Veg.e.tar.ian
A vegetarian is an individual who chooses for health, environmental, ethical, or religious reason to abstain from the consumption of animal flesh, including poultry and fish. A lacto- ovo vegetarians eats no flesh, but consumes dairy (lacto) and eggs (ovo). A vegan (pronouced VEE-gun) is an individual who chooses to abstain from the consumption of all animal products. While vegetarians avoid flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, and other goods that cause suffering to animals.

Did you know....

- that the term vegetarian originally had nothing to do with vegetables? It finds its roots in the Latin word "vegetus" which literally means active, lively and vigorous! While that is still true, today the term vegetarian is used to describe a meatless diet or an individual who ascribes to a meatess diet. So what does a vegetarian eat? A nearly endless array of grains, nuts, beans, fruits, and vegetables.

Hundreds of studies confirm the correlation between vegetarian diets and good health. A vegetarian diet has been attributed to easier weight control, lower blood pressure, enhanced immune function and decreased risk of cancer, digestive disorder, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.