What kind of a celebration can Easter be for someone who doesn’t eat meat?

Plant-based lamb may not exist (yet), but in 2025, options for non-meat eaters are everywhere, available all year round. These places are sprouting up like chickpeas, offering dishes that respect dietary choices and stand out for their flavor.

Let’s take a look at these terms, starting with the three main categories of non-meat eaters:

• Vegan: Avoiding meat, fish, and all animal products (e.g., dairy, eggs).
• Vegetarian: Avoiding meat and fish, but consuming animal products (e.g., milk, eggs), as long as they don’t require the animal’s death.
• Pescatarian: Avoiding meat, but consuming fish and seafood.

Two key subcategories of diets that exclude meat:

• Plant-based: Foods and drinks mainly derived from plants, such as plant-based milks, tofu, seitan, tempeh, etc.
• Meat substitutes: Plant-based products designed to mimic the taste and texture of meat.

A plant-based diet mainly includes plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and more.

Plant-based foods provide all the essential proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, and are often higher in fiber and phytonutrients.

Adopting this diet doesn’t necessarily mean being vegan or vegetarian, but choosing to primarily consume plant-based foods.

You’ve probably seen a special category for plant-based burgers that resemble meat in restaurant menus.

Taste-wise, they are quite similar to the ‘regular’ ones, as the preparation process creates a similar texture, with added plant-based fats, seasonings, and natural colors to enhance the flavor.

These plant-based meat substitutes are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, but they are highly processed and high in saturated fats.

Harvard Health Publishing [1], [2]