Vegetarians

There are many reasons that people choose to become vegetarian. 

For me, it was a love of animals and an inability to eat meat without thinking 

about where it came from. Others choose vegetarianism because they want 

to eat healthier, feel compelled by their religion or want to set an example 

for their children. 

Some avoid eating animals to be more sustainable. A study by Springmann, 

Godfray, Rayner, & Scarborough (2016) found that a more plant-based diet 

could:

• Reduce greenhouse gases by ⅔

• Prevent $1.5 trillion in climate damage

• Save 8 million lives by the year 2050 

The Mayo Clinic (2020) lists 5 different types of vegetarian diets:

Vegetarian Diets	DON’T Eat	DO Eat
Lacto-Ovo	Meat/Poultry/Fish	Dairy
Lacto-Vegetarian	Meat/Poultry/Fish  or Eggs	Other dairy products
Ovo-Vegetarian	Meat/Poultry/Fish  or Dairy	Eggs
Pescatarian	Meat/Poultry, Dairy  or Eggs	Fish
Vegan	Meat/Poultry/Fish  or any products  that come from animals	n/a

Some people would add a 6th category: Flexitarian. This means that they 

sometimes don't eat meat/poultry.

References

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020). Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446

Springmann, M., Godfray, H.C.J., Rayner, M., & Scarborough, P. (2016, March 21). Analysis and valuation of the health and climate change cobenefits of dietary change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1523119113