Understanding the meaning of the word "vegetarian"?!


Question: Understanding the meaning of the word "vegetarian"!?
Why do so few actully KNOW what the word "vegetarian" means!?

I am totally amazed at times what I see on message areas!. So many act as if a 'vegan' diet is different than a 'vegetarian' diet - when if one looks at the actual meaning of the word 'vegetarian' - one sees that the diet is actually the same!. It is only when one starts placing 'lacto' or 'ovo' in front of the word that there are actual differences!.

n!. One who holds that vegetables and fruits are the only proper food for man!. Strict vegetarians eat no meat, eggs, or milk!.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, ? 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc!.

noun eater of fruits and grains and nuts; someone who eats no meat or fish or (often) any animal products
WordNet? 3!.0, ? 2006 by Princeton University!.

noun- a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc!.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ? Random House, Inc!. 2006Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I agree!.!.!.the original meaning of vegetarian is now the common form of a vegan (or strict vegetarian diet)!.

Donald Watson coined the term "vegan" in the 1940's because he was frustrated that the term "vegetarian" came to include dairy and egg consumption!. You probably already know this but "vegan" is the "beginning and the end of vegetarian" which is literally (in terms of the word) and metaphorically true!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Vegetarians and vegans both have plant based diets (I think this is what you are saying)!.
As such, a vegan *is* a type of vegetarian!. Veganism is a branch of vegetarianism, the abstainance of flesh!.

However, they become different when ''ovo'' and ''lacto'' get involved!.

I hope this helps!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

um!.vegetarian means no meat!.vegan is no meat or dairy or any animal products!.there is a differenceWww@FoodAQ@Com

Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products[1] [2]!. The reasons for choosing vegetarianism may be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health!.

There are several variants of the diet, some of which also exclude eggs and/or some products produced from animal labour such as dairy products and honey!. Vegan-ism, for example, excludes all animal products from diet!. By some strict definitions, animal products are not used for attire either, whether or not the production of clothing or items has directly involved the actual death of an animal (dairy, eggs, honey, wool, silk, down feathers, etc!.) [3] A generic term for both vegetarianism and veganism, as well as for similar diets, is "Plant-based diets"!.[4]

It states in this definition that veganism is a variant of vegetarianism!.
The variant in the diet can make a huge difference when buying food or eating out!.
Things that are labelled vegetarian are more often than not, not suitable for a vegan, as they most probably will contain either dairy or eggs!. But things that are labelled vegan would be suitable for a vegetarian!.
So even though they are both plant based diets, there is a difference in the food that can be consumed by a vegetarian or a vegan!.

As times change so do the meaning of words, for example the word "gay" used to mean happy, now it is more commonly used to mean homo-sexual!. The reason I gave the wikipedia definition is because that is what I believe is true also!.

At the end of the day, people look at a vegetarian diet as a plant based diet that may include eggs or dairy and a vegan diet that contains neither!.

I find this is the easiest way!. Where I live vegan means vegan!. You must have a lot of ignorant people that live where you are!

Oh well if its from a university it must be right then, our local university kills monkeys so that must be right as well then, you obviously only wanted answers that agreed with you 100%, dont ask questions if that is what you are looking for!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

pescetarian (not actual vegetarian)- eats no meat, poultry but eats fish and seafood!.

vegetarian (being general)- no meat, poultry or fish!.

when you add "ovo" to vegetarian- vegetarian that eats eggs

when you add "lacto" to vegetarian- vegetarian that eats milk products

when you add both "ovo" and "lacto" to vegetarian- vegetarian that eats both eggs and milk products!.

vegan- a branch of vegetarian where the person eats no meat, poultry, fish, dairy products or eggs!. also referred to as the "strict" vegetarian!.

vegan and vegetarians are very different! don't mess them up!Www@FoodAQ@Com

sorry had to make another account as the veggie trolls dont got me deleted!.!.!.hmmm no violations and my account gets deleted lol!.!.!.anyway yeah again its too confussing if both vegans and vegetarians went under the same name!.!.!.especially for resturauntsWww@FoodAQ@Com

I have nothing against using the "ovo" and "lacto" vegetarian labels to differentiate between specific vegetarian diets!. They have the potential to be very helpful when clearly describing specific forms of vegetarian diets!. I do however, have a major problem with other labels like "polo", "pesco", "semi", "flexi" vegetarians!. The terms are complete contradictions!.

Lack of understanding, unclear and misused terminology are the main reasons for peoples confusion!. I think wikipedia is party to blame for the confusion!. They use terms like "pesco-vegetarianism" which is clearly an oxymoron!. Since our society loves to label every thing they can, If they must use the "pesco/pesce" label I think it should be restricted to *pescetarian* NOT "pesco-vegetarianism"!. This should be clearly defined and there should be an uniform and accurate definition provided in modern dictionaries and maybe even published by the vegetarian/vegan society!.

I'm still amazed that so many people don't even know the difference between vegansim and vegetarianism!. Not just in the forum but in the real world too!. All we can do is try to correct the misinformation and clear up the confusion by providing clear and consice definitions to those willing to listen!.

!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.

I generally copy and paste the same definition for people asking about different forms of vegetarianism/veganism!. It keeps simple and uniform!.

Lacto-ovo vegetarianism
NO red meat, fish or poultry
Eats dairy and eggs

Ovo vegetarianism
NO red meat, fish, poultry OR dairy
Eats eggs

Lacto vegetarianism
NO red meat, fish, poultry OR eggs
Eats dairy

Veganism
NO red meat, fish, poultry OR dairy, eggs, honey or any other animal by product!. Veganism usually extends beyond just avoiding consuming animal products!. It is a philosophical and or ethical point of view which, aims to minimize animal suffering by eliminating the use of all animal products such as leather, fur, wool and silk and avoiding products tested on animals!.

Pescetarians, Pollotarians and Flexitarians are NOT vegetarians, they are are omnivores!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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