If I'm a vegetarian and still consume dairy and eggs, should I just go back to being a meat eater ?

Question

I'm not sure if this question sounds strange but in the process of acquiring these items some animals are treated quite harsh. One of my reasons in becoming a vegetarian was because of animal cruelty. Since I'm a lacto-ovo, should I might as well be a meat eater? Even though I don't eat meat, i know most animals are harmed so that we can have milk, cheese and eggs. If cheese is made with rennet, why not eat the meat too? I do plan to become a vegan but at the moment I'm not ready. Am I stressing for nothing??? I don't want to be hypocritical. Or should I just step back, take a breather and keep doing what I'm doing very slowly but surely becoming a vegan. I've only been a vegetarian for a few months so I'm stll a little wet behind the hears on the subject.I know there are some life long and nearly life vegans and vegetarians out there that can help me. And if you are neither please don't answer or I will report you. Sorry I just don't have time for stupidity.

Answer 1

if your morals for being a vegetarian are so weak that you'd let strangers on the internet decide whether or not you should stick to your ways or not, then i don't see why you are a vegetarian at all. your question is basically, 'i don't believe in animal violence, but i still hurt animals by eating a FEW foods. should i just go ahead and hurt more?'

:|!  x

Answer 2

Yes, it seems unhealthy not to eat meat.

Answer 3

Yeah, you should never do anything halfassed

Answer 4

no. consuming dairy still makes you vegetarian, just not vegan. if you have to think about whether or not you want to be a vegetarian, then youre doing it for the wrong reason

Answer 5

hey im a lacto-ova too, and have been all my life due to animal cruelty also. there is no need to eat meat jsut because you eat dairy. i eat cheese without rennet ("nimbin" is the brand, extrememly yummy too....thats in australia not sure if it will be hard for you to find) and i get free rang eggs (it says on the pack if they are free range or not) free range eggs come from chickens that run around and lay eggs of their own free will as opposed to chickens that are kept in cages and never see the light of day and lay one egg after another. so these are not cruel....as for milk i get a brand that doesnt hurt the cows....so i say keep going along with it and do a bit of research and youll do great. dont listen to any one else saying eating dairy contradicts being a vegetarian because it deffinetly doesnt. you can look into becoming vegan also, but that can be very hard. for me being lacto-ova is a great balance because dairy is so important in your diet and you can eat it without being cruel to animals. good luck :)

*edit*

just read the above comment.....i am 100% against animal cruelty and eat dairy. and it doesnt support the industry that supports eating meat. the brand of eggs i buy are RSPCA which is a charity that helps animals in need. so its no way they would produce eggs if it was cruel to the chickens. they do it humanely and they are 100% against animal cruelty, so if they can support eggs that are produced humanely, so can you

people will tell you that u need protein or u need this vitamin, keep in mind that whatever supplement you get in meat, you can get in some other form, as long as you know what your doing. i suggest taking vitamin tablets perhaps, and iron tablets. protein you get in dairy so youll be fine

Answer 6

hello!

well I think you should just take it one step at a time...I'm a really strict lacto veg atm...and I've taken steps to get to where I am.

I've pretty much always been vegetarian...but then I cut out eggs...and rennet, and gelatine, stopped wearing leather......but gradually...and at first it was I stopped having all that at home...and then eventually I stopped eating it out as well. And I might go vegan eventually...but I'm so strict at the moment I don't know if I can handle it yet.

I think its a lot better to do it gradually...and especially if you are new to being vegetarian as well. I know of some people who have been non-veg and then gone vegan pretty much overnight and then they go back to eating meat. but, that said, im sure there are probably some vegans who turn vegan overnight and dont look back.

I think stick to being vegetarian...because from the sounds of it thats what you believe in. and take the other steps when you are ready. hope this helps :)

Answer 7

duh meat rocks

Answer 8

You must follow your conscience.There are a lot of good answers here and all have valid points but ultimately it all boils down to your reasons for wanting to go vegan. There are cheeses out there that do not require rennet and also egg substitutes as well. What ever you decide,stick to your guns.

P.S. I unfortunately am still a meat eater.

