Thinking of becoming a vegetarian this year? It's a personal choice, but in a nutshell, here's why I did.

Save yourself, save the world
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." — Albert Einstein Sustainable eating is what this is all about. Eating vegetarian saves more land, energy and water than any other green choice you can make.

"If the whole world stopped driving cars and SUVs, shipping goods in trailer tractors, flying planes, sending freighters across the ocean and all other transportation activity, it wouldn't do as much as if we all just stopped eating beef." &$151; www.thedailygreen.com

The largest epidemiological study ever conducted (the China-Oxford-Cornell study) found that vegetarians and vegans have superior immune function and are far less likely to get diabetes, weight problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, breast cancer or osteoporosis. They also have more stamina.

I love animals
Who doesn't? In 2009 I started campaigning against animal cruelty. Eating meat made me a hypocrite. So, I stopped eating red meat and chicken as a month-long experiment. I didn't think I'd last — omnivorous foodie that I was. But I got through a month and kept going.

I was still eating quite a bit of sushi, reasoning that fish had nice free lives and I could kill a fish if I had to. Then a mate took me out on the harbour. I caught a lovely little flathead. When it came to the throat slitting part, will against will, the poor little pink thing looking wildly about, I felt like a bully. I couldn't do it.

What if I we're starving to death? I'm not, thank God. And if we all eat a conscious diet for a tiny footprint, nobody will be. If you want to know more, see the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc.

"Now I can look at you in peace; I don't eat you anymore." — Franz Kafka

I don't need meat
It's a balancing act. I eventually got a blood test and some professional advice, and by taking iron with vitamin C (instead of iron alone), and upping the vitamin B, I got all my energy back. Now I know I can do it! I feel lighter and younger. My skin is clear. When I eat the right vegies, legumes and nuts I don't even need supplements. I'm a pasta girl, maybe we can work on some new recipes together.

"To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana." — Buddha

What will people say?
Just tell them it's a health choice. With all the fad diets around today, a vegetarian diet is pretty easy to adopt. There are fabulous vego restaurants, websites, cookbooks and great options in all conscious restaurants. If they want to make an issue out of it, you can ask, "Why do you still eat meat?"

"My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but with this lighter repast I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension." — Benjamin Franklin

Are you a vegetarian or have you considered going vegetarian? Share your thoughts below.