The American Dietetic Association refers to a semi-vegetarian or flexitarian diet as someone who generally eats a vegetarian diet and rarely eats poultry or seafood. Being a flexitarian is an easy way for people to transition into becoming a full vegetarian. According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, vegetarian options at meat-serving restaurants are helpful to encourage meat-eaters to try vegetarian options and perhaps inspire them to take on a semi-vegetarian diet.
Limited Vegetarian
A limited vegetarian decides to exclude meat, poultry and seafood from their diet periodically, usually one day every week. This diet is increasing the amount of people trying a vegetarian diet, mainly because organizations and universities, such as John Hopkins University are educating the public on how much water, land and energy is used and destroyed to raise, feed and process meat, when the land used could be more efficiently and effectively with organic vegetable or grain farm land, which can feed many more people and preserve rainforests to clean the air. Nationwide programs, such as "Meatless Monday" created by John Hopkins University, are established to educate and inspire people to take on a limited vegetarian diet to improve people's health and the environment.
Pescetarianism
A pescetarian is a flexitarian, who mostly eats a vegetarian diet and occasionally eats fish. Many pescetarians select this diet for health reasons. Seafood is the most beneficial animal protein, because of the low saturated fats and healthy oils they contain. Fish provides a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for arthritis and heart health, according to the American Dietetic Association. However, certain seafood, such as shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel can contain high levels of mercury, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. If you eat this diet and decide to switch to a standard vegetarian diet, also called a lacto-ovo vegetarian, you can gain the Omega-3 oils from plant-based foods, such as ground flaxseed, hemp seed and walnuts. Hemp seed also provides a complete protein. If you are eating a pescetarian diet because you enjoy the flavor of fish, some Asian grocery stores and vegan Thai restaurants sell soy-based seafood alternatives like shrimp and fish fillet.
Raw Food Semi-vegetarian
A raw food diet is a form of a vegetarian diet that mainly avoids meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and any food that is cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit; however a raw food semi-vegetarian eats an occasional raw fish in the form of sashimi. Seldom, a raw food semi-vegetarian will venture into consuming unpasteurized milk.
References
- American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Lifestyle
- Vegetarian Resource Group: "VRG-NEWS", Volume 8, Issue 3; John L. Cunningham; May 2004
- John Hopkins University: Farming for the Future
- John Hopkins University: Meatless Monday
- American Dietetic Association: The Facts on Flax
- Environmental Protection Agency: Fish Consumption Advisories
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