Plant-Based Diets

While vegetarians* and vegans** eat food exclusively derived from plants (vegetarians usually do include non-plant foods such as eggs and dairy), the term plant-based eating also refers to diets such as the Mediterranean and Asian style diets. These include a wide variety of nourishing plant foods but can also include small amounts of meat, fish and other seafood.

A well balanced plant-based diet includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, breads, cereals, wholegrains, legumes, dairy products or alternatives and nuts and seeds. It provides essential nutrients, including protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, iodine and essential fatty acids. It is well suited for all ages (including infants, children and pregnant and breastfeeding women) and is associated with numerous health benefits that have been well documented.

Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian or prefer some meat-free days in your week, increasing plant foods in your diet and decreasing meat can have many benefits.

Read more about the Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet.

Definitions

* vegetarians (or lacto-ovo vegetarians) include dairy and eggs along with all plant foods. This is the most common type of vegetarian. Semi-vegetarians mostly eat meals without meat, and may occasionally have chicken or fish.

** vegans avoid all products of animal origin including eggs and dairy, honey and gelatine. Vegans also usually don’t wear leather.