[bloomer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21122072


most entertaining article on how large parts of the world perceive vegetarians, i personally love meat but will cook vegetarian as appropriate...


which ever way your eating habits go its worth a read

[Fleecewife]

I have a feeling that those who set out to make being a vegetarian into a problem are the ones who end up with it being a problem.  Veganism now - that would be a problem almost anywhere, at least to find a balanced diet.
Can you guess that I was a vegetarian for many years, but never could understand vegans 

[Rosemary]

My favourite quote from that article

"One bewildered waiter told me haughtily, "But, vegetables is what food eats.""

 

[bloomer]

my favourite was the italian nonna adding meat to the vegetarian pasta sauce but chopped up small so they won't notice otherwise it will taste wrong...

[Lesley Silvester]

I used to be vegetarian in the 80s.  Eating out was never a problem if I asked if there was a vegetarian option.  It was cheese omelette.  When my mum remarried, we had a sit down meal.  Cheese omelette for me and my daughter, followed by trifle made with jelly.

[Mammyshaz]

I am not vegetarian but I don't eat meat ( well, commercially bought meat ) I haven't eaten farm animal meat for over 20 years. We don't buy meat as we only have access to supermarket meat which I refuse to buy. I was into animal welfare in my early twenties and learned about the length of journeys some livestock were put through. Then there were the poor regulated slaughterhouses exposed, showing stock slaughtered in terrible circumstances.. And that added to the  poor ingredients in many foods and severe allergic reactions I suffered to unknown sources, pushed a decision to give up shop bought meat. My OH soon followed 

If we know where it comes from and it has had a good life, free from unnecessary suffering then, yes we will eat it.

We eat wild caught fish and have always said any wild rabbit or pheasant will be accepted, but not easily sought. Our meals are family affairs, both boys have what we have. Our reasons have been explained to them and it is their choice what they have chosen to eat outside home. They haven't eaten meat yet  but get very excited about catching and gutting their own fish and eating it ( and smoking it this year  ).

I  know there are peope around who respect the needs of welfare for livestock (after researching more into smallholding) and wouldn't hesitate buying meat from known sources now I know where to look .  Come spring we are hatching our own eggs and with that come the cockerels. They will have a grand life but it will not be wasted as we taste our first poultry meat for some time 

All this said, I certainly don't regret not  eating any meat for over 20 years that would have came from an unknown source with god knows what additives despite what is on the label. And due to my allergies would not take the risk.

[sabrina]

One of my friends made lunch for her daughter and her friend. The friend was a vegetarian so she made a pot of vegtable soup using a joint of beef for the stock. 

[plumseverywhere]

My husband has been vegetarian for 20 odd years and my 11 year old has been for quite a few months now. Tony is quite varied in what he will eat but Milli needs to be less fussy or she'll struggle!
Often hubby gets served meals that have quite obviously had the meat picked off or he's stuck with mushroom rissotto but he's not one of these veggies that makes life difficult and he will handle and cook meat for us, buys it, doesn't object to loads of game hanging in his garage  etc
Personally I never could be a veggie - quorn gives me heartburn and I like meat too much! 

[norfolk newbies]

I haven't eaten meat or meat products for > 20 years. Choice was for welfare reasons, but I am happy to prepare our own meat for family to eat ( pigs chickens etc) and prepare wild rabbit and pheasant. I want to make sure that as much of the animal is used.
All the reasons why I stopped eating meat have now been resolved due to smallholding, so my kids are v keen for me to start eating meat again, but I find the texture too odd now. I eat fish occassionally ( and when out)
My favourite 'story' is my sister preparing lunch for her, me and my OH 15 years ago. She had done cheese sandwiches and replaced their mini pork pies with a scotch egg for me. I had to explain how the breadcrumbs were stuck on to the egg .  But I also remember travelling in Europe, and in Germany asking for 'something without meat' from the menu, the response was 'would  a hamburger would be acceptable' .  I had a lot of pizza for 3 weeks.
Jo

[Fowgill Farm]

One of my pork customers is a vegetarian but she has a husband and sons who are not. One of the reasons she gets her pork from me is that she knows how it is reared and cared for and what it has eaten. She has no objections to the rest of her family eating meat (she came for ten packs of sausages yesterday)
Like Plums i too don't think i could be vegetarian but i do have odd days without meat, OH defo couldn't be if i do macaroni cheese he wants sausages or chops with it! I used to work with a lady who was vegetarian except for bacon sandwiches    which she just could not give up.!
mandy

[SallyintNorth]

i personally love meat but will cook vegetarian as appropriate...

I eat meat but I draw the line at eating vegetarians!   

(Sorry, bloomer, couldn't resist  )