My Journey to Never Eating Meat Again…
When I was a teenager, I became a vegetarian. My mum was vegetarian, and a couple of girls at school were too, which intrigued me. Back then, I mostly thought eating flesh was gross, but I didn’t fully understand the deeper ethical or environmental issues.
At around 17 or 18, I started eating chicken again. A drunken night led to my friend buying me a chicken burger, and I obsessed over chicken until I gave in. I loved chicken burgers, and he knew it would tempt me.
Until age 28, I mostly ate chicken and fish. I was never a big red meat eater, but I could eat chicken daily! And cheese – oh my goodness, cheese. I loved strong cheddar and could eat it with nearly everything.
But then, everything changed. So, why will I never eat meat again?
The Turning Point: Why I Quit Meat for Good
At 28, I returned to vegetarianism. After peeling off what must have been a vein from a piece of KFC chicken, I freaked out. It had never happened to me before, and I couldn’t shake the disgust.
I started thinking more deeply about my food choices, researching natural whole foods and learning about plant-based nutrition. By age 32, in 2017, I had ditched dairy and transitioned fully to a plant-based vegan diet.
I now have several reasons why I will never eat meat again—ethical, environmental, and health-related. Read on to find out why.
Reasons to Never Eat Meat Again:
1. Eating Meat is Eating Flesh and Blood
Meat is literally flesh, blood, skin, and veins. When I really thought about it, I couldn’t justify consuming it anymore. We’re raised to believe eating meat is normal, but is it really?
People love and care for some animals, like dogs and cats, while happily slaughtering others, like pigs and cows. It’s hypocritical, and I find it disturbing.
2. I Don’t Even Like the Taste of Meat
Looking back, I never actually loved the taste of meat itself. My favourite thing about chicken burgers was probably the seasoning, mayo, and lettuce, not the actual meat. I never liked steak or bacon, which are the meats most vegetarians say they miss.
Now, if you show me a plate of meat and a plate of vegetables, the veg looks far more appetising!
Would you want to hurt me, kill me and eat me?
3. I Could Never Kill an Animal Myself
I believe in knowing where our food comes from. Many people turn a blind eye to how their meat is produced, but I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
I know I could never slaughter an animal myself, and I couldn’t stomach watching it either. If I can’t do it, I shouldn’t eat it. It’s not just food—it’s a life.
4. Meat Production Destroys the Environment
The meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation and global pollution. And it’s completely unnecessary as we don’t need to eat it and cause so much pain and destruction. Rainforests are being destroyed to make way for cattle farming or to grow crops for animal feed.
Shockingly, the number of crops grown for animal feed could feed us several times more than the meat itself can. That’s a huge waste of energy, food and resources. It makes no sense.
Plus most of these crops are covered in pesticides and chemical fertilisers which are polluting our water supply, and soil and poisoning us.
Not only is it often a healthier option to go vegan, but it may be much better for the planet.
Buy The China Study book on eBay
5. Meat is a Carcinogen
Most people eat processed meats like sausages, ham, burgers, and bacon. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen—the same category as cigarettes!
Eating processed meat is linked to higher cancer risks. It’s no surprise that cancer rates are rising, and dietary choices are a huge factor.
Apparently, 1 in 2 people will get cancer today. It was 1 in 3 when I was younger and it’s on the rise. Surely this 50% chance is enough to make people consider their food choices?
6. We Don’t Need Meat to Survive
There are plenty of lifelong vegans who are perfectly healthy, proving that we don’t need to eat meat to thrive. In fact, many people report improved health after quitting meat, including better digestion, more energy, and a lower risk of chronic diseases. Of course, any bad diet is bad, including a bad vegan diet, so you must eat a nutritious vegan diet.
It’s a marketing myth that we need meat for protein. There are plenty of high-quality plant-based protein sources, including beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts.
7. It’s Cruel to Kill Animals for Food
Even if animals are raised “humanely,” they are still killed for human consumption when they don’t need to be. How is that humane?
Most animals in the meat industry suffer terrible conditions and are slaughtered at a fraction of their natural lifespan. Factory farming practices are horrifying, and the more I learned, the more I knew I could never support it again.
