The bottom line: Eggs are not meat, but they do have a similar level of protein.
Are Eggs Considered Vegetarian? By definition, vegetarianism is classified as excluding any form of animal flesh (the tissue, muscles or meat of an animal). The humble egg doesn't fall into this category and is therefore included in a vegetarian eating pattern.
Eggs can also be a stellar way to get some of the protein and nutrients meat would provide. For just 140 calories, two large eggs give you 8 percent of the daily value for zinc, iron and B6, plus choline, vitamin D and many other nutrients.
At just 78 calories each, eggs are an efficient, rich source of protein and vitamins. A large egg contains about 6 grams of protein.
What foods are in the Protein Foods Group? Protein Foods include all foods made from seafood; meat, poultry, and eggs; beans, peas, lentils; and nuts, seeds, and soy products.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dairy refers to "all fluid milk products and foods made from milk." This includes milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and butter. Eggs are not included. They belong in the meat, poultry, fish, and eggs category, and are considered animal products.
Eggs are not considered to be meat because they do not contain any flesh. However, eggs are considered to be poultry by the FDA, which means that they can be sold as such in grocery stores. Many people believe that eggs are meat because they come from animals.
Eggs can play a significant role in a vegetarian diet due to the provision of high quality protein, vitamin B12, iron and omega-3s, nutrients that can be low in a vegetarian eating pattern.
Serving sizes = 3 oz. cooked lean meat, poultry or fish; 2 egg whites or 1 egg; ¼ cup cooked beans; 1 tbsp. peanut butter; ½ oz. unsalted nuts/seeds.
However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal.
Consuming primarily eggs is not considered a healthful eating pattern, and experts do not recommend it, as this diet would limit a person's nutrient intake and could cause other health issues.
Can you eat eggs if you're vegan? The bottom line is that vegans don't eat eggs due to the fact that they are animal products. This can be for a range of reasons, from health to environmental variables, but primary motivators include a concern for animal welfare.
What is the carnivore diet? The carnivore diet is a restrictive diet that only includes meat, fish, and other animal foods like eggs and certain dairy products. It excludes all other foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Vegetarians do not eat fish, meat or poultry, but do eat eggs and dairy. Vegans also follow the no-meat rule, but also exclude animal products or by-products such as eggs, dairy and honey.
Lacto-vegetarianism is favored by many Hindus, which includes milk-based foods and all other non-animal derived foods, but it excludes meat and eggs.
Many vegetarians include eggs in their diet, while still abstaining from eating chicken, cows, pigs, fish and all animals. According to terminology, you're an "ovo-vegetarian," that is, a vegetarian who eats eggs. Note that while eggs are vegetarian, they are certainly, under no circumstances, considered vegan.
Eggs not only contain less protein, but also significantly more cholesterol. A large egg has about 3.6 grams of fat and 140 milligrams of cholesterol. A 3-ounce serving of pork, turkey, chicken or ground beef ranges between 1.5 to 5 grams of fat and 50 to 60 milligrams of cholesterol.
The American Heart Association recommends up to one egg a day for most people, fewer for people with high blood cholesterol, especially those with diabetes or who are at risk for heart failure, and up to two eggs a day for older people with normal cholesterol levels and who eat a healthy diet.
Two eggs give you 12 grams of hunger-satisfying protein. Half of that is in the yolk, so be sure to eat the whole egg for all the protein goodness. Recent research found that we build more lean muscle and boost muscle strength more when we eat whole eggs, not just the egg whites.
There is no doubt that meat provides protein, but so do beans, eggs, nuts, yogurt and even broccoli. The following non-meat foods contain plenty of protein: Nuts and seeds (4-10 grams per 1 ounce serving): walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, almond butter, hemp, chia and flax seeds.
The healthiest meat substitute will be natural vegetarian foods, high in protein and minimally processed. Great, healthy meat substitutes include beans, tempeh, lentils, jackfruit, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds. An average 150-pound adult might require 54 grams of protein daily, easily attainable with meat substitutes.
Definition of Meat
For example, Webster's Dictionary defines meat as “the flesh of an animal (especially a mammal) as food” (Merriam-Webster, 2017). The American Meat Science Association defines meat as red meat (beef, pork, and lamb), poultry, fish/seafood, and meat from other managed species (AMSA, 2017).
Milk comes from animals, usually from cows, but it is not the flesh of the animal, therefore it is not meat.
Although they each have their own separate rules, fish and eggs are both classified as pareve, or neutral, which means they do not contain milk or meat.