What Is A Vegetarian That Eats Eggs Called?

A vegetarian who eats eggs is called an ovo-vegetarian. The “ovo” comes from the Latin word for egg. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs and dairy-free plant foods but avoid all meat, poultry, and seafood. Some also avoid dairy, which makes them ovo-vegetarians rather than lacto-ovo vegetarians.

If you have heard the term “eggetarian,” that is a casual word used mostly in India and among some online communities. It is not a formal category in nutrition science. The standard term is ovo-vegetarian.

What Is A Vegetarian That Eats Eggs Called?

Ovo-vegetarian is the accurate term. It describes a diet that includes eggs but excludes meat, poultry, and fish. The prefix “ovo” refers specifically to eggs.

This puts ovo-vegetarians in a distinct spot within the broader vegetarian spectrum. They are not vegan, because vegans avoid all animal products including eggs. They are not lacto-ovo vegetarians either, since that group eats both dairy and eggs. An ovo-vegetarian eats eggs but skips milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy.

In practice, many people who call themselves ovo-vegetarian still eat dairy. The labels can blur. If someone tells you they are ovo-vegetarian, it is reasonable to ask whether they include dairy, because the answer changes what they actually eat day to day.

The term matters for a few practical reasons. It helps when dining out, reading food labels, or explaining your diet to a doctor or dietitian. It also matters for nutrition, because eggs supply nutrients that are harder to get from plants alone.

How Is Ovo-Vegetarian Different From Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian?

The difference is dairy. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat both dairy products and eggs. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy. Everything else is largely the same: no meat, no poultry, no seafood.

The word “lacto” comes from lactose, the sugar in milk. So a lacto-ovo vegetarian is someone who includes milk and eggs. This is the most common form of vegetarianism in the United States and many other countries.

Here is how the main vegetarian categories compare:

• Ovo-vegetarian: eats eggs, no dairy, no meat, poultry, or fish
• Lacto-vegetarian: eats dairy, no eggs, no meat, poultry, or fish
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: eats dairy and eggs, no meat, poultry, or fish
• Vegan: eats no animal products at all, including eggs and dairy
• Pescatarian: eats fish and seafood, may or may not eat eggs and dairy, no other meat

Someone might choose ovo-vegetarian over lacto-ovo for several reasons. Dairy can be hard to digest for people with lactose intolerance. Some people avoid dairy for ethical or environmental reasons but still eat eggs. Others simply prefer eggs and find dairy unnecessary in their diet.

Why Do People Choose An Ovo-Vegetarian Diet?

People land on ovo-vegetarianism for a mix of health, ethical, and practical reasons. The choice is often personal rather than driven by one single motive.

Eggs are a concentrated source of high-quality protein. They also provide vitamin B12, vitamin D, choline, and selenium. These nutrients can be harder to obtain on a fully plant-based diet. For someone who wants to reduce animal products without going fully vegan, eggs offer a practical middle ground.

Dairy, on the other hand, is a common source of digestive discomfort. Lactose intolerance is widespread, and some people simply feel better when they cut milk and cheese. Others avoid dairy because of concerns about how it is produced.

Ethical reasoning varies widely here. Some people are comfortable eating eggs from hens raised in certain conditions but not comfortable with dairy farming practices. Others keep eggs in their diet mainly for convenience and nutrition. There is no single profile of an ovo-vegetarian.

One thing worth noting: the term “eggetarian” is more of a cultural label than a scientific one. It is widely used in India, where vegetarianism is common and eggs are sometimes treated as a separate category from both meat and plant foods. In nutrition research and clinical settings, ovo-vegetarian is the term you will see.

What Nutrients Matter On An Ovo-Vegetarian Diet?

Eggs cover some of the nutrients that are hardest to get from plants. Vitamin B12 is the clearest example. B12 occurs naturally in animal foods, and eggs are one source. A person who eats eggs regularly is less likely to run low on B12 than a vegan who does not supplement.

Eggs also provide choline, a nutrient involved in brain and nervous system function. Many people do not get enough choline, and eggs are one of the richest common sources. Vitamin D and selenium are also present in eggs.

Cutting dairy removes a major source of calcium. This is where ovo-vegetarians need to pay attention. Without milk, cheese, and yogurt, calcium has to come from other places. Good plant sources include fortified plant milks, tofu made with calcium, leafy greens like kale and collard greens, and certain beans.

Protein is generally not a problem on this diet. Eggs are protein-dense, and plant foods like beans, lentils, and soy provide plenty as well. The bigger gaps tend to be calcium, and in some cases iron and zinc, though these are manageable with a varied diet.

No clinical guidelines set specific nutrient targets for ovo-vegetarians as a group. The general approach is the same as for any well-planned vegetarian diet: eat a wide range of foods and consider fortified products or supplements where a gap is likely. A doctor or registered dietitian can check for deficiencies with blood tests if there is any concern.

Is An Ovo-Vegetarian Diet Healthy?

Well-planned vegetarian diets, including ovo-vegetarian ones, can meet nutritional needs across most life stages. That is the position of major nutrition and dietetics organizations. The key phrase is “well-planned.”

Research on vegetarian diets overall suggests they are linked to lower rates of some chronic conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But most of this research looks at vegetarian diets as a broad category, not ovo-vegetarian diets specifically. It is hard to isolate the effect of eggs or the absence of dairy from everything else in a person’s life.

Eggs have their own complicated research history. They are a source of dietary cholesterol, and for decades they were treated with caution. More recent evidence suggests that for most people, dietary cholesterol from eggs has a smaller effect on blood cholesterol than once believed. Still, people with certain conditions, such as diabetes or existing heart disease, may be advised to watch their egg intake. This is an area where guidance has shifted over time and where individual advice from a doctor is more useful than a general rule.

The honest summary: an ovo-vegetarian diet can be healthy, but it depends on what fills the rest of the plate. Eggs alone do not make a diet healthy, and cutting dairy does not automatically make it healthier. The overall pattern is what matters.

What Should Ovo-Vegetarians Watch Out For?

The main risks on an ovo-vegetarian diet come from what is missing, not from the eggs. Cutting dairy and meat at the same time removes several nutrient sources at once.

Calcium is the most common concern. Without dairy, it takes deliberate effort to hit recommended intake. Vitamin B12 is less of an issue if eggs are eaten regularly, but it still deserves attention, especially for older adults, whose ability to absorb B12 declines with age.

Iron and zinc are worth watching too. Plant sources of iron are absorbed less efficiently than iron from meat. Pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C can improve absorption. This is a well-established point in nutrition science.

Omega-3 fatty acids are another gap. Eggs from hens fed certain diets can contain more omega-3s, but the amount varies. Plant sources like flaxseed, chia, and walnuts provide a different type of omega-3 that the body converts less efficiently. Some people choose to supplement.

Anyone on this diet who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or feeding a young child should talk to a healthcare provider. Nutrient needs are higher during these stages, and no general article can address those needs safely. The same applies to anyone with a chronic condition or taking medication that affects nutrient absorption.

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