Answer 9

You're not being hypocritical.  It's far, far better to be doing something (and going vegetarian is a pretty big something) towards living according to your principles than it is to be doing nothing.  I was a vegetarian for 20 years before I went vegan.  I do wish I'd done it sooner, but I don't regret all of those years of not supporting the slaughter of animals for food.

Maybe start by cutting out the slaughter by-products (like cheeses made with rennet - not all of them are, you know.)  Then work on the rest of it.  There's no time limit, but if you feel strongly about it, you'll get there.

If you're looking for support, you might check out the forums at http://www.theppk.com - it's basically a vegan cooking forum, but there are lots of vegetarian (and even pescetarian and omnivore) members.  Some are transitioning to veganism, some are satisfied where they are.  There's lots of good info food-wise, health-wise, support-wise, etc.

Answer 10

You don't have to force yourself into a specific category. Eat what you feel is right, don't eat what you feel isn't right. Its like calling yourself 'emo' and making sure you only wear black, because you're 'emo'.

And be aware that not all of the animal cruelty websites are completely true. They show only the worst of the farms. Remember that not everything on the internet is true, or something to get really worked up about.

If its really a big deal, try buying from local farmers. Many farmer's markets allow local farmers to sell the milk, eggs, and cheese they have produced themselves from their own animals. You can get cage free eggs at  your local grocery store.

We buy eggs that were produced locally from free range chickens, and meat from local farms where the animals did not live in cages.

I have also been a vegetarian and a vegan during my life so feel free to email me with any questions you have.

Answer 11

Even if you're vegetarian, you are still doing a world of good for your body and for animals.  Just because you eat eggs, cheese and milk doesn't mean that you should go back to eating meat.  

I think that you are either stressing about nothing or you want an excuse to start eating meat again.  Either way, it's still your choice.  

Good luck.

Answer 12

Instead of giving in and go back to meat eating, why not take it a step further and stop eating milk and eggs altoghether?

It seems rather senseless to eat meat anyway since you don't like it anymore as you mentioned.

Answer 13

i would besides meat is good

Answer 14

do what you want and feel comfortable with. My advice is to research good sources of calcium, vitamin D  and especially protein to replace that found in dairy, eggs and meat (esp. protein). Too many young people stop eating meat and become iron and protein deficient. These and other nutrients are critically important and there are healthy substitutes but it can be an effort to find, prepare and regularly incorporate them into your diet.

Answer 15

How old are u? If u been a meat eater, could u eat your own pet or human meat? What d**n your "Code of Ethics"? You're putting a vague and irrational statement.

Life is about evolving ethically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. You should not retreat, but evolve.

"In a day, when u don't come across any problem... you can be sure that u're traveling in a wrong path".

Be vegan, take the challenges.

Answer 16

No.  You don't have to go back to eating meat.  Cows and chickens are not slaughtered to get eggs and milk.  Don't eat cheese, if you are bothered by the slaughter of baby cows to get their stomach lining to make cheese.  But most of all BE HAPPY.  ENJOY GOOD FOOD.

Answer 17

Yes, meat makes you strong.  You need protein.

Answer 18

I do not think it is hypocritical.  You are saving some animal lives by only eating dairy products and eggs.  

Besides, not all animals that give eggs and milk are treated badly.  Try buying free-range eggs or something like that where they actually let the animals roam free.  Or, if possible, go to a local farmer and buy milk and eggs.  A lot of independent farmers treat their animals well.  I would know.  I live next to a farm where their cows live happy lives grazing in vast fields.

Anyway, the point is even if you do eat eggs and meat you are still saving some animals.  You should be proud of that.

Answer 19

my wife and I are in the same boat! We have completeley cut meats out but can't seem to kick the eggs n dairy. (especially breakfast time) omlettes are my fave w/ spinach and roasted bell peppers. mmmm!

all processed meat is so bad for you I can't even think of starting to eat it again it would make me gag!

Here is a cool website of a Dr. who gives great 411 on the subject!

Answer 20

I've been a vegetarian for going on about 12 or 13 years.

And there are all different kinds of vegetarians.

For example with myself, I still consume eggs (free-range organic) and dairy (organic). I also will occasionally eat fish, obviously along the same lines, that comes from a trusted company.

You are def stressing for nothing, animals are harmed in the process of producing milk and dairy BUT... not ALWAYS... peta although it has done some really, really great things for animal rights in the past has been failing as of late producing propaganda-esque material.

