It never ceases to amaze me that some people who call themselves vegetarian are not. Those who eat only fish are not true vegetarians. Others that eat meat occasionally are not either. These health conscious eaters are called semi-vegetarians. Real vegetarians do not eat animal flesh. To be honest, you’re either complete vegetarian, or you’re not. I have heard some wild tales of vegetarians eating chicken and other types of animal flesh. There are also a lot of people who believe that vegetarians only eat vegetables-another tall tale.
I have been vegetarian all my life. In addition to vegetables, I have eaten fruit, grains, legumes nuts, sweets, soy products, pizza- etc.,but that’s just my
household. All vegetarians are not the same. Here are the different types of vegetarians.
True Vegetarian types
Lacto-ovo-A lacto-ovo vegetarian does not eat beef, pork, seafood or any other animal flesh. They do, however eat eggs and dairy.
Lacto-A lacto vegetarian also does not eat beef, pork, seafood, or any other animal flesh. They eat dairy but does not eat eggs.
Vegan– A vegan eats no animal flesh, dairy, eggs, or any type of products derived from animals, which includes clothing.
Raw Vegan– A raw vegan only eats unprocessed vegan foods. Foods that are not heated above 115 degrees so as not to lose nutritional value.
Non Vegetarians
Macrobiotic-Micros are the type that eat a lot of Asian vegetables, like seaweed. They also eat unprocessed vegan foods. Although they cut out sugar and oil from their diet, they are not true vegetarians, because they include fish in their diet.
Semi-Vegetarians- As discussed in the first paragraph, semi-vegetarians either eat chicken or fish.
Room For Improvement
A lot of prepackaged foods for vegetarians and vegans, are tasteless. Most of the cookbooks I have come across for vegetarians, the recipes are loaded down with a lot of spices and other ingredients as if vegetables were tasteless! Vegetables, properly prepared with the right seasoning, can be quite delicious. The best vegetarian/vegan food companies that I personally buy from are: Worthington, Loma Linda, and Morningstar Farms. They have both canned and frozen foods. You have to be read labels as you would any other products. Loma Linda and Worthington now have foods that are lower in cholesterol and sodium.
Drinkers
I will not go into depth with this, but just give you something to think about. If you want to be, or are vegetarian, do you drink alcohol? Coffee? Teas? Teas may seem harmless, but some are more stronger than others, and I always go herbal. But if you are a vegetarian who cares about your body being at its best, alcohol, coffee, and certain teas are not good for your body.
Are Vegetarians More Healthy Than Meat Eaters?
Many studies show that vegetarians have less disease than meat eaters, but it does not exclude them from it. What you eat is not the only factor that can bring disease, although it is a major part of it. Bottom line, vegetarianism is just a choice, a way of life. Some people are into sports, others are book worms. Some are doctors, others are golf caddy’s. So the next time you meet a vegetarian, you should ask, “What type of veggie are you?”, now that you are better informed. True vegetarians are those who completely treasure their body by eliminating all animal flesh from their diet, and does not consume anything that would harm their bodies.
