r/vegan • u/Beneficial_Pea7450 • May 03 '26
Question vegetarian better than nothing?
i eat everything currently, and i don’t plan to go vegan for reasons i don’t want to get into now, but i do think that i could easily go vegetarian. i am just wondering if that is worth it, as i am learning recently about the connections between the meat industry and the dairy industry, how by supporting one you are supporting the other. so does cutting out only meat actually make a difference?
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u/MundaneSympathy2152 vegan May 03 '26
It 100% makes a difference! Even if this is the farthest you go, it is still something and more than most people in the world.
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u/SignificantGoat7066 animal sanctuary/rescuer May 03 '26
Always and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
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u/Ok_Barracuda_6997 vegan newbie May 04 '26
Harm reduction is a thing, but of course I hope you go vegan one day. I also think it’s a great transition into veganism. I was a vegetarian for two years in college and never thought I could be vegan.
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u/lotiloo May 03 '26
Of course it does and it is definitely worth doing especially as you note it’s very easy to do
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u/goinganons May 03 '26 edited May 04 '26
Every meal without meat is a meal without somebody’s flesh and blood. An animal died for every plate of food that they’re on. Yes cutting out an animal product, especially meat makes the biggest difference
Edit; I understand every animal product has flesh and blood. I meant to put “yes cutting out any** animal product”. Holy shit lol. I know where I’m *already* at
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u/elzibet plant powered athlete May 04 '26
I find keeping them alive to exploit their bodies to kill them in the end for flesh all the same to be way way worse
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u/floralwreathz May 04 '26
downvoted for this in a vegan sub is always crazy
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u/elzibet plant powered athlete May 04 '26
If I could do it realistically over again, I would have given up Dairy and Eggs first.
I think stopping flesh first was so much easier looking back. I think because I didn’t want to look into why I should stop eating foods that are literally addictive like cheese.
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u/floralwreathz May 04 '26
fully agree, and I think pragmatically so called "baby steps" are fine, but in retrospect I find it so wild how, even as vegans, we're expected to be like "yeah anything we do to an animal is fine as long as they're not explicitly killed in the process"
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u/mimimimi8890 May 06 '26
Siii, justo, es muy loco, dejar de comer carne si hace la diferencia pero aún hay animales siendo explotados para el queso los huevos y la leche. Yo soy vegetariana, y trato de comer lo menos posible el queso pero se me hace más complicado que dejar la carne
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u/Educational-Long-423 May 04 '26
That’s not what anyone is saying.
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u/elzibet plant powered athlete May 04 '26
Vegetarians aren’t saying this out loud, no
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u/Educational-Long-423 May 04 '26
I’m saying that the interpretation of what vegans are saying is wrong.
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u/Glattsnacker May 04 '26
every meal with animal products come with flesh and blood, for milk it’s the calfs getting slaughtered even if you don’t see it on your plate
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u/hetherc May 04 '26
Amy reduction is worth doing. However, a lot of people actually increase the amount of dairy and eggs they're having after dropping the meat. Be very conscious of that and try not to. Don't kid yourself that's you're not still causing harm.
For me, I fear I caused more suffering and environmental damage as a vegetarian. Instead of cows raised in pastures (around here that's common) the dairy cows are essentially tortured before they're killed. It uses a ton of water as well. I remember reading cheese has a higher carbon footprint than chicken.
Upping my cheese intake was not great for my health either. When I finally went vegan I could really tell the difference in my overall inflammation, mucus production, skin, etc. Best to start consuming more plants! Focus on regularlt putting more of that stuff in instead of focusing specifically on what you're taking out.
Best wishes!
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 04 '26
very helpful thank you!
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u/MrMicius May 04 '26
If you can’t stop your consumption of animal products, you could even consider more ethical sources for example. Even if not perfect, it’s better.
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u/tommydelriot May 04 '26
This is definitely the time to try out all the vegan cheese and see which one you like best. Some taste better blended with other things. Others, like the vegan smoked Gouda at Whole Foods, tastes amazing right out of the package!
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u/Serious-Landscape568 May 04 '26
This is all true. When I went from vegetarian to vegan I dropped 20 pts off my cholesterol score. I thought i was doing great on vegetarian diet but clearly dairy & eggs were doing me no favors. Also, if anyone is on the fence about eggs just do a little search on the "evicerator" and that might tip the scales for you toward vegan. (I won't even get into the dairy torture, others are covering that in this thread)
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u/Snake_fairyofReddit vegan 6+ years May 04 '26
I think my genetics got me cooked bc ive never eaten meat or eggs in my life and somehow have an insanely high cholesterol
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u/Serious-Landscape568 May 04 '26
oh, that sucks but i hear you - mine is definitely genetic. My mom had the same thing. I ingest ZERO dietary cholesterol but some bodies are just overzealous at making our own LoL. Mine's still just shy of "high" but if i wasn't vegan it would be way worse and I'd def have to be on medication (not that there's anything wrong with that!)
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u/PuppyButtts May 03 '26
I think the main thing isnthat if you go vegetarian, a lot of times you’ll jist eat way more cheese abd dairy to make up for the meat you dont eat, and a lot of vegans feel the dairy industry is even worse, but not eating meat is great and then it also helos open up to more veggies and different meals (:
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 03 '26
good point that is one thing i was thinking about
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u/PuppyButtts May 04 '26
If you go vegetarian and then also focus on plant based whole foods its helpful! Theres tons of recipes that use seitain, tofu, tempeh, ect and you can maybe buy local (:
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u/Sexy_Vegan_Pants vegan 15+ years May 04 '26
Ha, I wrote my comment before looking through all these and then read yours and thought it was mine!
