I found out that raising animals simply to use them as a food source is an incredibly inefficient waste of resources. 70 percent of the grain produced in the U.S. is fed to farm animals rather than humans. People bemoan the increasing food shortage, and it seems obvious to me that part of the reason for this shortage is the production of animal products. The pamphlet also said that vegans are generally healthier than omnivores if they eat right. Many vegetables aid in lowering one's risk for different types of cancer, while cooked meat actually contains compounds that raise cancer risks.
Vegetables can also provide almost all the nutrients that a body needs.
People argue that vegans don't get enough protein because most people get it from animal products, but it all depends on what the person is eating. Grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds provide all the essential amino acids that a person needs, according to this pamphlet. The only nutrient that nature seems to lack is the Vitamin B-12, but that's easily available in either fortified cereals or supplement form. Then again, some people just like meat. That goes back to a cool thing I found about the people I met at the Red Herring.