Exploring Vegetarian Diets: A Guide to Different Types and Choices

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians

Unlike vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians include dairy products and eggs in their diet while abstaining from meat, poultry, seafood, and other animal-derived ingredients. This diet allows for a broader range of food options, as dairy and eggs can be used in various recipes to provide essential nutrients.

Lacto-Vegetarians

Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products but avoid eggs, meat, poultry, and seafood. This diet is particularly common in cultures where dairy plays a significant role in culinary traditions and daily meals.

Ovo-Vegetarians

Ovo-vegetarians, on the other hand, exclude dairy products from their diet but include eggs along with plant-based foods. Eggs become an essential source of protein and nutrients in this diet.

Pescetarians

Pescetarians are not considered strict vegetarians, as they include seafood in their diet while avoiding meat and poultry. This diet provides a compromise for those who want to reduce meat consumption but still enjoy fish and other seafood.

Raw Food Eaters

Raw food eaters follow a diet primarily consisting of uncooked and unprocessed plant-based foods. While this diet overlaps with veganism in terms of excluding animal products, it focuses on consuming foods in their most natural state to preserve nutrients and enzymes.

Vegans

As previously mentioned, vegans adhere to the most restrictive plant-based diet, excluding all animal products entirely. This includes not only meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and eggs but also honey and any other ingredients derived from animals.