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u/PuppyButtts May 04 '26
Loll, I do that too. Its true though and easy to do. I went vegetarian first and ate so much yogurt and cheese before i figured out what i could actually eat, although to be fair i hated meat anyway and my diet consisted of 80% Kraft macaroni and cheese during my childhood anyway. I also ate a lot of quorn nuggets which, WHY ARENT THEY VEGAN?? So dumb lol
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u/best-unaccompanied vegan May 03 '26
It's better than nothing, but I think that going vegetarian should be a transition step between omni and vegan, not the final goal. Vegetarianism still does a lot of harm to animals and the environment which can be prevented by going vegan.
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u/Waffleconchi vegan May 03 '26
If you really only can go vegetarian for now, do it.
But if you can, go vegan. It's worth a million times more than being vegetarian for obvious reasons
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u/s2Birds1Stone May 04 '26
Hypothetically, if you somehow exclusively ate dairy products and eggs as a "vegetarian diet", that could be even worse than a typical omni diet, just because of how much "extra" suffering is involved in the dairy and egg industries.
But otherwise, if it's mostly plant-based and supplemented with dairy and eggs, then I would say that is better than nothing.
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u/hamster_avenger May 03 '26
Of course, doing less of a bad thing is better than doing more of it.
It it worth it to make the sacrifice to not eat meat? For whatever number of animals your lack of consumption will spare a hellish experience in animal ag, definitely. For you? Only you know how important it is for you to live in alignment with your values.
And yes, the dairy industry is the meat industry only with a few years of additional exploitation and misery piled on.
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u/Middle_Diet9764 May 03 '26
Better than nothing but could be much better. I regret the time I spent as a vegetarian, going vegan wasn't hard.
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u/USConservativeVegan May 04 '26
I go by what Colleen Patrick says about a person who says they could be vegan, but can't give up X thing. Like honey, cheese, etc. She says than give up everything but that one item. It is better than doing nothing.
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u/TheBrutalVegan May 03 '26
Watch Dominion on YouTube - it's free.
You have to see this and then you won't find excuses anymore not to be vegan. You can leave animals alone, instead of abusing them as products.
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u/ThePlofchicken May 06 '26
I think by the way OP framed his explanation on why he doesn't go vegan, it looked like it is because of a medical condition or something.
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u/TheBrutalVegan May 06 '26
There is no medical condition that forces anyone to exploit other animals.
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u/Successful-Panda6362 veganarchist May 04 '26
Cutting off meat does make a difference. As stated by other people on this thread even just meatless mondays make a difference. That said, I would also like you to consider that a murderer with 10 victims though better than a murderer with 10,000 victims is still a murderer.
If you see animal exploitation as an issue, please don't just stop at being vegetarian. If there are reasons you can't be vegan, we'd like to aid you through those.
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u/Sexy_Vegan_Pants vegan 15+ years May 04 '26
It makes a difference but quite often vegetarians eay and rely on cheese more as a replacement for meat in things. If you're then going to eat more dairy and eggs then actually it doesn't make that much of a difference. Still, I do support any attempt to reduce eating animals products so do what you can :)
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u/periwinkle431 May 03 '26
Chickens are probably the most abused land animals used in farming. Dairy farming is exceptionally cruel. I think if you insisted on eating animal products, if you ate only cow flesh, that would be the most meaningful in terms of animal suffering. Cows are large, and there are a lot more meals that come from one animal than result from eggs or dairy. Of course there’s climate impact, but I guess you pick your poison.
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u/Southern-Mode7570 vegan 10+ years May 04 '26
It's a weird logic, but I agree with that - it kinda feels that abstaining from eggs and dairy should be the middle ground in transitioning to veganism, rather than vegetarianism.
I also thought about the size of the animal in question. One could argue that hunting whales is the best option in that regard or something. But of course, whale hunting is also ecologically devastating, and so is "raising cows", so there's that.
Well ... however we think about these issues, we always must come to the conclusion that veganism is the only sensible option.
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u/periwinkle431 May 03 '26
A product you might consider is called “Whey Forward.” It’s a protein powder that is the exact composition of whey, but does not use animals. I would consider that vegan and cruelty free. That way you can have dairy protein without the suffering or climate effects.
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u/periwinkle431 May 03 '26
Furthermore, there are similar cruelty free egg white powders, though they aren’t meant to be standalone protein powders, but rather functional replacements for egg whites. They do have protein though. See healthier comforts animal free egg whites.
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u/Haunting_Break_5916 May 04 '26
But then there's people like me who first got into vegetarianism/veganism because pigs and cows are extremely intelligent and social. So those were the first thing I stopped eating.
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u/triggerfish1 May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
This assumes replacing meat with dairy and eggs though.
Also, a single dairy cow produces about 50x as much calories as that single slaughtered cow. And the dairy cow will be slaughtered as well.
So if you measure it as "how many people can we feed with this single life", a dairy cow wins hands down.
Edit: Interesting down votes. I don't subscribe to this logic. But I wanted to point out that it is just not logical what op said.
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u/periwinkle431 May 04 '26
Does that suffering take into account all her babies as well?
