Types of Vegetarians
By Veggie Gal Lisa Tuck

I can’t count the number of times I have been to a restaurant and told the waiter I am a vegetarian and gotten the reply “Oh, then you must try the salmon.” This is common with waitstaff because it is common with the folks they are waiting on—in the U.S., many folks consider themselves to be vegetarian if they have given up beef. In reality, a vegetarian is a person who doesn’t eat meat, fish or fowl. Vegetarian diets get more restrictive from there. I envision “levels” of vegetarianism. If a vegetarian is coming for dinner, the most important rule is to ask him what his restrictions are (what level he is). It may be easier to feed him than you think!

An ovo-lacto-vegetarian is the most common type of vegetarian in the West. They do not eat animals, poultry or seafood. They will eat dairy products and unfertilized eggs, as well as fruits, vegetables and grains, etc. Limitations may be fish eggs and cheeses that are made with an animal enzyme (rennet). Rennet comes from the lining of the fourth stomach of a newborn calf, so they clearly have to kill the calf to get this enzyme. (I have no idea who figured out how to get and use this enzyme to begin with.) If the ingredient list on the cheese says only “enzymes,” assume it is rennet. Many who follow the Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian diet are doing so for health reasons, though, so are not too worried about what type of enzyme is used to make the cheese. They are quite likely worried about limiting saturated fats, so you might want to limit cheese and butter in recipes for that reason.

An ovo-vegetarian will eat eggs and egg products, but will not eat meat, fish, fowl or dairy products. Limitations may include fertilized chicken eggs or fish eggs.

Lacto-vegetarians will eat no eggs of any type, even unfertilized chicken eggs. Limits on dairy include cheeses that are coagulated with animal rennet, as well as sour cream or yogurt that contain gelatin. Many vegetarians of this type follow the diet for religious reasons. Some Lacto-Vegetarians also omit garlic, onion and honey.

Vegans eat no animal products, so no eggs or dairy. Many will not eat honey. Some omit garlic and onions. Vegans typically do not just follow a diet. They follow a “cruelty-free” way of life and therefore avoid products derived from animals and anything that results in the exploitation of animals. That being the case, giving a vegan tickets to the rodeo or to the circus is probably not a good idea. Giving a lambskin purse is a worse one.

Once you know the “level” you are dealing with, it is easy to create happy meals that will provide tasty dishes for your vegetarian and omnivores alike.