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Even vegetarians can enjoy these new types of meat on the market. Here's why.
Just the FAQ, USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

Vegetarians, pescadarians, flexitarians and vegans – all are diets without meat or limited meat, so what's the difference? And why do we need all?

They all articulate around an herbal diet, but there are notable differences with regard to the specific food groups that each of them includes.

Although only 3% of Americans said they were vegans and 5% said they were vegetarians in a recent Gallup poll, Nielsen says 39% of Americans in 2017 were actively trying to consume more plant-based foods.

According to a report published in 2018 by Baum and Whiteman Food Consultants, more than 30% of Americans have meatless days, over 50% of adults drink milk without dairy products and about 83% add more food from plant origin to their diet.

The herbal diet has been proven to help people lose weight, but that's not the only reason why some people choose to go that route. Some people refrain from eating meat for ethical reasons because they believe that eating animals is morally reprehensible. Other people decide to adopt a plant-based lifestyle to reduce their carbon footprint and their greenhouse gas emissions.

And it's important to note that the fact that you're vegetarian or vegan does not automatically mean that you have a "healthy" diet.

Check the differences between these diets below, so you do not accidentally and embarrassingly offer a vegan mozzarella stick instead of turkey meatballs, as they "do not eat meat".

Vegetarian diet

Probably the most familiar of all: the vegetarian.

A vegetarian is a person who abstains from eating all types of meat, whether it is poultry, red meat or fish (including shellfish). They do not eat anything that has been made from the body of a living or dead animal.

Their diet includes mainly cereals, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, dairy products and virtually everything that does not concern the body parts of an animal.

Many restaurants are beginning to offer vegetarian dishes. (Photo: Albert Cesare)

Pescatarian diet

A pescatarian follows the same dietary guidelines as a vegetarian, except that he eats fish.

The word pescatarian comes from the combination of "pesce", which means "fish" in Italian and "vegetarian".

Why fish? It really depends on the preference of the person. Like vegetarians, this could be for environmental or health reasons. Some pescadians choose to allow fish and seafood in their diet to add more protein and more nutrients they might miss to eat a complete herbal diet.

Flexitarian regime

A flexitarian is someone who is a part-time vegetarian.

What?

Flexitarians have a vegetarian diet but do not completely remove the meat. Their diet involves adding more plant-based foods while eating sparingly red meats and poultry.

This is the most flexible diet (ha, get it? Flexitarian = flexible). You get the best of both worlds and there are no strict rules about what you are allowed to eat and what you can not.

It was made popular by dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner, who wrote the book "The Flexitarian Diet". The diet boasts of adding new healthy foods to your diet, rather than taking foods.

More: Beyonce promotes herbal diet by offering tickets for her concerts for life

Vegan diet

A vegan is a person who refrains from eating all products of animal origin. For example, while some vegetarians eat eggs, cheese and yogurt, vegans do not eat dairy products or other animal-based products such as gelatin.

Sometimes, veganism extends beyond the person's diet and rejoins his or her lifestyle. Some choose not to wear leather or silk and do not even feed their vegan diet. It depends on the individual.

More: The pegan diet – a hybrid of palaeo and vegan – could be the next big thing

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