This week is National Vegetarian Week

Today, Monday, May 21st is the start of National Vegetarian Week.

There are several types of vegetarians. These include:

Lacto-Ovo - Does NOT red meat, does NOT eat white meat. Does NOT eat fish or seafood. Does eat eggs and honey. Does consume dairy.
Lacto - Does NOT eat red meat, does NOT eat white meat. Does NOT eat fish or seafood. Does NOT consume dairy products. Does eat eggs and honey.
Ovo - Does NOT eat red meat, does NOT eat white meat. Does NOT eat fish or seafood. Does NOT eat eggs. Does eat honey. Does consume dairy.
Vegan - Does NOT eat red meat, does NOT eat white meat. Does NOT eat fish or seafood. Does NOT eat eggs or honey. Does NOT consume dairy.
Fruitarian - Does NOT eat red meat, does NOT eat white meat. Does NOT eat fish or seafood. Does NOT eat eggs or honey. Does NOT consume dairy. Does NOT eat vegetables.

and of course other vegetarian diets influenced by vegetarianism...

Raw Vegan - A vegan that does not consume anything that has been cooked. 
Jain - A vegetarian that does NOT eat red meat or white meat, as well as, fish or seafood. Despite being allowed to eat eggs and honey, the Jain does NOT consume any dairy. Certain veggies are also excluded like potatoes, garlic, onions, and carrots, etc. This vegetarian also follows a specific pattern of eating too.
Buddhist - A vegan that does not only exclude the basics (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey) it also excludes various vegetables from the allium family. Some of these vegetables include: garlic, onion, leeks, chives, shallots, etc.
Macrobiotic - A vegetarian that emphasizes on substituting meat and fish for grains. Not exactly a vegan, but you can follow a vegan macrobiotic diet.

As many of you already know, I am a lacto ovo vegetarian. I don't eat meat (whether red meat or white meat) and I do not eat fish. I do, however; consume dairy, eggs, and honey. Lately, I have been eating vegan a lot and have stopped drinking dairy milk. Although I have stopped drinking dairy milk, I do love cheese (a weakness, of which I wish to give up eventually) and doogh (a Persian drink that consists of Yogurt). Eventually I want to give up eating eggs. I don't eat them much, but do eat them in desserts like cakes and so forth. 

Becoming a vegetarian is hard mentally if you worry about what you can and cannot eat. It is also hard on those that think of what to substitute with meat. If you are a heavy meat eater and are you looking to go vegan instantly, forget it. It just isn't going to happen. Vegetarianism is a process and there are many types.

I truly recommend that you start out as a semi-vegetarian because after all, you don't want to lay all of your eggs in one basket. I would highly recommend following a simple "Pesce Pollotarian" diet. If you are wondering what a "Pesce Pollotarian" is, it is a semi-vegetarian that basically does not eat red meat, but does eat white meat and of course fish. If you are looking to cut out meat completely right away, then I highly recommend eating a simple "Pescatarian" diet which consists of not eating meat (whether red meat or white meat) but allows you to consume fish.

Once you get use to allowing your body to enjoy this change, it will get easier for you. Then, you won't even have to think nor worry about the food you eat, as all you have to know is that you don't want to eat anything with a face and/or was once living.

If you are looking to start to become a vegetarian and/or vegan, I truly recommend checking out the list of vegetarian/vegan substitutes and looking at the huge list of alternatives. It is a great change. I have been a vegetarian for a long time and I love it. I would never change my eating habits, as I am not only healthy, but happy too.

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