There is exactly no definition of the words ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegetarianism’ because they cover an extensive range of meat-restricted eating practice. Vegetarianism was supposed to be practiced for ethical (moral), ascetic (self-denial), or nutritional (dietary) reasons, however latterly eating fashion (fad diet) and health (BSE) became popular motives for advocating vegetarianism and vegetarian eating. In a general sense, it is the practice of living exclusively upon vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts. However, there are several vegetarians that eat some meat-products (milk, meat fats and eggs) and some of them eat fish.

Further, vegetarians are classified according to the kind and range of vegetarian foods consumed. The total vegetarian or vegan diet includes foods exclusive from plants: vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes (peas and dried beans), seeds and nuts. The lactovegetarian diet includes cheese and other dairy products aside from the plant foods. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet also includes eggs while the semi-vegetarians include fish and chicken together with plant foods, dairy products and eggs but no red meat.

Types of Vegetarians and the Vegetarian Diet:

Vegans

Vegan diets in its strictest sense exclude all foods of animal origin. Vegans are ‘strict’ vegetarians as they withdraw from consuming or utilizing any products of animal origin.

Semi or Part Vegetarians

Someone who is a “semi-vegetarian” or “part-vegetarian” doesn’t eat any red or white meat (beef, venison, pork, etc). The only animals that semi-vegetarians eat are fish and fowl, although they usually eat the by-products of red meat like oils, fats, gelatin etc. and wear clothing from these animals.

That being said, most vegetarians still would argue that a semi-vegetarian is not a ‘real’ vegetarian comparatively it’s like being semi-pregnant. Still, some definitions of vegetarianism (non-meat-eating) do not consider fish to be ‘meat.’ Moreover, animal fats and oils, bone meal and skin are not considered meat by all vegetarians.

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians

This is considered to be the most popular form of vegetarianism. This type of vegetarians does not eat meat or flesh of any kind, but they do take in eggs and dairy products. Occasionally lacto-ovo vegetarians consume meat by-products like fats, bone meal, and gelatin as well as utilize animal-derived products such as leather and the like.

Macrobiotic Vegetarians

A macrobiotic vegetarian diet may at initial levels include fish but it usually excludes all meat, poultry, dairy produce and eggs.

Macrobiotic vegetarians aim to maintain a balance between foods distinguished as ying (positive) or yang (negative). The macrobiotic diet advances through ten levels and becomes more and more restrictive as it ascends. Not all levels are vegetarian, though each level gradually reduces animal products. The highest levels totally eliminate fruit and vegetables, eventually attaining the level of a brown rice diet. This is type of diet however is not recommended from a nutritional viewpoint.

Pescetarian Vegetarians

A pescetarian diet includes fish but excludes meat and fowl although factory-farmed fish are usually avoided. This type of vegetarian diet is perfectly healthy.

Fruitarian Vegetarians

A fruitarian diet is a type of vegan diet which includes a minimum of processed or cooked foods. It comprises mainly of raw fruit (75 percent), fruit-like vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, grains and nuts. Fruitarians interestingly eat only plant foods that can be harvested without killing the plant. This type of vegetarian diet nonetheless is also not recommended from a nutritional viewpoint.

Sproutarian Vegetarians

A Sproutarian diet simply includes mostly sprouted seeds, grains, pulses and rice.