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From flexitarian to vegan

Every Type of Vegetarian Diet Explained (2026)

There is no single vegetarian diet -- there is a spectrum of positions with different rules, different motivations, and different nutritional considerations. Here is the complete guide.

How many types of vegetarian are there?

There is no single official count. Six core diets sit on the plant-based spectrum: flexitarian, pescatarian, lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, and vegan. Longer "types of vegetarian" lists reach nine by adding three related diets. Strictly, only lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, and vegan are full vegetarian diets, because flexitarians, pescatarians, and pollotarians still eat some animal flesh and are better called semi-vegetarian.

  1. Lacto-ovo vegetarian: dairy and eggs, no meat or fish (the most common)
  2. Lacto vegetarian: dairy, no eggs, meat, or fish
  3. Ovo vegetarian: eggs, no dairy, meat, or fish
  4. Vegan: no animal products at all
  5. Raw vegan: vegan food kept mostly uncooked
  6. Fruitarian: fruit, nuts, and seeds only (a strict raw-vegan subset)
  7. Pescatarian: fish and seafood, but no other meat
  8. Flexitarian: mostly plant-based with occasional meat
  9. Pollotarian: poultry, but no red meat or fish

The Plant-Based Spectrum

Flexitarian
Pescatarian
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian
Lacto Vegetarian
Ovo Vegetarian
Vegan
Most flexibleMost plant-based

Food Matrix: What Each Diet Allows

FoodFlexPescLacto-OvoLactoOvoVegan
Vegetables, fruit, grains, legumesYESYESYESYESYESYES
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)YESYESYESYESNONO
EggsYESYESYESNOYESNO
HoneyYESYESYESYESYESNO
Fish and seafoodOcc.YESNONONONO
PoultryOcc.NONONONONO
Red meatRarelyNONONONONO
GelatinYESOcc.Often NOOften NOOften NONO
Rennet (animal)YESYESOften NOOften NOOften NONO
Leather, woolYESYESPersonalPersonalPersonalNO

Flexitarian

Mostly plant-based, occasional meat

A flexitarian diet is primarily plant-based but allows occasional meat and fish. There is no strict definition of how often -- from 'once a week' to 'a few times a month'. The term prioritises flexibility over rigid rules.

Eats
  • All vegetables and fruit
  • All grains and legumes
  • Dairy products
  • Eggs
  • Occasional fish
  • Occasional poultry
  • Occasional red meat
Avoids
  • Nothing is strictly off-limits
Health note

Even reducing to 1-2 meat meals per week provides measurable health and environmental benefits versus daily consumption.

Who it suits

People who want to reduce meat for health or environment without a firm commitment. An excellent starting point.

Pescatarian

No meat or poultry, fish OK

Pescatarians eat fish and seafood but not meat or poultry. Most pescatarians also eat dairy and eggs. The name combines the Italian word for fish with 'vegetarian'.

Eats
  • All plant foods
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Dairy products (usually)
  • Eggs (usually)
Avoids
  • Beef, pork, lamb
  • Chicken, turkey, poultry
Health note

Pescatarians get omega-3 DHA/EPA directly from fish without supplementation, which is an advantage over vegans and many vegetarians.

Who it suits

People motivated by health (fish omega-3s) or ethics (accepting fish but not land animals). A common position for those who grew up eating seafood.

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian

The standard vegetarian -- dairy and eggs OK

The most common form of vegetarianism. Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, or fish, but they do eat dairy (lacto) and eggs (ovo). This is what most people mean when they simply say 'vegetarian'.

Eats
  • All plant foods
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
  • Eggs
Avoids
  • Meat (beef, pork, lamb)
  • Poultry (chicken, turkey)
  • Fish and seafood
Health note

Nutritionally complete without supplementation if dairy and eggs are consumed regularly. B12, calcium, protein, and omega-3 are all accessible.

Who it suits

Most vegetarians. Easy to maintain socially and nutritionally. A natural landing point for people reducing meat for health or ethical reasons.

Lacto Vegetarian

Dairy OK, eggs excluded

Lacto vegetarians eat plant foods and dairy but not eggs. This is a traditional dietary pattern in many parts of India, connected to ahimsa (non-harm) -- dairy is accepted because the cow is not harmed, while eggs represent potential life.

Eats
  • All plant foods
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, ghee)
Avoids
  • Meat, poultry, fish
  • Eggs
Health note

Requires attention to getting enough complete protein without eggs. Dairy fills many gaps. Iron needs monitoring as eggs are excluded.

