Vegetarianism is a vegetable-based eating regime excluding meat and fish . It may or not admit other foods of animal origin, such as milk, eggs or honey, for instance. Thence, a vegetarian may be: Ovo-lacto-vegetarian , when also consuming dairy products and eggs; Lacto-vegetarian , when consuming dairies, but not eggs; Ovo-vegetarian , when consuming eggs, but excluding dairies; Vegan or strictly vegetarian , meaning that he only consumes vegetables and products of vegetal origin (veganism identifying a lifestyle that, besides diet, also excludes the use or acquisition of any products with ingredients of animal origin, such as leather and wool). Fruits, leaves and seeds were, since the beginning, the basis of human diet , with meat becoming predominant in many communities, as fire was conquered and hunting instruments were developed. But from ancient civilizations, for instance, we were left with multiple texts by leaders and thinkers defending the exclusion of meat for philosophical or religious questions. In the West, the term “vegetarian” started to be used in England only by mid-19 th century, associated with lines of thought defending compassion for animals. After 1960s, diets rich in meat started to be questioned. And with Science and Medicine finding and confirming the benefits for health of the consumption of vegetables and fruits, the adepts of vegetarianism grew, following a regimen including a great diversity of foods, such as cereals, vegetables, leguminous plants, fruits, seeds, nuts and algae, among others. But if you really want to opt for vegetarianism, inform yourself properly on the implications and cautions to take , consulting your attending physician or a nutritionist. The vegetarian diet must be varied and balanced, to cover the needs of essential nutrients not produced by our body. Note that: Many ethnic recipes are vegetarian; Many Portuguese typical recipes can be adapted to vegetarianism. Whether you want to change your diet or merely try this occasionally, here are some ideas of vegetarian recipes by our nutritionists Adriana Marques , Alexandra Lima , Ana Carolina Soares , Ana Pimenta Ribeiro , Raquel Barbosa and Simone Fernandes . Meet the nutrition team from Hospital da Luz network