If you go to an organic/all natural market or even in a corporate grocery store there are usually all natural sections... just look at the packaging.

Answer 21

Sorry I'm not a vegan or vegetarian but listen anyway! I don' like animal cruelty as much but  meat has a very good protein I know someone who just recently went back to eating meat and she looks 100% better!! if you dont eat meat or dairy you had best have some very good vitamines because the protiens are a must! And yes, it is ok to eat dairy but not meet and still be a vegetarian.

Answer 22

Hey!

I am lacto-ovo. It is impossible to give up everything at once. You got rid of meat which is a step, right? I know how hard it is. Don't give up what you are doing! Keep slowly cutting out food until you are a vegan. Don't let some carnivore smack you in the face and say "You not eating meat but eating dairy and eggs is just as bad as eating meat." Sure, lacto-ovo isn't free of the cruelty, but it is a start. Like others have said, animals don't have to die for milk but the have to die for meat. You and me, cutting out animal bi-products slowly. I can see it now. (Okay, so I am kinda corny, whatever.)

Hope I helped!

~Dania

Answer 23

sure...

Answer 24

Well, what is the point of recycling when we litter anyways? It's because a little bit over time goes a long way.

You are consuming less meat byproducts and helping out the situation. I even happy when people choose to eat less meat.  It is one step further to solving the problem our culture is creating. I'm not trying to say that eating meat is a problem, however, the amount of energy and waste that is created by the meat industry is. If you are concerned about where your eggs and milk come from, try to research companies to see how they treat their animals.

Also, it is healthier for your health anyways. :)

Answer 25

If you can stay a vegetarian for a few more months, then you probably can withstand being a Vegan.

Think about this: by eating dairy products, you are also supporting the industries that eat meat. If you are completely, 100% against animal cruelty, then you can try being a Vegan.

Being a Vegetarian is like Training wheels.

Once you can master being a Vegetarian, you're ready to try being a Vegan.

If you don't succeed, you can always try again.

Or you can give up (not trying to be the voice of negativity)

Answer 26

Look don't converting yourself to a  vegetarian is just for your mind sake . do what you would like to do don't stress yourself . Moreover every one on earth are non vegetarians as we kill plants for food & they are also living things

Answer 27

I'm a "vegetarian" like you are and occasionally eat fish as well, so some people want to kick me out of the clubhouse.  To me, it's a balance of eating what my body needs vs my similar beleifs about animal treatment and the prophylactic injections etc. Everyone has heard it all before.

I found it impossible to be a "total" vegetarian let alone vegan because it is extremely hard to do properly. I cannot and will not spend 1/3 of my life measuring this component of that food and that  portion of this food.

This is YOUR life and body- do what you feel is right morally but balance it with the knowledge that you need to survive and stay well first. For instance, how to I deal with the issue of dairy and cheese?  The treatment of cows (crowding etc) is a separate issue from whether a product they naturally make is good for me. I can and occasionally do protest farm factories.I decided it is good for me and have the option of buying milk-though at inflated cost - which takes such concerns into consideration. Cheese- rennet is frankly the tiniest bit of animal product in relation to the cheese you eat. Whether I buy regular cheese or not will have no effect whatsover on anything, including , I think, my own health. It certainly will have not the slightest effect on any farm industry. However if you wish to be true to yout ideals and you have the option, totally soy-based non-dairy cheese is available.

Best of luck. Just remember that whatever you decide on,it's your decision, your life.Let other's live it as they wish while you live yours the way you want.

Answer 28

I appreciate where you're coming from. Cattle are not only dying but cause a huge amount of water consumption and pollution. My gramps had chickens and they were very happy, but it was a small farm operation. We gathered the eggs on a regular basis and they loved sitting in the cool hutch. Cows walk to the milker when they are full. That's pretty smart!

Answer 29

You should continue being vegetarian.

Just make sure those eggs are FREE RANGE. Don't just grab any old packet of eggs off the shelf because most of them are cage eggs where the chickens are treated in a cruel and inhumane way.

Answer 30

Most vegetarians that eat cheese choose cheese made without animal rennet.  There are quite a few national brands that are animal rennet free.