Aww my last ever post, I'd like to say it's been fun but strangely it's been kind of hard work. Anyhoo so today I have been at college all day, lots of shorthand but I was getting some of the 100 wpm which I was very proud of myself about yay me. So when I got home I had leek and potato cuppa soup whilst doing some uni work and then for tea I made a vegetarian style burger with all the trimmings and lots of salad. So excited about being able to eat meat tomorrow. I'm working but where I work has the best sausages that they use in their breakfasts so I'm going to have a sausage sandwich and then steak for tea wooooohoooo. I think I have done very well and am so proud of me that I made it the whole 28 days without touching one piece of meat, if you know me well enough you'll know how hard that is for me! So I hope you're all proud of me too. I kind of enjoyed doing this blog but it is hard trying to keep up with it for 28 days and having something good to say everyday. I'm not a blogger myself, don't do facebook or anything, but from doing this I can kind of see that blogging must take up a big part of your life, so maybe people only post things when there is something interesting to say. But when we were assigned this essay it was like "hmm a blog, very easy" but it has been quite difficult thinking of things to say that people following it would be interested in. So I hope my posts haven't been too boring for you all! And I hope you thought my idea of going veggie for 28 days was a good one. Thankyou for taking the time to follow it. Bye bye

My final day, but not my final post as I didn't do one yesterday as I was extremely busy. So I'm going to do another post later to make up for it. Anyhoo so yesterday I had cheesy pasta for lunch with quorn pieces and veggie bacon pieces, wasn't as good as the real thing but I was so hungry I wolfed it down! Then I had work so I didn't have tea till late and I just had a quick jacket potato with cheesy beans. So as I have one more post to do I will write that later on what I have had today and tell you how much I am going to miss doing this, or not as the case may be but anyway, speak to you later!

Good evening! Only two days left yay. Went out last night and got a tad drunk so didn't get up until late today and felt a little sick and didn't fancy anything until tea time. So I made a vegetable pie and roast potatoes (cooked in olive oil not lard) and veg with vegetable gravy. It was quite yummy actually, like a mini roast and I didn't mind that there was no meat involved. Went to Pool Market today and we bought lots of meat off the butchers stand which I've put in the freezer and will probably end up eating it all on Wednesday as that's the first day I can eat meat yay. It's only been 28 days but it has felt like a long time. Anyway back to my assignments and I'll write to you tomorrow. Tata

Ok so sorry about the short post last night I was very tired. Anyhoo as I've been at work today I've had beans on toast and have realised that I can't wait for this vegetarianism to be over as all the breakfasts that were going out this morning made me realise how much I miss meat so it's getting to me today, I think I only have 3 days left though wooooohooooo! I've done very well don't ya think? Ok so as I've just finished work and am very tired I am going to have a nap in a mo I think. On the menu tonight is vegetarian sausages mash and onion gravy. My boyfriend bought some lush pork sausages which he knows I can't have the sly old fox so I've hidden some in the freezer so I can have them when I can eat meat again yay. Then I'll be off to the pub probably if I'm not too tired. Hope you all have wonderful plans for your weekend, speak to you tomorrow. Byeeeeee

Had a shorthand exam today which I think went quite well and as it was sunny this afternoon I went to meet my boyfriend at the pub for a couple of drinks and we decided to get pizza takeaway. I just had a cheese and tomato as I didn't fancy a vegetarian one. Haven't eaten anything other than the pizza though as after my exam I went straight to work and didn't really think about eating! Anyhoo the sun (and vodka) have gone straight to my head so I'm off to bed in a mo before work again tomorrow, and then it's more essays, yay so excited! Will write a better post tomorrow but for now I am too tired. Nighty night

Uuufffff, feel really poorly today. Like a kind of flu thing so I gave college a miss as I have a shorthand exam tomorrow and would like to feel my best for it. Tried to get on with my case study but my head was just not on it so instead I've laid around feeling sorry for myself. Haven't eaten all day yet as I haven't felt hungry but am going to make some tea as I need to eat something to get my brain in gear for tomorrow. Going to just have a leek and potato soup as I can't be bothered to actually make a proper meal. Actually thinking about it since I've done this vegetarian thing I have felt a little poorly and very tired, maybe I'm not getting enough iron or something from the lack of meat and my body isn't used to it?! Didn't think about that. Though actually my heads not in the right place to think about anything today! So I'm off to have some soup then curl back up in to bed. Speak tomorrow

