On My Short-Lived Vegetarianism
Dear [Lynn],
Good for you on the vegetarianism. Abstaining from meat and dairy products (especially dairy foods) really lowers the cholesterol. I avoided meat (yes, fish included) for two years in 1996 and 1997. Then, I would have been considered an ovolacto vegetarian. However, my cholesterol readings remained somewhat high. So in 1998, I started eating small portions of meat again but gave up cheese, ice cream, eggs, and other high fat foods. Now, my blood values look much better – cholesterol down to 190, triglycerides down to 78. Eventually I’d like to become a vegan. But that is going to take much adjustment and I probably won’t be ready to make that sort of commitment for another several years. 
On your island, fish must be cheap to buy being that it is so readily available? And it’s very good for you also – as long as it doesn’t have too much mercury in it. Salmon and trout are my favorites.