By Danielle Tepper

In our regular visits to Valley restaurants we have noticed that there are more options for meatless lifestyles than ever. There’s more menu options and more restaurants specializing in vegetarian cuisine overall. Even carnivores who crave variety are enjoying a chance to choose lighter and healthier fare.

If you have you ever been curious about what it really means to be a vegetarian, or what makes the distinction between a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, we have done a little investigative reporting for you. Now when someone mentions she is a vegan at lunch you can do more than politely smile and nod.

Vegetarian: A blanket term used to describe a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. This grouping includes vegans and the various sub-categories of vegetarian; however, it generally implies someone who has less dietary restrictions than a vegan.

Semi-vegetarian: Usually describes someone who consumes dairy products, eggs, chicken, and fish, but does not consume other animal flesh.

Ovo-lacto-vegetarian: Vegetarians who do not consume meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and milk. This accounts for the largest group of vegetarians.

Ovo-vegetarian: Describes someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs.

Lacto-vegetarian: Describes someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk.

Vegan: The strictest sub-category of vegetarians. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. Some go as far as not even consuming honey and yeast. Others do not wear any clothing made from animal products.