I am a vegetarian and I eat fish. I have no problem with that sounding like a contradiction because real life is contradictory. I prepare a minimum of 45 high-quality vegetarian meals for other people each week (this week it will be 270) and I eat the same food, but sometimes add fish or small quantities of meat. I stay with a vegetarian diet as much as I am able, which might be for several months on end. But I have allergies to most of the foods that a vegetarian diet makes use of for protein, such as nuts, eggs, dairy products, beans and bean products. I can eat them in small quantities, but not enough to maintain health. So I supplement my diet with fish and small portions of meat, as much as is necessary.

And I eat sausages. Lots and lots of sausages. Not hotdogs, but good quality sausages made from whatever everyone else won't eat because I think it's better to eat all of something that died than to waste it. Besides which, when they are prepared well, sausages can be very good.

A vegetarian diet is an optimal diet for some, but not for everyone. I think whatever diet people choose, the food they eat should be carefully chosen, made well, presented beautifully, and enjoyed.

And no arguments at the dinner table, please.

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Dear fustflum,
Thank you for your concern, but I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Everything. This morning, while I am preparing vegetarian meals for myself and others, as I have for the past ten years (45 meals today), I will think of you reading your dictionary and will smile.