A Week of Gluten-Free Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes

What Is Vegetarianism?

Okay, before we get any further, let’s first break down what exactly vegetarianism means. According to Merriam-Webster, a vegetarian is defined as being, “a person who does not eat meat: someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy.” (Source) Simply put, vegetarianism is the practice of not eating meat. However, following a vegetarian diet often looks different from person to person depending on what type of vegetarianism they prescribe to.

Types of Vegetarianism

As stated, vegetarianism is a way of eating that excludes meat from one’s diet. However, what is and is not consumed differs from person to person. To help break down the specifics, there are 5 different types of vegetarianism to which people typically adhere including: 

• Vegetarian: a traditional vegetarian diet avoids foods that are a product or byproduct of an animal including meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, gelatin, and even rennet
• Lacto-Vegetarian: excludes meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs but includes dairy products such as cheese, milk, yogurt, and butter
• Ovo-Vegetarian: excludes meat, seafood, poultry, and dairy products but includes eggs
• Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: excludes meat, seafood, and poultry but allows dairy products and eggs
• Pescatarian: excludes meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs but allows fish
• Vegan: excludes meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, any foods containing them, and any foods made with animal-derived foods such as honey.

Tips for Reaching Protein Goals with a Vegetarian Diet

Now that you have my general list of ingredient staples, let’s dig a little deeper into protein. A common misconception surrounding vegetarian meal prep ideas is that it’s hard or impossible to meet daily protein requirements, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!

It just takes a bit of planning ahead of time. For instance, a few of my favorite plant-based protein sources are listed below! Take a look to find your favorite and learn why you should include them in your vegetarian meal prep.

Do Eggs Count as Meat or Dairy?

More often than not, there seems to be some confusion regarding eggs and how they fit into a vegetarian diet. Due to the fact that they are sold in the dairy section of most grocery stores, some people believe they are classified as dairy products. By definition, dairy products are those made from the milk of a mammal. This includes items like cheese, milk, and even ice cream. Therefore, eggs cannot be classified as dairy. 

That said, according to the USDA, eggs are considered to be a protein source but are not meat. They state, “All foods made from meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds are considered part of the Proteins Food Group.” (Source)