BY ZOE SHIR AND WENDY LUN
Chicken, turkey, steak, pork, sausage, bacon etc. – these are many foods that people would perceive as delicious and a part of their daily diet. Each and every year, more and more people have chosen to give up these tasty meats in an effort to become a vegetarian. This choice has proven for many to be a much healthier lifestyle. Staying away from meat has helped with weight loss, skin care, and other health factors. As a result, many have transitioned into this title.
When you live as a vegetarian, there are certain guidelines you have to live by to maintain your habits. Since the type of food you eat is a lot more selective, grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Fresh Market, etc. are a better choice than superstores. It doesn’t mean you can’t shop at Walmart or Target; you just have to watch what you buy. Reading the contents of your food will become second nature. When switching to a vegetarian lifestyle, you soon begin reading the ingredients of your groceries and knowing what goes inside your meals ensure that your food has no meat – or for vegans, any animal byproducts. It’s already hard enough changing your lifestyle without input from family and peers, but sadly, judgement is unavoidable. The vegetarian life is frowned upon by some people because they find it “unnatural” to not eat meat. It can also be considered a burden to others, especially when splitting a meal or eating at parties and hangouts.
Different vegetarians have different reasons. Most people see the health benefits of being a vegetarian. Not only are you cutting saturated fats and toxins from your diet, but by not consuming meat, you can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and more. Food processing and artificial ingredients are becoming a greater issue everyday. By choosing a plant-based diet, you reduce the amount of synthetic substances that go into your meal. It takes more than a beneficial food plan; there are personal reasons that parallel the choice to become a vegetarian. The meat and farming industry have animal cruelty and sanitary issues that many people are not comfortable with. Many animals are being kept in steel wired cages that limit their mobility and are being mass produced for our human population at the expense of their own lives. It is not only unnatural for them to not roam around, but these animals are being fed hormones and antibiotics so they can survive in unsanitary conditions and be fattened up until they are “meaty” enough to be shipped off to the slaughterhouse. Cows and chickens suffer from dehydration and starvation, in addition to being worn out from producing excessive eggs and milk. Those who see the harm in animal cruelty and want to put a stop to it believe that by having a vegetarian diet they can achieve this. Cage-free, pasture-raised, and free-range options are popular. Religion is also a valid reason to not eat certain meat. Buddhists usually stick to a vegetarian diet while Hindus and Muslims choose not to eat beef or pork.
In any situation where drastic changes are being made, skeptics are unavoidable. People will argue that by being a vegetarian you are missing vital nutrients such as protein. Tofu has become a very popular supplement but has be proven not to be as effective as chicken or turkey. When shopping in a grocery store, options become extremely scarce due to even a food item being processed in an area with meat for stricter vegetarians. Along with that, not only are options limited, but any parent with a child who chooses this lifestyle has to spend significantly more money on foods that would suit their child’s needs. Unfortunately, not everyone can have access to the foods that are available and as a result have issues with being underweight. Sometimes, the opposite problem occurs, and vegetarians result in snacking on junk food to supplement their hunger due to the lack of food they ate that day. Being a vegetarian is not an easy task, but many believe that it is a beneficial choice.