Want to learn more? Search for Joey Carbstrong, Anonymous for the Voiceless, or Earthling Ed to see the reality of animal agriculture. There’s enough footage out there to show it’s not a great end for many of them. Get the knowledge. Don’t just shut vegans down in an argument because you think the animals are treated well because that’s what the meat and dairy industry tells you.
Raising an animal to kill it, no matter how lovely a life you think you are giving it, is cruel. Most animals are pumped with growth hormones so they grow quicker, so they don’t even enjoy a long life anymore.
It’s not even because we need to. It’s because we want to. For our own pleasure. To satisfy our taste buds. We are torturing and killing innocent animals for our own selfish pleasures – the taste of them!
‘But they taste good’ is something I hear all the time. Well, we might taste good but that doesn’t mean I want to eat a human! Just because something tastes good doesn’t mean we have the right to kill it and eat it. That’s just ridiculous.
Taking a life from an animal for no reason but to taste it is cruel. Full stop.
8. I Feel Healthier Than Ever Without Meat
Since going vegan, I feel lighter, healthier, and more energised. I never experience “meat sweats,” I never get food poisoning, and I rarely feel sluggish after a meal.
My diet is now even richer in fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes. I eat more nutrients than ever before, and I never have to worry about getting my 5-a-day.
I rarely got ill anyway, but now I never get ill. I have more energy and feel more alive.
My meals are colourful, nutritious and inviting.
Health Benefits of Never Eating Meat Again:
Many people report feeling healthier and more energised after giving up meat. Here are some key benefits:
- Better Digestion – Plant-based foods are high in fibre, which supports gut health.
- More Energy – Many people feel lighter and less sluggish after meals.
- Lower Risk of Disease – A plant-based diet is linked to reduced risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
- Clearer Skin – Some notice improvements in acne and skin conditions.
- Healthy Weight Maintenance – Many find it easier to maintain a balanced weight.
Switching to a plant-based diet can significantly improve overall well-being while also benefiting animals and the planet.
Why I’ll Never Eat Meat Again – A Lifelong Commitment
A common question people ask themselves after quitting meat is whether they should start eating it again. For me, the answer is clear—no, I will never eat meat again.
The ethical, environmental, and health reasons for quitting meat are undeniable. We don’t need to harm animals to survive, and plant-based eating is not only healthier but may also be a more sustainable choice.
We don’t need to eat meat—so it becomes a choice. If I don’t need to kill animals to survive, then I shouldn’t.
We have been led to believe that meat and dairy are essential, but this is a huge marketing con. The meat and dairy industries have convinced people they need animal products, but the truth is, it’s about profit—at the cost of our health and the planet.
I’ve been vegan for seven years now as I update this article, and was vegetarian for many years before that. Unlike many people my age who rely on pharmaceutical medications or struggle with daily health issues, I don’t take any medication and rarely, if ever, need to visit the doctor. I don’t even remember when I last visited the doctor, but it was more than five years ago! My health and fitness levels have remained strong throughout my plant-based journey. I go to the gym every day, I’m fit and active—more so than many people I know on a “standard” diet.
There’s a reason why the only regret many vegans have is not going vegan sooner!
Vegan, Plant-Based and Nutrition Books worth reading…
If you’re interested in learning more about a plant-based diet, check out these must-read books:
- The China Study – T. Colin Campbell
- Whole – T. Colin Campbell
- The Food Revolution – John Robbins
- Self Heal by Design – Barbara O’Neill
These include some by scientists who have studied nutrition for years and how meat/dairy affects the body.
They’ve known for decades how bad meat and dairy are for us, but as one of the books says ‘he who has the gold makes the rules’ and the meat/dairy industry is a huge corporation with a lot of money to spend marketing itself as something we need and drowning out any critics.
But now, thanks to the internet, the truth is coming out.
We have been lied to for years about how we need meat and dairy, yet it is causing so many diseases!
Read those books to start you on your journey to the truth!
If you care about animals, health, or the planet, why not give a plant-based diet a try?
Read Next:
- Is it hard being a vegan?
- Tips for moving to a plant-based diet
- Can I get protein and build muscle on a plant-based diet?
- 10 quick vegan dinner ideas
- Vegan road trip food when you have no fridge
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