To be eating meat ...

[scarlets]

... after 20+ years of half-hearted vegetarianism?

I haven't consumed meat since I was an "anti cruelty" kid in 1991 but I have eaten some fish and was never strict about gelatine, gravy etc. I wear leather shoes. My children eat meat which I sometimes cook for them.

A new friend asked me this week why I'm veggie. I don't know why. I can't justify why I don't eat bacon sandwiches but do eat Haribo.

I actually agree with Sam. Not so much in the way others have interpreted it though.

I'm a meat eater. I believe the animals we eat deserve respect and that we should use every last bit of the animal but that's a different thread.

It's not the same as the toilet/sewage worker thing. We're talking about lives that we end in order to feed ourselves.

I believe if you're so removed from your food that you couldn't bring yourself to kill the animal that you'll happily eat, it shows a lack of respect to the animals.

BTW OP, you don't have to justify being vegetarian. And even if you feel you can't justify it any more, do you actually want to eat meat?

GobblersKnob Who is we?

If you mean such of our species as choose to do so with their dependent children while they are dependent - without pressure on other people who don't - fine.

If you mean that it should be some sort of communal or societal decision where some - majority or not - impose it on others - not fine. You choose not to eat meat and I choose to eat meat and we should each respect and accept the other's choice.

I was vegetarian for 17 yrs & then fell into eating meat (last 15 yrs).
I also revisited my reasons and they didn't seem to apply any more.
It is better for your health to eat no or very little meat, so I think carry on as you are if you enjoy your food that way.

Thanks for the responses, which I've read with interest!

My "veggie" diet isn't healthy. I rely on cheese and veggie sausages for protein, and am slightly overweight. I know that a vegetarian diet, handled properly, is very healthy indeed though.

I'm considering eating some meat, given that I'm a "veggie" rather than a veggie iyswim.

No one has ever questioned or challenged my choices, in fairness. People just ask out of interest/politeness when we eat together for the first time.