The 4 Main Types of Plant-Based Diets

Any diet primarily made up of foods sourced from plants is considered a plant-based diet. Here are the four main types of plant-based diets.

A vegan diet is a type of plant-based diet that excludes all types of foods that contain animal products and animal byproducts including meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.

1. Vegan

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A vegetarian diet is a plant-based diet that allows the same foods permitted on a vegan diet and excludes meat, fish, and seafood. A vegetarian diet may allow other kinds of animal products such as dairy and eggs.

2. Vegetarian

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Lacto-ovo Vegetarian

A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet is one that excludes meat, but allows all types of dairy (lacto) and eggs (ovo). This type is often colloquially referred to as simply “vegetarian.”

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Categories of Vegetarian Diet

An ovo-vegetarian diet is a vegetarian diet that includes eggs (ovo), but prohibits all dairy products including milk, cheese, cream, ice cream, yogurt, and butter. 

Ovo Vegetarian

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A lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products (lacto), but excludes all types of eggs and foods that include eggs, including mayonnaise and baked goods that contain eggs. 

Lacto Vegetarian

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