Lisa, you might be missing the point here...
but there again, you may not know that.
First of all please be assured that what I am about to write, is not a personal attack or criticism. And I will tell you why, shortly.
There is much in buddhist literature that advises against eating meat, not only for dietary reasons, but also because it involves killing a sentient being, either directly or indirectly.
Now, that said, in Tibetan Buddhism (which as I discussed elsewhere,is of the Mahayana Tradition,) meat eating is permitted, because culturally and geographically, growing crops in the mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet is very difficult, and inspite of trade, import and export, buying vegetables is still a challenge in remote areas. So allowances are made in certain circumstances. (This is why buddhism is such a favourable path to follow... you're NOT damned if you do, and NOT damned if you don't - !!
)
However, the killing of a sentient being, or the direction given to someone else, to kill such a being for you, is very strongly advised against.
The final factor, is the well-being of the animals, bred exclusively for meat, dairy or eggs, themselves.
Intensive farming can be extremely cruel. Great suffering is known to be inflicted in some cases, upon the animals, both during their lives, and at the time of their deaths.
Buying conveniently packaged lumps of meat in handy blue polystyrene and cellophane wraping does not absolve us from the responsibility of the welfare of these animals. Period.
There is much medical evidence to show also that children raised with a good and balanced vegetarian diet overall show a higher IQ and responsive ability in classes than meat eaters. I say 'children with a good and balanced vegetarian diet'... as with any diet, there are wise and unwise elements.... chips, crisps, fries, and a generally unbalanced vegetarian diet may result in being just as damaging as an unbalanced carnivorous or omnivorous one - !
And there is not a single protein available as a meat, that is not equally available as a protein from a vegetable source.
Meat is also known to lead to high blood pressure and heart problems, too.
So really, the arguments in favour of vegetarianism far outweigh the counter arguments. The one reason that stands head above shoulders for a meat eater, is to honestly say that -
"I eat meat because I want to, and because I like it."
That's good old, down-to-earth, no-nonsense honesty. Because quite frankly, any other counter-argument, can be shot down in flames.
Now:
I eat meat.
I eat meat because I was advised to due to a severe blood condition. (I was born with a defective liver, and very jaundiced. I also have a condition called Thalassemia.) I needed a specific protein found in red meat, liver and offal. For these reasons, I have been eating meat all my life.
Now, in close partnership with my Doctor, and a qualified, medical dietician, I am slowly weaning myself off meat, because for me, morally, ethically, conscientiously, reasonably, Spiritually and ecologically, it is the right thing to do.
It's going to take me about a year, to switch, and to permit my body to adapt to a different regime. Anything too sudden, and my system may go haywire. So I'm working together with them to kick the habit, and to keep me healthy. And they know why, and they're fine with this.
Any form of industry designed to put food onto our table, is going to cause problems at one point or another, during the process. Heck, ploughing a field to plant crops, is going to kill creatures....
As Buddhists, we simply have to be Mindful of what we do, and try and aim to be as skilful as possible, in the execution of our thoughts, words and deeds.
Because, as far as we're concerned, Kamma means you don't get away with anything.
And it all counts.
