The main reasons why someone chooses to be vegetarian or vegan are:

• Animal welfare
• The environment
• Health
• Religious, spiritual and moral beliefs

Intensive farming methods can be very cruel; there is no doubt that a vegetarian diet is kinder to the environment; and there’s mounting evidence that vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters, therefore making less call on the health service. Any principle that is central to a person’s belief-system should be respected. Vegetarianism is particularly important in the Hindu, Buddhist, Rastafarian and Jain faiths. Also, considerable numbers of Quakers are vegetarian.

Older vegetarians and vegans have chosen their lifestyle for good reasons. They decided to live a life that is kinder: kinder to animals, kinder to the planet and kinder to themselves.

If you are interested in finding out more, including the research background supporting the vegetarian choice, please contact The Vegetarian Society,  The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation or The Vegan Society, who will be very pleased to help you. Our Contact page has quick links.