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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Diets and Meal Planning

Vegetarian

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/ˌvedʒəˈteriən/adjectiveCore term

In nutrition & dietetics, vegetarian means: Describing a diet, meal or person that excludes meat, poultry and fish. Many vegetarians still eat eggs and dairy; as a noun, a vegetarian is a person who eats this way.

In Turkish: vejetaryen

How it is used

Used as an adjective (a vegetarian diet, vegetarian options) and a noun (She's a vegetarian). Types include lacto-ovo vegetarian, who eats eggs and dairy, and lacto-vegetarian; a pescatarian eats fish but not meat. Dietitians check vegetarian diets for iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and omega-3.

Example sentences

  1. She has been vegetarian since university but still eats eggs and cheese.

  2. The hospital menu offers a vegetarian option at every meal.

Common collocations

  • vegetarian diet
  • vegetarian option
  • lacto-ovo vegetarian
  • go vegetarian
  • veganDescribing a diet or lifestyle that avoids all animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, dairy and usually honey. As a noun, a vegan is a person who lives this way.
  • plant-basedDescribing a diet or food that comes mainly or entirely from plants, such as vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. It may or may not include small amounts of animal foods.
  • ironA mineral that the body uses to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. It occurs as heme iron in animal foods and non-heme iron in plant foods.
  • vitamin B12A vitamin needed for healthy nerves, DNA and red blood cells. It is found naturally almost only in animal foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

More terms: Diets and Meal Planning

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.