It’s hard to be truly vegan and frankly, unnecessary. Even for ethical reasons, it comes unstuck as a lifestyle choice when modern life truly mucks up the morals. In the UK it’s popular to adopt former battery hens and give them a ‘good life’ for a while after their factory lifestyle has taken its toll. But, because all they have done is lay eggs every day since reaching adulthood, they continue to do so almost to the end of their lives and perfectly happily too if fed and kept properly. If vegans adopt them – and they sometimes do – they must then either justify wasting the eggs or eat them! Vegetarianism nowadays is surrounded by fashion, fad and odd new names that permit the inclusion of non-vegetable foods, e.g. Lacto-ovo vegetarians… Pesky pescatorians… Basically, my husband and I eat meat on an occasional basis, both having been vegetarian in the past. Neither of us have been vegan though we do cook for vegan friends. Opinion? That either will keep you alive if you are prepared to be vigilant with what you eat. Better? Everything in… Oh, wait for it… Moderation! Yep, boring though it is. By that I personally mean: treat meat as it should be treated, with respect. Eat all parts of the animals you choose to eat, anything less is a waste of life. Preserved meats, which are the main ones named as damaging by WHO, should be eaten as they were intended which is actually very seasonal. Salting and pickling are generally practices developed to get through winter. By early summer new young animals provide a rich source of fresh protein, so why eat the preserved stuff? Um, because it tastes great – I know! A bit of bacon once in a while won’t hurt at all, nor will a Big Mac or a Sausage butty, But, eating bacon for breakfast, sausages for lunch and a huge red and bloody steak for dinner on a daily basis will probably make you lean, constipated and smelly (Atkins Diet!) long before killing you with cancer… Eat everything. Variety in diet has been shown to improve longevity. Try new things, don’t waste food, be veggie or vegan if you like, just take care of the chickens and don’t try to stuff your beliefs down other people’s throats. That way likely a more violent end than cancer lies… thank you @Morocco for asking a simple question. I haven’t posted much for a while and it gave me a chance to blather on a bit!