Why I’m No Longer Vegetarian

Thirty years ago I decided that I didn’t want to eat meat anymore. I didn’t particularly like the taste and didn’t like the thought of the treatment the animals received to end up on my plate. My dad was shocked (it was a few weeks before Christmas and the turkey already ordered!) but also supportive; his brother had been a vegetarian for a long time and so it wasn’t a completely alien notion.

It was the 1990’s and I vividly remember the trip to Asda to source vegetarian food and standing with my dad at the one fixture in the entire supermarket that claimed to be suitable - a shelf fixture full of dried beans and pulses and some ready mix nut burger ingredients! Kudos to dad though, he managed to pull together some reasonable meals although I do recall living off pasta and cheese a fair bit!

When I met my husband, five years later, his family weren’t too pleased that he brought home “a veggie”. Hubby’s dad is from Zimbabwe and Mark spent the first ten years of his life growing up in South Africa…. they say opposites attract and our differences also included preferences on a BBQ! For the next decade at least, my father-in-law attempted to ‘convert me’ to meat with his incredible braai’s but I stood my ground.

Having worked in the food and drink sector during a large part of my career I was very aware of trends and changes in food provision. As I was leaving the sector Vegan had become the next big thing, with people choosing to become vegan for environmental reasons not necessarily out of concern for the animal itself. There was also a drive for “flexitarian” and a more balanced approach to eating meat where vegetarian meals were consumed during week to reduced grocery shop costs, be more environmentally conscious and to eat more healthily. These trends needed to be understood and researched so I could do my job well and that’s when I started to notice changes in my thinking.

Then we moved to Norfolk. I started shopping in our local independent shops where local produce was sold. I visited our local farm shop and noticed the love and care they gave their livestock, then I recognised this was something that many small producers in the area (and further afield) had and there seemed to be a broader change in thinking about animal farming with more free ranging animals and also grass fed too.

The consideration phase took at least a couple of years, the trial phase is still ongoing but I no longer get to call myself a vegetarian…. …. I can probably call myself a particularly fussy eater now, but not vegetarian!

So what were my reasons for making this change?

Primarily my reason is because I can now see the care that small farmers give their livestock- it is so evident here and there is availablity of local, free range, pasture fed meat that has had a good life and been treated well and with respect. But also the environmental aspects. My fussiness comes in that I prefer to eat meat that has been locally produced and so the food miles are low. I have read research that debunks the myths around cows being the cause of climate change and agree with them too.

I wasn’t enjoying the vegetarian and vegan alternatives. I knew that the Soya wasn’t a good environmental choice but also the food miles and processed nature of these substitute products didn’t sit right in my mind as having a positive impact for either the planet or my body.

I haven’t made a big deal out of this change. I started trying meat back in the summer and slowly I’m increasing what I try and how much I have. My family were a bit surprised, with my younger brother having the biggest reaction and showing concern that everything was now out of balance and who was going to be the vegetarian in the family now?! My husband still finds it strange when I have a bacon sandwich or don’t have a different meal to him at dinner time, I’m still getting used to it too but I think this is a good way forward for me (and should save me some money on iron supplements too!)

So there we have it, another ramble from me that isn’t intended to cause any offence, just a ramble about my personal choices for anyone that’s vaguely interested but also as record for myself too. Thanks for reading.