People follow vegetarian diets for many different reasons. Some do it for ethical or religious reasons, while others are trying to eat healthy or lose weight. If you’re considering going vegetarian, or are already on a mostly plant-based diet but miss eggs, you may want to consider an 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 a detailed look at the ovo-vegetarian diet, including foods to eat, foods to avoid, and a sample meal plan.
The ovo-vegetarian diet is a type of vegetarianism that allows for the consumption of eggs but not dairy products. This diet is also sometimes referred to as an ovo vegetarian or eggetarian diet (15).
People who follow the ovo-vegetarian diet typically do so for ethical reasons, such as a belief that animals should not be used for food. Others may choose this diet for health reasons, such as trying to improve their heart health or lose weight.
The ovo-vegetarian diet is considered a more restrictive form of vegetarianism than lacto-ovo vegetarianism, which allows for the consumption of both eggs and dairy products (14).
However, the ovo-vegetarian diet is less restrictive than a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products, including eggs, dairy, and honey (14).
On an ovo-vegetarian diet, you can eat a variety of plant-based foods, a well-rounded selection of eggs, and a few other animal-derived products.
Here are some of the healthiest foods to eat on an ovo-vegetarian diet:
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On an ovo-vegetarian diet, you’ll need to avoid all animal-derived products other than eggs. This includes dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. If you choose to, you’ll also need to avoid honey, as it’s produced by bees.
In addition, it’s important to try to limit your intake of ultra processed foods, as they’re often high in unhealthy ingredients, such as added sugar and sodium (3).
Here’s a sample ovo-vegetarian meal plan for one week:
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An ovo-vegetarian diet may benefit your health in several ways:
According to research, following a vegetarian diet makes it more likely that you’ll meet the recommendations for a healthy diet, including consuming more fruits and vegetables, fiber, and magnesium while consuming less saturated fat (5).
A vegetarian diet has been linked with lower body weight and a reduced risk of obesity (2) (17). This is likely because plant-based foods tend to be lower in calories and fat than animal-derived foods.
Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet may help protect against conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer (16). This is likely because plant-based foods are high in fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, which promote health.
Fiber is essential for digestive health, and vegetarian diets tend to be high in fiber. This can help keep things like constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disease at bay (6).
Plant-based diets tend to be more affordable than diets that include meat and animal products. This is because plant-based foods are typically less expensive than animal-derived foods.
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While there are many potential benefits to following an ovo-vegetarian diet, there are also some potential drawbacks to be aware of:
If you’re not careful, it’s possible to get too little protein on an ovo-vegetarian diet. This is because animal products, such as meat and dairy, are typically the richest sources of protein (4).
To make sure you’re getting enough protein, be sure to include plenty of high-protein plant foods in your diet, such as beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, and seeds.
While an ovo-vegetarian diet can certainly be healthy, it’s important to be aware that you may miss out on certain nutrients if you don’t eat animal products (10).
For example, you may not get enough vitamin B12, zinc, iron, or omega-3 fatty acids (8). To make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need, you may need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals or eat fortified foods. Talk to your doctor or dietitian for help ensuring you meet your nutritional needs on your plant-based diet.
Just because you’re following an ovo-vegetarian diet doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you want.
There are still plenty of unhealthy junk food options that are vegetarian or vegan, such as French fries, chips, cookies, and candy which are calorie-dense and may be harmful to your health (13). To make sure you’re eating a healthy vegetarian diet, be sure to focus more on whole, minimally processed foods.
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To help you stick to your ovo-vegetarian diet, here are a few tips to follow:
Since you’ll be avoiding animal-derived protein sources, it’s important to include a variety of plant-based protein sources in your diet. This will help you reach your daily protein needs and keep your muscles healthy (1).
Non-heme iron found in plant foods is not as easily absorbed by the body as heme iron found in animal products (7).
To help increase iron absorption, pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods (11). For example, you could have a spinach salad with orange slices or eat black beans with tomatoes and bell peppers.
An ovo-vegetarian diet can be healthy and well-rounded, but it’s important to include a variety of nutrient-rich foods (9). This will help ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Just because a food is vegetarian doesn’t mean it’s healthy. For example, fried foods, highly processed foods, and sugary snacks are all vegetarian but not necessarily healthy (13).
When choosing foods, opt for those that are minimally processed and made with whole, unprocessed ingredients.
Following an ovo-vegetarian diet is a healthy way to eat. This type of diet might help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol levels, and reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. To make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs, be sure to include a variety of nutrient-rich foods in your diet.
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