What's it called when you don't eat meat but eat cheese?

November 14, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2024 Harvard Health report, a vegetarian diet can significantly lower the risk of heart disease. When you eliminate meat but still include dairy products like cheese, you are following a lacto-vegetarian diet. This dietary pattern emphasizes plant-based foods while incorporating milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.

Quick Summary

This article explains that a lacto-vegetarian diet involves excluding meat, eggs, and seafood while including dairy products. It covers the foods permissible on this plan, nutritional benefits and considerations, and how to verify if cheese is suitable for vegetarians.

Key Points

Lacto-Vegetarianism Defined: It is the practice of eating a plant-based diet while including dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, and abstaining from meat, poultry, and eggs.
Check Cheese Labels: Not all cheese is vegetarian-friendly, as some varieties are made with animal-derived rennet. Look for labels that state 'microbial rennet' or 'vegetarian rennet' to ensure suitability.
Nutrient Awareness: Key nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, and Omega-3s require attention in a lacto-vegetarian diet, which can be addressed through fortified foods, dairy, and supplements.
Diverse Food Choices: This diet includes a wide array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, offering a rich source of fiber and vitamins.
Health Benefits: A well-planned lacto-vegetarian diet may contribute to improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and weight management.

Understanding the Lacto-Vegetarian Diet

Many people choose to restrict their diets for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. When this involves giving up all animal flesh, including meat, poultry, and fish, but keeping dairy products, the dietary pattern is specifically known as lacto-vegetarianism. The prefix 'lacto' is derived from the Latin word for milk, while 'vegetarian' indicates the exclusion of meat. This distinguishes it from other vegetarian types, such as ovo-vegetarians (who eat eggs but no dairy) and vegans (who avoid all animal products).

What can you eat on a lacto-vegetarian diet?

This eating plan is built around a wide variety of nutritious and delicious foods. Unlike a full vegan diet, it is less restrictive and includes dairy, making it an excellent source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. A typical lacto-vegetarian diet consists of:

Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.
Fruits and Vegetables: All kinds of fresh, frozen, and canned produce.
Whole Grains: Bread, pasta, rice, and oats.
Legumes: Lentils, beans, peas, and chickpeas.
Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, and flaxseed.
Protein Sources: Tofu, tempeh, and nutritional yeast.

Can all cheese be consumed on this diet?

A common misconception is that all cheese is vegetarian-friendly. However, this is not always the case. Some cheeses use animal rennet, an enzyme sourced from the stomach lining of young calves, to help with the curdling process. To ensure a cheese is suitable for a lacto-vegetarian diet, you must check the label for the type of rennet used. Look for labels that specify "microbial rennet," "vegetable rennet," or simply "vegetarian cheese". Conversely, cheeses with "animal rennet" or traditional varieties like Parmigiano Reggiano are not vegetarian.

Comparison of Vegetarian Diets

To better understand the distinctions, here is a comparison of different vegetarian and semi-vegetarian diets:


Dietary Pattern	Meat	Dairy	Eggs	Fish	Primary Source(s)	Notes
Lacto-Vegetarian	No	Yes	No	No	Dairy, plants	Popular in some religious traditions.
Ovo-Vegetarian	No	No	Yes	No	Eggs, plants	Less common, but still practiced.
Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian	No	Yes	Yes	No	Dairy, eggs, plants	Most common form of vegetarianism.
Pescatarian	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fish, plants	Often considered a form of semi-vegetarianism.
Flexitarian	Limited	Yes	Yes	Sometimes	Plants, limited animal products	Flexible, plant-forward approach.
Vegan	No	No	No	No	Plants only	Avoids all animal products, including honey.

Health Benefits and Considerations

Choosing a lacto-vegetarian diet can offer numerous health benefits, including improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and potential weight management. However, like any restrictive diet, careful planning is necessary to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Key nutrients to monitor include Vitamin B12, iron, and Omega-3 fatty acids, which are more readily available in meat, eggs, and fish.

Vitamin B12: Primarily found in animal products, lacto-vegetarians rely on fortified foods and dairy for this essential vitamin.
Iron: While iron is found in plant sources, the body absorbs it less efficiently than from animal sources. Consuming foods rich in Vitamin C alongside iron-rich plants can aid absorption.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Good plant sources of ALA include flaxseed and walnuts, but lacto-vegetarians may still need to supplement EPA and DHA, which are more common in fish.

Incorporating a wide variety of dairy and plant-based foods can help ensure adequate intake of these nutrients. However, individuals with specific health concerns should consult a doctor or registered dietitian to ensure their nutritional needs are met. More information on a healthy diet can be found on authoritative health websites like Harvard Health.

Conclusion

In summary, the diet that excludes meat but includes cheese is called lacto-vegetarianism. It is a popular and flexible dietary choice driven by a variety of personal convictions, and it allows for the inclusion of dairy products while eliminating all animal flesh. By paying attention to food labels, particularly for cheese, and focusing on a wide range of whole, nutrient-dense foods, a lacto-vegetarian can maintain a healthy and balanced diet. This eating pattern provides a clear middle ground for those who wish to reduce their consumption of animal products without fully committing to a vegan lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

A lacto-vegetarian eats dairy but avoids eggs, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian includes both dairy and eggs in their diet.

Some traditional cheeses are made using animal rennet, an enzyme from a calf's stomach. Vegetarian-friendly cheeses use non-animal sources like microbial or vegetable rennet.

Lacto-vegetarians can get Vitamin B12 from dairy products and fortified foods, though they should ensure they have a consistent source, as the vitamin is primarily found in animal products.

A well-planned lacto-vegetarian diet can be very healthy and may reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases. However, a poor diet of any type, including lacto-vegetarian, can still be unhealthy if it consists of excessive processed foods.

Yes, a person who avoids meat but consumes cheese and other dairy is called a lacto-vegetarian, which is a specific type of vegetarian diet.

Excellent protein sources for a lacto-vegetarian include dairy products, legumes (beans, lentils), nuts, seeds, and soy products like tofu and tempeh.

Check the cheese label for specific wording such as 'microbial rennet,' 'vegetarian rennet,' or a 'V-label' symbol. If the label is unclear, you can contact the manufacturer.