Understanding the Characteristics of a Vegetarian Person: A Comprehensive Guide

December 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2019 Gallup poll, 5% of people in the United States identify as vegetarian, driven by a range of factors from personal health to ethical concerns. Understanding the characteristics of a vegetarian person requires a look beyond just their diet, delving into the motivations and lifestyles that shape their choices.

Quick Summary

This article explores the defining characteristics of vegetarians, detailing their common motivations, the various types of vegetarian diets, key nutritional considerations, and associated personality and lifestyle traits.

Key Points

Diverse Motivations: Vegetarians choose their diet for various reasons, including ethical beliefs about animal welfare, concerns for environmental sustainability, and personal health benefits.
Spectrum of Diets: Not all vegetarians are the same; there are different types such as lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, and vegan, each with varying restrictions on animal products like dairy and eggs.
Nutritional Awareness: A key characteristic is the need for conscious nutritional planning to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients, most notably protein, iron, and vitamin B12, which are often more abundant in animal products.
Health Benefits: Many vegetarians experience positive health outcomes, including a lower BMI, reduced cholesterol, and a decreased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Ethical Alignment: Vegetarians often show higher levels of empathy towards animals and greater support for pro-social and environmental causes, reflecting a core value system centered on non-violence and sustainability.
Personality Correlation: Some studies suggest vegetarians may exhibit certain personality traits, such as being more conscientious and potentially more introverted, though research is ongoing and correlations are modest.

Defining a Vegetarian: What Excludes Them from Meat-Eating?

At its core, a vegetarian is someone who abstains from consuming meat, poultry, and seafood. However, this simple definition masks a spectrum of dietary practices and personal philosophies. The term itself is often used broadly, and it's important to recognize the different subcategories that fall under the vegetarian umbrella. A person's specific dietary pattern, whether it includes or excludes eggs and dairy, provides a clearer picture of their food choices.

The Spectrum of Vegetarian Diets

Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Eats dairy products and eggs, but no meat, poultry, or fish.
Lacto-vegetarian: Includes dairy products but avoids eggs, meat, poultry, and fish.
Ovo-vegetarian: Consumes eggs but no dairy, meat, poultry, or fish.
Vegan: The most restrictive form, excluding all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy.

These distinctions are fundamental to understanding the nutritional profile and specific lifestyle choices of each individual. For instance, a lacto-ovo vegetarian's dietary needs differ significantly from a vegan's, particularly regarding vitamin B12, which is naturally found in animal products.

Common Motivations Shaping the Vegetarian Lifestyle

People choose to become vegetarians for a variety of deeply personal and societal reasons. These motivations often act as the core characteristics of a vegetarian person, influencing their broader values and behaviors.

Ethical and Environmental Concerns

Animal welfare: Many vegetarians feel that killing animals for human consumption is morally wrong, especially considering the conditions of modern factory farming.
Environmental sustainability: Concerns over the environmental impact of meat production, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption, are a significant factor. A shift towards plant-based diets is often seen as a way to reduce one's carbon footprint.

Health and Wellness

Improved health markers: Studies show vegetarians often have a lower body mass index, lower cholesterol, and reduced risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Increased nutrient intake: Compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians tend to consume more fiber, potassium, and vitamins C and E from a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Personal and Religious Beliefs

Religious mandates: Certain religions, such as Hinduism and Jainism, have strong traditions of vegetarianism based on the principle of non-violence towards all living beings (ahimsa).
Personal aversion: Some people are simply repulsed by the idea or taste of meat, leading to a long-term avoidance.

Nutritional and Health Characteristics

While a well-planned vegetarian diet can be nutritionally complete, specific nutrients require careful attention, particularly in more restrictive diets like veganism. This attention to detail is a defining characteristic of many committed vegetarians.

