As you would expect, the topic of what makes a vegetarian a vegetarian has generated a lively discussion on Accidental Hedonist. Apparently, people are labeling themselves “vegetarian inclined” these days, or at least the Vegetarian Times survey is. Is that different than a flexitarian?

Asking the “vegetarian inclined” what a vegetarian actually is will bring up all sorts of culinary, health, and ethical issues. Can you be a vegetarian and eat fish? How about eggs? Milk?

The consensus in the comments at Accidental Hedonist seems to be that you cannot eat fish and still be a vegetarian, but you can eat dairy products because animals do not have to be killed to produce them. I guess that’s where vegans come in. But things can get confusing with additional degrees of vegetarianism like pesce-vegetarianism, lacto-vegetarianism, and ovo-vegetarianism. I kind of like the comment by Mithrandir who thinks it’s easier to think about everyone’s eating choices as dietary restrictions–some voluntary, others required. However, the vegetarians I know would not be comfortable with having their eating choices labeled as required. It’s the choice not to eat foods made from animal products that sets them apart.

What do you think about the idea of being “vegetarian inclined?”