Teen Vegetarian Confused About Animal Welfare

Question: Will I contradict myself by wearing leather and wool?

hello, im a teenager conscious of animal welfare, so have decided recently to became a vegetarian, but eat dairy products, eggs, and fish for health as opposed to moral reasons.

i am confused as to whether or not i will be completely contradicting myself by wearing leather shoes, woollen clothes, etc.

and also drinking milk because i have read that the cows are treated really poorly. What are the basic guidelines and morals on going vegetarian? I'd appreciate any advice that you could give me. Thanks for your time - G.

Savvy Vegetarian Advice

Dear G.,

I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all set of rules for being vegetarian - you work it out as an individual. I would just say, take it gradually and take it easy, and enjoy yourself. It isn't good to be full of guilt and anxiety over your food. Going vegetarian is a big transition, and takes time. You are already doing a lot for the planet.

If you want milk, try to get organic - usually organic dairies are kinder to the cows. The smaller the dairy, the more likely the animals are to be treated well. I'd have some questions about animal treatment if it's a large organic dairy owned by a big corporation. You could try enriched rice or soy milk. Here's an article about an organic dairy that does it right:

Re wool & leather: Nothing beats wool for warmth, but heavy cotton works too. Do what feels right to you. If you can find non-leather shoes that fit your needs and your budget, go for it. Keep in mind labor practices and fair trade for the non-leather shoes.

But please, don't beat yourself up over all this. Life is full of contradictions. That's one of the things that makes it interesting.

Let me know if you have more questions - Judith Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian

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