Vegetables also contain most of the hazardous substances found in meat. None of the commonly available vegetables, grains, or fruit contain cholesterol, hormones, or antibiotics. The pesticides, which accumulate in animal fatty tissues, can be removed to a large extent from fruits and vegetables before consumption. There has never been a confirmed case of anyone getting sick or dying for lack of meat in their diet. On the other hand, each year, 1.5 million Americans are crippled and killed by heart failure, stroke, cancer, and other chronic killer diseases that have been linked to excessive consumption of meat by every expert panel appointed to study the relationship between diet and health.
Most vegetarian dishes require less preparation, cooking, and cleaning up than typical meat dishes.
Elimination of meat leaves no vacancy and requires no replacement. However, individuals who enjoy elaborate gourmet preparations will find plenty of material in most vegetarian cookbooks. That's serious, but curable. Unlike the tobacco and alcohol habit, the custom of meat consumption can be broken gradually, first once a week, then once a day, and by switching. Soybean-based meat analogs can help in the transition as well.