Bonjourno! Been at work today and working this evening so a quick post to let you know whats on the menu today and what yesterdays meals turned out like. The stuffed peppers were very yummy. I put red onion, garlic and rice in them and had some salad with it. Today I had beans on toast at work and tonight I'm making a korma with quorn, it's a sauce from the man who made the reggae reggae sauce and it looks quite nice so lets hope so! My boyfriend is going to have exactly the same as I have work and don't have time to make two different things so he's going to have to make do! He knows though so there's no tricking involved today, thinking when I get home from work he'll have left the curry and made himself a bacon sandwich!

Sooooooo tired today! Worked late last night then had two hours of shorthand with no break and then a news writing exam. Been a long day. So for tea I'm making stuffed peppers with some rice and salad, yummy. Can't really be bothered to do anything though so think it's straight to bed after tea! Had a cheese and coleslaw baguette at college today was soooooo yummy, think that might be my new thing yum. My boyfriend did quite well with shopping yesterday, got me some quorn and some veggie sausages and lots of cheese! He said it was very expensive though eek. Think I only have a week left of this though yay, can't wait to start eating meat again and saving some money as I won't have to be buying seperate things for myself. I've done quite well though I think considering I didn't think I was going to last one day. Anyhoo I'm off to make tea now and then get an early night! Nighty night!

Helloooo again. So I forgot to take a packed lunch with me to college today so went to the union bar to get a tuna and mayo baguette (that's allowed I think as most vegetarians eat fish and I haven't touched it in the whole time I've done this, I think) I was so tempted to get a chicken and smoked bacon one though, that looked really nice but I stuck to my guns. As I'm off to work in a couple of hours, I'm not making anything for tea as I'm still full from my baguette and we don't have anything here! So my boyfriend is off shopping this evening, hopefully he will actually buy me some decent veggie stuff cos I can see him just buying meat and saying "oh woops sorry I forgot" but I asked him to get me a leek and potato soup so I can have that when I get back from work. It'll be interesting to see what he buys for me, because obviously I've been buying and making things that I know I will like but he will have to go on his instinct and see if he gets things I like as if he doesn't he will be getting a slap!

Sooooo sorry I haven't wrote over the weekend, been very very busy with uni work etc etc. I didn't end up going shopping for some non meat food as I had other stuff to sort out. So on Saturday as I was going to the pub in the evening, me and my boyfriend went for a meal. I had vegetarian chilli which was nice but a little bit spicy and I'm not really good with hot food, but the only other vegetarian option was red pepper and mushroom bake, but I don't like mushrooms! I ate most of it though and the main thing was it was vegetarian. Yesterday (Sunday) I didn't really eat as I was hungover from Saturday night so I had some cheese on toast for brunch and a chinese in the evening. Had vegetarian curry again. Found out something horrible though, my boss told me that he had heard of cats being used as chicken in my local chinese eek. Heard a couple of years ago that some chinese were doing it, but didn't think my local one would, so thinking I may steer clear of meat from there altogether! Anyhoo as I have missed a couple of posts I will write another before I go to work this evening. Until then...

Weather has been awful today! One of those days where you want to stay in all day in your pyjamas! I didn't, I had to work. So I have the evening to myself tonight as my boyfriend has gone to the pub so I may watch Avatar as someone has lent it to me, and eat lots of rubbish (meat free rubbish). So today for lunch I had a cheese and pickle sandwich and for tea I made quorn style chicken burgers which were yuuuuuummmmmmmyyyyy. My boyfriend had normal chicken which I wasn't really tempted with as mine looked exactly the same, I must be getting strong! Decided I'd like to try some falafel, think that's how you spell it, as some people have told me it's very nice. So I'm off to do some more shopping tomorrow after work to buy some non meat food for the week!

