Converting from omnivore to herbivore is a lifestyle that many people take on. There are numerous different reasons why people make this switch. Psychology teacher Andrea Mckay said, "I turned vegetarian six years ago because after seeing a dead deer on my front sidewalk, I became disgusted with the thought of what meat actually was, rotting."Surely there are others that agree with McKay’s reasoning but, overall worldwide there are commonly two main reasons why people make the switch. The first is that people see killing animals for meat as animal cruelty. They believe that every breathing creature has its right to life and that killing them is not just. The second reason people become vegetarian is for the health benefits it brings.

Not eating meat can be a very beneficial thing, as long you continue to get the correct nutrients you need. Did you know that consuming red meat is linked to heart disease and cancer? Many vegetarians chose the lifestyle to lower their risk of getting those serious health conditions later in life. Another plus to not eating meat is that it lowers your cholesterol dramatically. As long as it is not too low, having low cholesterol also helps keep the heart healthy.

Being a vegetarian also has disadvantages that come along with it. Normal people get the majority of their protein through eating meat, so if you do not eat meat you have to find alternative foods to give you that protein.

"I am always looking for protein, it is on my mind like getting your daily vegetables is on your mind," said Chemistry teacher Tom Hunt.

He says that nuts, soy, and cheese are the easiest ways to get his daily protein.

Another disadvantage would be the fact that not everyone around you eats the different foods you eat. Mckay said, "It is very awkward when you go to someone else’s house for dinner, they do not know you are a vegetarian, and you find out they are cooking some kind of meat."

Also, adults with families that choose this lifestyle have a harder time than the average vegetarian. A lot of times the spouse and kids eat separate meals than them. Not only is this slightly more expensive but also more time consuming on the chef of the household to make two meals a night. It all depends on the family though.

"My wife does not consider a meal a meal unless an animal was killed for it, therefore we always eat separately," Hunt said.

To compare, when asked how meals went in her household Mckay said, "They will pretty much eat anything I cook. Usually we eat vegetarian as a family about half of the week."

It is much easier being vegetarian now than it was years ago. Every grocery store you walk into has its selection of alternatives. Also, some fast food places have things available on the menu for them. Actually they can eat a lot of the same things others eat just slightly altered. For example, they can eat spaghetti, just without the meatballs.

Unfortunately, there are multiple foods that have a meat base in them that you would never expect. Did you know that Gelatin is made of animal bone which makes it a meat substance? Gelatin is snuck into a lot of foods which makes those foods unavailable to eat to true vegetarians. Examples of these are frosted mini wheats cereal, marshmallows, gummi worms, poptarts, and skittles. Some vegetarians may not take their diet to this extreme, only avoiding actual meat. "For the most part I’m pretty serious about this but sometimes I slip up and don’t realize it. You really have to pay attention to the labels," Bree Arkles said.

Being a vegetarian comes with its advantages and its disadvantages. More people are attempting to convert to this lifestyle because it is easier to do now more than ever. But, sticking with it is a dedication.

"Vegetarianism is a lifestyle," Hunt said. "Not something that people should do to follow the fad."