The L-Plate Vegetarian

What’s a veggie?

A vegetarian simply doesn’t eat any dead animals or bits taken from them. That means no meat, poultry (chicken, turkey, duck etc), fish or other water animals (prawns, crabs etc) or disgusting things such as gelatine and animal fat. A vegan doesn’t eat any animal products including eggs or dairy (eg milk, cheese, butter).

Gelatine is used to gel some sweets, jelly, yoghurts and other products. It’s made from boiling bones, hooves and horns of pigs, cows and horses. Check the ingredients lists if you want to avoid it. If you see the words ‘guar gum’ or ‘agar agar’, you’re on safe ground – these are the veggie alternatives to gelatine.

Animal fat is just that – the fat from the bodies of dead animals. It’s boiled off the skin and used in some biscuits, margarine, cake, soups and other things. Suet is the fat taken from around an animal’s kidneys. Fortunately, animal fat and suet are seen as unhealthy and lots of products now only use vegetable fats – again just look at the ingredients.

Next Section: Sandwiches and packed lunches