Key Nutritional Considerations

Protein: Vegetarians obtain sufficient protein from plant sources like legumes, tofu, tempeh, nuts, and seeds. Vegans, in particular, must ensure a variety of sources throughout the day to get all essential amino acids.
Iron: Non-heme iron from plants is less easily absorbed than heme iron from meat. Vegetarians often compensate by consuming iron-rich plant foods alongside vitamin C, which enhances absorption.
Vitamin B12: Found almost exclusively in animal products, B12 is a critical concern for vegans. Fortified foods or supplements are essential to prevent neurological problems and anemia.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Vegetarians, and especially vegans, need to actively seek out plant-based sources like flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts, or consider algae-based supplements for DHA.

Comparison of Vegetarian Types: A Quick Guide


Characteristic	Lacto-ovo Vegetarian	Lacto-Vegetarian	Ovo-Vegetarian	Vegan
Meat/Poultry/Fish	No	No	No	No
Dairy	Yes	Yes	No	No
Eggs	Yes	No	Yes	No
Honey	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (usually)
Protein Sources	Dairy, eggs, plant-based	Dairy, plant-based	Eggs, plant-based	Strictly plant-based
B12 Considerations	Sufficient intake from dairy and eggs	Sufficient intake from dairy	Need fortified foods or supplements	Requires fortified foods or supplements
Calcium Sources	Dairy, fortified plant milks, leafy greens	Dairy, fortified plant milks, leafy greens	Fortified plant milks, leafy greens	Fortified plant milks, leafy greens

Lifestyle and Personality Traits

Research suggests there may be psychological and personality differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, though results can sometimes be inconsistent. These traits can further inform our understanding of the characteristics of a vegetarian person.

Psychological and Social Profile

Empathy and Pro-social tendencies: Some studies suggest vegetarians show higher levels of empathy towards animals and are more pro-social, supporting issues like environmental protection and societal equality.
Introversion: A 2025 study suggested vegetarians may be more introverted, perhaps as a result of more restrictive eating habits or social isolation.
Higher conscientiousness: Findings indicate a link between vegetarianism and higher levels of conscientiousness, personal motivation, and dietary strictness.

It's important to note that these are correlations, not causal relationships. The social minority status of vegetarians in many cultures may also influence their psychological well-being.

Conclusion: More than Just a Diet

The characteristics of a vegetarian person are shaped by a complex interplay of motivations, from deeply-held ethical convictions and environmental awareness to personal health and religious beliefs. The choice is rarely singular and often reflects a broader worldview focused on compassion, sustainability, and personal well-being. From the nutritional diligence required to the potential personality traits and varying dietary types, a vegetarian lifestyle represents a mindful and deliberate choice with far-reaching implications. It is more than an absence of meat—it is an embrace of a different set of values and priorities. For those considering this path, the extensive resources available from organizations like the Harvard Health blog can provide valuable guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

A vegetarian typically abstains from meat, poultry, and seafood, but may consume animal by-products like eggs and dairy. A vegan, in contrast, avoids all animal products and by-products entirely, including eggs, dairy, and sometimes honey.

A vegetarian diet is not inherently healthy; its quality depends on the foods chosen. A well-planned diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can be very healthy, but a diet of processed junk food is not. Careful planning is essential to ensure nutritional adequacy.

Vegetarians meet their protein needs by eating a diverse range of plant-based protein sources, including legumes (beans, lentils), tofu, tempeh, nuts, and seeds. A variety of these foods over the day ensures the intake of all essential amino acids.

Vitamin B12 is a primary concern for vegans, as it is found naturally only in animal products. Lacto-ovo vegetarians get it from eggs and dairy. Vegans must rely on fortified foods, such as plant-based milks, cereals, or nutritional yeast, or take supplements.

Many people adopt a vegetarian diet for environmental reasons, and studies show that plant-based diets generally have a lower environmental impact, including lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced land usage, compared to meat-heavy diets.

Some studies suggest correlations between a vegetarian diet and certain personality traits, such as higher empathy, conscientiousness, and possibly introversion. However, these are correlations, and individual personalities vary greatly.

Associated health benefits include a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and lower cholesterol levels. These advantages are often linked to higher fiber and antioxidant intake, and lower saturated fat consumption.