Introduction

Idon’t think I shall ever become a total vegetarian. My love of all food, of the wonderful variety now available, and of my freedom to try anything, would stop me. However, I have noticed that these days I eat far less meat and, indeed, don’t miss it at all even when I haven’t touched it for weeks. Vegetarianism has increased enormously over recent years but so, perhaps even more, has the number of people who have reduced their consumption of red meat to almost nothing, and concentrate instead on eating far more vegetables, as well as poultry and fish dishes which are combined with a large proportion of vegetables, or with grains such as rice or bulgar, with pasta or with pulses. In this way, they easily consume less animal fat and feel healthier and more energetic: in fact, the ‘almost vegetarian’ diet could be considered to provide the best of both worlds.