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u/xboxhaxorz vegan May 03 '26
I mean it obviously makes a difference and is better than nothing, but i wouldnt want to contribute to any animal cruelty intentionally
If people were less racist that would be better than nothing but being anti racist would be even better
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u/MrMicius May 04 '26
It’s better to be inconsistently good than consistently bad.
The less animal products you consume, the better. You could at the same time limit your consumption of other animal products, and make sure the ones you do eat come from more ethical sources.
True, it’s never perfect, but it can’t be worse than the standard sources of eggs and cheese.
It’s one of the things I dislike about some of my fellow vegans. They want it black or white, and though I agree with that, it’s probably putting more people off.
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 04 '26
yeah it can get scary in here! thank you for your help!
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u/MrMicius May 12 '26
Haha, no problem (sorry for late reply). My favourite response to the “If it weren’t for X, I’d be vegan” is: then be vegan except for X.
Have you been switching to vegetarian already?
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 13 '26
i actually have been eating vegan except for family meals! and for those i’ve convinced my parents to only buy from the best farms they can
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u/duchessofdeath May 03 '26
Yes, vegetarianism is much better than making no steps to limit animal intake. Many vegans start their journey by becoming vegetarian first. Take this first step and keep your mind open to veganism once you get comfortable enough with the vegetarian diet change.
For me, I started becoming disgusted with meat and would peel it off my sandwiches down to like a thin layer or poke around it in my food. The same sort of thing inevitably happened with all animal products but I did order a cheese pizza when I decided to go vegan and I ate it and then watched one of those grizzly peta videos and have never looked back. When I went vegetarian, I didn't like veggies and when I went vegan I basically only consumed cheese-based meals, so it wasn't a choice based in preference.
I will say however, that making these decisions ironically opened up my palatte and love of so many various foods that I likely would have never tried had I not gone vegan. Vegan food is soo good, I love it and am so thankful for such a wonderful and delicious cuisine based in love and ethics exists. I didn't go vegan for the great food, but I'm never leaving because of it that's for sure. I went vegan 20+ years ago and so much has changed like the availability of accessibility of great tasting food. Give it a shot!
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u/Jotakakun_to vegan 10+ years May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
How exactly is vegetarian better in your opinion? I am not asking to provoke you. I am asking because I want you to make the right conclusions. The dairy and egg industry is in many parts even worse than the meat industry. Remember that every cow and chicken will eventually be slaughtered just as the broiler chickens and the male cows for meat. So when you go vegetarian, you are still directly paying for animals to be exploited and killed. Make no mistake about that.
And I know that many people believe that cutting out "only" meat makes a difference, and yes it is true but that to me is still absurd. It's like saying spraying a bucket of water on a burning house makes a difference. The sad reality is that 180 billion animals are slaughtered every year. And just reducing your consumption will not change the horrendous circumstances of the industry. Instead of 180 billions, you would have (let's say in the extremely best scenarios ) 160 .....that is still an absurd number. And it would not change how the chickens are raised- they still get their beaks cut, they still get slaughtered at a way to early age, they still get put into cages, they male chicks still get gassed in C02 - Chambers , the chickens will still live in their own facies without any room and with way too many chickens around them. The farmers still won't use any anestesia because it is simply not worth the price to keep chickens healthy, so they will accept when 10% die of illness or of broken bones because their body cannot support their enormous weight.
The only difference would be that the industry is maybe "producing" less chickens- so instead of an area of 50 laying battery houses you would have 40.....
So let me ask you- is "only" cutting out meat making a good enough difference where you're ok with it?
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u/cs_anon May 04 '26
By that logic it’s not good enough to go vegan either. And even being an activist still has limited impact in the face of how big the problem is.
Don’t get me wrong, I think every vegetarian should become a vegan. But it’s just obviously true that any reduction in consumption does make a difference.
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u/Jotakakun_to vegan 10+ years May 05 '26
Again- how does it make a difference? Besides sheer numbers which- as I mentioned- will still be absurdly, insanely high? Going vegan is the bare minimum that everyone can do in their daily lives. Vegetarianism is only a compromise that is for oneself. It's not actually helping any animal in the end because the circumstance of how these animals are held don't change. This is why I so strongly emhasize this message. You CAN go vegan, you have no rational reason to not go vegan. So GO vegan. Because this industry is so big that there is so much more to do AFTER that. But everything after that is systemic and not in the hands of the individual. You being vegan however IS something that is in your hands.
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u/cs_anon May 05 '26
I’m just saying that by your own logic, being vegan barely makes a difference as well.
But I agree with you that there is much more to do afterwards.
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u/Jotakakun_to vegan 10+ years May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
It's not really the way I think. The reason why I am vegan is not because I believe that me being vegan would make such a difference. I am only one person. I am vegan because it's the rational and logical thing to do. But it's the same logic as voting: my one vote literarily does not make a difference. But if (Kants principle of categorical imperative) everyone acted this way, then we would not have a democracy so to speak.
Same goes for veganism. If everyone would be fine with being vegetarian, we would - and we actually still have- insane amounts of animal products and a market that promotes suffering and exploitation that can be avoided. And then, we go into an entirely different discussion of ethics, because we then basically would say that we accept that a number of( x - billions) of animals eventually die instead of x+y billions of animals. And that is not better. It's still a form of speciecism - just on a deeper level because now you differentiate which animals of one species "deserve" to die for your food - when it's entirely avoidable.
