What is the difference between Vegan and Vegetarian?
The definition of a Vegetarian lifestyle is someone who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, and their by-products. Dairy products and eggs are optional. Specifically, Vegetarianism is further broken down into Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians and Lacto Vegetarians. Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians eat egg and milk products, which is the most common form of Vegetarianism. Lacto Vegetarians eats milk products, but not egg products. Vegans, on the other hand, exclude animal flesh and animal products. This means that Vegans do not eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, honey, gelatin, and yeast. Nutritionally, it is very important to retrieve the vitamins and minerals provided from the products that are avoided in the Vegan and Vegetarian lifestyle. This often includes supplementing or increasing the consumption of green leafy vegetables and legumes in the diet. A dietitian can provide a Vegetarian/Vegan with proper supplements to the Iron, Vitamin B12, and Protein that may be lost in this lifestyle.
