by Katie Graves

Created on: February 14, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Should you be a vegetarian? 'Should' is an auxiliary verb that is used to express a condition. No one SHOULD do anything. Instead one needs to ask themselves, can I be a vegetarian? Or, would I want to be a vegetarian? When considering the implications of becoming a vegetarian one must realize that it is not only a change in what you eat, but it is a shift in your lifestyle.

A vegetarian can be defined as a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in the case of vegans, any food derived from animals such as eggs or cheese. The person replaces those foods with vegetables, nuts, grains etc. Becoming a vegetarian is not just a choice one makes for the sake of being a vegetarian. You must consider the different reasons behind vegetarianism as well as the consequences of such a choice in your own lifestyle.
First of all, one must ask themselves what their reason is for becoming a vegetarian. Is it because you want to be healthier? Is it because you do not agree with the killing of animals? Are you grossed out by the thought of eating an animal? Is it against your religion to eat meat? Can you not afford to buy the expensive meats from the grocery store? Or, is it a trend among so many people these days that you feel like you want to fit in with the craze? Depending on your answer to the above questions, you can determine whether it is the best choice for you.
If the reasoning behind it has to do with your love of animals and desire to save them, that is certainly a valid motivation. Many people believe that the slaughtering of animals is completely unethical. This can be for a number of reasons including the idea of animal rights, as well as people having a strong belief against inflicting pain on anything.
For those who want to eat healthier, there are many things to consider. Although vegetables, fruit, nuts, and grains are all healthy parts of our diet, you lose out on the benefits of meats. The food groups are introduced for a reason, and one of those is meat. Meat contains certain proteins and amino acids that vegetables do not, and thus, you need meat, or at least an alternative with the same nutrients. It is important to consider what you will be missing without eating meat, and to ensure that it is possible to fill those voids in another food, or risk being unhealthy and that goes against the commencing goal.
Vegetarians are also motivated psychologically. Often people can't stand the thought of eating meat, they are turned

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