Final answer:
A vegetarian who excludes all animal products except dairy is known as a lacto-vegetarian. Vegans and vegetarians are focused on combining various plant proteins to get all essential amino acids necessary for growth and overall health. Vegetarian diets require careful planning to ensure nutritional adequacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A vegetarian who restricts all animal foods except dairy is commonly referred to as a lacto-vegetarian. This type of diet is one where a person avoids meat but may include milk and milk products. When adhering to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, it's important to consider nutritional balance, particularly when it comes to protein intake.
Vegans, and vegetarians to a lesser extent, must be attentive to their protein sources because plant proteins often don't contain all the essential amino acids needed by the body. Moreover, since each kind of plant tends to have a different amino acid profile, a well-planned diet that includes a variety of plant foods is essential to ensure a complete range of essential amino acids for proper cellular growth and function. Vegetarian combinations such as beans and rice or peanut butter and whole wheat bread are known to supply all essential amino acids when consumed together.
For those exploring vegetarian diets, it's critical to achieve nutritional balance through careful planning. Being informed and deliberate about which plant foods are consumed can ensure that all dietary needs, including protein requirements, are met without the inclusion of meat products.