Plants, including trees, are amazingly sensitive to their environments, as many recent studies reveal. But there is no scientific evidence that any of them can feel pain or are subjectively aware of anything. But let's suppose, for the sake of argument, that plants are conscious and can feel pain. What follows in terms of ethical eating? Because "food" animals eat huge quantities of plants, a meat-based diet involves the killing and consumption of vastly more plants than a non-meat diet (not to mention the use of much more land). So if plants are sentient (subjectively aware), that only reinforces the argument for vegetarianism.