Before we can discuss the various types of vegetarian diets a little about the body’s need for protein is essential.  In order to rebuild the body and keep the body healthy a complete protein must be included in the meal plan on a daily basis.  This complete protein is one that has all the amino acids needed to sustain life.  These amino acids are like different colored building blocks.  If one specific color is missing the pattern of building cannot continue. A complete protein, one that contains all the necessary amino acids, is only found in animal products.  Eggs and milk are the best sources of a complete protein.   Some plant foods are high in protein but are missing at least one of the necessary amino acids.  Since different plants are low in different amino acids, combinations can provide an adequate and complete protein. 

Types of vegetarian diets are:

• Lacto-vegetarians include milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt, but exclude all forms of meat, poultry, eggs, seafood and fish. 
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians include milk, milk products and eggs but exclude all meat, poultry, seafood and fish.
• Semi-vegetarians usually just exclude red meat from their diet but may include milk, eggs, poultry, fish and seafood. 

The above three groups usually have no problem with adequate high quality protein foods.

• Vegens only include foods from plant sources.  To obtain a complete protein from only plant sources, the vegetarian must combine two different types of specific plant foods.  Beans are an excellent source of protein but they are very low in the amino acid lysine.  However if they are combined with grains which have extra lysine, seeds or nuts a complete protein is available to the body   Examples of good combinations include black beans and rice; peanut butter (a bean) and bread; and tofu, (a soy bean product) and rice.  Beans are usually a staple in the vegen vegetarian diet and should be included in at least two meals per day.

On the market today are various forms of textured vegetable protein that uses soy protein, which is formulated to taste like meat, poultry or fish.  These can be purchased in the form of vegetable burgers, sausages and crumbled bits to help those who want to reduce or eliminate the amount of animal protein but still maintain protein status.   These products are becoming more common as their taste has drastically improved and people are becoming more aware of the benefits of decreasing their intake of animal products.