The Difference Between Vegan & Vegetarian

If you recently started reading about Vegetarian diets, you have probably read all sorts of strange vegetarian terms and categories like "Vegan," "ovo-lacto Vegetarian," and "semi-Vegetarian."

You probably wondered what the big deal was. Afterall, what is so conceptually tough about not eating meat? And you were right! The distinctions between these sub-categories of vegetarian are actually small, but each is very important to members who belong to the groups.

For them, these distinctions aren’t arbitrary lines; they are important dietary or ethical decisions.

VEGETARIAN:
Vegetarian is a blanket term used to describe a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.

This grouping includes Vegans and the various sub-categories of Vegetarian; however, it generally implies someone who has less dietary restrictions than a Vegan.

SEMI-VEGETARIAN:
The term Semi-Vegetarian is usually used to describe someone who is a vegetarian who consumes dairy products, eggs, chicken, and fish, but does not consume other animal flesh.

OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-lacto vegetarians are Vegetarians who do not consume meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and milk. This is the largest group of Vegetarians.

OVO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs.

LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Lacto-Vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk.

VEGAN:
Vegan is the strictest sub-category of Vegetarians. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. Some go as far as not even consuming honey and yeast. Others do not wear any clothing made from animal products.

Important: Take some time to figure out for yourself, what group you will belong to when you become a Vegetarian. You will want to consider both dietary and ethical reasons for choosing this lifestyle.