If you are serious about being vegan/vegetarian, check out the Hindu and Taoist food. They have a very long history of not eating meat or even fish, and have great taste and variations of food. As for cheese/butter (as long as you need it) with a little effort you might be able to find a farm where this is produced 'old fasioned' style. While the animals there will still end up on a plate, the small scale makes that the farmers care for the animals better, and the products will taste better as well.
And are much more expensive

- we are a family of 4 people, one parent and three children. We all live of her salary (Very small, it's just above minimum) so even if I wanted to be a vegan at this time, or eat "good" cheese/butter, I couldn't. Cause we wouldn't afford it :P
But one day, when I grow rich *cough* and old as Gandalf! I will be a vegan who eats hindues!