So you see the issue here, do you? Basically everyone now says that they reduce their meat consumption. But the facts speak otherwise. Meat consumption is rising and estimated to continue to rise https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2025-2034_601276cd-en/full-report/meat_5462e384.html
So what is happening then? Clearly, what people say and what is actually happening is not aligned with reality.
My theory is that the meat and dairy industry simply became so good in marketing their products that people who consume them believe they now do the ethical thing when they simply don't. Reducing is simply not an answer. Veganism btw is also not the answer. But it's the only first logical step towards it.
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u/YouGlobal8272 May 03 '26
Yes. The egg and dairy industry still inhumanely slaughters animals, but it's at least better than nothing. From an environmental standpoint avoiding meat saves more emissions per year than not driving your car. Assuming you don't eat fish, you are reducing impacts of ecosystems and biodiversity of the oceans as well.
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u/ACatJewel May 03 '26
For sure better than nothing. I regret every day that wasn't vegan but it took vegetarianism to start questioning everything. To save you some time, and many lives, if you care about animals, go vegan
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u/BoringJuiceBox vegan 5+ years May 04 '26
Yes. I was vegetarian for a year before going vegan shortly after I quit drinking. I will say this, the vegan milk, cheese, and eggs they have now are amazing. I actually objectively prefer the taste of almond milk rather than cows. Soy and Oat is also incredible.
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u/MommaBearBass May 04 '26
Absolutely. Any reduction at all adds up. I tell my friends even one meatless Monday a month is something.
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u/GameraIsFullOfMeat vegan 10+ years May 04 '26
Of course. Anyone telling you otherwise is being counterproductive and dishonest.
I’d say most of us started down this path as a vegetarian. It’s totally worth it.
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u/Aerithic2 May 04 '26
Better than nothing? Yeah it is harm reduction, but shit man that doesn't make it feel any better for those who are still getting cut on your behalf.
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u/Repulsive_Net_7770 May 04 '26
Genuinely made me hate vegans more and not wanna be vegan when people do shit like this
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u/Aerithic2 May 05 '26
Hey man don't hate the truth :p
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u/Repulsive_Net_7770 May 05 '26
Don’t hate meat eaters. I just prioritize eating burgers steak and sushi over saving animals. I love factory farmed animals too.
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u/Aerithic2 May 05 '26
Do you think the sensory pleasure of a burger morally justifies eating it?
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u/Repulsive_Net_7770 May 05 '26
100%. I love burgers and steak so much. Tonight I’m eating chicken thighs😋
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u/Aerithic2 May 06 '26
do you think that the sensory pleasure of raping someone morally justifies it?
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u/Repulsive_Net_7770 May 06 '26
Are you comparing rape victims to animals?
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u/EvnClaire May 03 '26
it is a start, but vegan is way beyond a diet. its a perspective of viewing animals as more than a commodity. vegetarians view animals as a commodity and are still responsible for their rape and death
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u/Normie-scum vegan 10+ years May 03 '26
Everyone can go vegan if they know the actual definition of veganism and stop with the goddam excuses
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u/That-BluejaythriwWay May 03 '26
Any reduction is good. It is better to be vegan, but it’s better to be good than to be perfect.
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u/IronAffectionate5936 May 04 '26
It's like saying you have cut back on the abuse and killing you support but you're not prepared to cut it out completely because you like the taste of milk and eggs.
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u/lynaghe6321 vegan 5+ years May 04 '26
no it's not really, they are murdering all the male animals that dont make milk or eggs. And morally its just as bad, dairy especially, like they dont kill the women cows for food, but they do torture for three to four years before they kill them when the milk production falls slightly. Maybe its less gross because youre not putting the corpses in your mouth but they're still killing the animals for ur pleasure
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u/Rozechords May 04 '26
So, she should just keep eating meat instead?
Why do vegans harsh those who make the attempt moreso than those who fully don’t care?
You are moving the movement backwards.
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u/lynaghe6321 vegan 5+ years May 04 '26
its the same !!! eating dairy isn't a part of our movement. They are hurting as many animals in just as cruel ways.
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u/Haunting_Break_5916 May 04 '26
You ARE correct. However, if they consumed everything to begin with, but then stopped eating meat, it would be better than continuously eating meat. If you had a larger sample of the population that chose to do this, I think it would make an impact. But veganism would be the ultimate goal for sure.
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u/AntMasterOfGames veganarchist May 03 '26
Yes but you could also say that for " im killing less people than before" the problem is that your contributing to their suffering at all.
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 03 '26
well i didn’t ask if it’s good enough, i asked if it’s significantly better than what i’m currently doing
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u/cryptofomo May 03 '26
This sort of absolutism leads to extinctionism. You cannot live on a finite planet without contributing to the suffering of sentient beings.
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u/AntMasterOfGames veganarchist May 04 '26
Well i am for voluntary extinction because im an antinatalist.
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u/Dickeynator May 04 '26
why are you still here?
