Vegetarians are people who do not eat animal flesh for food but who live on a diet of plant foods, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. However, many people who call themselves vegetarians eat certain kinds of animal products.
There are several types of vegetarians.
Vegan – The vegan is a true vegetarian eating only on plant food such as fruits, vegtables, grains, nuts and seeds. The vegan doesn’t eat food originating from animals .
Lacto vegetarian – The lacto vegetarian lives on a diet of milk and other dairy food as well as plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds.
Lacto- ovo vegetarian – The lacto-ovo vegetarian doesn’t eat red meat, poultry or sea-food. The diet includes dairy food, eggs, and plant foods.
Non-meat eater – The non meat eater does not eat red meat such as beef, veal, lamb or pork. However, they eat other animal food such as poultry, seafood, eggs, milk and other dairy foods, along with plant foods.
Zen macrobiotic vegetarian – The Zen macrobiotic diet is part of the Zen philosophy of life. People who go on this diet must go through a number of stages. At each stage, certain food cannot be eaten.
As people move from one stage to the next, they give up more and more kinds of food.
At the final stage, the Zen macrobiotic vegetarian can eat only brown rice and tea.
Vidath Amarawickrama
Grade 10
A/Niwanththaka Chethiya College
Anuradhapura