Thanks for the suggestions

Tried buying ds various substitues, but he's hated all of them ( must say I'm not keen on the idea of substitues, but if it helped him - but it hasn't cos he hates them all) I'll def try the felafel thing.

oh Riven those Felafels sound good, too

will definatelt try those recipes....hmmmm

Ernest adjusting to a veggie diet isn't hard- have a gander around the sections of the supermarket, health food shops- lots of options. My guys for example (not veggie but special diets) love vegetable pate in a tin from the shelf in Asda, all kids of stuff out there- eggs, marmite etc

I used to be a veggie and I really did get ill but my dad wouldnt allow me to have substitue foods (I was 13 when I started, until I was 21) and I had an undiagnosed milk intol which means I dont digest dairy, therefore I was effectively vegan- I also have severe anemia.

DH is an avid emat eater but has gained 4 stone in the past few years (should point out that only makes him 13 stone now, top of OK on the weight chart) and I think I need to eprsuade him away from too much red meat tbh, one step at a time towards mainly veggie-dom, I think- increase fish first

The Human Genome Project has shown that there is a genetic component to ALL cancers, there are environmental triggers but if you do not have the right genes for a particular cancer that you won't get it e.g. the people who smoke 60 a day for 50 years and never get lung cancer.
The lack of cancers in smallrural communities is most likely genetic because they have a very small gene pool (don't travel, lots of ntermarriage etc). These kind of things come up in the news (i.e. communities that seem to have small incidences of cancer) from time to time but the general view in the scientific community is the key is inthe genes not the diet.
I hate the way things like this kind get hyped out of all proportion e.g. Red meat eaters will all die of cancer. Scientifically it doesn't make much sense..

Onion, garlic, and ginger sweated, then add any fresh and/or frozen veg, pre cooked lentils and cook slowly, stirring regularly, in a covered wok with a tin of plum tomatoes and some bouillon for liquid.

Put the cooked felafels in an ovenproof dish and pour the sauce over them before cooking slowly again in the oven. The felafels keep their shape but absorb the flavours of the tomatoey sauce. The sauce is different each time I make it depending what goes into it.

It also makes a great pizza base topping, and works just as well with vegan sausages.

Meridien do a great sun dried tomato jar of sauce that can also be added to your own ingredients, and Cauldron felafels also work well if you don't make your own.

'Baked felafels in homemade tomato and veg sauce with wholemeal pasta and green salad.'

recipe please. I do make felafel (chickpeas, onion, garlic, cumin, breadcrumbs in a blneder) but the pasta sauce sounds good.

I'd be interested in reading the China Study...

me, embarking on this new lifestyle, sounds great

So... who would be interested in reading The China Study? It is a great read.

<<Puts down the latest Penny Vincenzi >>

My 9 yr old ds has decided about a month ago he wants to be vege. I'm supportive, but dh is against. Biggest issue is if we go out, often the veg food on offer he really hates (not a cheese fan) then dh gets angry with him. Also not sure what to give him as packed lunch. If nuts are major protein source, but not supposed to send nuts to school...? Any ideas?

Actually, being supportive of him has meant that I've not cooked meat for 3 weeks or so. I can see me also becoming vege as a result of ds. I've thought for a long time I'd like to cut down on the amount of meat we eat.

Earlier comments linking red meat/animal protein with cancer,,, I remember reading a study ages ago of a population study of a remote island, and there were very low incidences of disease, cancer being unheard of, and while they did eat fish, they had no red meat, very high amounts of vegetable, but also a quite low calorie diet. The amount we eat, and our portion sizes is madness (she says with ritz crackers and haribo combo )

This thread has made me hungry now. I've been veggie for nearly 20 years and have never had a problem with anaemia or any other deficiency.

It's strange but the whole breastfeeding thing has made me seriously think about becoming vegan. I always just had milk without thinking much about it, or where it came from, but the idea of giving DS cow's milk instead of human milk makes me feel a bit queasy. It's made me re-evaluate my own diet as well.