Vegetarian Lifestyle – Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian

Lacto-ovo-vegetarian is the most common category or type of vegetarian diet. It is the most general and liberal of the types. Many people don’t realize that saying someone is a vegetarian doesn’t really give much clarity. OK. Someone doesn’t eat meat. So what does that person eat?

Simply put, the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet means that meat is not eaten. That means no beef, veal, pork, or venison, etc. Poultry and birds are not eaten. That means no chicken, turkey, or any other birds such as pheasant. Fish and other sea foods are not eaten. That means no lobster, shrimp, tuna, other sea foods – or even octopus.

So what foods are allowed on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet?

Lacto refers to milk. Milk and milk products are unlimited except by health concerns. Milk, of course, is self explanatory. All forms of cheese are allowed. Ice cream is okay. Cheese and vegetarian pizzas are fine.

Ovo refers to eggs. Eggs may be eaten in all forms and are allowed in limits dictated by health concerns. Omelettes, quiche, noodles, mayonnaise, and cakes are all included in the ovo vegetarian diet..

Health conscious lacto-ovo vegetarians eat a diverse diet rich in nutritious foods untasted by mainstream omnivores. Those lacto-ovo vegetarians unconcerned about their health eat the typical fast food diet without the meat, eg, a veggie burger with fries and soda.

The concern for all vegetarians including lacto-ovo vegetarians is covert or hidden animal products. For example, chicken fat is added to many, many processed foods for additional flavor. Vegetarians read labels. If you’re going to feed a vegetarian and you’re preparing a meal, please do read the label on the product.

If the vegetarian diet is either lacto or ovo, but not lacto-ovo, then either the eggs or milk products are eliminated according to type. Once again, labels need to be read because of the many processed foods that contain unexpected milk products and eggs.

By: Gayle Evans

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