Welcome to BecomeVegetarian.org, the site that offers exhaustive information not just about vegetarianism, but also about everything else that is associated with it, like recipes, lifestyle, and more.

When it concerns food, people of this world can be broadly classified into two major groups – those who live to eat and those who eat to live. No matter which category you belong to, there is no denying that life is filled with choices. What you eat and why is therefore a matter of personal choice.

Types of Vegetarians

Most of us are under the impression that a ‘vegetarian’ is one who lives on vegetables only and that means that the person stays away from all types of meats, fish and poultry. You are perhaps in for a big surprise!  There can be many types of vegetarians and knowing about them could be enlightening.

• Pescatarian or pescetarian: These are people who refrain from eating any kind of meat or meat products except fish. Though this term is not used often, and many would not refer to them as ‘vegetarians’ in the strict sense of the word, many take up this kind of food preference as a starting point to become fully vegetarian. Many also believe that the high omega 3 fatty acid content of fish is imperative for good health.

• Flexitarian or semi-vegetarian: Many people forego red meat for health or environmental reasons. However they would not mind an occasion bite of organic animal products though their mainstay is a fully vegetarian diet.

• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: The title is self-explanatory. People who belong to this category may have foregone beef, pork, poultry or fish but they still continue to consume ‘lacto’ or diary products and ‘ovo’ that is eggs. These types of vegetarians can also be treated as two separate sub groups: lacto-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians (those who cannot have milk because of lactose-intolerance).

• Vegans: This group of vegetarians is perhaps the strictest of them all. They not only follow a stringent vegetarian diet with no fish or eggs but also follow a ‘vegan’ lifestyle that is without using any products which are derived from animal sources like wool, silk or leather. They also stay away from any finished product which could have used ingredients derived from animals like sugar, wines, etc.

• Raw vegan or raw food consuming vegetarians: Any unprocessed vegan food that has not been cooked in temperature above 46 degrees Celsius can be termed as ‘raw food’ or ‘raw vegan food’. These types of vegetarians believe that food cooked above this temperature would lose most of its nutrient values and may be hazardous to health. Weight loss, regaining skin vitality and physical energy are some of the reasons why people become ‘raw food’ vegetarians.

• Fruitarians: As the name suggests these vegetarians eat only fruits or vegetables which resemble fruits like tomatoes, cucumbers, some seeds and nuts.

Vegan vs. Vegetarian

Many of us get a bit confused between vegans and vegetarians, especially since the terms also appear to be close to each other. To get your perspective right about these two groups, you have to keep in mind that a vegetarian is someone who has made some choices about the food to be consumed. On the other hand veganism goes beyond the type of food choices one makes; it is a choice of a specific type of lifestyle.

While a vegetarian by choice can decide on the food preference due to health reasons or concern about animal life, a vegan believes in the philosophy of not only giving up foods of animal origin but they also refrain from using any product which could have used an animal by-product during its manufacture or processing like eating honey, wearing fur, wool, silk or leather.

Vegan vs. vegetarian: why do people choose one over the other? The answer perhaps lay in one’s level of motivation and the sense of values. While all of us hear repeatedly how our eating habits are bringing unprecedented damage to the environment and how our consumption pattern over the centuries have put several animal and bird species on the verge of extinction, not all of us get moved equally by such truths. Some people decide to rise to the cause and take some action in their personal consumption habits in the belief that it takes tiny drops to create the ocean.

It is easily comprehensible that the topic of vegan vs vegetarian would be under the scanner of several critics.  Debates over the ethics of adopting a lifestyle either ways can be questioned, debated and thrashed. While some turn vegetarians because of concerns like cruelty to animals, some non believers would argue that milk-producing animals are slaughtered in any case, once they stop producing milk.

As the debate over vegan vs. vegetarian continues we need to remember that vegans are as ‘human’ as vegetarians. This means that they are not in any way spiritually superior, more perfect or more compassionate individuals than concerned vegetarians. It is just that they value all creatures that are living. It is just another food and lifestyle choice that some people have made.

While it has been proved through global studies that a strictly vegetarian diet is the healthiest food option, moving from a vegetarian to a vegan diet could reap greater benefits. Interestingly, many health insurance providers have started to provide discounts to vegans and vegetarians.

Vegetarian vs. Vegan vs. Raw Food

Vegetarian vs. Vegan vs. Raw Food – is there anything called the ‘best’ option here? You would normally read about these several types of vegetarian diets when you seek information about weight loss, as all the three have their merits and demerits when it concerns weight loss.

In the ultimate analysis, unless for health reasons like weight loss or for other disease management, people choose vegetarian, vegan or raw food diets as personal choices. For example, some people may find merit in raw food diet because they feel that cooking destroys the nutrient values of most foods. They are also overtly concerned about our increased dependence on cooking gas, rising cost of fossil fuels, and so on.

While there can be several types of vegetarians including those who eat fish, diary products and eggs, vegans are more puritan. They do not touch any kind of meat or even diary products and eggs and would not use any product which uses ingredients from animal sources. Even honey is a no-no for vegans. Such decisions could be backed by health, environment or ethical motivations.

