Believe it or not, I was not born a vegetarian. I had to work hard at it and take baby steps. I didn’t jump right into the vegetarian lifestyle. I started eliminating meat from my diet at the age of 12. I had to figure it out (and am still trying to figure it out) and learn how to replace meat with healthy foods that would not only nourish my body, but keep me feeling full and just as importantly, it tasted great. ‘My father, the vegan’, was a vegetarian for a couple of years and then became a vegan. So while I was on my journey to becoming a vegetarian, there was a time when I was still eating seafood (and no other meat) and I remember him saying to me, “Ebbie Webbie (that’s what she calls me), when are you going to become into a TRUE VEGETARIAN? I was like what, are you kidding? I thought it was a true vegetarian. Who defines who are the true vegetarians? Are you less of a vegetarian because you eat dairy, eggs, or fish? My answer is “no”, but others would say otherwise. Either way, you need to start the vegetarian transition somewhere, and to help you design a meatless plan that works best for you, here are 10 different types of vegetarian diets you can adopt to help you become a “real” vegetarian:
lacto-ovo – This vegetarian diet consists of eggs and dairy, but does not consist of animal meat or shellfish.
egg – If you are an Ovo Vegetarian then you don’t eat meat, seafood or dairy, but you still consume eggs.
milk – Lactovegetarians don’t eat meat, shellfish, or eggs, but still enjoy the taste of dairy products.
chicken – If you are Chicken – Vegetarian, then you are probably still trying to adjust to the vegetarian lifestyle. You still eat chicken, but not shellfish or other animal meat.
I fish chicken – I was a pesco-chicken vegetarian when I was 12 years old. He ate seafood and poultry and no other animal meat.
Half (part time) – If you are a part-time vegetarian, you still eat meat but have reduced your consumption. For example, you can be a vegetarian from Monday to Friday, but once the weekend rolls around, you want chicken or steak.
I fish – Pescatarians eat only shellfish and no other meat or meat.
frugivorous – I would like to meet a frugivore. Frugivores only eat fruits and vegetables that do not harm, damage, or suck the life out of the plants they came from. An example would be oranges and apples.
vegan – Do not eat meat or products that come from something that once had a face (that’s how I like to describe it). They do not eat honey, they do not wear leather, silk, nor do they use or eat gelatin products.
Raw – Raw vegans eat only whole grains, raw or lightly steamed vegetables, and fresh foods. Some raw vegetarians don’t even cook their grains and beans, they just let them soak for a couple of days until they’re soft enough to eat.
Remember, whatever path you take to become a vegetarian is yours and yours alone. Just remember to eat a healthy and diverse variety of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based protein to support your smart new decision to become a vegetarian.