Paul

I've done many things in my time; the variety is astounding but this is the first time I've been asked with my family to edit a magazine. Why start now? Well, I love food and having for many years been a vegetarian, the idea of turning people on to the delights of such a lifestyle is very appealing.

When Linda and I brought our family up not eating meat, the original reason was our deep love of animals. Once we got the idea that many cultures' cuisines contained meat-free dishes, we began to explore various options and soon found ourselves with a huge repertoire of healthy, and most importantly, great tasting food.

Over the last couple of years, another aspect has entered the picture. It has been pointed out by bodies such as the United Nations that one of the most effective things any individual can do to help the environment is to eat less meat. As a family, we now promote a campaign for Meat Free Mondays, the idea being that if people want to "do their bit" for the future of the planet, it's quite simple for them to leave meat off the menu for one day a week.

What seems to interest people is that this is a relatively easy thing for them to do and at the same time they are helping to secure a better environment for future generations. The United Nations' original report (Livestock's Long Shadow, 2006) pointed out that the livestock industry worldwide is responsible for more harmful greenhouse gases than the whole of the transport sector. Adding to this astounding fact the pleasure and benefits of vegetarian food, it becomes an attractive option to consider. So in this issue of Observer Food Monthly, we hope to show that meat-free dishes can not only be great tasting and easy to prepare but also benefit us all. The kids and I thank the good people at Observer Food Monthly for giving us this opportunity to gently nudge people in what we think is the right direction. Instead of putting people's backs up, we hope that this issue will quietly entice you to dare to look at how you eat and consider whether this is a good moment to make some changes.

Mary

We are thrilled that an entire issue has been dedicated to vegetarianism. If it encourages people to reduce their meat intake by showing just how delicious an alternative it can be, then we will look on it as a great success! We hope you enjoy it.

Stella

This issue is not about being or becoming a vegetarian. It's about opening your mind to new ways of eating that could lead to a healthier, cheaper and more environmental way of living. It's not all or nothing. It's just great food!