By Animals Asia's Animal Welfare Officer, Nguyen Tam Thanh

Like most of us, I was raised eating meat. My childhood was no different to many.

I grew up in the countryside where cattle, poultry and pets lived around the community. My parents used to keep pigs, chickens, pigeons, and always pet dogs and cats at home.

Back then, like most people, I did not begin to consider our use of animals as food.

I was always fascinated by animals and could spend hours observing and listing the differences between a chicken and a piglet. I loved them all and saw that every one of them was interesting and, yet I still ate meat.

When I grew up and graduated from university, I looked for a career. At the time, I just wanted a stable job with a good salary and a good working environment.

I was lucky enough to start working with Animals Asia as a translator at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, and this was where my love for animals – and I'm sure there is a place in all hearts for animals - bloomed.

Working at the sanctuary, I witnessed bears arriving after being treated horribly by humans. Initially the animals were scared of people and hated them for torturing and abusing them, but later could still get over their past to seemingly forgive and live their lives again.

This made me to look at myself and I realized that not only bears but all species and every single animal wants to live.

Animals want to be respected and love their life, just as much as we do. And if you spent your time watching animals, you would easily realize that they understand what is going on. They are scared when there are risks, they are curious about novel things and they are more relaxed when around companions.

This made me not want to eat animals. I did not want anyone to kill those living beings for my food.

That is how I became a vegetarian. However, you don't have to work for an animal welfare organisation to stand up for animals. Just listen to your heart as the love for animals will always be there within yourself.

Not eating meat is easy

In Vietnam, where vegetarianism is rare, people have lots of questions about a meat-free diet.

"Where do you get vegetarian food?

"Isn't it easier just eating meat?"

"How can you get enough nutrition just eating plant-based meals?"

But the reality is much simpler than these questions suggest.

Vietnam is an agricultural country with plenty of vegetable products including various kinds of fruits, roots, herbs, pulses and nuts – and they are available at every local wet market.

Morning glory, a variety of cabbage, tofu, tomato, rice, and mushrooms make a typical meal. However, I often sub in radish, Asian okra, kohlrabi, pak choi, bitter melon, egg plant or watercress. Each dish can also be livened up with fresh herbs like mint, basil, coriander, dill or parlsey as well as spices like turmeric, ginger, lemon grass, galangal or tamarind.

Some of my favourite Vietnamese dishes are green papaya salad, boiled chayote with a peanut and sesame dip, spicy lemongrass tofu and caramelized mushrooms with pepper. The ingredients are available everywhere and they are all absolutely delicious.

My fat content is replaced with vegetable oil from peanuts, soybeans, or sun flower seeds so there is plenty of variety and my body has everything it needs.

There is no doubt in my mind that the food you eat affects your mind and defines your character – so it makes sense to give some thougth to what you choose to put in your body.

And I am so happy I chose not to eat meat. That will never change.

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