Getting quite frustrated with this not allowed any meat thing, looking at some chicken that my boyfriend cooked up for his lunch and I'm so tempted to have some but I've only got just over a week and I will hate myself if I give up now. Just got home from college and I've had a poached egg on toast mmmmm. As I'm going to work this evening there isn't any point in cooking tea as I won't be able to have anything so just before I go I'm going to have a jacket potato with cheesy beans yum. Getting so bored with having to think up different meals and not really having much choice for anything. I suppose I'm just being picky as I really want some meat at the moment. I can't see this process changing my views for life as I'm struggling with just a few weeks. Think I'm going to have a look online to see if there's any exciting recipes I can make to tickle my pickle!

Busy busy day today! Been workin till about two ish then had to go and pick my laptop up as it was being fixed then spent the afternoon in the library at college completing some work. As I've been busy all day I didn't have time for lunch so I had some toast quickly before I went to work with just butter on it, and then quorn spag bol for tea. I'm kind of running out of ideas for meals at the mo, I just seem to be repeatin what I've already eaten, but as long as none of it contains meat then I suppose it doesn't matter. So glad I didn't decide to turn vegan, really don't think I would have coped then, that must be really hard to do that all the time! Oh damn I forgot to buy cheese for my packed lunch tomorrow. Sorry thinking out loud there. Anyway I should get off and carry on with some more work got so much to do in so little time toodloooo!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, my boyfriends sister has moved in to a new house so I was helping decorate the babies room pink but it took forvever to strip all the old wallpaper off, worst job ever, whoever invented wallpaper needs a slap! Anyhoo so yesterday I fancied a bacon and egg sandwich but as I didn't have any veggie bacon and couldn't have the real stuff I had to have an egg sandwich (not the most exciting thing in the world) then for lunch we all went out and got a pasty but I had to have a veggie one which I was not happy about because I love steak pasties and everyone was tempting me with some grrrr. For tea as we finished late we got takeaway pizza and I had to have a veggie one of those too. I'm telling you this vegetarian stuff is not all it cracks up to be, there doesn't seem to be much choice when it comes to fast food! Today I had cheesy pasta for lunch and I'm having veggie sausages and mash tonight. Not really looking forward to it and I don't like it when I'm not looking forward to my food because I love it! Anyway off to watch easties now then get on with some uni work. Have a lovely evening all!

The sun is shining wooooohooooo! The cheesy 'bacon' pasta was ok, the veggie bacon wasn't as good as normal bacon but am thinking that's only because I knew, thinking if I didn't know it was veggie bacon I wouldn't have known the difference. This vegetarian stuff is taking it's toll on the old purse strings though. It's so expensive when you're in a relationship and only one of you is a vegetarian. Don't know how couples do it everyday of the year as I've only been doing it for a few days and already I'm struggling with money to buy myself different food from my boyfriend. Had a fry up this morning but obviously had vegetarian sausages, rather annoying as it was at the cafe where I work and the pork sausages there are amazing so I was drooling at all the other plates going past me that had the yummy sausages on. As it's a sunny day I'm off to spend the evening at the pub to sit in the beer garden in the sunshine. Still full from my breakfast so not going to cook tea tonight so may just have a cheese and tomato toastie when I get in or something. Bank holiday tomorrow so day off college, got lots of assignments to do so I'll be catching up on them whilst filling you in on what meals I can think up for tea. Not only is it expensive to be a vegetarian in a relationship where your partner eats meat, it's so hard trying to think up two different meals too. Usually I decide on what we're both having and cook it up, now it's a case of he can have that, what can I have?! Eek. Anyway until tomorrow...

Been on a shopping spree today, went to Truro 'briefly' and ended up in all the clothes shops! I deserve I treat I think as I've been working so hard avoiding meat. As I was having lunch on the go I went in to the bakery and had a vegetable pasty, was so tempted to get a sausage roll though, they looked very yummy but I overted my eyes so I wans't tempted to say "chuck a sausage roll in there too". My vegetable curry was very nice last night had to pick out a lot of mushrooms though yuck. Tonight my boyfriend is having lamb but obviously I'm not allowed :( love lamb, so I am going to have cheesy pasta with vegetarian bacon (not looking forward to that but thinking with a cheese sauce I may not be able to really tell) it's supposed to taste exactly like bacon so hoping it'll be just like having cheesy bacon pasta which i luuuurrrrvvvve. Saturday night, so off to get dolled up and wear my new clothes (not all of them at once) to the pub! Byeeeeeeee!

