While the number of people practicing vegetarianism is on the rise each year, there are still a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding vegetarianism and those who follow a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. I’d like to first give a little background on my own journey to vegetarianism, offer some definitions and basic information, clear up some misinformation, and offer resources for those interested in further research.

I had been interested in ecology and environmentalism, and by extension vegetarianism, from an early age. However, my family and the area in which I grew up were not very accepting of vegetarianism. It was a situation of “Eat what we eat or you don’t eat.” Without the support of my family and without the opportunity to prepare my own meals, I had to relegate vegetarianism to the back burner until I was older. It wasn’t long after I moved out that I became a vegetarian. Through the years, I had periods of eating chicken and fish, which I gave up permanently after we had children. My husband became vegetarian after reading some books I recommended.

Many people call themselves vegetarian on one level or another. Some people label themselves “vegetarian” if they give up red meat or poultry. Recently, the term “piscatorial” has arisen to refer to someone who eats fish/seafood but no other meat. Some people use the term “semi-vegetarian” for those who have given up red meat but not poultry, or who eat meat very rarely. However, by definition a vegetarian eats neither flesh nor fish. In addition to these terms, there are other labels within the vegetarian appellation. An “ovo-vegetarian” eats eggs but not dairy, a “lacto-vegetarian” eats dairy but not eggs, and a “lacto-ovo vegetarian” eats both. A vegan, generally speaking, eats no animal products--no eggs, dairy, or honey.

Within these definitions, some vegetarians are stricter than others. Many vegetarians do not eat gelatin, which is made from hooves, skin, and bones. Some are vegetarian for health reasons and have no problems wearing leather. Others are ethical vegetarians and won’t take pictures with film cameras because the process uses gelatin. Truthfully, animal products are used in so many hidden ways, it’s nearly impossible to avoid them completely. Each person draws his or her own line.

There are as many misconceptions surrounding vegetarianism as there are reasons to go vegetarian. Many people believe that vegetarians are missing something in their diet that only meat or animal products can provide. However, there are few nutrients that require careful planning. A well-balanced vegetarian diet should provide all nutrients in necessary quantities. Some vegetarians and vegans may require supplements for certain vitamins, but most of these are present in fortified foods and therefore deficiency is rare. Protein is rarely a problem, as it is present in many foods in smaller quantities; in fact, most Americans eat too much protein, not too little. Beans, whole grains, nuts and nut butters all provide protein, as do eggs, dairy products, and meat substitutes.

People who eat meat sometimes wonder what vegetarians eat, and think a vegetarian diet must be a very boring one. I know from personal experience that my diet since becoming vegetarian is much more varied and exciting than it ever was when I ate meat. There are so many cultures from which to choose! Many foods are not found in the mainstream but are a treat when they are discovered, like kasha, tempeh, seitan, tofu, edamame, tahini, and inari. In addition, there are so many ways to use meat analogs or even make substitutions. We’ve had ribs, steak, pot roast, pot pie, chili dogs, and sauerbraten--all vegetarian style. Going out to dinner at “ethnic” restaurants became a real adventure when we discovered vegetarian Chinese, Indian, and Japanese dishes.

There are people who believe that vegetarians are sickly or weak. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there is evidence that well-balanced vegetarian diets offer protection against cancer, heart disease, and other common afflictions. Certainly, obesity is less prevalent among vegetarians. Many athletes have been vegetarian, and vegetarians have won at the Olympics.

There are many reasons why a person would go vegetarian, but I’m not going to go into them here. My reasons may not be someone else’s reasons. The decision whether or not to go vegetarian is a personal one. I would rather not preach but let each person come to his or her own conclusions. If asked, I certainly will offer my opinions, though. I will close by offering a list of resources, both in print and on the Internet, and by extending an offer to be available for questions. Obviously, this is but a small selection of resources, but they offer a starting place for someone interested in learning more.

Resources in print:
New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook - Louise Hagler and Dorothy Bates. One of my favorite cookbooks, it gives standard recipes vegetarian/vegan makeovers, as well as providing instructions for making vegetarian staples like tofu and soymilk from scratch.

Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat - Howard Lyman. Lyman went from cattle rancher to vegan, and has told his story all over the country, including on Oprah Winfrey’s show.

Deadly Feasts: Tracking the Secrets of a Terrifying New Plague - Richard Rhodes. One of the books that helped my husband decide to join me in vegetarianism, it traces the history of transmissible encephalopathies--including “mad cow disease.”

Animal Liberation - Peter Singer. Often considered one of the bibles of the animal rights movement, this book is an overview of the way animals are treated in farming and research.

On the Net:
Vegan Lunch Box - This is a great jumping-off point if you’re wondering what vegetarians can eat. This mom posted pictures and descriptions of her son’s vegan lunches every day for a year. She also has recipes and links galore.

PETA.org - Love ‘em or hate ‘em, PETA’s web site can help you get a free vegetarian starter kit, tell you which companies test on animals, and learn about animal abuses around the world.

Healthy-Eating.com - Run from The Farm, an intentional vegetarian community in Tennessee, this company has a plethora of mail-order foods, goods, and books.

VegSource.com - Vegetarian information, discussion boards (including vegetarian and vegan parenting boards) and more.


Kalima is the proud mother of two vegetarian children and the wife of one vegetarian husband. She is known for "wowing" the members with her amazingly small food budget each month, while sharing wonderful recipes filled with flavor her family enjoys each day. She hopes this article will help you understand more about the vegetarian lifestyle and inspire you to explore more vegetarian dishes for your families.