To eat meat or not to eat meat? Many of us ask ourselves that question when deciding what dietary orientation we should follow. There are so many different classifications of what we consume and don't consume, it's hard to choose one that suits our health, ethics and lifestyle.

Vegetarians and meat-eaters have been debating which way is healthier for years, and it's a difficult argument to solve. On the one hand, meat is a great source of protein and nutrients that are harder to find in the veggie world. It's high in iron, too. For the lazier diet-planners, meat seems like the way to go. However, the ease of getting all these wonderful things for your body comes at a price. Nowadays, our farm animals and fish are getting pumped with more and more chemicals that our bodies don't like. On top of that, we are taught to eat a far bigger portion of meat than we actually need. The recommended portion of meat per day is the size of a hockey puck, though most people double or even triple that in one meal. The extra meat means extra fat, and extra cholesterol. Why is our society in the “More meat!” mindset? Simply because meat makes money.

Most cows, pigs, chickens and other farm animals are no longer thought of as living beings, but as products to make money off of. This mass production of animal product is called “Factory Farming.” The care and treatment of these animals is extremely poor when they become viewed as merchandise and their comfort and wellbeing is no longer a concern. Factory — farmed animals are packed into tiny, filthy living spaces and usually get sick or injured before processing. If you choose to be a meat eater, I suggest looking for “Free-range” chickens and eggs, and organic meat whenever you can. Although organics are usually more expensive, it is worth it to know the cow you are eating was raised humanely and fed real grains rather than treated as a price tag and fed who-knows-what.

Meatless diets are classified as Vegetarian or Vegan. There are many sub-classes of vegetarianism that people like to follow. Some include: Fruitarian (only eating raw fruits and nuts), Pollo Vegetarian (eating no meat except chicken), Pesco Vegetarian (eating no meat except fish), Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian (eating no meat, but will eat eggs and milk).

A Vegan is not allowed to eat (or wear) anything that came from an animal. This includes milk, gelatin and eggs. They cannot wear leather or suede, and some strict vegans will even exclude honey from their diet. This may seem rather limiting, but there are alternatives that vegans can eat to get all the nutrition they need while still eating a delicious variety of foods. For instance, flax seeds can provide Omega-3 fats, and broccoli and spinach are quite high in iron.

There is also a class called a Flexitarian, which is what I like to think of myself as. To be a flexitarian means that I haven't completely cut meat out of my diet, but I don't eat it everyday. In fact, I rarely cook meat for myself and am more likely to opt for the vegetarian meal at a restaurant.

Whatever your diet, it's always important to do some research and find out what nutrients you need to consume each day and make sure you include that in your meal-planning.