Bonjour! Well he fell for it! He had know idea the quorn strips weren't chicken mwahahaha. I didn't tell him either but I asked him afterwards if he enjoyed them and he said "yes they were very nice". Been good again today, had beans on toast for lunch. Was speaking to a customer at work about me doing this vegetarian thing and she said I had done very well (yay) and how she is a vegetarian because when she was a girl she lived on a farm during the war (no it wasn't uncle albert) and she used to see the animals go in to the slaughter house and she didn't like it as she got attatched to the animals but she said I was being very strong to just stop eating meat for an assignment and not for any moral reasons. Go me!! On the menu tonight is a chinese takeaway as it's Friday so I'm going to have a vegetable curry and rice, yum. Think I'm doing very well in not touching any meat but I do miss it and can't wait to have a bacon sandwich when I finish to celebrate yummy!!

Had my law exam today eek! Don't know how well I did, well put it this way, the first question I was like "Eh?" so I'm guessing not good! Went fishing on my boyfriends Dad's boat last night, just over the side rod fishing, caught a few mackerel but I had to stop as I got a little sea sick. I actually thought it was quite cruel though because some of the fish were comin out with hooks through their back and through their mouths and watching them flap around in a box because they couldn't breathe I was tempted to throw them back in! But it made me think how some vegetarians are very strict on not eating meat because an animal is killed but they will quite happily eat a fish. But to be honest with you I think the way fish die is worse, because at least a cow or a sheep is stunned in a slaughter house and killed in the most humane way possible but a fish has a hook through its mouth and then suffocated basically. Not nice. It has made me think though about what I eat but, I suppose it's hypocritical really, but at least I haven't seen the way the cow or sheep has died that's on my plate but seeing those fish last night made me think I don't want to eat it, though I don't eat that much fish anyway. Ok so today as I had my law exam and didn't get home until about three all I've had for my lunch was a packet of cheese and onion crisps because I wasn't that hungry but thought I should eat something as my brain had been working since 8am this morning with revision! For tea I'm making potato salad, salad and some breaded quorn strips (supposed to be like southern fried chicken) don't think they'll taste that different but the texture might be. Going to try and trick my boyfriend in to eating these tonight, don't think he'd assume I'd try to trick him twice in a row but we shall see!

Attended a funeral today and had the after part of it at a restaurant where there was a buffet and I found it so hard trying to find something I could eat which wasn't a lot. There was so much meat there which I couldn't have obviously, and home made pasties which I was hoping weren't made with beef so I could have one but how wrong I was :( But realised how hard it must be for vegetarians at things like this and that they must have really good reasons to stay non meat eaters. I ended up being able to have egg sandwich, cheese sandwich, ready salted crisps, cheese and tomato quiche and some chips (but had to ask if they had been cooked in vegetable oil away from meat products) then had to sit while everyone else chomped on slices of ham and pasties and sausage rolls :( But it just made me think how hard it must be to go to things like this for vegetarians as you need to find out what is in everything (like some of the quiches had bacon in which you couldn't really see) and what things have been cooked in etc etc. Phew. Glad I'm only doing this for a couple of weeks and not a life time! Anyway. I tried the quorn spag bol. Put lots of garlic in it and lots of onion but it definately did taste different and the texture was different too, and my boyfriend could tell from the first bite. I didn't help myself by bursting out laughing as soon as he said "this tastes a bit weird" so I gave the game away and he was not happy. He ended up making himself a bacon sandwich but I perservered with the quorn spag bol, it didn't taste as good as a beef one but it wasn't the most revolting thing I've tried and at least I attempted to make him eat something vegetarian but he didn't fall for it. Nevermind. Better luck next time!!!

