Meat is good for you, it's deep frying it that gives you your heart attack.

No, I've been one for two and a half years. I don't eat anything that had parents.

Timmy, shouldn't you rephrase your question? Of course, fish and eggs aren't meat, but they are a source of protein. For vegetarians, as described by others above, they'd prefer to get their protein from those sources vs. from red meat, poultry or pork. And there are differences between fish-and-egg vegetarians and strict vegans.

I am too. For 16 years now.

People don't "have to" be any specific kind of vegetarian, just like non-vegetarians don't "have to" like sardines or explain why they do or don't eat sardines.

I do it for environmental reasons (ecological footprint), animal reasons (I couldn't kill anything above a fish if I had to) and health reasons. It's weird to hear people talking about this like this. When I first became vegetarian I got a lot of confused looks and questions, but that was a long time ago. It seems pretty normal and widespread these days.

As for "cutting out one of the food groups", I don't know what it's like in the US, but in Canada the food group that contains meat is called "Meat and Alternatives" and then states: "Choose leaner meats, poultry and fish, as well as dried peas, beans and lentils more often". It takes a little edu-ma-cating, but you can learn how to get protein and other nutrients from all different kinds of sources other than meat.

I do still eat fish and eggs just to make sure I'm getting enough protein, (the idea is that fish are low on the food chain). And fish are fuckers anyway.

I guess I should say cutting any one aspect of food out, like protein or carbs or iron or whatever. Not necessarily meat or red meat or veggies or bread.

As long as you get protein and everyhting than that is the important part, not where you get it. My post was a little unclear I suppose. However, I do personally feel that the protein you get from chicken and fish is comparable to those cereal commercials where they tell you how many bowls you'd have to eat to equal what you get in the "Total" brand. I would rather eat one piece of chicken for protein not just because it tastes good but because I don't want to eat 8,000 beans or lentils to make up for it.

Polly, what do you do to not get anemic and keep up your iron?

Well, when I was a 16 and wanted to be vegetarian my Mom insisted that I keep eating fish and chicken (smart on her part because my concept of protein back then was dark chocolate). At the time I hated fish so I kpet eating chicken and cut out any other kind of meat. Eventually I got into fish and seafood and learned how to cook, etc so I gave up chicken. I'll still eat chicken every now and then, mainly if I'm in some kind of situation where the other choice would be not eating at all (like on a plane when they mess up the request for veggie meals), or being rude.

Basically each day I try to eat one meal that has some kind of whopping protein in it---e.g. tuna, salmon fillet, smoked salmon, eggs, sushi---and then the other meals I basically eat something with some kind of mixture of the following: chick peas, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, rice, couscous, etc. I also eat a lot of things like spinach, seaweed, etc. Oh...and I take a daily supplement too.

It's pretty easy for me because my bf and roomies don't eat meat, so we can cook togehter, and Toronto has piles and piles of good restaurants with good veggie (or fish) options. So there's always the lazy option of just going out or ordering in: sushi, thai food, indian food, vegetarian restaurants; they all have good protein-rich options.

It works for me. I don't think it's necessarily a good thing for everyone. People need to do what feels right for them. I need a lot of protein... but I also really like veggies so it's pretty easy for me. For some people it just wouldn't work. But don't go thinking it's an appetite thing: Senor Six and I can demolish a table of food like nobody's business. When I order take-out sushi they give me two sets of chopsticks.

Oh. Again with the comprehension (on my part). I thought you didn't eat chicken or fish.

I'm finding out way more than I thought I would, but my point is: "Why can vegetarians allow themselves to eat fish that were living creatures, or eggs, which are one sperm away from being on it's way to becoming a creature." Why are they allowed to draw the line where they do?

Could I just call myself a vegetarian who eats creatures as long as they aren't alive when I begin to digest them?

you can put a spoon in a dog's ass but that doesn't make it breakfast