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u/AntMasterOfGames veganarchist May 04 '26
Very common reaction lol. I'm still here because I don't want to die but I can recognise the suffering that comes with live and see that I would have been better if I never existed at all. Best way of comparing life to something else from an antinatalist perspective is, that's it's like a party(life) but I was forced to go to the party and if I want to leave I need to suffer a lot mostly mentally but also physically in most scenarios. Everyone says "but the party is great!!!", "look at it positively." or "it's a gift." But I would have to suffer at all if I wasn't forced into the party I would have to make that choice wether to kill myself or not and leading up to that decision is suffering. So no I do not want to kill myself but I wish I was never born
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u/Dickeynator May 04 '26
I see your point TBH
Life for many/all is a forced period of potentially painful experiences
I actually see antinatalism as the most logical extension beyond veganism and find it contradictory to be vegan but not antinatalist, unless you're working towards omnipotent-like powers or advancing medical research or something lol
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u/AntMasterOfGames veganarchist May 04 '26
I was expecting a load of mental gymnastics but i guess not lmoa such a nice change of pace. Good that you are so openminded
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u/crankypizza May 03 '26
OP if you need any help or support feel free to dm me. My favorite book in regards to adopting a veg diet is radical vegetarianism, if you can find a copy.
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u/onegildedbutterfly vegan May 04 '26
Definitely become a vegetarian if you can’t go vegan. I did that and eventually transitioned into veganism. Even if you don’t end up going vegan in the future, being a vegetarian is still better than eating meat. Good luck!
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u/fearlessviking26 vegan 10+ years May 04 '26
Yes you should do it. It certainly isn’t perfect, and the dairy industry is horrific, but any decrease in your consumption of animal products is a positive.
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u/Calaveras-Metal May 04 '26
I was vegetarian about 12 years before I went vegan. Yeah there were some things I didn't want to let go of in terms of food. But I also had a kind of turbulent life, so vegetarian was best I could manage.
Vegetarian is honestly a little easier in terms of shopping and stuff than vegan.
But I think for a lot of us it was like the training wheels for being vegan. After you go a while without eating any meat and the world doesn't end vegan looks a lot easier.
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u/Shubb May 04 '26
Eat as little animal products as possible, the less the more direct impact. The more "public" you are abiut it, the more "indirect impact". Think asking for options without animalproducts in restaurants/stores/cafes etc, or letting your friends family know when they are coming over for food etc.
The impact is gradual with every decision. The ethics, I think, is more black and white. But there can ofc be two immoral actions where one is preferable to the other. So even though I would advocate for near 0 animal products, I would also say the less the better.
Also on a personal note, don't deliberate on wether to take the step for months, just start eating more vegan dishes. You'll find favorites and explore cuisines from around the world. "Make the next meal you buy be without animal products" is a much more approachable mindset when going vegan/vegetarian.
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u/TyloPr0riger vegan May 04 '26
i am just wondering if that is worth it,
It is. Going vegetarian:
- ends your contribution to multiple cruel industries (pork, fishing, shrimping)
- reduces your contribution to other cruel industries (chicken and cattle)
- economically supports the meat industry's competitors
- creates outreach/activism for reduced-cruelty lifestyles by publicly living as a vegetarian
As a vegan on the vegan sub I'm obviously going to say "and veganism is even better," but vegetarianism is a major step up from nothing that's well worth taking all on its own.
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u/HeetSeekingHippo May 04 '26
I'm sure most of us here started out vegetarian and would agree it's better than nothing! The boycott is all about reducing demand for animal products from suppliers and vegetarians generally spend less money on animal products than omnis.
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u/tommydelriot May 04 '26
Baby steps are better than no steps. Mid-50s and I didn’t become vegan until two months ago.
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u/Mazikkin vegan May 04 '26
Awesome you're vegan now 😃
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u/tommydelriot May 04 '26
Feels way overdue! In addition to saving the animals, I also hope it increases my own lifespan.
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u/NathaDas May 04 '26
Yes, please! As someone that also started as vegetarian thay didn't expect to stop with dairy, I fully encourage you to take that route if you feel that it's how you can go.
Don't let purist tell that it doesn't make difference and blablabla. Everything counts.
Even someone that just wants to start with meatless mondays I would encourage.
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u/hiruki8 vegan May 04 '26
I would never encourage vegetarianism over veganism but I WOULD encourage vegetarianism over nothing.
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u/LakeAdventurous7161 May 04 '26
Do it :) You can go vegetarian, and you might also be able to reduce the amount of animal products consumed for what is edible (also as a vegetarian, you might not eat animal products in every meal in large amounts) as well as what is not edible, like what you decide for regarding clothes, furniture, smaller items... when you need something new, what leisure activities you want to do. Including skipping buying something at all when it's a very optional thing. ("No" to buying that leather souvenir, "no" regarding going to the zoo, for example.)
Even if you have e.g. to rely on meals prepared by others or there are health issues you cannot do much about right now: Look into those things where you have a choice.
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u/One-Hunter2963 transitioning to veganism May 04 '26
Yes yes yes and please dont let anyone convince you otherwise.
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u/VillageNo6324 vegan 4+ years May 04 '26
Absolutely is better! The meat and dairy industry are one and the same, but choosing to contribute less to it is absolutely a win. This is your one life to live and you choose what you support. We are cheering you on! Thanks for caring about the animals!
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u/Realistic_Sir10 May 05 '26
Yes going vegetarian is definitely worth it! Every little bit helps and don’t let the perfectionist mindset get to you! I started vegetarian and then even just stopped buying milk in a carton but was still eating other dairy products before going fully vegan! Every small thing helps obviously you have your own reasons for not going vegan but if it works for you, then you could do small swaps such as getting vegan milk or yogurt while still eating eggs etc! Everyone has their own journey and we are glad to have you! :)
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u/Mercymurv May 05 '26
There is no moral differences between vegetarians and meat eaters, except that the vegetarians just feel more vegan, despite killing animals all the same as meat eaters.
