What a fantastic thread!
I am proud of everyone for discussing this topic in a mature, intelligent and un-confrontational manner, given the recent flame wars that have taken place on this board. Can I say, without offending anyone, that I believe that this thread is so peaceful is because we vegetarians generally are at peace with ourselves, with others and with the world around us.
I think that sums up why we are vegetarians - because we have an invisible connection with the world around us and the creatures in it, human and animal alike. This is how I am able to live harmoniously with a "carnivore" who eats almost no vegetables at all, lol.
I do not eat white meat or red meat. I do consume some dairy foods, but very little as they tend to make me sick. I also eat some seafood such as prawns and a little fish. Why? Because if I try to be a "perfect" vegetarian, I am more likely to fall off the wagon. If I allow a little "traffic infringement" like eating a little bit of fish, then I quash any desire to go back to the old ways. The desire would not be borne of craving, rather laziness as Australia offers very little in terms of meat alternatives and I hate soy with a passion (except soya sauce, yummy).
What I have discovered?
1) Mushrooms are YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY AND MORE YUMMY
2) There are great vegetarian soups out there. My faves are the Velish series (they are suitable for vegans also) and some of the Campbells vegie varieties. Five minutes prep time is great for those of us who work 50 hour weeks.
3) My fave meat substitutes are veggie patties. Hungry Jacks makes a disgustingly unhealthy, but delicious, veggie burger. Macca's version is a little lest tasty but much healthier.
4) Although the supermarkets don't offer much for us vegoes, many restaurants make FANTASTIC veggie dishes
5) Buy a wok if you don't already have one, stir fry vegies are fantastic
6) You can still eat heaps of junk food if you are a vegoe, but you are missing out on the number 1 cholesterol source so you are better off than many omnivores.
7) Slowly, but surely, I am beginning to lose weight and feel healthier. The thing that's slowing it down is the fact, as mentioned above, that I can still eat junk food!
8) Mmmm, Subway veggie subs
HAS ANYONE GOT SOME DIET TIPS FOR A VEGETARIAN WHO WANTS MEALS ON THE RUN??
Why am I a vegitarian?
I became a vegetarian to save the 80-odd animals that I would have otherwise eaten this year.
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I became a vegetarian so that I would be another little brick in the ever-growing wall of defence against the rising tide of animal cruetly.
I became a vegetarian because I think it hypocritial to love animals as I do, yet allow their exploitation and torture.
I became a vegetarian because I'm of Polish descent, and am deeply ashamed that a death camp like Auschwitz could exist in my family's homelands. I am equally against the "death camps" called abbatoirs that continue to exist in almost every city in the world.
I became a vegetarian because I see no need to eat something that adds little or no nutritional value to my diet.
I became a vegatarian because the very thought of eating meat makes me gag.
Mum to two little humans, a very vocal 14 year old Ragdoll, and a super energetic and snuggly rescue kitten.
RIP Nibbler, joined the Bridge 12 May 2007.
RIP Pixel, joined the Bridge 24 November 2017.
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I just ordered a vegetarian starter kit off a site because I'd really like to learn more and *possibly* become a vegetarian one day...Thanks for all the info in this thread.
And secondly, as you two said, everything is linked. The extinction of one species can lead to extinction of another and so on and so on. Not to mention all the other affects it will have on the ecosystem and all that. I mean it just goes on and on. And I remember learning in high school about all these species of carnivorous flowers that are going extinct because they are so highly developed to feed on one kind of insect and when these insects become threatened, so does the flower. 
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