In the world today there are several eating habits that people have adopted and follow religiously, some more than others. These eating habits are seen as conscious decisions about what should be consumed. A diet is a collection of what an organism consumes, and humans are naturally considered omnivores. An omnivore can meet its energy and nutritional needs by eating various food sources. If we as humans have developed the body mechanics and evolutionary changes to consume meat, then why have some religious groups decided to abstain from consuming animal-based food products? Historically, humans have consumed a wide range of food sources, including animal products. One religious group in particular, the followers of Jainism, have taken vegetarianism to the extreme. The term vegetarian derives from the Latin root "Vigitore" which means strength and health. The Concise Oxford Dictionary states that a vegetarian is a person who uses and/or advocates a plant-based diet, eggs and milk may also be consumed, but meat is not permitted. It should be noted that strictly speaking a vegetarian should not consume milk or eggs. When the vegetarian diet was adopted into Western culture, variations were created to be more specific regarding the overall composition of the diet and nutritional attributes. The vegetarian categories are divided into 5 groups: Most Indian groups would be considered ovolato-vegetarians, but strict Jains would be considered a mix between fruitarians and vegansJainism is a religion of India that teaches a lifestyle conducive to harmlessness and to renunciation. Jains are concerned with the well-being of the Universe and all its inhabitants. All life forces should be treated with equal respect and value. Caring for a vegetable...... middle of paper......thics. Union Seminary Quarterly Review, 121-135. Jain, R. (2009, April, May, June). An ethical diet for peace and abundance. Hinduism Today, pp. 38-39. Jaini, J., & Thomas, F. W. (1917). Outlines of Jainism. The Journal of Philosophy, 333-335. Kalotra, G. (2012). Concept of Aparigrahya in Jainism: A Philosophical Analysis. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research, 151-161. Sangave, V. A. (1997). Jain religion and community. Long Beach: Long Beach Publications. Siroj Sorajjakool, M. F. (2010). World religions for healthcare professionals. New York: Routledge.Smil, V. (2002). Eating meat: evolution, patterns and consequences. Population and Development Review, 599-639.Urubshurow, V. K. (2008). Introduce world religions. Online*: JBE Online Books.V.Jayanthi. (2001). Vegetarianism in India. International Peritoneal Dialysis, S332-S335.