Why are dairy products important for vegetarians?

There are different types of vegetarian diets but in the main, vegetarians abstain from the consumption of any meat, including red meat, poultry, fish or any other animal flesh products. Given that meat is a source of dietary protein, in its absence, dairy becomes an important source for vegetarians. It gives a vegetarian diet variety and also provides important nutrients such as calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B12, iodine, potassium and phosphorus.

Extra Information:

Vitamin B12 is generally only found in foods of animal origin, which means that dairy and eggs are an important source for lacto-ovo-vegetarians (a vegetarian diet that includes dairy and eggs)