What Do Vegetarians Eat?

Do vegetarians only eat vegetables? No, of course not. They also eat fruits, beans, legumes, nuts, and whole grains in bread, cereal, and pasta. Some vegetarians eat eggs and milk products.

Vegetarians’ eating habits are really pretty much like everyone else’s except they don’t eat meat. Some eat very healthy and some don’t. Some vegetarians eat all foods with the exception of meat, poultry, and seafood. That means cookies, candies, sodas, fries, etc. Their diet may be quite unbalanced and calorie-dense but it’s still vegetarian.

On the other hand, those who eat a plant-based diet for health reasons generally prefer nutrient-rich foods. They eat a balanced diet with a rich variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts in the recommended serving sizes. They make sure all the nutrients required to maintain a healthy body are adequately supplied. Generally these folks don’t eat many fast foods or highly processed foods.

There are several different types of vegetarian.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat milk products and eggs.

Lacto vegetarians drink milk and eat milk products but don’t eat eggs.

Vegans eat no animal products whatsoever, and extend that philosophy to the clothes they wear and the products they use.

Raw foodists don’t cook their food because they believe heating destroys the enzymes.

Macrobiotic vegetarians eat foods according to their availability during the growing seasons.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are names to identify people who are sometimes, semi-, or almost vegetarians.

A relatively new term, flexitarian, has been created for those who prefer a vegetarian diet but for any number of reasons occasionally eat a hamburger, a pepperoni pizza, or turkey with their family during the holidays.

Pollotarian and pescatarian are terms to describe the chicken and fish allowed on those particular semi-vegetarian diets.

Healthy vegetarians eat a nutrient-rich plant-based diet. By choosing variety of foods, vegetarians of all types are more likely to eat a balanced diet. Contrary to what many people believe, vegetarians are easily able to meet their daily requirement of protein with a meat-free diet.

An additional benefit is some people find they have more energy living a vegetarian lifestyle when they find the type of vegetarian diet that suits them best.