By choosing to be a vegetarian or trying a system of meditation you will be exploring a bit more afield. There is always the concern that the distance will become too great and you will find that you have moved to a new place. If you are prepared for that possibility then you should also know that you are not the first or the last but it is an individual choice of what is best for you. I have been a vegetarian for more years than I have not There are many different forms of being a vegetarian depending upon both what you allow and your reasons for being a vegetarian. You can look elsewhere for the first (1&2), I will mention the second as it relates to your initial question. Those who choose to be a vegetarian for reasons of economy, politics, taste, health, society, environment or culture may exclude any spiritual reasons. If one becomes a vegetarian for moral, religious, or ethical reasons there is more likely to be a spiritual component. For the Orthodox Christian being a vegetarian if only occasionally is compared to fasting. "Fasting is seen as purification and the regaining of innocence. Through obedience to the Orthodox Church and its ascetic practices, the Orthodox Christian seeks to rid himself or herself of the passions, or the disposition to sin."2 The East has a very different perspective. "Sin" is not really a factor. Consciousness is more important. I think our famous Star Wars writer must have gotten his idea of "the force" from the Eastern concept of consciousness. Some people will talk of "vibrations." The disturbance of the often required death of an animal to supply food is considered not beneficial for the spiritual seeker. You might find similar ideas in Islam and the Jewish faiths and their special requirements. Being a vegetarian attempts to avoid that disturbance. 
But the real question is how important is this for the overall progress of the seeker. I would suppose it depends upon the seeker rather than the path. It may be similar to the way that some people seem so personally strong that they laugh at comments about them that would wilt another. Some seem to have weaker "spiritual constitutions" than others. Some people have described feeling lighter, with more energy, but it is hard to discern if this is a physical or a spiritual effect. My opinion is that it is both. Spiritual practices, like meditation, are a way to build up that "spiritual constitution." I have recently discussed the distinction between the spiritual practices of prayer, concentration and meditation in another question posted by Phae. 3 Your question is much more difficult. Again benefits will vary from person to person. Benefits may also be only received after a long time for some people. It does not necessarily follow that something else will be quicker. What exactly is a "spiritual benefit" compared to a psychological or personality benefit. I am not sure most of us could easily discern the difference. If we accept that the spiritual side of most of us is "hidden" from easy viewing, then the same may be said of spiritual benefits. But it does seem to be true that some people seem to have an unseen glow about them. You might want to be around them, to listen to what they have to say… If you are not in love or being seduced it may be something else. I have heard this comment often (some kind of inner glow) after I have introduced people who do not meditate to friends of mine who do. Others are answering to physical, psychological, personality or emotional benefits, but you didn’t ask and I won’t respond as I think that is a different question. With respect to occult power, opening chakras and the like I am of the opinion that this is also unrelated and potentially a hinderance to spiritual progress.
