Summary

The website content provides an overview of various dietary preferences, including vegetarianism, veganism, Halal, Kosher, and gluten-free diets, emphasizing the importance of understanding these choices to foster social awareness and avoid insensitivity.

Abstract

The article "Vegetarians, Vegans, Halal, and More — Understanding Dietary Preferences" discusses the significance of recognizing different dietary preferences in a social context where food is central to gatherings. It highlights the challenges faced by individuals with specific dietary choices, such as vegetarians and vegans, in environments like Hong Kong, where such preferences may be misunderstood. The author, who identifies as a Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian, clarifies the distinctions between various types of vegetarian diets, including Vegans, Ovo-Vegetarians, Lacto-Vegetarians, and Pescetarians. Additionally, the article explains the religious dietary laws of Halal for Muslims and Kosher for Jews, as well as the health-related gluten-free diet. The piece underscores the difference between dietary preferences and restrictions, advocating for the correct use of terminology and the need for awareness to prevent awkward social interactions.

Opinions

The author expresses frustration with being offered fish despite stating a vegetarian preference, indicating a common misunderstanding of vegetarian diets.
There is a clear distinction made between dietary "preferences" and "restrictions," with the author emphasizing personal choice over health-imposed limitations.
The author considers Pescetarianism to be a stretch within the vegetarian spectrum, given that fish is not a plant.
The article suggests that the term "vegetarian" has evolved and now encompasses various sub-categories, each with its own set of inclusions and exclusions.
The author values the dietary benefits of eggs and dairy products, which is why they include these in their Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian diet.
The importance of religious dietary laws, such as Halal and Kosher, is acknowledged, with the author noting the detailed guidelines and certifications that exist to clarify these preferences.
The author points out that under Islam, pork is not permitted, and among Jews, meat and dairy cannot be mixed according to Kosher laws.
The author highlights the necessity of understanding gluten-free diets, especially for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, and the health implications of consuming gluten for these individuals.
The article concludes by encouraging readers to be more informed about dietary preferences to avoid ignorant assumptions and to be respectful in social settings.

Vegetarians, Vegans, Halal, and More — Understanding Dietary Preferences

A new form of social awareness to avoid asking dumb questions

Food is at the center of everything we do — it provides us the required fuel to go through our lives, and is also an essential part of most social aspects of our lives.

Whether it is for a friends’ meetup, a professional networking session, a formal meeting, or any other social construct, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are often the backdrop or format for social gatherings.

Having spent the last three years of my life in Hong Kong — a country where the majority of the population, both native and expatriate, is used to a largely no-restrictions diet, being a vegetarian is not that easy.

This isn’t because you don’t find enough food and supplies for a vegetarian, but more to do with the ignorance of people about what being a vegetarian really means. With the variety of other different dietary preferences coming into play — vegans, pescatarians, ovo-vegetarians, and so on, keeping track can be hard.

After telling a waiter at a restaurant that I am vegetarian and being run through a list of the “fish” that’s available, it is indeed an annoying experience.

Another thing I hate is when dietary “preferences” are commonly referred to as “dietary restrictions” — there is a BIG difference. I am not “restricted” by any rules or health considerations from eating something — I just CHOOSE a certain dietary set and so the right word to use is “preferences”.

So here is a quick reference guide for understanding the various types of dietary preferences.

Vegetarians — Largely a Plant-Based Diet

A person who does not eat meat : someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products

Now vegetarians in the traditional sense have been folks who don’t eat anything that was ever “alive” — let’s not go into the plants are living things debate — but I mean anything that can voluntarily move and needs to be “killed” to cook. So most “traditional” vegetarians are OK with milk — that is an animal product — instead of the human female, it comes from animals — there are no dead animals involved.

So meat and fish are off-limits but milk is OK.

Vegetarianism however has evolved into various sub-categories with people who eat eggs etc. Let me elaborate on the sub-categories.