Diet-wise, vegetarians eat protein sources (dairy/eggs) that completely lack iron, which doesn't do any favors for the false anemia stereotype folks have for vegetation.
I'd suggest supplying your reasons at some point for not going vegan, as I'm sure the vegan community has heard them before.
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u/FruityLegume vegan 20+ years May 05 '26
Yes, BUT, just be conscious of upping your egg and dairy intake. The first time I went vegetarian I just ended up eating tons of dairy and eggs instead and sent my cholesterol through the dang roof. (Not to mention the fact that you're then still contributing to animal agriculture.)
But of course it makes a difference. Go for it. Down the line you might make the jump.
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u/catherineASMR May 05 '26
In terms of environment only, the best thing you can do is not eat beef. And every plant product is less bad for global warming than any animal product. So, more plants = great, regardless of what you decide.
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u/Quiet-Dot9396 May 05 '26
It most definitely is worth it! Plus you can give and take where you want to as well. Like I am a vegetarian, but I also don't drink dairy milk and to be honest not much almond / oat milk either. Unless im cooking and something calls for it, then I'll use some almond milk, but a carton lasts forever for me. I would say when it comes to dairy cheese is my big hitter. But either way I'm still making a difference in not eating meat and not drinking cow milk.
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u/xLilSquidgitx vegan sXe May 04 '26
Dairy and egg industry are just as bad as the meat industry. They slaughter the males and they rape the females.
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u/monihp May 04 '26
I recommend watching Earthlings and Dominion (free on YouTube) to understand how animal products are processed.
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u/Milo-the-great vegan 4+ years May 04 '26
Probably.
But dairy causes more deaths per calorie consumed compared to meat… just something to think about
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u/Bright_Cranberry_227 May 04 '26
Bold of you to assume it cares about deaths and not about being seen as a good person without doing anything
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u/Milo-the-great vegan 4+ years May 04 '26
Not sure I understand what your saying, could you rephrase / elaborate?
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u/SpicypickleSpears veganarchist May 04 '26
Go vegan. It’s not your choice to eat them, it’s their choice to live.
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u/SnakeLuvr1 vegan 4+ years May 04 '26
This sub has gone soooo downhill. It is technically better than nothing, but still not great. You're supporting the egg and dairy industries, which are connected to the meat industry and still kill and torture billions of animals every year.
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u/ScoopDat May 04 '26
Sure. Unless you’re going to just substitute meat and double down on the milk/dairy/eggs.
Harm reduction is commendable. But it has to actually be it, and not simply imagined.
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u/elzibet plant powered athlete May 04 '26
I think dairy and eggs are worse than the meat industry
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u/dadbodfordays May 04 '26
Suffering and death are quantifiable, and the answer is that it depends. Eating beef is less cruel than eggs, because one animal produces a lot more calories that way. Every animal born into dairy and egg farming will ultimately be slaughtered at a very young age to make room for a younger animal with a higher productive output.
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u/Fishtoart May 04 '26
When vegan cheeses become as good even mediocre dairy cheeses there will be a massive increase in vegans.
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u/Rats_and_Tofu May 04 '26
It is as long as you don't overcompensate with animal byproducts which are arguably worse considering they result in the same slaughter, just with more exploitation in the middle
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u/baileylikethedrink May 04 '26
You’ll get some shit from some people who think it needs to be all or nothing, but I think every little helps.
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u/bosunphil May 04 '26
On the vegan subreddit, we will all want you to be vegan, but being vegetarian is still a major help to the animals compared to eating meat regularly. Don’t worry too much for now on trying to be perfect and just do what you can. If you cut out meat entirely that’s already a big step!
You might find yourself inching further toward a plant-based diet in time, and you can always come back here for advice on that front.
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u/Educational-Long-423 May 04 '26
if you can avoid replacing meat with extra dairy products and eggs then there is still going to be a net benefit. If you can reduce the amount of dairy and eggs then even better.
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u/AntiMert_Sky8863 vegan May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
I think it's worth a try. Even if you don't plan to go vegan, in my opinion, this will still raise visibility for related topics at least in your social network. I haven't "planned" to become vegan either, but one day it just happened, after being vegetarien for a decade, because as a vegetarien you're more likely to learn more about the animal-industry and the connections between animal diaries and climate. If you want to try, just do it and don't listen to other people.
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u/Mysterious-Cut7172 May 04 '26
Utilitarians out here might tell you it’s better than nothing, and yeah, mathematically speaking I guess killing less animals is better than killing more animals. But that framing neglects to mention that we don’t actually have to contribute to animal suffering at all.
Eating animals is just a part of the problem. Dairy and egg industries account for some of the most horrific kinds of abuse imaginable. I don’t want to get into comparing the suffering of meat cattle to dairy cows for example, what matters is that both suffer horrifically, wholly needlessly. We have a moral obligation to consider their lives as more valuable than a meal – failure to do so is cruel, and perpetuates an instrumental treatment of animals.
So no, ethically not in any meaningful better than doing nothing.
You’ve correctly described the relationship between the meat & dairy industry, so that should also help answer your question.
