Teen Vegetarian Concerned About Animal Ethics

Question For Savvy Vegetarian

hello, im a teenager conscious of animal welfare etc, so have decided recently to became a vegetarian, but eat dairy products, eggs, and fish for health as opposed to moral reasons. i am confused as to whether or not i will be completely contradicting myself by wearing leather shoes, woollen clothes, etc.

and also drinking milk because i have read that the cows are treated really poorly. What are the basic guidelines and morals on going vegetarian? I'd appreciate any advice that you could give me. Thanks for your time - G.

Savvy Veg Advice

Dear G.,

Thanks for your email, and congratulations on going vegetarian! I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all set of rules for being vegetarian - you work it out as an individual. I would just say, take it gradually and take it easy, and enjoy yourself. It isn't good to be full of guilt and anxiety over your food. Becoming vegetarian is a big transition, and takes time. You are already doing a lot for the planet.

If you want milk, try to get organic - usually organic dairies are kinder to the cows. The smaller the dairy, the more likely the animals are to be treated well. I'd have some questions about animal treatment if it's a large organic dairy owned by a big corporation. You could try enriched rice or soy milk. Here's an article about an organic dairy that does it right:
Got Local Organic Milk?

Re wool & leather: Of all animal products, wool does the least harm to animals that I can think of, and nothing beats it for warmth, but do what feels right to you. If you can find non-leather shoes that fit your needs and your budget, go for it. Keep in mind labor practices and fair trade for the non-leather shoes.

But please, don't beat yourself up over all this. Life is full of contradictions. That's one of the things that makes it interesting.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions

Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian

Health Disclaimer:

Savvy Vegetarian provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or improve their diet. We don't advocate any particular vegetarian diet. We don't claim to be health care professionals, or nutritionists, nor do we treat any illness. Any changes that you make to your diet, or results of those changes, are your decision and responsibility. For your protection, we ask you to be completely open with us about your health, and we may recommend a medical exam before changing your diet. We reserve the right to refuse or to end a client relationship if we believe the client's actions may endanger his or her health.

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