Welcome to our Quick Guide to the Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet.

People follow a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons. Some do this for moral or religious reasons, while others try to eat healthily or lose weight.

If you're considering going vegetarian or already have a mostly plant-based diet but forgot about eggs, consider the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.

This type of vegetarianism allows for the consumption of eggs but excludes all other animal products, including dairy and sometimes honey.

Here's an overview of this vegan diet, including foods to eat, foods to avoid, and a sample meal plan.

What Is the Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet Plan?

This vegetarian diet is a type of vegetarianism that allows the consumption of eggs but not dairy. This diet is also known as the vegetarian egg diet.

People who follow this diet often do so for ethical reasons, such as the belief that animals should not be used as food. Others may choose this diet for health reasons, such as trying to improve heart health or lose weight.

What Does a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Eat?

On this diet, you can eat a variety of plant foods, various eggs, and some other animal products.

Here are some of the healthiest foods you can eat on this diet:

Vegetables: All vegetables, including leafy, root, cruciferous, and other vegetables.

Fruit: Any fruit, including fresh, frozen, or canned varieties.

Eggs: Cage-free eggs and pasture-raised hens are sometimes chosen for animal welfare or environmental reasons.

Oils and Fats: Olive oil, avocado oil, and other healthy fats.

Herbs and Spices: Fresh or dried herbs and spices can add flavor to foods.

What a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Can’t Eat

On this vegetarian diet, you should avoid all animal products except eggs. This includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. If you choose it, you should also avoid honey as it is produced by bees.

Also, it's important to try to limit your intake of highly processed foods as they often contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients like added sugars and sodium.

Ovo-Vegetarian Sample Meal Plan

Here is an example of a vegetarian menu for a week:

Monday

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with vegetables, whole grain toast, and fruit.

Lunch: garden salad with boiled egg, grilled tofu, and vinaigrette dressing.

Dinner: Quinoa and chili beans with avocado slices.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Omelet with vegetables and vegan cheese, whole grain muffins, and grapefruit.

Lunch: Sandwich with egg salad on whole wheat bread, carrots, and apple.

Dinner: Spaghetti with marinara sauce and salad.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Banana smoothie with almond milk, oatmeal, and chia seeds.

Lunch: Fried Tofu with rice and vegetables.

Dinner: Veggie burger on whole wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Thursday

Breakfast: Oatmeal with fresh fruit and chopped nuts.

Lunch: Vegan grilled cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread with roasted tomatoes.

Dinner: Vegan Eggplant Parmesan with Whole Wheat Pasta and Salad.

Friday

Breakfast: Half-boiled eggs with salsa, whole-wheat tortillas, and orange juice.

Lunch: a combination of soup and salad with a boiled egg.

Dinner: Pizza with vegetables and vegetarian cheese.

Saturday

Breakfast: Banana pancakes with maple syrup and vegetable butter.

Lunch: Vegetable wrap with hummus and fruit accompaniment.

Dinner: Lentil curry with rice and bread.

Sunday

Breakfast: Tofu scrambled eggs with vegetables, whole grain toast, and coffee with almond milk.

Lunch: Grilled vegetable salad with boiled egg and balsamic dressing.

Dinner: Spaghetti with marinara sauce and steamed broccoli.

What are the benefits of a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian diet?

Improve food quality. According to research, a vegetarian diet is more likely to meet recommendations for a healthy diet that includes more fruits and vegetables, fiber, and magnesium, while consuming less saturated fat.

Better weight control. A vegetarian diet is associated with weight loss and reduced risk of obesity. This is likely because a plant-based diet is lower in calories and fat than an animal-based diet.

Lower risk of disease. Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet can help protect against diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. This is likely because a plant-based diet is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and health-promoting phytochemicals.

Improve digestion. Fiber is key to healthy digestion, and vegetarian diets are often high in fiber. It can help prevent things like constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disease.

Maybe more affordable. A vegetarian diet is generally cheaper than a diet containing meat and animal products. Plant foods are generally cheaper than animal foods.

What are the downsides of a Ovo-Vegetarian Diet?

Maybe you don't have enough protein. If you're not careful, you can get very little protein on this vegetarian diet. This is because animal products such as meat and dairy are often the richest sources of protein. To ensure you get enough protein, include protein-rich plant foods like beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, and seeds in your diet.

You may be missing out on some nutrients. While a vegetarian diet can certainly be healthy, it's important to remember that if you don't eat animal products, you could be missing out on some nutrients. You may not be getting enough vitamin B12, zinc, iron, or omega-3 fatty acids. To ensure you get all the nutrients you need, you may need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals or eat fortified foods. Check with your doctor or nutritionist to ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs with a plant-based diet.

Unhealthy fast food options. Just because you're on a vegetarian diet doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. There are still many unhealthy fast foods that are vegetarian or vegan, such as potato chips, chips, cookies, and candy, which are high in calories and can be harmful to your health. To ensure you have a healthy vegetarian diet, focus more on whole, minimally processed foods.

Tips for Success on the Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet

Increase your protein intake. As you avoid animal protein sources, it is important to include a variety of plant protein sources in your diet. This will help you meet your daily protein needs and keep your muscles healthy.

Make sure you get enough iron. Non-heme iron found in plant foods is not easily absorbed by the body, as is heme iron found in animal products. To increase iron absorption, combine foods rich in iron with foods rich in vitamin C. For example, eat a spinach salad with orange slices or black beans with tomato and peppers.

Variety of nutrients. A vegetarian diet can be healthy and versatile, but it's important to include a variety of nutrient-dense foods. That way, you can be sure you're getting all the nutrients your body needs.

Choose healthy foods. Just because a food is plant-based doesn't mean it's healthy. For example, fried foods, highly processed foods, and sugary snacks are plant-based, but not necessarily healthy.

When you choose minimally processed foods made with whole, unprocessed ingredients.

This type of diet can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. Include a variety of nutrient-dense foods in your diet to ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs.

What Are Potential Nutritional Deficiencies In A Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet?

In particular, a vegetarian diet leads to a significantly increased risk of deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin B2, and various minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc. But even a Lacto-vegetarian diet carries the risk of deficiency of vitamin B12 and possibly some minerals like iron.

How To Lose Weight On A Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet

A vegetarian Lacto-ovo diet can help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. A vegetarian diet is usually high in fiber and low in calories, which can promote satiety and prevent overeating.