I am 43, and have been a vegetarian since I was 17. I go back and forth between being a vegetarian and a vegan. I love it, and would never consider eating any sort of meat. I stopped red meat first. I never cared for it anyway. Then, after about a year, I stopped chicken. I never cared for fish, so that was no problem. I have never gone back, or regretted it. I raised my son (now 18) to eat how he chose. When he was with me, as a young child, he ate veg. but with my mother, or whatever, he ate what he wanted. He officially chose to become a vegetarian when he was in 2nd grade, and stuck with it until he was 17. He started eating meat, only locally raised and grass fed organic stuff. Now he has decided to be vegan.
I originally chose because I saw no point, loved animals, and never cared for meat. I now thrive to have a healthy and sustainable diet. i eat mostly fruits and veggies, and buy local and organic whenever possible. I can about factory farming, the effects on the environment, our health, as well as the care of the animals suffering in these conditions.
-Ellie T.