Vegetarianism.

[Eretik]

I wish I could afford to be 100%ethical, I can't buy halal all the time and I know the process varies with the particular locality. I use a shop I 've gone to for years,it's very clean and I know the owner. I have to use the supermarket too, but I try to get the best quality and if it's British, then at least there are legal standards of slaughter etc. Different countries have different methods/standards. I also buy fair trade products wherever I can,it's a bit more expensive but I think it's worth it. I think slaughter methods could probably be improved but it would be less cost effective for the producer and prices would rise, not what we need for those who are struggling to eat well on little money. There really are no easy answers on this, I worry about it. I love Marmite, yeasty goodness and B vitamins to the max, the rest of my family hate it. It is possible to be a healthy vegetarian but you do need to work hard on getting the balance of nutrients right. I didn't see that show Elem, but I wish I had. I would have liked my lot to see it. It is true we are complacent to things out of the public eye, but I don't want my young uns going off eating meat, not till they are fully grown. There is a statistically high risk of them carrying/developing my condition, a vegetarian diet in this instance would be the wrong thing. I recommend a thorough check up with the doctor for those who are thinking of becoming vegetarian,ensure your iron levels especially are good before starting. Also the doctor can help out with nutrition advice and monitor you, from time to time, to ensure you stay in peak shape.

[Arien]

I don't think being a wiccan requires to be a vegetarian. But if you'd like to try it out, first cut off red meat, then poultry, then fish, then dairy products. Don't stop everything at once or it will surely be very hard.

I myself was a vegetarian for 4-5 years.