Thinking about changing your diet?
Sam McCreesh tells his story about why and how he became vegetarian and vegan...

For Sam McCreesh, it was a visit to a Norfolk animal sanctuary that sparked the change in his diet. Aged just 13, he decided to go veggie. Sam was on holiday when he visited Hillside at Frettenham, near Norwich. It is home to various rescued animals, while striving to make people aware of - and campaigning against - factory farming.

Sam said "I decided that I couldn't put any animal through such suffering now I was aware of it. Also, there are many health benefits living from a vegetarian diet, which helped me decide to go vegetarian."

He started reducing meat in September 2003 and has not eaten any meat, poultry, game or by-products since Boxing Day that year. He gave up fish eight months afterwards.

Sam’s parents are not vegetarian although they do enjoy meat-free food, and he has several veggie friends. That, with advice from veggie experts, made his decision much easier.

“I was lucky to have the support of The Vegetarian Society. They produce some super resources for teenagers and young people,” Sam said.

“Also, Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) and Animal Aid both campaign for vegetarianism and they have some useful resources.

“I had no trouble getting a healthy and balanced diet vegetarian diet. It was simply a case of reducing the amount of animal flesh and slaughterhouse by-products I ate, and eating more vegetables and trying other sources of protein such as soya products”.

He added: “There are lots of ‘fake’ meat products available…and there is usually a good selection of ready-made meals in most supermarkets as well as a huge fruit and veg aisle.”

Sam also avoids animal rennet in cheese and gelatine in sweets. But he is careful to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day, and includes pulses, nuts, seeds, eggs, tofu, soya and mycoprotein in his diet. He also prefers soya milk as an alternative to dairy milk.

His parents, Paul and Susan, initially thought Sam’s vegetarianism was a phase, but having realised his commitment, are united in supporting his aims.

“It’s not always easy to accommodate somebody else’s wishes,” they said. “But we have to admire Sam for his passion and conviction”.

Sam, now 15, added: “in my experience, going vegetarian doesn’t make much of a difference socially. Most of my friends don’t even notice or remember I am vegetarian! At school there is always a vegetarian option and usually two.”

He keeps active – riding horses at the local equestrian centre and having lessons every week.
“I do feel a lot fitter since going vegetarian and I achieve higher marks in PE now. I also find things like running long distances in cross country more manageable,” he said.

“I haven’t been ill much since going vegetarian, and I always have lots of energy, so I can definitely say that going vegetarian has had a 100pc positive influence on my life.”

Sam has now created his own website to help and advise others.

“I started it because there aren’t enough sites promoting animal rights, vegetarianism and veganism to young people” he said.

“I wanted to provide advice for people who are considering vegetarianism and a means of support for those who are going veggie or are veggie. There are also many animal rights issues attached to eating meat and I wanted more people to be aware of these too.

“I want to teach young people respect for life in the hope that my generation will grow up giving the animals in this world the dignity they deserve, rather than exploiting them for our profit.”

Living on the Rutland/Leicestershire border, Sam retains links with Norfolk. He has ‘adopted’ William, a rescued Shire horse at Hillside, a dog called Sam with the Dogs Trust at Snetterton, and Polly the pony at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

Sam advises aspiring young veggies to make sure they have the necessary information to maintain a balanced diet.
“While you’re living at home it’s also important to have the support of your parents,” he added. “You can make sure this happens by showing them information about how great the veggie diet is and perhaps offering to help out in the kitchen.

“Finally, don’t worry about what your friends will think because it will have very little, if any, affect on them. What they eat is their choice and what you eat is yours. If they are good friends then they will respect your choice.”

Eastern Daily Press, Monday 24th January 2005

N.B. Since this article was written, Sam has now become vegan. He says "During the last few months I had been made increasingly aware of the cruelty in dairy farming and egg production and I just couldn’t knowingly support such cruelty any more – not with the amazing amount of support available to new vegans these days! I have been vegan and a member of The Vegan Society ever since 1st March 2005".