Types of Vegetarian Diet

A vegetarian diet is one consisting entirely or mostly of foods derived from plants. Most committed vegetarians fall into one of these five categories:

• The vegan diet is the most restrictive form of vegetarianism. Vegans eat plant products only. All animal products, including dairy products and eggs, are off limits. Even foods that might sound safe are off limits to the strictest vegans. Examples of such foods include honey, because it comes from bees, and cane sugar, which may be refined with the use of animal products (more on this subject). (Also, don’t forget that gelatin is an animal product and is inappropriate for all vegetarian diets.) When preparing a vegetarian menu, the chef should keep in mind that a menu appropriate to a vegan diet has the broadest appeal because it can be eaten by all categories of vegetarians.
• Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products in addition to plant products but will not eat other animal products.
• Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs in addition to plant products.
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat dairy and egg products as well as plant products.
• Pesco-vegetarians eat fish and plant products but not meat or poultry. They may or may not eat dairy and egg products.