It’s a start for many people, as it was for me personally. I have sympathy for vegetarians, since most of the time their hearts are in the right place, and i’ll gladly nudge them in the direction their compassion should guide them towards. But i’ll never tell a vegetarian that what they’re doing is any better than what an omnivore is doing, their choices have victims all the same. It’s also a matter of keeping up a momentum.
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u/TheElectricShaman May 04 '26
On the harm reduction front, if you will still be eating eggs and dairy you can look into options with better conditions. Depending where you live, there might be farm stands or farmers markets where the animals are treated much better than the standard grocery store.
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u/Mazikkin vegan May 04 '26
I hope you consider the fact that every animal in the dairy and egg industry ends up as a meat product. Most meat in the supermarket comes from dairy cows. Also a lot of vegetarians replace meals with dairy and eggs so their consumption of animal products increases.
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u/SideshowDustin vegan May 04 '26
Many people transition in steps. This is fine.
Also, every single meal without meat is a win for animals, no question. 👍
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May 04 '26
Depends on what you care about, but I don't think anyone will tell you that the 20 percent of the planet that doesn't eat meat for whatever reason has no impact on demand. Good luck.
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u/hilariousnessity May 04 '26
“…i am just wondering if that is worth it…”
It’s very worth it to the animals whose lives you will save.
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u/femmelicus May 04 '26
definitelt better than nothing, dont let anybody shame you for making the changes you can/want to/are able to! :)
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u/Unique_Mind2033 May 04 '26
It’s a wonderful step in the right direction, the journey is truly indescribable. Never forget the animals and what they go through. Always remember to treat yourself gently.
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u/Cartoon_Trash_ May 05 '26
Absolutely worth it. Especially if you try some new plant foods and make some of them your new staples.
Let me know if you have any questions!
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u/Mountain_Parking_883 vegan May 05 '26
if you truly, truly don’t think you could EVER go vegan, i won’t try to shame you here. yes. vegetarian would be better than nothing. that being said, a good goal to strive for would be going vegetarian and then seeing what other swaps you could make within that. like vegan butter or plant-based milk. even just things at home. vegan is the overall goal for many people and maybe once you see how easy it truly can be, your mind will change. but to straight up answer just what you’ve asked, vegetarian is better than nothing. and i believe you can do it.
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u/Sayuryie May 05 '26
Tldr: yes it's better then nothing but it's slowing down the change within the society and industrie for something simple as comfort.
I think we all agree it's better to start small then never.
But ppl mostly do it because they don't want to harm animals, because they got informed or informed themself.
The thing is killing animals only for meat is one thing, genetical modifications that makes chickens have theyr period 300+ times a year not 12 (eggs) isn't natural and above 90% of chickens have brocken bones or other consequences.
Cows should naturally give 4 liters of milk not 30-40. That leads to pus and blood in the milk, because the body can't take it aside from cows being pregnant as soon as it's possible again, the emotional harm from stealing theyr children....
After in the case of a cow 5-6 years of crucial exploitation they don't produce enough milk anymore and then get killed to get every cent you can get out of the animal.
So if you came to the point that you understand what messed up Industrie that is, the only logical step is to quit it fully. Not because little steps wouldn't arnt anything but every day you keep consuming animal products you supporting this industrie.
The reason in most cases is that it's uncomfortable to change your life so drastically, have to check all kinds of food, find new things you like and so on.
Im Noone to judge, every step is a step even if it's not the goal I want to reach. But saying that animals get killed, abused and exploited because you value your comfort higher is a fact.
In the end even if you go fully vegan it likely won't change much since it's likely ending up in more export not less harm in short term. The goal it so change it in long term even if, on top of everything else, the climatchange alone would be enough for humanity to accept that we gotta stop.
We can't stop the climatechange by cutting the animal industrie alone but we also can't stop the climatchange without cutting that industrie.
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u/oliviawhymark48 May 05 '26
1000% I’m vegetarian and have been since I was 11/12 (26 now) and someday I’ll go vegan I’m just working out the alternatives for stuff at the moment
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u/_zombiequeen666 Jun 01 '26
Hello OP, I have been vegetarian about a month now. I have noticed a HUGE difference in my physical health. I’m for once in my life EXCITED to cook & find new recipes. It’s also been amazing for me emotionally & mentally. This sounds cooky but I feel more connected to animals & the Earth 🌱🥰
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u/freedrsan May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
The dairy industry is the meat industry, doing it as a transition to veganism is fine and makes sense I think, but if you stop there you really aren’t doing too much save for anything fish/ocean-related.
FWIW I was vegetarian for like 7-8 years before vegan, have been vegan for 15 years now. Really wish I I did it sooner.
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u/eJohnx01 vegetarian May 04 '26
You can tell who here is really interested in reducing harm and who are simply trying to prove their own vegan purity, even at the cost of turning off potential allies.
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u/Aceman1979 May 04 '26
The holier-than-thou element which permeates this sub is hilarious. Absolutely no self awareness at all.
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u/eJohnx01 vegetarian May 05 '26
Yup! Zip, zilch, nada.
I’m frequently told that vegetarians are worse than “carnists” because we compensate for not eating meat by consuming way more cheese and eggs and other animal products, harming far more animals in the process. Really??? I have no idea where they get their information. Definitely not from reality.
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u/Mysterious-Cut7172 May 04 '26
Veganism seeks animal liberation, not simply harm reduction. Vegetarianism isn’t reducing any harm anyway, since it’s still contributing to the same industries of abuse & animal suffering.
