I had been having a discussion (well, more than that) with my brother, who is a vegetarian, and who is also planning on becoming a vegan.
3 years ago, I myself decided to be vegetarian, because of the environmental impact that meat production entails, and I also wanted to make some sort in difference in adopting a diet that was more sustainable. But it didn't work out for me.
I'm about to say something which is gonna upset a lot of people.
Not everyone is made to be vegetarian or vegan folks! You can't get everyone on board, and it's not wise either.
There are several things about an individual which determine whether you're suitable for it or not. Me, I'm not, because...
My blood type... It thrives off eating a bit of meat now and then. It could be you're the same, and that it suits your blood type to be a carnivore or occasional meat-eater.
My body frame and metabolism... I'm quite thin, and i can literally eat as much as I want without putting on weight, and I need some heavy food now and then. Vegetarian meals often don't "hit the spot" for me, and as a result, eating vegetarian meals often feels hollow, and I didn't enjoy eating a lot as an experience.
It helps ground me... I'm a heady kind of guy, and eating a bit of meat now and then helps ground me, due to its heady nature, if you believe in that kind of stuff.
I live in a cold, northern European country... Because it's cold, it's only natural that you need to eat heavier food in order to keep warm. Quite frankly, it's a bit ridiculous eating a plant-based diet or something like that in a country where it's cold most of the year. Your system might not handle it, and you're likely to become weak as a result.
Nutrients... Whatever it is in meat, it seems to just "hit the spot" for me. Same with fish.
I myself tried it for five months, making sure to keep my protein and iron levels up and such, and it didn't really work. Despite all that, my own faculties weren't up to scratch without a bit of meat now and then. I found it weird being a vegetarian.
I also tried killing my own animal, and I was fine with it (I won't say which one). I slept well that night, and I didn't regret it. I knew what was involved. I honestly think everyone ought to try killing their own animal, and see if it's fine with them. At least in that sense, people can more consciously choose what kind of food they eat.
If you're going to change your diet due to moral reasons, at least consult a doctor or dietician, who will be able to advise you on whether your body type is able or suitable for it (and not a nutritionist or holistic foods expert, who I find come more from ideology than clinical objectivity).