Introduction

There are many different reasons people become vegetarians – for health, moral, cultural, spiritual, karmic, genetic or even economic reasons. Probably the largest groups of vegetarians in the world are so because of cultural reasons with Hindu, Buddhist and other spiritual traditions exhorting people to refrain from eating meat. In the Western world people tend to become vegetarians later in life through conscious choice – perhaps reverting to past life preferences by eating more naturally. I am sure this is the way with me.

I was born and raised in England and Canada – both meat-eating cultures – but even as a child I never liked the meat portion in my meals. This was a matter of some concern to my mother. After all there is the widespread belief (erroneous) that the protein needed for growth can only come from eating animals and animal products such as milk. My full conscious decision to stop eating meat, fish and eggs came when about 20 years old and exploring the spiritual dimension of human life. I became aware of the Law of Karma – the irrevocable return to us of the effects of our actions. No one can deny that the brutally cruel nature of feedlots, poultry prisons and fishing creates a tremendous amount of suffering for living beings – fear and terror rushing through every fibre of every animal at the moment of slaughter. I realized that not only was this immense suffering inflicted on other species totally unnecessary, but also that by participating in this through eating animal corpses creates the spiritual conditions for all of this self-created suffering to return into one’s own experience. We get back what we give out. So I decided to choose other foods instead.

That was 33 years ago, in which time I have had a family and now have 3 grown children – all raised as vegetarians, and all still adamantly so. The (meat-eaters) stereotype of fragile weaklings surviving on ‘rabbit food’ is far from the actual truth. My son, in fact, was on the school football team where he was one of the more powerful players. My two daughters have grown into strong healthy women. My wife, too, is a vegetarian. Altogether we have proven to be among the healthiest families I have known. So I can assure anyone who is susceptible to the meat-eater’s protein propaganda that it is just not true.

Over the years I have talked to literally thousands of people about vegetarianism. And although I never proseyltized my convictions at the same time I’ve never hidden them – after all if one person stops eating meat hundreds of animal lives are saved, and the less suffering in the world the better for everyone. The two most common comments I’ve heard over the years about my vegetarianism are (surprisingly) envy that I was a vegetarian – it seems a lot of people need only mild encouragement and support for they too to become non-meaters – and the very often heard retort ‘Then what do you eat?’. This website seeks to answer that question.

Perhaps some of the meal ideas found here will be of use to those who are in transition from meat-eating to vegetarianism. There are many kinds of vegetarians – vegans, fruitarians, etc – so I will define what I mean when I call myself a vegetarian. To me this means no meat, fish or eggs. I do use dairy products and am not opposed to honey. By including dairy products (mainly cheese and yogourt) I know I am offending some purists. Be that as it may cheese can be made with vegetable rennet, and is a good and certain source of the vital B12 vitamin so hard to come by in a more restrictive diet. Bees, so vital for pollination, are also fairly large producers of honey, making much more than is needed by the hive.

Let me assure you that you aren’t about to be presented with an eclectic collection of strange foods with recipes demanding obscure spices and much know how to prepare. eating vegetarian meals is a lot simpler than that – as simple as buying frozen bean burritos and nuke-ing them, or pealing a couple of potatos and cooking with whatever vegetable is a good deal at the supermarket that week.

So welcome to the wonderful world of vegetarianism – the best thing any individual can do not only for him or herself but also for the natural and psychic environment of this planet.