I'm just interested.

I went veggie in about 1994, mainly because of the live animal export trade. At the time people were protesting at the docks etc and the issue was a big news story. Thinking 'what can I do?' I stopped eating meat.

Then maybe 4 or 5 years ago I started eating fish again. I know there are arguments fish suffer etc, but I thought it was a lot different to the meat trade, I like the taste (if I'm honest). It's very healthy (natural oils) and it made life for my family a lot simpler.

I am not thinking of going back to meat anytime soon, because I sort of have a mental block there. I don't see it being tasty etc but I wonder if I'm just being dogmatic or if Veggies just like to feel superior. Giving up meat was wonderful, because I grew up in a meat and 2 veg house, and it really opened me up to trying other food.

I remember hearing Tommy Boyd say he was veggie for 10+ years, and in the book I'm reading at the moment the author said he went back to meat too after a similar long time. It seems quite odd to me, after all that time I am sort of fascinated when I hear that though.

Reading that Jamie Oliver is to campaign against cheap £3 chickens tells me that animal welfare has improved and I sort of think why not buy a £10 organic chicken as a once in a while treat and try it. But at the moment I don't really miss it anyway. Over Christmas (the first one I'd spent without the rest of my meat eating family) I really did totally miss the smells and rituals of Turkey and trimmings though. I think it takes you back to your childhood.

Anyhow, I just thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else went without meat for years then went back, are you glad? or wasn't it worth it? I guess meat eaters won't see what the big deal is, but when you go without it for so long, there seems to be a mental block at the idea of having it.

A friend of mine was veggie for a number of years, but now only eats sausages and chicken. She started because she has a 5 year old, who is rather fussy with what she eats and my friend started to eat those meats to encourage her to do it. She will occasionally eat ham for the same reason as above, but she doesnt like it (even though she has to pretend she does!!)

But with me, I couldnt not eat meat, i like it too much!

I was veggie for a number of years. I went back onto meat for one reason really, that being that I always seemed to be ill with colds and the likes. I now eat chicken and fish, but that's all. I feel a bit guilty sometimes as I am uncomfortable with the way chickens are farmed. I know that people can live healthily on a vegetarian diet, it just didn't seem to work for me.

I was a veggie between the ages of 10 and 17. One night I was pissed and someone who lived in my house bought me some KFC not realising I didn't eat meat. Being drunk and hungry I ate it, and it tasted good

Since then (last 11 years) I've had various eating habits, although I've never been a big meat eater.

Now I don't eat meat but I do eat fish for the same reasons the OP gave. I don't really eat dairy products either but do eat eggs.

I would ideally like to follow a more vegan based diet but I really can't be bothered to classify myself as anything. If I decide to give up fish, I guess that would make me veggie again but it's not really something I think too deeply about, just do what feels right at the time

Same here, I was veggie for a few weeks, and then had sausage and chips from the chippie without realising

I can't speak for others, but being a vegetarian doesn't make me feel "superior".

I don't look down on people who eat meat, although I do object to those who claim to be vegetarians, yet eat fish and/or chicken, because (aside from being factually incorrect) they make it awkward for real vegetarians.

How can you eat a meal from a chippie without "realising it"

I forgot i was veggie

I was on holiday in Italy and ate a pizza with Ham on it well I spat it out when I realised what it was ! The perils of fast food

Jean Luc, maybe superior wasn't the right term, but a lot of veggies can be a bit self-righteous about it, (maybe it happens in the early stages) not that that's always bad because the meat free way is kind to animals, better for the environment, and supposedly it's less likely to give you cancer (not to mention bird flu or CJD )

I think I would like to be able to eat the odd free range organic chicken maybe once or twice a year, but I just can't imagine it yet.

I can understand a mum who eats meat if her kids do. I threw out some organic chicken slices the other day (unopened) because the person I'd bought them for didn't eat them. That felt like rather a waste.

If you want to eat chicken, then go for it.

All I'd ask is that you don't misrepresent yourself as a vegetarian.

I don't I actually say Pescetarian if anyone asks - but it's not really a term thats caught on yet ! (one person I said it to on boxing day looked totally befuddled). I think that's why people say Vegetarian (even though it's technically incorrect) because they want to make sure they don't get served sausages by Auntie Doris, and if they say pescetarian it all sounds a bit confusing, like macro biotic or something

I gave up meat but I just couldn't manage without chicken.

I would of given up completely otherwise, it's actually the one thing I have kept up, everything else in life I couldn't hack, but I haven't had a steak, burger, pork or lamb chop in a decade.

