Wanna Go Vegetarian? What Type Do You Think You Would Be (2024)

Updated on 02/7/23

Watch Now: 6 Myths About a Vegetarian Diet

• 01 of 07

  Flexitarian or Semi-Vegetarian

  

  You don’t have to be vegetarian to love vegetarian food. The term “flexitarian” was coined to describe semi-vegetarians or those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet but occasionally eat meat.

• 02 of 07

  Pescatarian

  

  The word “pescatarian” (also pescetarian) is used to describe those who abstain from eating all animal flesh with the exception of fish. More and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

• 03 of 07

  Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian

  

  When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. These are people who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products. The word “lacto” comes from the Latin for milk and “ovo” means egg. Lacto-ovo vegetarians are the most common kind of vegetarian.

  You can be just one or the other. Alacto-vegetarianis used to describe a type of vegetarian who does not eat eggsbut does eat dairy products.Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.

• 04 of 07

  Vegan

  

  Vegans do not eat meat products of any kind including eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin, which comes from animal collagen.

  Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products even if there are no animal products in the finished food. For example, some sugars are made with bone char in the bleaching and filtering process. And, some wines have "fining agents"–like milk protein, gelatin, and egg whites–that are used in the processing of wine​ but are not actual ingredients. There is some debate as to whether certain foods like honey fit into a vegan diet.

  The Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services for Plant-Based Eating

  Continue to 5 of 7 below

• 05 of 07

  Raw Vegan or Raw Food Diet

  

  A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 F / 46 C. A person who follows a raw vegan diet is also called a “raw foodist.” This food trend is based on the belief that foods cooked above this temperature lose a significant amount of their nutritional value and become harmful to the body.

• 06 of 07

  Macrobiotic

  

  The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon radish, and sea vegetables, such aswakameand other seaweeds.

• 07 of 07

  How to Go Vegetarian

  

  If you're interested in exploring a healthy vegetarian diet but haven't yet made the leap, check out some tips onhow to make the transition to a vegetarian diet.

• Culinary Glossary
• Vegetarian Cooking Basics
• Cooking School