I've been a vegetarian since 1988 and I did it for ethical reasons, not health ones. I was an animal activist and could not reconcile eating chickens or cows while trying to save dogs, cats, and horses.

I've never missed eating meat, even though being vegetarian in the Southern U.S., where vegetables are often cooked with a hunk of meat, is challenging. It's better than it used to be, though.

I found that many chain restaurants will call a dish vegetarian just because it doesn't contain hunks of meat. But, the ingredients may be meat-based, such as chicken or beef stock. You always have to inquire and then, you still risk getting the wrong information. Fortunately, we have the internet now and information about the ingredients in many chain restaurant dishes is available. I research my options before going out to eat.