The American Dietetic Association's position paper supporting a vegetarian diet cites a 2006 study of U.S. diets that found 2.3 percent of adults and 3 percent of minors aged 8 to 18 are vegetarians. According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarian diets "are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." Vegetarian diets do not include any meat such as shell fish, poultry, beef or pork. According to MayoClinic.com, there are three types of vegetarian diet: vegan, lacto and ovo-lacto.
Vegan
Based on the American Dietetic Association's position statement, a 2006 poll found that in the United States, 1.4 percent of adults and about 1 percent of minors aged 8 to 18 ate a vegan diet. A vegan diet excludes all meats and animal-derived foods. Vegans avoid eating dairy and eggs as well as any other food that may contain animal products. For example, vegans do not consume honey, milk, yogurt or cheese.
Lacto Vegetarian
A lacto-vegerarian diet excludes all meats yet includes milk products. Cheeses, yogurt and milk can be included in the lacto vegetarian diet. The American Dietetic Association suggests choosing low-fat milk products and consuming milk products "in moderation."
Ovo-lacto Vegetarian
Ovo-lacto vegetarian diets also exclude all meats. An ovo-lacto vegetarian diet allows for the highest variety of animal-derived foods. Milk, cheeses, yogurt and eggs are included in an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet. The American Dietetic Association recommends consuming eggs in moderation.
Healthful Vegetarian Options
Vegetarians can consume a balanced diet if they eat a variety of foods from different food sources. MayoClinic.com suggests a daily diet to include six servings of grains, five servings of proteins, four servings of vegetables, two servings of fruits and two servings of fats. Healthful grains can consist of brown rice, whole-grain cereal and pasta.
Protein sources for vegetarians include beans, lentils, nuts, tofu and processed meat substitutes. These can be substituted for meats in most recipes.
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