As a larger variety of options become available for the vegetarian diet, more young people are choosing to lead a vegetarian lifestyle, which includes choosing not to eat meat, poultry or fish as well as choosing to wear clothes not made from animal products.

There are various reasons one may choose to become a vegetarian.

“I love animals and they kill the animals really inhumanely and I think it’s wrong. I think of life as life, human or animal. I always felt bad eating something that had a life; something that had its life taken away so I could eat it. That always felt wrong to me,” freshman Rileigh Elliott said.

For senior Kaia Nutting, an experience at the PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) booth at the Warped tour, prompted her to take a stand against the meat industry and stop eating meat.

“I was so unappetized from reading about the torture that animals must suffer, that eating ribs right after was almost traumatizing. For the next few weeks, meat was so unappetizing, I knew I couldn’t bear to eat it anymore,” Nutting said.

Some worry that a vegetarian diet robs an individual of necessary vitamins and minerals often found in meats. According to kidshealth.org, vegetarians must be sure that their diet includes iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin D and protein.

“I still eat eggs and milk even though those industries are equally corrupt, just because it is so important to get enough protein, especially at this age, and all of the other vitamins and minerals that are found in eggs and milk,” Nutting said.

In order to maintain a balanced diet, a vegetarian must eat a variety of different foods that contain key vitamins and minerals that are missed without meat in your diet; luckily many grocery stores carry vegetarian-friendly products.

“I eat substitutes like chick patties, veggie burgers and protein bars,” Elliott said.

The list of vegetarian substitutes for meat products is seemingly endless. Vegcooking.com, sponsorede by PETA, hosts lists of animal product substitutes from different companies. From soymilk and soy ice cream, to beef and pork substitutes, the choices for a vegetarian in the modern age are vast.

One of the most common sources of protein comes from the soybean, most often in the form of soymilk, soy sauce, miso, tempeh or tofu.

“I really like black bean burgers, especially from Chili’s, vegetarian lasagna, and tofu lightly fried in a skillet. After school, sometimes I really like to have a fruit smoothie with vanilla protein powder derived from natural sources like beans and vegetables,” Nutting said.

Though becoming a vegetarian may look like a tough life-choice to make, dieticians and online sources can make the jump a smooth one.

PETA’s goveg.com offers a free vegetarian starter kit that includes recipes and tips on how to make the switch to a vegetarian diet.

According to the American Heart Association, vegetarians also enjoy lower rates of heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes among other things.

“Not only is being vegetarian very healthy, but it’s good for the environment,” Nutting said.

Becoming a vegetarian is a lifestyle choice, and one that requires thought and research. Doctors and dieticians should be contacted before beginning a vegetarian diet, and it is necessary to monitor intake of vitamins and minerals.

Vegetarians are at risk for higher iron deficiencies and a higher intake of saturated fat, according to Brown University’s online health education page.

“Definitely make sure you still get protein; don’t just stop eating meat and assume it’s healthy. It’s also really important to eat healthy foods, not to just go vegetarian and eat only Cheetos and cookies,” Nutting said.

Elliott had one last piece of advice for anyone considering vegetarianism, “Learn about going vegetarian, make sure you are getting all the vitamins and everything else you need. Research it first, then just do it!”