Vegans

The strictest sub-form of vegetarianism — a plant-based diet with no animal products. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products.

Ovo-Vegetarians

These vegetarians eat plants in addition to eggs. This is because what we eat as “eggs” are unfertilized eggs, and won’t magically hatch into a chicken — so in layman terms, that's still not a living thing, nor will be. The dietary benefits of eggs are often the reason why these are included in a vegetarian diet.

Lacto-Vegetarians

These types of vegetarians eat plants as well as dairy products — probably the most common type of vegetarian in countries like India where a lot of vegetarianism is a result of religious beliefs.

Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians

This is the category I belong to. We eat eggs and dairy products in addition to vegetarians. The reason here is largely principle — at least for me. I just can’t convince myself to eat something that was alive and moving until I decided to make it my dinner.

Pescetarians

This one to me is a bit of a stretch and shouldn’t fall under a category of vegetarianism — as fish isn’t a plant. But, it is often considered as such, so I’ll stick with the convention. Pescetarians are vegetarians, but they also eat fish — they do not eat meat.

Halal — Islam-guided Dietary Preference

Within non-vegetarians i.e. folks who eat meat, one very common and must-know dietary preference is the “Halal” diet. The Islamic Council of Victoria describes Halal food as:

In general, every food is considered halal in Islam unless it is specially prohibited by the Qur’an or the Hadith. By official definition, halal foods are those that are:

Free from any component that Muslims are prohibited from consuming according to Islamic law (Shariah).

Processed, made, produced, manufactured, and/or stored using utensils, equipment, and/or machinery that have been cleansed according to Islamic law.

This one is usually trickier than others and hence there are certifications and guidelines that clearly mark Halal, vs. Non-Halal food, and are generally consistent globally.

One big factor to remember here is under Islam, pork, which is a commonly eaten meat is not permitted and hence is Non-Halal or Haram (prohibited) food. Most Muslims who strictly follow the religion do not eat pork.

Kosher — The Jewish Dietary Preference

Another dietary preference largely influenced by religion is the Kosher observance under Judaism.

The Jewish dietary laws are the basis for the kosher observance. These rules were set forth in the religious texts of Judaism. The Hebrew word “kasher” literally means “fit,” and the kosher laws concern themselves with which foods are considered fit to eat.

While the Kosher rules are much more complex and detailed, they can be summarized as below per this Healthline article.

Some of the main kosher dietary guidelines ban certain food pairings — particularly those of meat and dairy.

There are three main kosher food categories:

Meat (fleishig): Mammals or fowl, as well as products derived from them, including bones or broth.

Dairy (milchig): Milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt.

Pareve: Any food that is not meat or dairy, including fish, eggs, and plant-based foods.

According to kosher tradition, any food categorized as meat may never be served or eaten at the same meal as a dairy product.

This also means that the utensils and equipment used to prepare the meat and dairy products should be separate. Like Halal, Kosher products are also clearly marked and restaurants categorize Kosher food separately, where the dietary preference is met.

Gluten-Free Diet — Health-Related Preference

Gluten is essentially a protein found in most grains such as wheat. However, many people are allergic to gluten and the gluten found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye) can trigger serious health problems or other insensitivities.

So people that follow a gluten-free diet need to choose alternatives to some of the most commonly eaten grains and need special care and often dietary and professional guidance on picking these foods. According to Mayo Clinic,

A gluten-free diet is essential for managing signs and symptoms of celiac disease and other medical conditions associated with gluten.

A gluten-free diet is also popular among people who haven’t been diagnosed with a gluten-related medical condition. The claimed benefits of the diet are improved health, weight loss and increased energy, but more research is needed.

While there are many more food preferences, the above categories largely cover the most common ones. So the next time you find someone sticking to these dietary preferences, you’ll sound more educated and not ask or assume things that are borderline disrespectful and ignorant, in an increasingly dietary-conversant world!