Hellloooo! Ok so the vegetarianism is going quite well. As my boyfriend had a tooth taken out yesterday he couldn't really eat anything solid so we had leek and potato soup for tea (yum my fave) so I wasn't tempted to pick anythin off his plate. Today during revision for my law exam I had a cheese salad (very boring) and about five packets of crisps as I was still hungry after the salad, thinking this veggie thing may even make me put on weight as all I seem to be eating is rubbish to fill me up from all the cheese and veggies. For tea I had veggie sausages, mash veggies and veggie gravy (my boyfriend had pork sausages and meat gravy, jelous!). Veggie sausages aren't that bad but don't think they really go with gravy, they're more of a breakfast thing, but either way would prefer the meat! Tomorrow have decided I am going to make spag bol with quorn and try and trick my boyfriend in to thinking its beef mince, mwahahaha. Do you think he'll fall for it? I'm thinking with lots of garlic and onions he won't know the difference, wish me luck!!

Ok so forgot to write another post yesterday, woops. We didn't end up getting takeaway, we went out for dinner instead to the meadery. Unfair I think as I love the pork ribs at the meadery but I had to have the vegetarian lasagne instead :( my boyfriend had the ribs though and I was so tempted to have some but I didn't you will be pleased to know. Was tempted to sit at another table though as he was teasing me with them. Went for breakfast this morning and had to have a vegetarian fry up. The veggie sausages were ok, not as good as meat sausages and I couldn't have any bacon. Don't really understand why vegetarians refuse to eat meat, but will eat something that looks like meat such as the veggie sausages, they also do vegetarian bacon as well which I think is quite strange. The friend I interviewed the other day used to eat it and she said it tastes like bacon but obviously isn't. It's a perfect rectangle shaped product that tastes like meat but doesn't contain any meat. I can't see the point in it to be honest, you may as well eat the actual thing! Hmmm so as you can see only a few days of turning veggie and I'm resenting it already. I am determined to stick to it though but can't wait until it's all over! My boyfriend wants to have a roast for tea tonight but I told him no, as I think that's very unfair as I couldn't even have the gravy :( So clearly although he's said he's not turning veggie with me, I'm saying he's not allowed most of the meat meals he loves, I think that's only fair though. If I'm not allowed to then he's not either!

So sorry I didn't write yesterday, I was at work and then I spent the rest of the day revising for my Law exam, not the best way for a 21 year old to spend her Friday but it's got to be done. So instead I will write two posts today. Ok so as you know Thursday was my first day of turning veggie, I had my cheese sandwich which I told you about but I didn't manage to have my veggie sausages and mash as I was called in to work so I ended up having a jacket potato with cheese and beans. Got very tempted when I finished work though as my boyfriend decided to cook steak and even offered me some! You'll be very happy to know that I didn't touch any though, instead just sat and drooled while he ate it. Yesterday as I was at work I had an egg on toast for dinner and a cheese and onion pie with salad for tea. I think I've done very well so far as I usually have some sort of meat for tea. Not sure what I'm having for tea today, think we're having a take away as it's a Saturday night so wish me luck that I'm not tempted to have KFC! Mmmmm KFC. I'll write again tonight to let you know what I've had and how hard it was for me to choose a meat free version :(

Sorry sorry sorry, I know I haven’t written for a couple of days, I’ve been so busy with other assignments which had to be in this week so had to get them done. Ok so today is the day I start my vegetarianism. Eek. I’m at college today so made myself a packed lunch of cheese and salad sandwiches and a packet of cheese and onion crisps (very creative I hear you cry). I do like cheese though but think I will get a bit bored of it as I can’t think of many other fillings I can have except salad on its own? Erm maybe not. Still trying to get my boyfriend in to it to make life easier (and cheaper) for myself, but now he’s just resorted to raising his eyebrows at me so I’m taking it as a “stop asking me I’ve already said no”. Still going to try and trick him though. For tea I’m going to make vegetarian sausages mash, peas and onion gravy (vegetable gravy obviously). My boyfriends going to have normal pork sausages (as I know he’ll be able to tell the difference, he’s not just a pretty face) so we may have to eat at separate tables so I’m not tempted to pick at his! I will let you know tomorrow how my first day has gone. Wish me luck!

