Three Plant-Based Dietary Lifestyles to Explore

Our diet is the total sum of what we habitually eat and drink. Our dietary choices are often influenced by our culture, religious beliefs, clinical needs, or a desire to control weight. However, there is always room to improve our eating habits and try new approaches. Here are three dietary lifestyles to consider exploring.

Vegetarian

Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood). There is a range of vegetarian diets.

• Fruitarian diet, a diet which predominantly consists of raw fruit.
• Lacto vegetarian diet includes certain types of dairy, but excludes eggs and foods which contain animal rennet.
• Ovo vegetarianism includes eggs, but excludes dairy.
• Ovo-lacto vegetarianism diet includes eggs and dairy.
• Pesco-vegetarianism includes fish or other seafood, but not the flesh of other animals.

Vegan

Veganism is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.  Vegans do not consume animal products. This means not only meat but also eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances.

Raw Food

Raw foodists consume uncooked, unprocessed, mostly organic foods. Staple foods in this diet are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains.  Food is mostly cold or even a little bit warm, as long as it doesn’t go above 118 degrees. Persons on this diet will use blenders, food processors, and dehydrators to prepare foods.

Whatever diet you decide to try, take time to research and plan new recipe alternatives to your family favourites. Happy eating!

Sources: Health.com, WebMD