According to a 2008 study by Vegetarian Times, upwards of 7.3 million Americans consider themselves true vegetarians.
By definition , a vegetarian is one who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish. This is a very general description, however, as there are different types of vegetarianism, including veganism, lactovegetarianism, and lacto-ovovegetarianism. Despite their slight differences, vegetarianism is essentially the elimination of some or all of the aforementioned food items.
Freshman Lyndsee Farley recalled making the life-changing decision to in January 2007. What spurred this decision to boycott meat? “I was reading about how animals were tortured for our food, and it was really nasty. I wanted to protect our animals.”
The same reason goes for the rising number of teens who have become vegetarians in the last decade. Experts say it can be linked to health concern, protecting the environment, spiritual reasons, or more commonly, to oppose the mistreatment and abuse of animals.
Farley said there are two main reasons why high school kids become vegetarians. “Teens who are really into it are doing it for the issues. They’re doing it to protect the animals.” On the other hand, Farley said some kids become vegetarians because they think it’s cool. “Others just do it because they’re friends are, or because they think it’s ‘in’ right now.”
This sudden increase can also be traced back to recently aired TV programs and books that have been written exposing the violence that often goes on behind closed doors at farms across the country and around the world. Today’s vegetarians say they would have become a vegetarian sooner, had they not been so ignorant.
However, vegetarians (teenagers especially) are met with opposition about their choice to “go meatless”. Some say the restrictive diet limits essential nutrients and vitamins that can only be found in meat. But according to Brown University, anyone can be a vegetarian or vegan—as long as they remember to choose a wide variety of foods and cut back on fried food and whole milk dairy products. Vegetarians are advised to pay close attention to their protein, iron, calcium, and Vitamin D and B-12 intake to maintain a healthy diet.
On the flip side, vegetarianism has its health payoff. Research shows that those who follow a vegetarian diet have a lower risk for developing heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other health concerns.
“I eat a lot of veggie burgers. In the mornings, I eat veggie sausage. I eat a lot of bread and peanut butter, and also eggs. Basically, anything but meat.” Farley added that fruit is a staple for vegetarians.
On the biggest misconception meat-eaters have about vegetarians, Farley wishes people wouldn’t label all vegetarians as crazy PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) activists. “We’re not that crazy,” said Farley with a smile.