I spoke to my friend Katie who used to be a vegetarian so I’m going to ask her the reasons why she became a veggie, and the reasons she is not now:
Hannah: Hello my lovely, how are you? I would like to ask you a couple of questions on your vegetarianism if that’s ok?
Katie: Of course ask away
Hannah: Ok, first of all what made you decide to become vegetarian?
Katie: Well I was sharing a house with some friends who were all vegetarians so that was probably one of the reasons but also I just didn’t like the thought of an animal dying for me to eat, when I can easily live off vegetables and stuff.
Hannah: How long were you a vegetarian?
Katie: A few years
Hannah: Ok Cool. Did you find it hard being a vegetarian as in making your own food?
Katie: No it was really easy, and I love cooking anyway so I liked experimenting with different vegetables and stuff.
Hannah: What about eating out? Was it hard finding restaurants that did a range of veggie meals?
Katie: Well some restaurants I found only do one or two veggie meals but a lot of restaurants have a good range of veggie meals so I stuck to those places.
Hannah: What was the meat you missed the most?
Katie: Definitely a bacon sarnie
Hannah: So you’re not vegetarian anymore, what happened there?
Katie: I met my boyfriend who is a big meat eater. As simple as. He put bacon in my mouth and I haven’t looked back since!
Hannah: But do you still feel guilty about all those animals that are dying for you to eat them?
Katie: Yeah but it tastes so good
Hannah: Fair enough, how do you think me turning vegetarian is going to turn out?
Katie: Terrible, you like your meat too much!
Hannah: Well thanks for the vote of confidence!
There you have it, a personal insight in to a vegetarian who couldn’t give up the good stuff, and doesn’t think I will be able to either!

As I live with my boyfriend who is a big meat eater too, I’m thinking that me going vegetarian is going to be quite expensive as he’ll still be eating the meat and I’ll be having all the vegetarian produce. I think I may try to trick him though and maybe make a dish that includes quorn or something and see if he can taste the difference. Have asked him if he would like to turn vegetarian with me “it’s only for 28 days” to which he replied “you’re mad” so I’ll take that as a polite no. But what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And if he does taste the difference, I’ll just say I accidentally used it for his meal “oopsy”.

Ok so I’ve been looking at the ingredients of Linda McCartney vegetarian sausages. For 6 sausages the ingredients are: rehydrated textured wheat protein (63%) (made from soyflour), vegetable oil, water, pea and wheat protein (4%) flavourings, rusk, stabiliser, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (an alternative to animal gelatine, used for thickening). The textured wheat protein contains wheat and starch. The flavourings contain dextrose, salt, onion, yeast extract, colour, red iron oxide. The rusk contains wheat, flour and salt. There's 101 calories per sausage. Yum. Seems like a lot of additives that don’t sound that good for you, but it’s all to spare an animal!

I looked at http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/vegetarianism.htm which has 21 reasons to become a vegetarian. It’s a very biased and hard hitting site. It says that being a vegetarian means you’ll have less fat intake and if you eat meat you increase your chances of having a heart attack or getting cancer. Nice. It tries to make you feel guilty for eating meat for the pain and suffering animals go through to die in a slaughter house. I’m sure there are a minority of slaughter houses that don’t kill the animal in the most humane way, but I do know that in the majority of slaughter houses the animal is killed in a pain free way and does not suffer. This is what the internet site actually says: “Animals who die for your dinner table die alone, in terror, in sadness and in pain. The killing is merciless and inhumane.” I mean come on, who’s writing this?! You’ll have to look at the site yourself to see what other things are being said on there. It’s outrageous. I do understand vegetarians views to not eat meat, I am an animal lover myself but clearly not enough to stop eating them! What I will say is vegetarians slate meat eaters for doing what we do but a meat eater won’t sit down and tell a vegetarian to eat meat, yet vegetarians always try to change our minds and get us to stop eating meat (trust me I’ve had a few people do this to me) and this website is a perfect example. Basically in life we have meat eaters and we have non - meat eaters and that’s just the way the world works, it will never be perfect!

My first ever post. So as part of my journalism degree (as I’ve already said) one of my lectures is all about how the internet is affecting the media and so for an assignment I have to fill in this blog for 28 days on a chosen topic. As I am a big meat eater I have decided to turn vegetarian as I think it will be good to see how much willpower I have and use this blog as my online diary to tell you lot how I am doing (or not doing). Haven’t actually turned vegetarian yet, trying to keep it off as long as possible as I am dreading it! So I’ve decided to do some research in to it - see why other people do it and the down sides to it such as the unhealthiness of it etc.