Should Buddhists be Vegetarians?
Not all Buddhists are vegetarians, so whether you choose to become vegan or vegetarian depends on how you feel. Some strict Tibetan Buddhists will only eat meat if given permission by the Dalai Lama for a special situation, and Chinese Buddhism stresses vegetarianism. But it's not the only correct choice.
A Buddhist who is not vegetarian is not doing anything "wrong". The Buddha himself did not exactly tell his followers to avoid meat. But the catch is that the Buddha didn't want anyone to eat meat that was killed specifically for them (and especially not killed by them). He said:
...One should not knowingly make use of meat killed on purpose (for one). Whoever should make use of it, there is an offence of wrong-doing. I allow you, monks, fish and meat that are quite pure in three respects: if they are not seen, heard, suspected to have been killed on purpose for a monk.
So if an animal was slaughtered especially for a monk, he was supposed to reject the meal. Basically, to kill an animal is an act of violence. But to obtain (or rather, buy) the meat of an animal without it having been killed for you is not an act of violence. The animal is already dead and its spirit has departed. It is not a happy thing. But that is the way the world works, we have flaws. It would be better if there could be no killing of any creatures at all. But this is not so. As long as you did not kill the animal or ask someone to kill it for you, eating the meat does not make you responsible for its death. Just have the respect to recognize what the animal has done for you. The physical remains it left behind are providing protein, a full stomach, and nourishment. Accept this as a gift instead of taking it for granted.
Weigh your feelings about it for awhile and decide whether you want to eat meat or not. It is a personal decision.