New year, new foods, new kitchen choices. As we move into a new year of eating, we are curious about what you eat. It seems like there is a strong contingent of vegetarians in this community, and vegans too. So, time for a poll! Tell us what you eat - and comments are open for full discussion, especially if you fall into some category that doesn't quite fit in these choices.
Vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore?





After being vegetarian for 11 years, I am now mostly vegetarian but eat the occasional seafood. Reading Marion Nestle's What to Eat helped me make the decision to add sustainable/low- to no-mercury seafood back into my diet because of the health benefits.
view staratlas's profile
I just turned vegetarian after being vegan for 6 years. It was a difficult decision, but I felt that being a vegetarian would be more sustainable in my current circumstances.
view bubble's profile
Lactose-intolerant vegetarian. Egg-and-goatcheese-itarian.
view surplusj's profile
I was a vegetarian for over a decade. However, as I re-thought my reasons for doing so, I realized that buying organic meat and limiting the amount of meat I ate was a much better choice for my health (I gained a lot of weight as a vegetarian as I consumed much more calories) and supported local farmers much better, as I'm in a good ranching area.
view Kuri's profile
Vegetarian-turning-vegan for both ethical and health reasons. Going vegan may take more planning and effort than just being vegetarian, but I know that my health and conscience will benefit. I've become ten times more adventurous with food now than when I ate meat, which is funny as I always get the question "What do you EAT????". :)
view Joy R.'s profile
I was a long-time vegetarian who converted back to omnivory a couple of years ago. In my case, I started to feel really run-down and lousy. It turned out that my iron levels were really low, probably because I was still nursing my then-eight-month-old son. (This isn't uncommon for women who nurse past six months, I found out later.) I wanted to continue to nurse for a long time, and I needed to feel better quickly, so I started consuming meat in moderation. I don't regret my choice.
I don't know if I would have started eating meat again if I didn't live in an area with access to local, non-medicated, free-range poultry and beef. I didn't miss meat almost the entire time I was vegetarian, because I found non-free-range meat kind of gross, frankly.
view TammyE's profile
I eat a primarily vegan diet.
view SleepyDweller's profile
Vegetarian since 1990 for every reason.
view Pixie's profile
Joy R-
That's the number one question for me as well! :) I have been a vegan since 2000 and I even tried raw veganism for while (which is very hard in Indiana in the winter!). I love the way I feel.
Hooray for diversity and inclusion on a food & cooking website!
view SkippyB's profile
I can't seem to vote, but I'm mostly vegetarian (will eat seafood occasionally).
view JJJ111's profile
i eat meat, but not much. i'll often make vegetarian meals but use chicken stock or some bacon or something.
view thinkingwoman's profile
Vegetarian since '96, vegan since '04. Not missing anything. Like Joy R., I get a lot of "what do you eat?!?" To which I reply, "The thousands of grains, vegetables, fruits...I guarantee you that I have a much more varied diet than you do." It is a bit of a pain, though, when I go to my hometown in very rural Iowa. Have to bring a little stuff with me if I want to make anything complicated. But simple stuff I can make with no problem.
view gretchenkjer's profile
I'm mostly vegetarian. I only eat seafood and occasional chicken.
view suzyblue's profile