzvot, and it is one of the Seven Noahide Laws (with some differences in detail). It is a universal prohibition. All people are expected to kill an animal first and only then to consume its meat. So it would seem that basic human decency, fundamental human behavior, requires this... and no more.

But for us, the laws continue. We are not allowed to eat most animals - only those that the Torah permits us to eat. We have rules for mammals, for birds, for fish, and for insects. In addition to the prohibitions of "non-kosher" animals, we have positive mitzvot to check for signs of kashrut. As far as animals and birds are concerned, not only may we not eat from them while they are alive, but an animal that dies other than by ritual slaughter is forbidden to us. And even an animal that has been properly slaughtered may not be permitted if it has defects of a certain kind. And even with Sh'chita - which is one of the 613 mitzvot, the blood of some animals and all birds must be covered following Sh'chita. And the blood of all animals and birds must be removed from the meat before we may partake of it. And, we are reminded in the sedra, not only may we not cook meat with milk, or eat "meat in milk", but we may not even derive any benefit from Basar b'Chalav.
Can one be a good human being without all this (beyond Eiver Min HaChai)? Yes. So what's it all for? Us. To become a holy nation and merit being His.