What's the Plan: The Difference Between Vegan & Vegetarian

I found this interesting article that answers some age-old questions.

If you recently started reading about vegetarian diets, you have probably read all sorts of strange vegetarian terms and categories like "vegan," "ovo-lacto vegetarian," and "semi-vegetarian." You probably wondered what the big deal was. Afterall, what is so conceptually tough about not eating meat?

And you were right!
The distinctions between these sub-categories of vegetarian are actually small, but each is very important to members who belong to the groups. For them, these distinctions aren’t arbitrary lines; they are important dietary or ethical decisions.

Let’s take a look at some of these groups:

VEGETARIAN:
Vegetarian is a blanket term used to describe a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. This grouping includes vegans and the various sub- categories of vegetarian; however, it generally implies someone who has less dietary restrictions than a vegan.

SEMI-VEGETARIAN:
The term semi-vegetarian is usually used to describe someone who is a vegetarian who consumes dairy products, eggs, chicken, and fish, but does not consume other animal flesh.

OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-lacto vegetarians are vegetarians who do not consume meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and milk. This is the largest group of vegetarians.

OVO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs.

LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Lacto-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk.

VEGAN:
Vegan is the strictest sub-category of vegetarians. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. Some go as far as not even consuming honey and yeast. Others do not wear any clothing made from animal products.

Ok, so with that said I think we fall in the OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN category. Botton line is we are planning a vegetarian diet, without meat: chicken, beef, pork, shrimps, lobster, lamb, etc. Fish is optional, but should not be used as a crutch. If someone decides to bump fish off their list too, then cool....more power to ya! I might give the no-fish movement a try myself once we get started. Milk is also optional, I've been buying both Soy & Lactaid milk for the last couple months so the plan is to officially go Soy for these 30 days.

As far as EGGS! Man, I dunno..that's a tough one. I'll do the best I can with that one...cakes, pastries, fried, scrambled (with cheddar cheese :o), quick boiled eggs in the morning, ha the torture! Pray for me ya'll.