I'm a 4th generation vegetarian. Not an over-the-top Vegan by any stretch of the imagination. I just don't chew on dead animals. Doesn't matter if they fly, swim or poop in the woods. If it's dead, I don't gnaw on it's bones and suck on the juices of it's corpse - cooked and seasoned or not.

Healthy living has it's downside though. My father (being a 3rd generation vegetarian) got pancreatic cancer (cancer doesn't discriminate) and was given 3 months to live.

He lived for 2 years and the cancer couldn't kill him. The tumor was inoperable and he chose not to undergo chemo so it literally got so big and demanding that he starved to death. We enjoyed the extra time we had with him, trust me. :)

Sorry for a grim sounding post (loved my dad), but if you think about it it was his healthy lifestyle that kept him alive. Even cancer had a hard time wrestling him into the grave!

Eat smart, eat the best food available. Don't compromise. You can even grow your own groceries for fun and profit.

Why am I a vegetarian? Inherited knowledge, learned facts about diet and also a feature of my chosen religion. Not because I think killing animals is inherently wrong nor am I against wearing leather/fur. If I lived in a part of the world where meat was the best choice, I'd eat meat. In the USA, meat is some of the worst food you can get. Food that has an "acceptable amount of mercury" isn't food in my opinion.

Do yourself a favor though. Eat as little processed food as possible. In lab tests the subjects gained 30% more weight from eating the same food. The food that wasn't mashed up and preprocessed they body had to work to digest which burns calories. The processed food goes straight to your hips!

The only place I have a hard time finding a non-meat option is at a fish restaurant. But mostly because the smell of fish is vile to me. I have better luck finding alternatives at a steak house. At least they serve potatoes and veggies. :)

I also enjoy TVP (textured vegetable protein) products. I grew up (and love) Worthington and Loma Linda food products but there are other manufacturers of gluten and soy protein foods that are just as worthy.

I'm not a fan of tofu or the 'gardenburger' alternatives. I enjoy a more hearty source. I make a mean vege-burger and my current favorite the Dinner Roast!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2066314564_f63aad6501.jpg

Juicy, smells fantastic, seasoned to perfection. Great for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!
Source(s):
http://www.worthingtonfoods.com/

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No, I am not a vegetarian but I do believe that it can be a healthy lifestyle.

After reading @easyeboy 's explantion I think that I could be a vegetarian without any hardship but I definitely could not be a vegan! I just like my eggs and dairy products (especially cheese!) to give them up!
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