What is a vegetarian?

A vegetarian is a person that does not eat any animal flesh, including meat, poultry, or seafood. A vegetarian diet can consist of fruits, vegetables, breads, nuts, and pasta as well as dairy products like cheese and milk. Some vegetarians, known as vegans (VEE-ghens), do not eat anything produced by an animal, so they eliminate all dairy-and products made with eggs-from their diets as well. Vegetarians have existed since ancient times, when certain religious or ethnic groups advocated the special diet for religious reasons or health concerns, or on moral grounds, believing that killing any living creature for food was wrong. The reasons people choose to be vegetarians today are much the same as they once were, with health concerns playing a large role. Many people believe that a vegetarian diet-rich in fiber and low in fat, as opposed to the higher fat quantities found in meat-heavy diets-reduces the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.