I've been a vegetarian for fifteen years, and it always makes me laugh when people act like giving up meat is equivalent to death. I stopped eating meat when I was six because I didn't like the texture; it had nothing to do with where it came from. Before then, the only reason I would eat meat was that my parents forced me to. There's just something about it being so chewy...it doesn't sit well with me. Sometimes it's hard to go out to eat, especially when my family or friends want to go to a seafood place or a steakhouse because there are just very limited choices. I've survived though, and I actually eat more than a lot of people because I like to run and bike. There are plenty of options other than meat that fills you up just the same and tastes delicious. I eat pasta at least 3 or 4 times a week because it's filling and cheap and easy to make for a quick dinner. Veggie burgers allow you to get the delicious taste of a burger with about a quarter of the fat and calories. There are also so many new products made especially for vegetarians that help add flavor and variety to your diet. I have three siblings, I'm the only vegetarian, but we all eat a stuffed pepper recipe that I found that uses soy protein instead of ground beef.
             The hardest part is watching and smelling other people eat meat. It looks amazing, smells even better, and yet I know that if I taste it I will start gagging. It is tempting though. But if everyone were vegetarian, we wouldn't have that problem. There would be no temptation because everything available to eat would be fair game. Restaurants would create new and flavorful recipes using mushrooms or potatoes to make a meal hearty instead of meat. People would be healthier and more energetic because it takes less energy to digest plants than it does animal protein. We wouldn't have as many allergies because more fruits and vegetables would be part of our everyday diet, allowing our bodies to familiarize to the...