Are you looking for the frequently asked questions area of the Daytona Beach Vegetarian Society? Then you've come to the right spot. Since this is a new group in the Daytona area we haven't had many questions. So I took these questions that often come up about vegetarianism. If you have others feel free to e-mail me.

What is a vegetarian?

This is a question that often comes up because there are many people that claim to be vegetarians that aren't. They eat fish or chicken or even steak on Friday's. While it's great that these people are cutting back on their meat consumption, by calling themselves vegetarians they end up sending mixed messages to the public about what a vegetarian is what they will eat.

The Daytona Beach Vegetarian Society follows the philosophy of the dictionary, the American Dietetic Association and all major vegetarian groups in the country. Here are the types of vegetarian:

Vegetarian – One that does not eat meat, fish, and poultry.

Lacto-ovo vegetarian- Vegetarian that eats eggs and dairy products.

Lacto-vegetarian – Vegetarian that eats dairy products, no eggs.

Ovo-vegetarian- Vegetarian that eats eggs, no dairy products.

Vegan – Excludes all animal flesh and their byproducts (e.g., wearing leather, wool, etc.).

How many vegetarians are there?

This is a question that people can't really answer. It's hard to determine how many vegetarians there are because of the variety of responses people give when being polled. While vegetarianism is a very small segment of the population in America, it's much more popular throughout the entire world. Some figures estimate the vegetarian population in America at being around 3-4 percent of the adult population. However, in recent years it there has been a rise in the number of people adopting the lifestyle.

When does the group meet?

We hold a vegan potluck on the 2nd Saturday evening of each month. The event is held in various locations at this time and is from around 5-8 p.m. If you plan to attend please bring at least one vegan (no animal products at all) dish to pass around.

can I get involved in running the group?

Yes! Please feel free to contact me to show your interest. I'd love some help in writing local restaurant reviews, finding other vegetarians, organizing gatherings, etc.