Previously, it was believed that giving up red meat, poultry, and fish caused people to develop deficiencies of certain vitamins, minerals, and protein. As more research has been done on the nutritional aspects of a vegetarian diet, studies have found that those necessary nutrients can be found in a variety of plant based foods from fruits and vegetables to buts, berries, and whole grains. Vegetarianism has been around for generations, though it hasn’t always received the positive support that the practice has been getting in recent years.