I am not a vegetarian but I am Hindu. Like 550 million other Hindus of the world I eat meat and i've been constantly criticised for it.
The main argument is you're killing another creature for taste.
How do you justify it?
While I relished non-vegetarian dishes, I hated going to the butcher shop for meat, having to watch terror-stricken birds and animals with cut throats jumping and screaming in panic.
I decided to be vegetarian as I did not like watching this horror show.
Also there are many benefits to vegetarianism.
I have noticed that I have a slim waist and younger looking body with less fat, in comparison to my non-vegetarian relatives and friends who put on weight easily. Many of them waste money in gyms and health camps trying to tone their bulging bodies. I have even been complimented for my better looks by non-vegetarians themselves.
Vegetarian diet also have been considered healthier as incidence of heart and cardiovascular diseases , cancer are comparatively lower for vegetarians as opposed to non-vegetarians.
Research has also shown that vegetarianism is associated with lower incidence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and better immune system.
http://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/foods-for-cancer-prevention
Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third | University of Oxford
And it is also great for the environment, and helps reduce global warming.
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-vegetarianism-dangerous-global-warming#img-1
How going vegetarian will help save the world
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We should stop polluting our planet. Say no to plastic, Use as little plastic as possible. Recycle..Use recycled things. Use chemical free shampoos and soaps as far as possible. Go organic, I would recommend everyone to become vegetarian. You know, if we pay attention on the consumption that takes place to produce one non-vegetarian meal, feeding the animal etc.., it is equivalent to 400 vegetarian meals. So, I recommend everyone to turn vegetarian. Environmentalists say that if even 10 percent of the population turns vegetarian, we will not have the problem of this green house effect.
So, even from a secular perspective, you can see that vegetarianism can contribute a lot.
Imho, vegetarianism also cultivates a culture of non-violence and sensitivity, which are potent qualities or virtues in itself and necessary for a healthy human society.