3 reasons why being a vegetarian is not enough

Vegan is too extreme - isn't simply being vegetarian enough? It's great that you've managed to escape old habits and get to the Become a vegetarian. With this you already make a massive contribution against many Environmental problems of our time - and you will also save the lives of many animals. But there are good reasons why, after this biggest hurdle, you should walk a few steps further to the goal, which is: no animal suffering at all, hardly any greenhouse gas emissions.

In this article I would like to introduce them to you and show why "only" vegetarian is not enough. And if vegan seems too extreme for you, you can also take away here how you can replace the first vegetarian products vegan completely uncomplicated. Let's go!

Is being a vegetarian enough?

Being a vegetarian makes you feel really good, doesn't it? Probably you already have some other Meat eater convinced, to prefer vegetarian dishes. But there is a great danger of being satisfied. Because since animal suffering and environmental destruction are mitigated despite vegetarian diets, but still remain, there are also still some things to improve.

1. dairy industry continues

Vegetarian is enough? Even if we no longer eat their meat as vegetarians, goats, sheep and especially cows will continue to be farmed for their milk in the cruel Factory farming kept. Cows are permanently artificially impregnated in order to give milk constantly - and when a cow gives birth to a calf, it is snatched away from her within the first 48 hours, because the milk is supposed to be available to us humans and not to the calf. Look at it with pleasure the contribution Reasons to give up cow's milk an.

In the end, all animals that we humans exploit in this way live far too short a life. So the reason that being a vegetarian is not enough is mainly the production of milk for dairy products like cheese, milk, ice cream, cream or butter.

This is how you replace these dairy products plant-based:

• Milk: Oat milk, soy milk or almond milk (e.g. from Oatly)
• Cheese: Almond-based cheese slices, cheese spreads and grated cheese, (e.g. from SimplyV)
• Cream: Soy-based cream (e.g. alpro Cuisine SOYA)
• Ice: Almond-based ice cream (e.g. REWE Beste Wahl)
• Butter: Vegetable margarine (e.g. soyola)

Tip: I've put together some documentaries that will motivate you no end to take the next step towards veganism. You can find them in the post about vegan documentaries.

2. greenhouse gas emissions remain

Vegetarian is enough? The dairy products that vegetarians still consume not only cause animal suffering, but also continue to produce enormous greenhouse gas emissions. A tremendous amount of energy is required to raise and transport livestock. The consumption of butter, cream and cheese also ensures that many cows continue to emit methane every day, which is 25 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂. And furthermore, factory farming also contributes to the massive Deforestation because forests are cleared for cropland and pasture.

I also have three facts for you on greenhouse gas emissions from an interesting study₁:

• Veganism: 2,890 grams CO₂ per day per person
• Vegetarianism: 3,810 grams CO₂ per day per person
• Omnivore: 7,190 grams CO₂ per day per person

So as a vegetarian you decelerate the environmental problem of the global warming enormously. But you can use the Sustainability of your diet still evolving.

3. egg production continues

Vegetarian is enough? Since they give eggs, chickens in factory farming also continue to be exploited - even if you no longer eat their meat. So that the masses of chickens hurt each other in the cramped dark barn, their beaks are shortened in a painful procedure. And since the male chickens do not lay eggs, immediately after their birth there is the so-called Chick Shredding.

Another reason that being "just" vegetarian is not enough is that vegetarians continue to eat eggs.

How to replace eggs vegetable:

• Eggs: Oatmeal and flaxseed as a binder, tomato paste for burger patties, firm tofu or chickpea flour as a substitute for scrambled eggs. And if you want, you can create a comparable egg taste and smell with the black salt Kala Nanak.

Vegetarian is not enough - but the next steps are easy

Whenever it comes to earning money from an animal, the living creature always suffers. And when it no longer brings money, its days are numbered. Therefore, becoming a vegetarian is not enough to completely stop animal suffering or factory farming and its consequences for the environment.

But if vegan is too extreme for you and you'd rather stay vegetarian for now, that's okay too. Nevertheless, answer the following question honestly to bring you a little closer to the next steps:

• Why are you not vegan?

Eventually it works out. Step by step. Here you can pick up some more tips and lots of inspiration to take the next steps towards the vegan diet:

• Start into vegan life
• Why vegan? Reasons for plant-based diet
• Vegan prejudices refuted

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post around the question "Is a vegetarian diet enough?" just drop me a comment.

Stay pet friendly,

PS.: Just leave you still a bit in the Nutrition blog inspire. Learn, for example, which Food surprisingly not vegetarian or vegan are.

References:
₁ Peter Scarborough; Paul N. Appleby; Anja Mizdrak; et al: Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK, available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-014-1169-1 [03.04.2020].