Vegetarian diet

Awell-planned vegetarian diet can meet the needs of people of all ages, including children, teenagers, and pregnant or breast-feeding women. The key is to be aware of your nutritional needs so that you plan a diet that meets them.

Types of vegetarian diets

When people think about a vegetarian diet, they typically think about a diet that doesn't include meat, poultry or fish. But vegetarian diets vary in what foods they include and exclude:

1. Lacto-vegetarian diets
- exclude meat, fish, poultry and eggs, as well as foods that contain them. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter, are included. 
- diets exclude meat, fish and poultry, but allow dairy products and eggs. 
- diets exclude meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products, but allow eggs.
- diets exclude meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products — and foods that contain these products.

2. semivegetarian diet ( flexitarian diet)
-a plant-based diet but includes meat, dairy, eggs, poultry and fish on occasion or in small quantities.

Vegetarian diet pyramid

A healthy diet takes planning, and a food pyramid can be a helpful tool. The vegetarian pyramid outlines food groups and food choices that, if eaten in the right quantities, form the foundation of a healthy vegetarian diet.

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