Vegetarian Dairy Guide
16 items classified under standard Vegetarian guidelines.
How do dairy fare on the Vegetarian diet? The answer depends on whether the food is the flesh of an animal. This guide breaks down all 16 items in this category with their classification, nutritional data, and the reasoning behind each status.
Good news for Vegetarian followers: all dairy fit the diet. These foods are either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). The nutrition details below help you compare within the category to find the best options for your specific needs.
Quick Reference
| Food | Status | Calories (per 100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Brie | Allowed | 334kcal |
| Buttermilk | Allowed | 40kcal |
| Cheddar | Allowed | 410kcal |
| Cheese | Allowed | 295kcal |
| Cottage Cheese | Allowed | 148kcal |
| Feta | Allowed | 265kcal |
| Goat Cheese | Allowed | 142kcal |
| Ice Cream | Allowed | 237kcal |
| Mac and Cheese | Allowed | 257kcal |
| Milk | Allowed | 52kcal |
| Mozzarella | Allowed | 141kcal |
| Parmesan | Allowed | 370kcal |
| Ricotta | Allowed | 150kcal |
| Swiss Cheese | Allowed | 290kcal |
| Whipped Cream | Allowed | 257kcal |
| Yogurt | Allowed | 81kcal |
Classification Breakdown
16 Allowed — These dairy are either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey).
Lacto-ovo vegetarian includes dairy and eggs. Hidden traps: animal rennet in cheese, anchovies in Worcestershire, lard in baked goods.
Allowed Dairy (16)
Brie
AllowedBrie is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 334kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 20.8g protein and 27.7g fat per serving. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Cheese at 295kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Buttermilk
AllowedAt 40kcal calories per 100g, Buttermilk falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Among the 16 items in this category, buttermilk sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Milk at 52kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Cheddar
AllowedWith 410kcal calories per 100g, Cheddar earns a Allowed classification on Vegetarian. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 24.2g protein and 33.8g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Parmesan at 370kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Cheese
AllowedAt 295kcal calories per 100g, Cheese falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. It is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Beyond the primary classification, cheese also provides 7.1g protein and 28.6g fat per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Swiss Cheese at 290kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar | 409kcal | 23.3g | 34g | 2.4g | 0g |
| Mozzarella | 299kcal | 22.2g | 22.1g | 2.4g | 0g |
| Swiss | 393kcal | 27g | 31g | 1.4g | — |
Cottage Cheese
AllowedCottage Cheese is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 148kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 11g protein and 9.7g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Goat Cheese and Ricotta for calories, ranking 6 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Fat (4%) | 103kcal | 11.6g | 4.2g | 4.6g | 0g |
| Low-Fat (1%) | 72kcal | 12.4g | 1g | 2.7g | 0g |
Feta
AllowedFeta is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 265kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 14.2g protein and 21.5g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Whipped Cream and Swiss Cheese for calories, ranking 11 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Goat Cheese
AllowedGoat Cheese is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 142kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 26.9g protein and 392mg sodium, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Mozzarella and Cottage Cheese for calories, ranking 5 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Ice Cream
AllowedAt 237kcal calories per 100g, Ice Cream falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 8.6g fat per serving. Within this category, it falls between Ricotta and Mac and Cheese for calories, ranking 8 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Mac and Cheese
AllowedAt 257kcal calories per 100g, Mac and Cheese falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. It is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Beyond the primary classification, mac and cheese also provides 11.8g protein and 15g fat per 100g. Within this category, it falls between Ice Cream and Whipped Cream for calories, ranking 9 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Milk
AllowedMilk is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 52kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Among the 16 items in this category, milk sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Yogurt at 81kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Milk | 60kcal | 3.3g | 3.2g | 4.6g | — |
| 2% Milk | 50kcal | 3.3g | 2g | 4.8g | 0g |
| Skim Milk | 35kcal | 3.4g | 0.2g | 4.9g | 0g |
Mozzarella
AllowedMozzarella is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 141kcal calories per 100g. The classification reflects that it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Nutritionally, it also delivers 31.7g protein and 743mg sodium per serving. Among the 16 items in this category, mozzarella sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Goat Cheese at 142kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Parmesan
AllowedAt 370kcal calories per 100g, Parmesan falls into the Allowed category under Vegetarian guidelines. It is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Beyond the primary classification, parmesan also provides 40g protein and 1150mg sodium per 100g. It ranks among the highest in this category for calories. The nearest lower option is Brie at 334kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Ricotta
AllowedWith 150kcal calories per 100g, Ricotta earns a Allowed classification on Vegetarian. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 7.5g protein and 10.2g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Cottage Cheese and Ice Cream for calories, ranking 7 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Swiss Cheese
AllowedSwiss Cheese is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 290kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 16.4g protein and 21.2g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Feta and Cheese for calories, ranking 12 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Whipped Cream
AllowedWhipped Cream is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 257kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). It also contains 22.2g fat, which may factor into overall meal planning. Within this category, it falls between Mac and Cheese and Feta for calories, ranking 10 of 16.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
Yogurt
AllowedYogurt is classified as Allowed on Vegetarian, with 81kcal calories per 100g. This means it is either a plant food or a non-flesh animal product (dairy, egg, honey). Among the 16 items in this category, yogurt sits at the low end for calories — next closest is Mozzarella at 141kcal.
Per 100g · Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Variant | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Whole Milk Yogurt | 61kcal | 3.5g | 3.3g | 4.7g | 0g |
| Plain Low-Fat Yogurt | 63kcal | 5.3g | 1.6g | 7g | 0g |
| Plain Nonfat Yogurt | 56kcal | 5.7g | 0.2g | 7.7g | 0g |