For several years, people from all around the world have debated over the controversy of vegetarianism and whether or not it’s a good idea. Many believe that there is no point in not consuming animal products and that non-meat eaters are entitled to eat the animals God put on this earth for them to eat.

People should be able to decide for themselves what they do or do not put into their own bodies. There is nothing wrong with wanting to follow a meatless diet. In fact, it should be more widely accepted.

With the way today’s society is slowly becoming more open-minded, the number of companies that sell vegan/vegetarian friendly products are increasing. Meat alternatives are available in all different forms to create a variety of, not only healthy but also good tasting, sources of protein. Substitutes for red meat and poultry are easy to find in the frozen food isles of local grocery stores.

While some people may not be bothered by the fact that the 8 oz sirloin steak they’re enjoying was originally a living, breathing creature with feelings that peacefully grazed fields of grass until she was brutally tortured, murdered and sliced up into fresh slabs of flesh intended for human consumption, others are.  The idea of putting chunks of dead animal into one’s mouth is simply nauseating to some individuals. To raise an animal from birth just to fulfill a destiny of becoming someone’s dinner is okay to not support.

There is also a large portion of vegetarians who are concerned with the health risks that eating meat can cause. Studies have shown that those who participate in strictly vegan diets are less likely to develop diseases and disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, strokes, and even some types of cancer. Meat dishes that are not prepared properly could very well result in fatal illnesses.

People who do not believe in murder less diets aren’t taking into account, the inhumanity of purchasing raw flesh from a harmless animal. It’s their right to eat whatever they please but it is not for them to judge what others eat. Like anyone else with strong beliefs and the gut to support them, vegetarians reserve the right to not participate in the cruelty and consumption of fellow mammals.