Here are some fabulous fakes to get you started--all tried and tested by Alex and the PETA staff.

You'll always find a tub or two (or 20) of Tofutti "cream cheese" in the PETA fridge. It's great on bagels!

Give beef the boot--and use these incredible burger-style crumbles in your favorite recipes instead.

Which would you rather stack on your sandwiches: Over-processed, artery-clogging meat slices or these delicious fat- and cholesterol-free veg slices? Thought so.

What's a cook-out without hot dogs? Be smart and cook up this tasty and heart-healthy veg variety.

For an after-dinner treat, try a creamy "cutie"--or any of Tofutti's delish, dairy-free desserts.

PETA's chairperson Alex Pacheco says: "So many animals' lives are at stake--more than 10 billion in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. Imagine if millions of terrified dogs were prodded and shoved into rooms slick with blood and had their throats slit. We wouldn't stand for it!" Here are some of the obstacles people encounter trying to go veg and Alex's suggestions for kicking the meat habit or helping someone else kick it.

"I can't give up hamburgers and cheese."

No problem: Most supermarkets now carry fab fakes, including veggie "pups" and burgers, and health food stores stock everything from soy-based sausage and savory smoked tofu to dairy-free "cheese" and "ice cream." Don't give up if the first "faux" food you try doesn't suit you. And if you can't find what you're looking for, ask. Most store managers are happy to order special products. And when dining out, if veg options aren't on the menu, ask!

"It's too boring to eat just bean sprouts!"

I agree! But vegetarians have tons of food choices! Try new ethnic dishes like falafel (spicy chickpea patties--the original veggie burgers!), Thai and Indian curries and tofu and veggie stir-fries and casseroles. Thanks to mock meats, vegetarians can still enjoy all their old favorites, too. For recipe ideas, borrow or invest in a few good veg cookbooks (check PETA's bookstore) or subscribe to Vegetarian Times or BBC Vegetarian Good Food.

"My husband demands meat!"

Cheat on him--with mock meats! Make family favorites like tuna casserole, chicken salad and meatloaf vegetarian with soy-based Worthington "Tuno", (in the U.K., try Realeat Fishless Fish Cakes), chicken-flavored wheat meat and veggie "ground beef." No lips, spleens, or blood in here! Don't retire your best recipes--switch to new ingredients. Then wait until after the compliments to tell your family loved was meat-free.

"I can't find mock meats in my town."

Health food stores and co-ops tend to abound in colleges and urban areas. Make monthly trips to stock up. And you may be surprised at what you find in your local supermarket. If the pickings are slim, ask for what you want!

Try mail-order, too. Lumen Foods (800-256-2253) offers veg Canadian bacon, chicken filets, jerky and more. Canadian readers, ABC Vegetarian Foods (800-765-6955) has meatless meats. In the U.K., try Natural Connections (0181 208 2727). Check the ads in vegetarian magazines for other sources.

"Vegetarian food isn't cheap."

Yes it is! When Vegetarian Times compared the weekly grocery bills of two typical families, they found that even with a cart full of "costly" products like soy sausage links and seitan, the meat-free family spent $32 less than the family that loaded up on beef, chicken and fish. In a year, a vegetarian family probably saves more than $1,000 dollars!

Still not convinced? I dare you to watch PETA's "Diner" video (available in the U.S. at cost for $6.00; U.K. members, contact the London office for a loan) and see exactly what horrors animals endure before they reach the table.