loopyloulaura

Hurrah! I am vegetarian!

Now something you may not know is the reason for my vegetarianism. I may be about to make myself deeply unpopular. I am vegetarian because I don’t like animals. There, I’ve said it.

Most people look at me oddly when I say that and one ex even said that I should eat meat to get rid of animals.

But that is not the point. I don’t like them, in fact I am almost phobic of animals. They terrify me. I don’t want them near me even if they are dead and served up on a plate. I would prefer it if they were all safe and happy on the other side of the world. I don’t wish them dead for a single second, just away from me.

Now, I know I sound a little peculiar, but I’m actually serious. My worst nightmare as a child was going to a petting zoo/farm and being forced to get close to animals. I wanted to become a vegetarian but my mum refused to cook separate food for me so I had to wait until 1999 when I left home to go to uni. I have now been vegetarian for 18 years and never regretted it.

My children and partner are not vegetarian and I respect their right to choose. I make sure the kids know where their food comes from so they understand about food processes and life cycles, I insist they show respect for the animals that sustain them.

There are some fantastic recipes out there for vegetarians and I have never missed meat. Chris and the kids often join in with my vegetarian meals and don’t feel they are lacking. I hope the children grow up to make informed choices about their food whatever that may be.

Why not join in with National Vegetarian Week and cook some vegetarian recipes for your family. I plan to try some of the scrumptious looking recipes from http://www.nationalvegetarianweek.org/ . Or try your usual recipes but adapted to remove the meat content. Happy eating everyone!