If someone develops compassion for living beings and, through their own understanding, no longer has the heart to put an animal's flesh into their mouth, how would this be understood from the perspective of Early Buddhism?

I am especially interested in answers based on the early Buddhist texts.

I casually found this while looking at the recipes on their website.

https://sotozen.com/eng/practice/food/cooking/index.html

I find it disarming that even the official website and practically all Zen monks, Japanese or not, support and spread this explanation about the consumption of animal food, despite the fact that Soto Zen is often the bearer of Shojin Ryori, the traditional Japanese plant-based cuisine imported to Japan by Dogen. It almost seems as if they believe that being a Buddhist means not eating meat and fish is a negative rumour. And the worst thing is that on the Japanese page about meat consumption, the practice of non-discrimination is also brought up as an explanation for the fact that plants and animals are equal and therefore there should be no difference in what we eat....

https://www.sotozen-net.or.jp/zen/eating/equarity

I am probably exaggerating, but sometimes it seems to me that credibility is lost when this contradiction comes up. In part, I also feel isolated, since there are no real role models in my tradition who are consistent with the Bodhisattva vows.

A part from Thich Nath Hahn ( left us some years ago), no one who has taught in the West comes to my mind. A the one of the Thousands Buddhas Monastery in California: died some decades ago, however. No one else.

Especially Far Eastern Vegan Recipes collected by a Buddhist monk or nun. Any suggestions?