Other Special Diets

In addition to vegetarian diets, a range of other dietary restrictions are important for cooks to understand. Some of these are simply a matter of the diner’s choice. Many individuals seek to avoid certain ingredients or to base their diets on certain food types in search of health benefits. Other special diets reflect individual health conditions such as allergies. Diners who are allergic to a particular food component, called an allergen, must avoid certain foods to maintain their health. Here is a summary of the most prominent of these special diets.