BUDDHIST DIET: Vegetarianism V Veganism 3

To summarize, I have changed my diet gradually throughout my life. Over the past two years, I have turned from regular meat-eating to becoming 95% vegetarian. It was only in September 08 that I ate the last meat that I intend to consume, though I still choose to include a little fish in my diet for health reasons at this stage of my dietary evolution.

This will be my first Thanksgiving/Christmas season without meat. Though we did not celebrate Thanksgiving where I grew up, I heavily indulged in turkey roll/portion options in my thirties, up to last year. I have yet to decide what to eat this time.

A chicken or joint of bacon usually adorned the Christmas dinner table, and the Boxing day dinners of my childhood included a feast with numerous vegetables - alongside beef. I changed to turkey roll a few years ago - but this year, I am uncertain as yet what I will consume. I am determined that it will be vegetarian options for both events, though.

Vegan options are considered rather than rejected, these days - but tend to cost too much to regularly investigate. If such a time comes that I feel inwardly driven to become 100% vegetarian, or progress into veganism, then I will have to peruse cheap/suitable options from within the cookery shelves at the library, and investigate further options in the online vegan/vegetarian support groups that I have somehow joined.

With my Buddhist and Yoga practices leading me in the direction of vegetarianism, my observance of bird life cycles leading me to reject egg-consumption, and my naturally inclined health/nature focused dietary path, it is quite likely that someday there will be regular vegan options arising, if not replacing all meals.