What Do Vegetarians Eat?
 Vegetarianism is quickly becoming a popular way of life for many people as they make the decision to cut meat and many other animal-based products from their diet. There are a variety of reasons that people choose to make the switch, from religious reasons to ethical concerns and even health reasons. However, despite its growing popularity there are still many questions and misconceptions about this practice. One of the main questions people have when considering vegetarianism or simply out of curiosity continues to be what do vegetarians eat?
The answer to this question is actually fairly complicated, because there are many different types of vegetarians that people identify. Some do still include some meats or animal products in their vegetarian diet, while some are so strict they even choose to exclude some plant-based foods as well. Because of the varying degrees of commitment, some vegetarians eat:
- Semi-vegetarians - people who choose to be partially vegetarian still include some animal products, but vary from person to person, and generally focus on the exclusion of red meats.
- Fish
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Seeds, nuts, and beans
- Grains
- Vegans (strict vegetarians) - only will eat foods that contain no animal products, with variations in how the food is prepared.
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Soy
- Tofu
- Seeds, nuts, and beans
- Grains
- Fruitarians - fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains, but no vegetables or animal products.
- Macrobiotics - focus primarily on grains, seeds, and nuts with no fruits or vegetables, but may still include fish or poultry as well as eggs and dairy.
Vegetarian diets are considered by many who practice them to be extremely personal and many do not feel that their lifestyle fits in any one mold or category. What vegetarians eat and how they cook their food depends more on the person and their attitude towards their food, as well as their reasons for choosing this alternative diet, than on following any preset rules.
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