Vegetarianism

Definition

A vegetarian diet is a meal plan that contains little or no animal products.
Types of vegetarian diets include:
Vegan: Diet consists of only foods of plant origin.
Lacto-vegetarian: Diet consists of plant foods plus some or all dairy products.
Lacto-ovovegetarian: Diet consists of plant foods, dairy products, and eggs.
Semi- or partial vegetarian: Diet consists of plant foods and may include chicken or fish, dairy products, and eggs. It does not include red meat.

Alternative Names
Lacto-ovovegetarian; Semi-vegetarian; Partial vegetarian; Vegan; Lacto-vegetarian

Function

A person may choose to follow a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons, including religious, moral or political beliefs, economics, or the desire to eat more healthy foods.
The American Dietetic Association states that a well-planned vegetarian diet can deliver good nutrition. Dietary recommendations vary with the type of vegetarian diet. For children and adolescents these diets require special planning, because it may be difficult to obtain all the nutrients required for growth and development.
Nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian's diet include:
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D
Riboflavin
Zinc
Iron
Protein

Protein is necessary for good health. There are two types of protein: complete and incomplete. Complete proteins contain adequate amounts of the essential substances (amino acids) needed for health. They are found in meats, milk, fish, soy, and eggs. Incomplete proteins contain all of the essential amino acids, but not enough of them.
You do not have to eat animal products to get complete proteins in your diet. You can mix two incomplete proteins or an incomplete protein with a complete protein to get the proper amount. Some combinations are milk and cereal, peanut butter and bread, beans and rice, beans and corn tortillas, and macaroni and cheese.