Some people eat a vegetarian diet. There are many reasons why people become vegetarians. Sometimes people switch to a vegetarian diet for health reasons. Sometimes they have health concerns about the safety of meat. Concern about world hunger or the environment can cause people to switch to a vegetarian diet. Some people are vegetarians because of spiritual or moral issues. And, of course, there are those people who simply don’t like the taste of meat.

There are different kinds of vegetarian diets. People who eat absolutely no meat, no animal-produced products (eggs, milk, cheese, etc.) and no food that contains any ingredient connected with animals are called vegans. Those called “vegetarians” do not eat meat, but they do eat products associated with animals, such as milk, eggs, cheese, etc.

Then there are what we call “semi-vegetarians.” Semi-vegetarians might eat fish and chicken, but no red meat.

The staples of all vegetarian diets are fruit, vegetables, whole-grain products, nuts, and seeds. Vegetarian diets are generally healthier than regular diets in that they are lower in cholesterol and animal fat and high in fiber and antioxidants. However, protein deficiency is a real concern with vegetarian diets. Most of the protein in regular diets comes from meat and meat products.

Those who advocate vegetarian diets claim that it is difficult to become protein deficient when eating a vegetarian diet, but research shows that protein deficiency is common, and conscious steps must be taken to avoid it.

Committing to a vegetarian diet is easy. All you have to do is say, “I’m a vegetarian.” Sticking with the program is a bit more difficult, however. There are many more people who are semi-vegetarians than those who are vegetarians, and many more people who are vegetarians than those who are vegans.