Raw food consumption, gaining increasing popularity may not always stay away from foods of animal origin, though most raw food enthusiasts are either vegetarians or vegans. Again the decision of opting for raw food diets could be based on health grounds like weight loss, etc. Such food lovers believe that cooking beyond a particular temperature results in a loss of vital enzymes that could have helped in the digestive process.

Before you decide on the merits and demerits of each of these types of ‘vegetarianism’ it could make more sense if you kept in mind that there are protagonists and antagonists for each of the categories. Unless you can develop an unbiased opinion about the categories separately, basing your judgment on individual pros and cons, you would never realize what is best suited for your own needs.

Hopefully with the information given above, you are adequately informed about the different types of vegetarians, what makes this group different from vegans and of course how consuming raw food is yet another option to lead a healthier life, as compared to a vegetarian or a vegan. It ought to have got clear to you by now that it is all a matter of personal choice that we make, be it for health reasons or any other motivating factor that guides us in our overall philosophy towards life.

As promised, there is no dearth of useful information in this site. From now on, you would be exposed to a host of informative topics covering a wide range of subjects related to becoming vegetarian. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect:

• Benefits of vegetarianism: However popular vegetarianism may become, people do end up asking a relevant question – is it just a fad or there are some real benefits of vegetarianism? While the world tilts more and more towards vegetarianism, you are keen to know more about the immense health benefits of this lifestyle choice, including its heart-friendly attributes, reducing risks of diabetes and cancer and more. Perhaps the most interesting of all the benefits is that a vegetarian lives longer! Read on to know more…

• Vegetarian food pyramid: What is a vegetarian food pyramid and how does it help a vegetarian? The vegetarian food pyramid is a simple guide, irrespective of the category of vegetarianism that elaborates on the right portions of certain foods that a vegetarian needs to have to plan a balanced and healthy diet. Needless to mention, the pyramid would be different for a lacto-vegetarian where no dairy products are included from that a vegan requires where many typically ‘vegetarian’ foods may not feature. This could be one of the most educative sections for you, if you are planning to become a vegetarian…

• Easy vegetarian recipes: This might seem simple to you as every family has its own standard recipe for a delicious vegetarian meal. But how about exploring some easy vegetarian recipes from other parts of the world? This could be interesting especially when you realize that there are several Asian countries where vegetarianism is a natural way of life! Today, thanks to rapid advancements in agricultural science, many tropical fruits and vegetables are grown in the West. This section allows you to explore some quick vegetarian recipes from the gardens of the global village…

• Becoming vegan: If there is a term called a purist vegetarian, then a vegan could belong to such a category. Though this is a matter of personal belief and motivation, many feel that becoming vegan could be a recommended starting point to turn into a complete vegetarian. This section, educates you about the steps you need to take and the mental preparation that is required for becoming vegan. Does this mean that you first need to become an animal activist? Would you like to oppose all types of animal testing in labs for the sake of animal welfare? Read on and know more…

• Vegan food pyramid: So you have decided to become a vegan. But what types of foods should you have and in what portions, before you call it a ‘healthy meal plan’? You already know that you would have to survive on legumes, fruits, whole grains as well as vitamin B12 and omega 3 fatty acids. But do you know the pure vegetarian sources to access many of these ingredients of the vegan food pyramid? What are the six main food groups a typical vegan food pyramid contains that would provide all the essential nutrients you need? Read on and know more…

• Easy vegan recipes: Many newly-initiated vegans feel a bit restricted when it concerns being creative while cooking a vegan meal. There are many no-no’s that a novice vegan may stumble upon while trying to organize the week’s menu. Fret no more, as this section would expose you to some scrumptious and easy vegan recipes, including baked bean cake, shepherd’s pie, scrambled tofu to red bean stew, trifle, jam suet pudding, pancakes, risotto, pizzas, paella, lasagna, chocolate orange cake and more. Sounds too good to be true? Explore this section and you can even create your own easy vegan recipes taking on cues from the ones that we bring you…

• Eating raw food: Perhaps we have turned a full circle when it concerns using fire to fulfill our daily needs. Fire of course changed the course of evolution of mankind, but now you want to say ‘no’ to fire and cooking gas and want to experiment eating raw food – as nature made it. This choice could be driven by medical factors but you have chosen to believe that your own little backyard garden could help you become self-sufficient in terms of satisfying hunger. Many believe that this is a short cut to good health and longevity, but do you know what are the health benefits of eating raw food or what types of raw foods you need to have and why? This section enlightens you further on this interesting choice many people are making these days…

• Free raw food recipes: Fine – you have decided to eat the raw foods procured from the supermarket or grown in your own backyard. But are you going to eat them as it is or are you going to add some of your creative juices to make them more palatable? While the two words ‘fresh’ and ‘organic’ ring in your ears constantly when thinking of raw food recipes, but how do you lay your hands on some delectable free raw food recipes created by more experienced raw foodies? How about free food recipes that tell you how to make carob nut cookies or Asian-style Crunchy Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette? How about Spicy Mango, Ginger and Chili Soup or a plate of “Burrito” Lettuce Wraps on your table? Sounds interesting? Click on this wonderful resource for some mouth-watering recipes with raw foods…