You literally can't get all of the nutrients you need from an "animal free" diet, you need to supplement some unless you continue to eat some things, like fish / eggs etc. (which some "ethical veggies" do), and vegans (who also cut dairy) struggle to get enough protein no matter what they do (as almost all supplements are milk-based).

Although... I hear that insects (such as Big Brother favourites salt and vinegar grasshoppers) make an excellent, environmentally friendly meat substitute... And no one is going to cry over insect rights. Surely??

I've been a veggie since I was 13,and I think I am healthy,I feel it anyway.

If you ate meat though, Kaz, you'd probably be, like... Wonder Woman or something!

I don't miss it Livia,I don't like the texture of it or the smell when it's raw,I do like the smell of bacon though ,if ever I was tempted,it would be because of that:hehe:but I don't like it enough to miss it.

I was a veggie when i was a kid,Started to eat meat at around 12.Was always fit and strong as a kid.Veggie diet is fine,Vegan on the other hand,Now that some hardcore anemic shiz right there.
Me and the misses went on a diet at one point and ate Quorn instead of mince beef in spagbol and cottage pie etc as it's less fattening.We actually prefered it,Less chewy and fatty.

One in eight? I'm surprised it's that high. I'm a vegetarian, have been for 11 years and no we don't secretly cheat when no one is looking :p

surely some do lol

I've been a vegetarian a month today (I think) and I'm not missing meat at all. I'm not eating dead animals, and I'm toning up too!

Same :laugh:

What is it we need that you can't get?

i feel like going veggie for one week only see how i do

There are soo many vegetarian options out there now,Vegetarians don't have to live on nut cutlets and sprouts anymore.

Vegans? Most are deficient in Vitamins D and B12, plus iron, calcium and zinc (because they're not as easily absorbed from plant sources so the RDA is higher) and anyone who wants to to have a decent body composition will struggle to get enough protein to maintain muscle.

I'm not saying they'll die without supplementing, just that they'll never be at optimal dietary health. Of course, that's only a problem if you mind supplementing. And like I said, protein is still obviously an issue for vegans, because almost all protein supplements use whey protein. Vegetarian men especially struggle to maintain much functional muscle mass.

Non vegan vegetarianism isn't an issue because there's not really anything that can't be compensated for with dairy products and eggs. If you include fish, even better. Although quite a few will still need to supplement iron, because as I said plant based iron sources aren't as easily absorbed and it can be hard for some people to get enough to avoid slight anaemia.

This is really about fresh foods... The main reason that many modern day veggies won't run into many problems is because there are a lot of foods that are fortified with supplements (cereal for example, which you could have with something like almond milk, which is calcium fortified).

Not saying that these are insurmountable issues obviously, just that our biological make up is omnivorous and a NATURAL diet completely free from supplements and fortified foods simply can't be optimal without meat.

Plus it's delicious of course :D.