Who it suits

People with Indian cultural or religious dietary traditions (Hindu, Jain). Also people who object to eggs on ethical grounds but accept dairy.

Ovo Vegetarian

Eggs OK, dairy excluded

Ovo vegetarians eat plant foods and eggs but not dairy. This position is less common and typically motivated by dairy intolerance, ethical objections to dairy industry practices, or personal preference.

Eats
  • All plant foods
  • Eggs (all types)
Avoids
  • Meat, poultry, fish
  • All dairy products
Health note

Requires fortified plant milks for calcium and B12. Eggs provide complete protein, iron, and vitamin D, which helps offset the lack of dairy.

Who it suits

People with lactose intolerance or dairy allergy who are not ready for full veganism. Also people who accept eggs on ethical grounds but not dairy farming.

Vegan

No animal products at all

Veganism avoids all animal products: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, or other animal-derived ingredients. Many vegans also extend this to non-food areas: no leather, wool, silk, or products tested on animals.

Eats
  • All plant foods
  • Fortified plant milks
  • Tofu, tempeh, seitan
Avoids
  • All meat and fish
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, butter, yogurt)
  • Eggs
  • Honey, beeswax
  • Gelatin, rennet, carmine
Health note

Requires B12 supplementation. Should monitor iron, zinc, iodine, omega-3 DHA/EPA, and vitamin D. The most health-protective diet in studies when built on whole foods.

Who it suits

People motivated by ethics (animal rights), environment, or health. Requires more planning but becomes second nature with practice.

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Find your fit

Which Diet Suits You?

Answer at least three questions to see whether vegan or vegetarian fits your lifestyle better. Nothing is stored, this runs entirely in your browser.

1. How do you feel about dairy?

2. Eggs?

3. Honey?

4. Eating out ease?

5. Nutrition effort?

Pick an answer to begin.

Types Questions Answered

What are the different types of vegetarian?
There are six main types of vegetarian diet: (1) Flexitarian: mostly plant-based, occasional meat; (2) Pescatarian: no meat or poultry, fish and seafood OK; (3) Lacto-ovo vegetarian: no meat or fish, dairy and eggs OK -- the most common type; (4) Lacto vegetarian: no meat, fish, or eggs, dairy OK; (5) Ovo vegetarian: no meat, fish, or dairy, eggs OK; (6) Vegan: no animal products at all. Raw vegan and fruitarian are stricter subsets of veganism.
What is a pescatarian?
A pescatarian does not eat meat or poultry but does eat fish and seafood, as well as plant foods and typically dairy and eggs. The word comes from the Italian 'pesce' (fish) combined with 'vegetarian'. Pescatarians often follow this diet for health reasons (omega-3 fatty acids from fish), as a transition step toward full vegetarianism, or because they accept fish consumption but not land animal slaughter.
What is a flexitarian?
A flexitarian eats a primarily plant-based diet but occasionally eats meat or fish. There is no strict definition -- some flexitarians eat meat once a week, others once a month. The term was popularised by dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner in her 2009 book. Studies show that even a reduction in meat consumption to 1-3 times per week provides meaningful health and environmental benefits compared to daily meat consumption.
What is a lacto-ovo vegetarian?
A lacto-ovo vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, or fish but does eat both dairy products (lacto, from Latin for milk) and eggs (ovo, from Latin for egg). This is the most common form of vegetarianism in Western countries. It is the easiest vegetarian diet to maintain nutritionally and socially, and it is what most people mean when they simply say 'vegetarian'.
How many types of vegetarian are there?
There is no single official count. Six core diets sit on the plant-based spectrum: flexitarian, pescatarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, lacto vegetarian, ovo vegetarian, and vegan. Longer lists usually reach nine by adding three related diets: pollotarian (poultry but no red meat or fish), raw vegan, and fruitarian. Strictly, only lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, and vegan are full vegetarian diets, because flexitarians, pescatarians, and pollotarians still eat some animal flesh and are better described as semi-vegetarian.
What are the 9 types of vegetarians?
The nine diets most listicles include are: (1) lacto-ovo vegetarian (dairy and eggs, no meat or fish), (2) lacto vegetarian (dairy, no eggs), (3) ovo vegetarian (eggs, no dairy), (4) vegan (no animal products), (5) raw vegan (vegan food kept mostly uncooked), (6) fruitarian (fruit, nuts, and seeds only, a strict raw-vegan subset), (7) pescatarian (fish and seafood but no other meat), (8) flexitarian (mostly plant-based with occasional meat), and (9) pollotarian (poultry but no red meat or fish).
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Updated 2026-04-27