We live in a day and age in which there are a variety of different diets and lifestyles. And that’s a good thing because it means there’s more to choose from for those with health (or moral) concerns.
Some diets include vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian. While these diets may seem restricted, they’re good for reducing your carbon footprint.
Read on to learn about the difference between vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian diets.1
Vegetarian And Vegan Diets: What’s The Difference Between Vegan, Vegetarian, And Pescatarian?
When it comes to these diets, you may be thinking – what’s the difference? These diets are different from the typical Western diet. For example, they’re not meat-based. Vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian diets are all primarily plant-based.2
The Vegan Diet: Plant-Based Diets With No Animal Products Or By-Products
A vegan diet does have quite a few dietary restrictions. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. This includes the following:
- Meat
- Fish and seafood
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Honey
The vegan lifestyle may appear boring due to its limitations, but contrarily the diet is actually full of variety. A well-balanced vegan diet consists of the following:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Leafy greens
- Whole grains
- Plant-based protein
- Nuts and seeds
And since vegans don’t eat animal products, they must get the following through supplements or enriched foods:
- Calcium
- Non-heme iron
- Protein3
Types Of Vegetarian Diets: What Do Vegetarians Eat And What Do They Avoid?
A vegetarian diet is less strict than a vegan diet since there are fewer dietary restrictions. There are two different types of vegetarians:
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: These vegetarians don’t consume poultry, fish, or meat products. But they do eat eggs, dairy, and animal by-products like honey.
Lacto Vegetarian: These vegetarians don’t consume meat, poultry, fish, or eggs. Though they do consume dairy products, the Lacto vegetarian is a step away from being vegan.
No matter what type of vegetarian you may be, it’s important to get a well-rounded diet. The addition of dairy or eggs into your diet can help add a few nutrients. As a vegetarian, you can eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables, plant-based protein, and whole grains.4
The Pescatarian Diet
How is a pescatarian diet different from veganism and vegetarianism? Well, while pescatarians don’t eat meat or poultry, they do eat fish and possibly other seafood.
Pescatarians often adopt similar dietary patterns to vegetarians. For instance, they may not eat eggs, dairy products, or other animal products. But they do eat fish.
Why Make This Lifestyle Change?
You might be wondering why people would choose this alternative dietary lifestyle. Is the food associated with being a vegetarian or vegan boring? Or difficult due to the nature of the dietary restrictions?
Aside from nutrition and dietetics, vegans, vegetarians, and, to a lesser extent, pescatarians are reducing their negative environmental impact. And while vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian diets may seem bland or boring, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They include much more than just fruits and vegetables.
In addition, plant-based eating can be a healthy choice.
Most vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians avoid saturated fats and other unhealthy additives.6
Dieting In 2019
Today, there is a myriad of diets to choose from. Whether eating habits are based on health or ethics, there is a diet for everyone. Being a vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian may seem boring to some, but these diets are becoming more popular as our environmental consciousness improves.
If you’re curious about any particular diet, reach out to your doctor for more information.
Learn More:
Essential Vegan Staples for Your Kitchen
Vegan Food is On Trend for 2019
Vegan vs. Vegetarian – Is One Healthier Than The Other?
Sources
1 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/veganism-environmental-impact-planet-reduced-plant-based-diet-humans-study-a8378631.html
2 https://www.plantbasednews.org/opinion/carnism-why-do-we-eat-animals-3-copy
3 https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm
4 https://scrubbing.in/confused-about-vegetarian-diets-we-got-you-covered/
5 https://vegfaqs.com/vegetarian-vs-vegan-vs-pescetarian/
6 https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/flexitarian-diet