Which statement describes a vegetarian diet?

A vegetarian diet is defined primarily by the exclusion of meat, poultry, and fish, focusing on plant-based foods. The key characteristic of a vegetarian diet is that it is composed solely of non-animal foods, which typically includes vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Many vegetarians may also include dairy and eggs in their diet, depending on the specific type of vegetarianism they practice, such as lacto-vegetarian or ovo-vegetarian.

In contrast, diets that include all animal products do not qualify as vegetarian, as they encompass meat and fish, which are not part of a vegetarian lifestyle. A diet that focuses solely on dairy products does not encompass the variety of plant-based foods that define vegetarianism. Additionally, a diet that consists mainly of fried foods lacks the essential balance and healthfulness that can be found in a well-planned vegetarian diet. Thus, the defining characteristic of a vegetarian diet is its foundation on foods that are non-animal in origin, making the selected answer accurate.