What are you if you eat both meat and vegetables?

November 5, 2025 •

3 min read

According to National Geographic, humans are classic examples of omnivores, which are organisms that eat a variety of other organisms, including both plants and animals. This diverse diet has long allowed our species to adapt and thrive in countless different environments across the globe. So, what are you if you eat both meat and vegetables? The answer, biologically, is an omnivore.

Quick Summary

An omnivore is a species that naturally consumes both plant and animal-based foods. This dietary flexibility provides significant evolutionary advantages and nutritional benefits. Humans, along with many other animals, are physiologically equipped to thrive on this varied diet.

Key Points

Omnivore Defined: An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and animals to get its energy and nutrients.
Human Biology: Humans have teeth, a digestive system, and enzymes adapted for consuming and processing both meat and plants.
Dietary Flexibility: Being an omnivore provides adaptability, allowing for survival in different environments by utilizing a wider range of food sources.
Nutritional Benefits: A balanced omnivorous diet can provide a full spectrum of nutrients, including essential B12, iron, and complete proteins.
Ethical Choices: A modern omnivore diet can incorporate ethical considerations by focusing on sustainably and humanely sourced animal products.
Health Considerations: The key to a healthy omnivore diet is balance, moderation, and focusing on whole, unprocessed foods.
Flexitarianism: This term describes a type of omnivore who follows a primarily plant-based diet but occasionally includes meat.

Understanding the Omnivore: The Biology Behind the Diet

An omnivore is defined as an animal that eats both plant and animal matter to obtain energy and nutrients. Humans are physiologically adapted for this varied diet, possessing features suitable for consuming both types of food. Unlike specialized herbivores or carnivores, omnivores have a more generalized approach to food, which provides a significant advantage in terms of food security and adaptability. This flexibility has been a key factor in human evolution, allowing our ancestors to survive in diverse and changing environments.

The Physiological Adaptations of an Omnivore

Teeth: Humans have a combination of incisors for cutting meat, canines for tearing, and flat molars for grinding plants, a dental structure perfectly suited for a mixed diet.
Digestive System: The human digestive tract is shorter than a herbivore's but longer than a carnivore's, indicating its ability to process both plant fibers and animal proteins. Our stomach acidity is also moderately high, strong enough to break down meat and kill pathogens, but less extreme than that of a true carnivore.
Enzymes: Human saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that starts the breakdown of carbohydrates in plants, which is a feature not typically found in carnivores.

The Omnivorous Diet in a Modern Context

Today, the term 'omnivore' applies to most people, though dietary choices can vary widely based on personal preference, culture, and ethics. A 'flexitarian' is a more specific term for an individual who primarily follows a plant-based diet but occasionally includes meat and other animal products. This illustrates the spectrum of omnivorous eating habits within the human species.

Distinguishing Omnivores from Other Classifications

While the definition is straightforward, understanding the differences between omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores is crucial. This comparison table highlights the key distinctions:


Feature	Herbivore	Carnivore	Omnivore
Primary Diet	Plants only	Meat only	Both Plants and Meat
Examples	Cow, Rabbit, Deer	Lion, Tiger, Eagle	Bear, Pig, Human, Raccoon
Dental Structure	Flat molars for grinding	Sharp canines and incisors for tearing	Combination of sharp and flat teeth
Digestive System	Long, specialized tract for plant digestion	Short, simple tract for fast meat processing	Moderately long tract; adaptable
Food Scarcity Strategy	Relies on plant resilience	Hunts or scavenges; may struggle if prey is scarce	Adapts by switching food sources

Nutritional and Health Aspects of an Omnivore Diet

A well-planned omnivore diet can be incredibly healthy, offering a diverse range of nutrients that may be harder to obtain from more restrictive diets.

Nutrient Variety: Access to both plant and animal foods ensures a complete intake of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Vitamin B12: This crucial vitamin is found almost exclusively in animal products, making it readily available in an omnivore's diet without supplementation.
Protein Quality: Animal products provide high-quality, complete proteins that are easily absorbed by the body.
Flexibility: The ability to eat from various food groups allows omnivores to adapt their diet to nutritional needs, seasonal availability, and personal health goals.

Misconceptions and Ethical Considerations

Some misconceptions surround the omnivore diet, with some claiming it is inherently unhealthy or unethical. However, many of these criticisms apply more to modern industrial food practices than to the biological nature of omnivory. For example, the concept of "ethical omnivorism" focuses on sustainably and humanely sourced animal products. This approach emphasizes mindful consumption over total elimination, recognizing that the environmental and ethical impact is complex and dependent on sourcing. Furthermore, a balanced omnivore diet that prioritizes whole foods and limits processed items has been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

Conclusion

To answer the question, "what are you if you eat both meat and vegetables?", the simple biological and nutritional classification is an omnivore. This flexible dietary pattern has defined our species for millennia, equipping humans with the adaptability to thrive. By understanding the biology of omnivory and prioritizing a balanced, whole-foods approach, individuals can enjoy the nutritional benefits of both plants and animal products. An omnivore is not merely a label, but a reflection of our evolutionary history and potential for a diverse and healthy diet, grounded in conscious choices about sourcing and sustainability. For further reading on the implications of different diets, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers valuable insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

The biological term is omnivore. This classification applies to any species that is physiologically capable of deriving energy and nutrients from both plant and animal matter.

Yes, humans are biologically classified as omnivores. Our digestive system, teeth, and evolutionary history demonstrate our ability to consume and process both plants and meat, allowing for a highly adaptable diet.

Both diets can be healthy when properly planned. A balanced omnivorous diet provides easy access to key nutrients like vitamin B12 and high-quality protein. However, a well-planned vegetarian diet can also be very healthy, and health outcomes often depend more on overall diet quality and lifestyle than on the inclusion or exclusion of meat.

An omnivore is the broad biological classification. A flexitarian is a type of omnivore who consciously chooses to eat a primarily plant-based diet while occasionally consuming meat or other animal products.

Yes. A concept known as 'ethical omnivorism' focuses on consuming meat, dairy, and eggs that are sustainably and humanely sourced. This involves making conscious choices about the origin and production of animal products.

No. The specific diet of an omnivore can vary greatly based on factors like environment, season, and individual preference. For example, a bear's diet changes from berries and roots to fish and meat depending on the season.

Common examples of omnivorous animals include bears, raccoons, pigs, foxes, and chickens. These species, like humans, have the biological capacity to eat and thrive on a diverse range of plant and animal foods.