Fancy a sausage?
No thanks. A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat. No chops, bacon, sausages. No chicken. No fish. About one in twenty adults in the UK is vegetarian.
A vegan is someone who doesn't eat meat. Or anything made by animals. No eggs, dairy (milk, cheese, butter) or honey. Most vegans also avoid animal products altogether. No leather shoes. Or feather filled pillows. About one in four hundred adults in the UK is vegan.
Why are people vegetarian?
These are common reasons:
- We don't like meat. Yuck - it is gross. Have you seen how chicken nuggets are made? And just look at the oozing Doner in every kebab shop. Say no more.
- We don't think animals should be used and slaughtered for human consumption. Animals are kept in terrible conditions. Treated cruelly. Just to be served with chips and sauce.
- We feel better on a veggie diet: healthier and fitter. Vegetarians have lower cholesterol levels, are less likely to be overweight and may even live longer.
- The food scares: CJD, E Coli, Bird Flu. It's enough to put anyone off their chipolata.
- Our religious or spiritural beliefs. For example, the majority of the world's vegetarians are Hindhu.
Sounds good. So should I go veggie?
Your diet and lifestyle is a personal choice.
But here's some stuff to think through first:
- Family: Vegetarian food can be labour-intensive. Who does the cooking in your house? It's time to offer to help. Dig out that potato peeler.
- Safety: Simply cutting out meat is definitely unhealthy. Our bodies will suffer. We must replace meat with other protein rich foods, like pulses, seeds and nuts. And consider taking a dietary supplement (vitamins) too. Some vitamins are designed 'specially for vegetarians.
- Friends: We may feel strongly about being a vegetarian. They can still be our mates even if they guzzle flesh. Avoid the, "You do know you're eating a sheep's baby" remarks. But don't let them put you off, either. Stick to your guns. It may not be easy. Specially at parties and sleepovers. They'll get used to it.
Why isn't everyone vegetarian?
These are some arguments for eating meat:
Humans are omnivores. We have evolved to eat and digest meat. It's natural.
Many animals are killed by harvesting crops each year, too: field mice, insects etc.
And the big one: Have you smelled a bacon buttie?
For more information on vegetarianism, veganism and how to do it best, see:
How to deal with a veggie in the family
The Vegan Society
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
Previous article
Megan, 17
i turned vegetarian about 2 and a half years ago. people ask me why...i tell them its ethical reasons. i dont believe an animal should be so brutally slaughtered and treated badly. each to their own, i dont push my vegetarianism on other people, so they shouldnt push their meat eating on me.
Melanie, 11
I started being veggie at the age of 7, it was hard at first but now I love it. I still have to recall why I'm doing it sometimes plus some people don't understand why I'm doing it and get really harsh but I guess they're not as mature as me.
Innes, 16
i've grown up being a vegetarian, i've never had any meat beacuse my parent's are veggie's. the only thing that annoys me is when people not understand that it's my choice to be a veggie, and that i don't appreciate all of their "funny" comments about the fact that i don't eat meat.
Harvey, 15
It only takes a few videos showing how meat is processed before someone goes ‘Veggie’. Maybe that’s why the younger generation is more likely to be ‘veggie’, since the chances of us seeing meat processed are higher than older generations. (Because of this digital age we're in)
naomi, 15
I'm a vegatarian because i've been brought up that why, i don't like meat and i hate the way animals are treated and killed. i also hate the fur industry. However i do eat miss because there isnt much food i actually like and i need the protein. But i really want to give it up.
Lauren, 16
I was a vegetarian and it's nothing but hassle. It also made me so ill my doctor thought i had lukaemia. I have respect for people who can keep it up but people who like their meat shouldn't feel bad. We as humans are at the top of the food chain so it's only natural for us to eat meat. Other animals eat other animals and they don't feel guilty, why should we? But fair play if you keep it up.
Yazzy, 13
I became a veggie about 6 months ago. AT first my family thought it was just a phase but recently they have stated to relaise that I am serious about my decision. My friends have been very supportive about it and my Mum especially has been great always making sure that I have something to eat at meals and all my feed is meat free. I ate fish for about the first 2 months but then gave it up too. I very gald with my desicion
Serena, 14
Iv'e been a vegertarian for about a month now and my family still won't take me seriously,it gets really annoying when they laugh at me. And I can't eat marshmallows!:( But a good alternaitve to meat is Quorn
caz, 13
i have been veggie for almost a year, if you are considering turning veggie i would but be sure to supplement the nutrients your body isnt getting. i don't even miss meat anymore
Mairead, 16
I've always been a veggie, so i've never eaten meat in my life. Working at a supermarket i jus see how we sell it and honestly i don't understand why people like it, it's not as if its hughly better cooked.
harry, 31
the best reason for being a vegetarian is "i dont want any animal to die for me"
ema, 13
I was a vegan but i got very ill and so i went back to being a vegetarian. I can't have fish oil or omega 3 supplements because they have gelatine in them.
Cassie, 14
I'd been thinking about becoming vegetarian for months and did loads of research about it. Then I told my family and they laughed in my face. I'm just going to wait until im older. I still never eat red meat and I only eat chicken and rarely fish. But my family don't have like a dinner every night so I usually have to fend for myself so I would usually have a chicken sandwich or toast which isn't very healty...
Ed, 15
i live and work on a farm and totally reject the point that animals are kept cruelly, every farm that i know off, including ours keep there animals to the highest of standards, food and water, bedding and as much excersise as they want. and in the summer can rome numerous amounts of grassy feilds
Milly, 14
I love meat, but I am still a vegetarian because I believe it's wrong. I haven't eaten meat since i was 8, and i miss it so much!I feel better about myself for sticking to it though.
Rosa, 14
I've been a vegetarian since birth because my parents are, the only bad thing about it is when people get shirty with me about it. saying things like "you don't get enough protein" and well your kind eat fish"
Maria, 19
at first my friends and family thought it was a phase and rejected the idea of me being vegetarian but after 4 years they respect me more than ever for sticking to my beliefs.
Callum, 12
Bacon butties don't make me want to give up being vegetarian...
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