Welcome to the Vegetarian Appreciation Network of Townsville

This site is primarily designed as an information source for those sympathetic to the views held by vegetarians. I use the term 'vegetarian' throughout the site to broadly describe the tendency of that group of people to avoid animal products. This would of course include vegans and, to a far lesser extent, semi-vegetarians.

Important note: Vegetarians DO NOT eat fish. Fish are NOT plants and all of the nutrients from fish can be gained from a plant based diet.

Along with the 'general' information provided, I included a list of external links as well as my email contact details for those who wish to seek further information.

I understand that this topic is often the source of heated debate but that is not what the site is for. I welcome all non-inflammatory comments and suggestions.

Definitions

Vegetarians do not eat any kind of meat. This includes fish and all other animals. Vegetarians also avoid foods that contain meat by-products such as gelatine and foods fried in animal fat.

Vegans avoid all meat and all animal products such as dairy, eggs and honey. They usually wear clothing that is not made from animal skins and avoid products tested on animals.

Semi-vegetarians are those who are selective as to what meat they eat. The most common form of semi-vegetarianism involves eating seafood but avoiding red meat and chicken. Please be aware that there is a huge difference between a vegetarian and a semi-vegetarian. Many people I have met say "I don't eat much meat anyway", giving way to the illusion of vegetarianism through approximation, which is misleading. To be a vegetarian and especially a vegan requires a conviction greater than "almost".

Non-vegetarians are those who do not discriminate as to what meats they eat. In this group it is not uncommon to find people who have a particular aversion to vegetables.

People from any of the above categories can enjoy the benefits of the Vegetarian Appreciation Network of Townsville and may become contributing members if they wish.