What Do You Call a Person That Eats No Meat? Understanding Vegetarianism and Beyond

November 29, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 5% of American adults identify as vegetarian. While many use the term 'vegetarian,' the answer to 'what do you call a person that eats no meat' is not always so simple, as a range of dietary patterns fall under the plant-based umbrella. This article explores the different terms and classifications for individuals who abstain from eating meat.

Quick Summary

This article defines the various terms for individuals who exclude meat from their diet, explaining the differences between vegetarians, vegans, and other related dietary lifestyles, detailing what each group typically consumes.

Key Points

Vegetarian Definition: A vegetarian is a person who abstains from eating meat, poultry, and fish, though they may consume dairy and eggs.
Types of Vegetarians: There are several categories, including lacto-ovo (eats dairy and eggs), lacto (eats dairy), and ovo (eats eggs) vegetarians.
Veganism is Stricter: A vegan is a person who avoids all animal-derived products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and often honey.
Pescetarians Include Fish: A pescetarian is someone whose diet is primarily vegetarian but also includes fish and seafood.
Flexitarians are Semi-Vegetarian: This term describes a diet that is mostly plant-based but includes occasional meat consumption.
Motivations Vary: Reasons for adopting a meat-free diet can range from health benefits, environmental concerns, and ethical treatment of animals, to religious beliefs.
Nutrient Planning is Important: Well-planned meat-free diets are healthy, but require attention to ensure adequate intake of nutrients like protein, iron, and B12.

Defining a Vegetarian

At its most basic, the term vegetarian refers to a person who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish. The decision to become vegetarian can be driven by a variety of factors, including ethical concerns for animal welfare, environmental impact, health benefits, or religious beliefs. However, the umbrella of vegetarianism covers several distinct sub-categories, each with its own specific rules about what is and is not consumed.

The Many Faces of Vegetarianism

There are several key distinctions within the vegetarian diet, defined primarily by what animal-derived products are included or excluded.

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: This is one of the most common forms of vegetarianism. A person following this diet abstains from meat, fish, and poultry but includes dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as eggs.
Lacto-Vegetarian: This diet excludes meat, fish, poultry, and eggs, but still includes dairy products. Many vegetarian diets in India, for example, are lacto-vegetarian.
Ovo-Vegetarian: This dietary pattern excludes meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products, but allows for the consumption of eggs.
Vegan: The strictest form of vegetarianism, veganism excludes all products derived from animals. This includes meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and often honey, as well as other non-food animal products like leather and wool. A person on a vegan diet is called a vegan.
Pescatarian: While not strictly vegetarian, a pescatarian diet includes fish and other seafood but excludes other meats, poultry, and byproducts. Many people who move toward a more plant-based lifestyle begin with this option.
Flexitarian: This term describes a person who follows a primarily plant-based diet but occasionally eats meat or animal products. It’s a flexible approach that focuses on reducing—rather than completely eliminating—meat consumption.

The Benefits and Challenges of Meat-Free Diets

Shifting to a meat-free diet can offer several health and environmental advantages. Plant-based diets are generally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and higher in fiber, which can lead to reduced risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. From an environmental perspective, reducing meat consumption can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural land use.

However, these diets require careful planning to ensure adequate nutritional intake. For example, some key nutrients often found in meat, such as protein, iron, and vitamin B12, must be replaced with alternative sources. Vegans, in particular, may need to incorporate fortified foods or supplements to get enough vitamin B12, which is only naturally present in animal products.

Comparing Different Meat-Free Diets


Feature	Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian	Vegan	Pescetarian	Flexitarian
Meat	No	No	No (except fish)	Yes (infrequently)
Fish	No	No	Yes	Yes (infrequently)
Dairy	Yes	No	Sometimes	Yes
Eggs	Yes	No	Sometimes	Yes
Primary Focus	Ethical/health	Ethical/animal rights	Health/Environment	Reducing meat intake
Key Nutrient Considerations	Iron, B12	B12, Iron, Calcium	Mercury intake	Variety and balance

Navigating the Plant-Based World

Choosing a meat-free lifestyle is a personal journey with many paths. For those considering the change, understanding these different terms is an important first step. For example, a person starting out might opt for a flexitarian or pescetarian diet to transition gradually, while someone motivated by animal ethics might commit directly to a vegan lifestyle. Cooking and meal planning play a crucial role in ensuring a balanced diet, and numerous resources are available to help beginners adapt. A growing number of restaurants, grocery stores, and online communities cater to these dietary needs, making a meat-free lifestyle more accessible than ever before.

Conclusion

While a 'vegetarian' is the most common answer to what you call a person that eats no meat, it's just one term in a spectrum of plant-based and meat-reduced diets. Understanding the nuanced differences between vegetarian, vegan, and other related lifestyles allows for greater clarity and helps individuals find the best dietary path for their personal goals. As plant-based eating gains mainstream popularity, acknowledging these distinctions is key to informed decisions about nutrition and lifestyle. For more information, consult resources like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to help guide your dietary choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary difference is that vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or poultry, but many still consume dairy products and eggs. Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all animal-derived products, including dairy, eggs, and honey.

A pescetarian is a person who eats a primarily plant-based diet but includes fish and other seafood. They generally do not eat meat or poultry.

No, a pescetarian is not technically a vegetarian because their diet includes fish, which is a type of meat. Vegetarianism strictly excludes all animal flesh.

A flexitarian follows a mostly plant-based diet but occasionally eats meat or other animal products. The term emphasizes flexibility and is sometimes called 'semi-vegetarian'.

Yes, vegetarians can get enough protein by eating a variety of plant-based sources like legumes (beans and lentils), nuts, seeds, and soy products such as tofu.

Nutrients that may require more careful planning include vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and zinc. These can be obtained through fortified foods, plant-based sources, or supplements.

Common reasons include health benefits (such as lower risk of heart disease), ethical concerns for animal welfare, environmental impact, and religious or cultural traditions.

Yes, many people transition by gradually reducing meat consumption. A flexitarian diet is a perfect example of this, where you consciously decrease meat intake over time.