I'm actually the complete opposite to that. The smell of cooked meat turns my stomach. It doesn't matter what meat it is, I just find the smell repulsive. On Christmas Day, the smell of Turkey was just awful.

I agree. When I became a veggie I had previously loved eating meat. I gave up for ethical reasons. These days though, the thought of it makes me feel sick and if I have to pass a butchers I nearly retch.

I've just remembered, when I was a student I used to walk through a market all the time, and there was an open carvery I had to pass, which used to make me wretch every single time. That's why I think I'm just having a Christmas wobble. Maybe I just missed having a family christmas and I associate the Turkey smells etc with that, but it was seeing the folks that I missed - not their cooking (although their roasties are always great !)

Roasties are always great!

I was a vegetarian as a teenager for several years, but had to give up when I was about 19 (I went to au pair in Switzerland and the family wouldn't tolerate a veggie in the house) and to be honest, I didn't feel bad eating meat again.

Recently though, over the last two or three years really, I've been cooking and getting into healthy eating, and I've more or less given up meat. I do eat some, but only if I know it's free range and preferably organic, and I really don't mind much if I don't eat it. I probably only eat meat once a fortnight or so, if I really really want a roast chicken.

I don't call myself a vegetarian, and if I went to eat at someone's house and they served meat I'd eat it (even if it wasn't free range) because I'd rather do that than be rude, but if they asked in advance I'd say that I'd rather not eat meat.

I was vegetarian for 8 years but despite eating a healthy and varied diet (and taking vitamin supplements) I became anaemic and lacked folate and B12. I took more supplements but eventually my doctor persuaded me to just eat meat again and I have to admit, despite not particularly liking the taste, I've felt a lot better and actually crave it if I go without for a while.

Maybe some people are more suited to vegetarianism than others? I don't know.

My partner has been veggie for 24yrs and when I moved in with him I cooked and ate veggie food at home and ate meat and fish when we ate out. I'd often find that his veggie option was acutually tastier than mine and gradually I began to lose my taste for meat completely. When I finally decided to become veggie too, about 8yrs ago, initially I really missed a bacon buttie but now I can honestly say that the smell of meat turns my stomach. To me now it smells vile and I can't think what it would take for me to put meat into my mouth again. I do sometimes miss fish - especially fish finger sandwiches - but quite honestly because I'm a fairly decent cook we eat very, very well and have a good varied diet.

I've been veggie since I was six (my choice), so 18 years now, and I couldn't imagine ever wanting to go back to meat. People say things like 'if you had to have meat, would would you have?' or 'is there anything you miss?' Yes; I miss parmesan and gruyere, but that's about it (it was a sad day when I realised they weren't vegetarian).

It does annoy me when people say vegetarian when they're pescetarian. I think being a pescetarian is great, but it is not 'vegetarian' and so should have it's own name, and it is very annoying when people think fish is a vegetarian option! I do understand why pescetarians call themselves vegetarians, but they should start using the term and get it into general use.

As for vegetarians who 'just' eat chicken nuggets, sausage rolls and McDonalds, that is a bit silly to me. I can understand why people would eat a mainly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat organic meat (in fact I think that is quite a commendable and sensible way to eat), but to think of yourself as veggie but eat chicken nuggets seems to be defeating the point (to say the least).

Also (sorry, I keep thinking of more things ), I don't like it when manufacturers/restuarants/people say 'not suitable for strict vegetarians'. Personally, I think you're either veggie or you're not, and there are simple rules to follow so there is no such thing as a 'strict vegetarian'. It feels like the person using the term 'strict vegetarian' is saying: 'well, most normal vegetarians do enjoy our product, if you have to be pedantic about this then it's your problem not ours'. ALSO , a vegan is not a strict vegetarian, they are a vegan.

My daughter has just become a vegetarian, she has started buying" Vegetarian Good Food "magazine, also there are some excellent ready meals that you can buy now. She says that she will never eat meat again.

I was a vegetarian for quite a long time, for the reason that I think the way animals are reared and killed is a) wrong and b) unhealthy.

I started eating meat again a few years ago because I really missed the taste - not the best reason, I know. However, I only eat meat very occasionally and try to source my meat from the less inhumane suppliers.

I still feel ashamed when I think about animal welfare, so I suppose I am just weak. Like you, though, I missed the ritual - and variety when eating out. I do think we all do what we can, and it is better to radically cut back on meat (thereby decreasing demand) than not to think or care about such issues.

Pescetarians don't eat chicken.

Chicken is meat.

Try VeggiDeli Vegetarian Breaded Fish-Style Fingers.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, you can get them at ASDA.