What is a vegetarian?
In a very general sense, a vegetarian is
someone who doesn't eat meat. But that definition is too simple. There are
several kinds of vegetarian diets:
- Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat milk products—such as milk, cheese, and yogurt—and eggs, but no
meat, poultry, seafood, or fish. "Lacto" means "milk." "Ovo" means eggs.
- Lacto-vegetarians eat milk products, but not eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, or fish.
- Vegans (say "VEE-guns" or "VAY-guns") are
total vegetarians. They eat only plant foods. They don't eat food that comes
from animals in any way, including milk products, eggs, honey, and gelatin
(which comes from bones and other animal tissue).
Many people are semi-vegetarian—most of the diet is vegetarian, but sometimes they may eat meat, poultry, seafood, fish, and/or eggs.
There are many reasons why
some people choose vegetarian diets:
- A vegetarian diet can be healthier than other
diets.
- Some people think it's wrong to use animals for
food.
- Some religions forbid eating meat.
- A vegetarian
diet can cost less than a diet that includes meat.
- Eating less meat can be better for the environment, because most meat is commercially farmed.
- Some people don't like the taste of meat.