Today is World Vegetarian Day, a chance for vegetarians to celebrate their lifestyle choice and raise awareness of the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of not eating meat.
But it's also an opportunity for those not familiar with vegetarianism to learn about the movement and perhaps trysome new recipes.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of World Vegetarian Day, which was founded by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) in 1977.
Celebrations in New Zealand were held over the weekend, with festivals in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch drawing large crowds of vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
Yolanda Soryl, spokesperson for the New Zealand Vegetarian Society said more and more New Zealanders were cutting back on meat consumption for a variety of reasons.
"Going vegetarian for just one day can reduce the rate of greenhouse emissions since one calorie of animal protein creates ten times the amount of greenhouse emissions compared with one calorie of plant protein. It is pretty hard to call yourself a meat-eating environmentalist," she said in a statement.
GOING GREEN
Vegetarians exclude all animal flesh from their diets, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.
Some will eat dairy products, eggs and/or products from animal labour such as honey.
Many vegetarians choose to avoid wearing clothing that has involved the death of animals, such as leather and fur.
TYPES OF VEGETARIANISM
Ovo-lacto vegetarianism: Devotees eat eggs, dairy products and honey but not meat (including fish and poultry).
Lacto vegetarianism: Devotees eat dairy products and honey but not meat (including fish and poultry) or eggs.
Ovo vegetarianism: Devotees eat eggs and honey but not meat (including fish and poultry) or dairy products.
