We'll meat again

While I was waiting to do a radio interview this morning I listened to the Five Live phone-in with Nicky Campbell.

Today's subject had something to do with meat (should we be eating less of it?).

According to one caller – a vegan – we don't have to eat meat, we have a choice, just as rapists have a choice to, er, not rape.

This may be true but the analogy was all wrong. In a split second she lost both credibility and the sympathy of many a listener because it was such an extreme thing to say.

Moments earlier Campbell had pressed her on her claim to be an "international athlete".

I paraphrase, but her answer was, "I ran for Scotland at cross-country 30 years ago."

She then added, "And I'm taking part in the Vegan 15 Peaks Challenge."

Is that just for vegans, someone (possibly Campbell) asked?

Again I paraphrase, but I think she said, "Yes, or you can be a vegan for a day."

So, you could win the Vegan 15 Peaks Challenge – which I imagine is a celebration of all things vegan – having been a vegan for less than 24 hours.

The next day, trophy in hand, you could be munching on a Big Mac or enjoying steak tartare.

You couldn't make it up.

PS. I Googled 'Vegan 15 Peaks Challenge' but I could only find a website for Vegan 15 Peaks Challenge 2010. No mention of subsequent events.

It's worth a look, though.