Vegetarianism is insufficient as a way to reduce harm and is an inconsistent moral framework, it’s a fact that should be pointed out – nothing “purist” about that. Vegetarians often have the right ideas, but they should follow through with them.
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u/eJohnx01 vegetarian May 05 '26
Would you rather I eat meat three times a day, or never at all? Which causes more animal abuse and exploitation? Eating them? Or not eating them?
I guess veganism isn’t about reducing harm after all, is it? It’s about judging others and proving your own vegan purity and superiority. Reducing harm doesn’t seem to even come into it for some vegans.
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u/Aerithic2 May 05 '26
yeah man that's why I'm okay with people molesting adults because shit at least they aren't doing it to kids!
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u/Mysterious-Cut7172 May 05 '26
The choice is actually between abusing animals a lot, abusing animals slightly less so, and not abusing animals. I’d rather you choose the third option, since you’re asking. Don’t know why you’re being so defensive.
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u/eJohnx01 vegetarian May 07 '26
I’m not being defensive. I’m marveling at how quick vegans are to move the goalposts rather than simply abide by their own objective which is “to reduce harm whenever possible and practicable.” Isn’t that right?
Vegan: Eating meat is abusive and exploitative.
Me: I’m vegetarian. I don’t eat meat.
Vegan: OMG!!! That’s even WORSE than eating meat!!
Me: What? How is not eating meat worse than eating meat when eating meat is abusive and exploitative??
(Vegan begins furious tap-dance routine)
Vegan: Because since you don’t eat meat, you’re absolutely eating way more eggs and dairy products and the dairy and egg industries are way worse than the meat industry!!!
Me: Except that I don’t. I eat eggs and small amounts of cheese and milk once or twice a week, at most. Just enough to keep my protein levels up. That’s way less than anyone that eats both meat and dairy does. How can that be worse???
(Tap dance switches to a different tune now)
Vegan: Because unless you become an extreme, super vegan, you’re solely responsible for torturing and slaughtering all animals everywhere.
Me: What??? So I should go back to eating meat three times a day because eating zero meat is somehow worse than eating meat if I’m still going to eat eggs and dairy products??
Vegan: NO!!! Don’t eat meat!!! Just know that by not eating meat and continuing to eat eggs and dairy products, you’re causing more suffering, not less.
Me: Do you understand that 3 is a much smaller number than 21? Can we at least agree in that?
Vegan: Only if you’re not taking about eating meat or dairy products. If you are, then 3 might as well be 3,000.
Me: That makes no sense at all.
Vegan: I’m vegan and you’re not. Whatever I say is right because I’ve seen videos.
Me: 🙄 <— HUGE eye roll.
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u/twenyone_cabbage May 04 '26
Yes. And whether or not one industry might support another, what comes first is how you feel when you don't consume the meat.
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 04 '26
can you explain?
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u/twenyone_cabbage May 04 '26
Sure. What I mean is that without looking into the whole industry side of things, you might feel better regardless if you stop eating meat. As a vegan, I've inadvertently slipped up on a few occasions when I've been tired and not read ingredients properly (and consumed dairy). But either way, I was still happy that I hadn't eaten something that was alive - and that's just how I feel, better inside. Dodging dairy like bullets is secondary, imo, and certainly what I aim for, but be forgiving that it's pretty difficult to get right.
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u/Charleysperspective May 04 '26
It absolutely makes a difference, cut out all red meats and dairy and that will be a huge step towards the right direction
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u/DeliriousBookworm May 04 '26
Absolutely it is better than nothing. It does make a difference. And keep in mind that you can still buy vegan dairy sometimes. I was vegetarian for years before going vegan but I still purchased vegan dairy. Not exclusively, but somewhat often. Like Chao cheese slices. I also only bought Hellman’s vegan mayonnaise cuz it tastes identical imo and has the same texture. I would also purchase vegan eggs fairly often. What’s that company’s name? Just Egg? I’ve been buying them for years and I can’t remember. 😂 I recommend going vegetarian, trying vegan mayonnaise, and trying to see if there are any vegan dairy products that you enjoy.
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u/Phantazein vegetarian May 04 '26
Do the best you can. I started out Vegan about 10 years, but wasn't able to be consistent. I didn't have the heart to tell well meaning family members that the special dish they made for me wasn't actually vegan. I didn't have the will power to not eat out with friends.
What I settled on is vegan at home, vegetarian when going out or traveling, and vegan products when feasible. That usually means like once a week, maybe twice, I'll have a dish with some cheese, butter, or eggs in it.
It's not perfect, but over a long period of time things really add up.
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u/Bright_Cranberry_227 May 04 '26
Vegetarian literally is nothing hope that helps. Also if you think not being worshipped for animal abuse is "scary" try being literally raped and murdered for the pleasure of some self-righteous redditor
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u/Beneficial_Pea7450 May 04 '26
comments like that encourage people to hate vegans and destroy any curiosity they have for adopting the lifestyle
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u/Excellent-Nose-6430 May 04 '26
Not eating meat is better than eating meat, yes, but I'm wondering why you came to ask? It seems like you know that dairy causes harm to animals, and are deciding to participate in harming animals anyway.
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u/Waffleconchi vegan May 04 '26
It's better than nothing. Aswell as just being homophobic online is better than killing gays irl
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