why did you become a vegetarian or vegan?

Question

I find it interesting to discuss this with other people.

Was it a health decision, a moral decision, or were you brought up that way?

For me it was a combination of things- i was having stomach problems, and decided to eat healthier. Since becoming a veggie ( a a lacoto-ovo) my acid refux problem has totally gone away.Also as I got older meat started smelling like a corpse to me- and the whole meat industry thing is horrible. I really love animals ( my dogs are like my babies).. and think everything has a soul.

I don't have problems with anyone else eating it- I just don't feel like I should.

What is your reason? Serious answers only, I've posted similar questions before, and there is always someone saying our eating choice is stupid.

everyone who answered- thank you. I was just interested in the different reasons people would have.
I am extending this question, then i will let it go up for vote- because all answers are good ones (except for the people that don't take our lifestyle seriously).
Thanks All!

Answer 1

I became vegan because not only is the meat industry horrible, and the eggs and dairy industries are debatably worse. Check out the website I referenced for more info if you're interested!

Plus, I am vegan due to the health benefits and the fact that factory farming is (according to the UN) more damaging to the planet than all the cars, trucks, planes, etc, combined!

And did you know that if people in the U.S. reduced their meat consumption by just 10%, we'd have enough food to feed 60 million more people?

Answer 2

Because I have always loved animals and in 7th grade I did a report on Animal Rights, at the time a meat eater. And I finished up the project a vegetarian. I saw what happened to the animals in the farms and the slaughterhouses and decided I didnt want anything to do with it. Humans don't need meat to live like a lot of people say. I have been healthier and happier since I became a vegetarian 5 years ago. It has also helped with my Junior Rheumatiod Artheritis a lot too. I'm not in as much pain. I think being a vegetarian was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has become such a lifestyle I dont even notice I am doing it anymore.

Answer 3

I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian for six years (about 14 years ago). I stopped eating meat because I could not stomach eating animals. I just started thinking about meat being flesh and it just disgusted me!

I started eating meat again bc I got really sick from not eating enough protein. My doctor told me that if I didn't eat meat or more protein - I would be in the hospital. I was young and lived in south Georgia where I was not exposed to soy products and other ways (besides eggs - which I don't like too much anyway and nuts). The only vegetarian food I knew about was the vege burger at Hard Rock.

Sometimes now - I can't eat meat. Sometimes, I love it.

Answer 4

I know for a fact that vegetarianism is a much healthy lifestyle choice. Plus I know all about the meat industry and all that stuff. The smell of raw meat at the grocery store makes me sick now because I think of what those poor animals have to go through to feed us.
I know that the dairy and egg industry are horrible and corrupt as well, but I just can't live without milk or eggs so I'm not vegan. =\

So it's a mix of the health benefits and the moral reasons.

Answer 5

For me it was a health decision also. My son was the one that wanted to start first and I have always wanted but was worried what different kinds of protein that I could replace it with. I did some research and it has been 10 months now and even though 2 out of 3 grown children eat meat we get along at meal time.

Answer 6

Well when my best friend became a vegetarian, I decided to try it to. It's really not that hard, now that I've been doing it for about 2 years. Even when she quit being a vegetarian for health reasons, I continued. I also have been reading that vegetarians live 10 -16 years ( something like that) longer. Also, the thought of those poor helpless animals being killed in all these awful ways sicken me. And being a vegetarian has given me and opportunity to try things new. So... that's why I'm a vegetarian.

Answer 7

Yes i find it very interesting as well and i was posting this question but it told me it has already been posted ha ha, any way heres my story.

i was on holliday visiting my family and they are all vegitarians so to support their feelings i ate what ever they ate, so for a month or so i didnt eat meat and when we went out, i just happend to avoid it with out thinking so i thought about it and wel,l i copped without it for that long and when i had a open choice weather to eat it or not i oppted not to so when i got home i thought if i can live without it then i will just not eat it the more time that passed without me eating meat once i smelled it it made me feel it and i cant touch it.its funny though i now have strong feelings about meat but im still eating fish for some reason i nfeel more comfertable eating fish! oh well thats my story he he

Answer 8

Moral decision.

I just didn't like the idea of killing animals to eat them. I gave up eating meat as soon as I was aware that it wasn't necessary. I just feel like I don't have any business taking a life.

Life is a very sacred thing to me; even the simpliest animals have their own individual personalities. I had pet hermit crabs a long time ago, and each one of them was a unique individual.

I don't even like to kill insects; sometimes I have to if I don't want my house infested or whatever. Believe it or not; I say a little prayer every time I kill an insect. I try to just put them out of my house if it's possible.

Yes, plants are alive too, but you have to compromise somewhere and it's harder for me to relate to a plant as a sentient being. .

Answer 9

For me it was subconscious and incidental. Although I've been an avid supporter of animal rights, I never set out to stop eating meat. I just realized one day I hadn't eaten it in about a month or two, except fish. After finding how easy it was for me to give up these things I went ahead and gave up fish too.

As for my wardrobe, I don't own anything made from animal. This was more of an economic decision though.

Answer 10

I was a vegetarian during high school and the first months of being at college, it's mainly because I don't really enjoy the taste of meat. Most of my meals have very low amounts of meat, but I do eat some. If I do have to eat something with a lot of meat it's usually covered with condiments.