Look, I’m eating healthily – what’s the problem?

….. On the road to a newer, fitter me

When I became a vegetarian some 25 years ago, it was easy.  I never had a penchant for animals (apart from playing with them as a pet) and I certainly didn’t crave the pulsating slab of cow I was once served at a restaurant. It was made easier by the fact that people were sympathetic to my reasoning.  Don’t get me wrong I am not one of those vegetarians who scowls when entering the carvery and I definitely don’t want other people to agree with, or necessarily accept, my way of eating. But people did.  Even now, when I mention that I don’t eat meat acquaintances effusively go into detail about how much less of a carnivore they are now compared to 10 years ago and that if it weren’t for the sublime tastiness of Danish bacon then they would definitely be a herbivore.

So why is it that when I mention  that I am ‘cutting down’ and trying to chuck out the fat, sugar and salt from my diet that friends and family start forcing chocolate cake down my throat?

 “A small piece won’t hurt, will it?”

Or the favourite:-

“Don’t let me eat this on my own!”

As if I’m doing someone a favour by eating this stuff! 

The reasons for giving this stuff up, or at least drastically cutting down on it, are just as respectable as vegetarianism but, apparently, not as acceptable. The Jo Brand approach currently wins out in any debate on eating habits and, whilst I love Jo, I do not believe that she eats no fruit. Come on, people, it is safe to come out of the closet and admit to healthy eating.  The more of you who are out there, the easier it is for people like me to adhere to my new diet regime. There you go; put your nose out the keyhole and your toe through the door - you could be preventing me from living a much longer (happier?) life.