2nd time post! How do you see vegan/vegetarian movement in America? I’m doing a research how and why it’s spreading . And I need the real voice from people in America or people who have American point of view! Thank you.

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<need various answer!>
2nd time post!

How do you see vegan/vegetarian movement in America?
I’m doing a research how and why it’s spreading . And I need the real voice from people in America or people who have American point of view!
Thank you.

Doni_G · Answer

Hello! My perception is that I don't think the vegan or vegetarian movement is spreading with any notable increase in rate, or slowing necessarily.

Maybe that's factually or statistically incorrect, but for the most part we just accept that some people are vegan or vegetarian, and typically the people that are live in certain areas of the country where being that way is more culturally significant, or a richer area where it's more possible to do.

I've heard that consumption of meat is a significant contributor of greenhouse gasses due to the way we grow and produce meat, but I'm not sure that's as significant a reason that people become vegan or vegetarian when compared to ethical or religious reasons. I recognize that processed foods of all types, not just meats, have an impact on our population's health, and because of the market demands that exist, certain foods tend to be selectively bred to be visually appealing or slower to spoil so they may sell better, often at the expense of nutrition the food used to provide.

I think vegan and vegetarian foods tend to be healthier simply because there is less of a demand for these types of food, and thus less incentive for corporations to mass produce and diminish the nutritional value of them. As these foods tend not to reflect the tastes and therefore most of the dollars of the average American, who is raised through our public school system eating crappy chicken nuggets, cardboard pizza, oily fries, mass-produced, plastic wrapped pre-packed snack lunches and bags of candy and chips. Corporations that sell these products advertise heavily to children and offer deals to schools which may already struggle to meet funding requirements, so they often opt for these types of discounted foods.

Sadly, much of our population eats this way because they aren't able to afford more expensive, healthier foods, and because we often eat "comfort food," which is probably whatever you grew up eating around family in your cherished memories, and again, for many Americans this may not include healthier, more expensive offerings.

am--- · Answer

I think that while there might not be a huge shift in people becoming officially vegetarian or vegan, I think that there is a large shift happening in terms of moving towards what we call a plant based diet. So some people and restaurants are reducing the number and amount of animal products that they consume, and for the typical household, this may be in the form of starting out with eating meat free one day per week for example.

As for reasons why, I think that that is highly individual. I think for many people, especially in recent years, it is cost driven, but increasingly, younger people, especially in certain parts of the country, are choosing to for environmental reasons. All my friends who have become vegetarian since graduating college, it was for sustainability, and for me personally I have greatly reduced my dairy intake for environmental reasons. I think that health reasons are another reason why people adopt this lifestyle. and as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease rise, plant based diets may become an even more prevalent lifestyle change that is encouraged.

I think though that the responses you get to this question will vary greatly depending on where someone lives. For example, you will see much more pro vegan responses from people who live in LA than, say, someone living in Kansas, and the number of restaurant choices, menu item choices, grocery store food choices, etc are going reflect on the environment and be much more plentiful and much more accommodating in areas with higher numbers of vegetarians and vegans.

Claudia21q · Answer

Hi! I've been a vegetarian for 20 years now. There have been major growths through those 20 years. I see the amount of choices for me in the supermarket and restaurants increase every few years. I am eating much healthier with more variety now than when I started as a vegetarian. And the increase in vegans and vegetarians I think has also contributed to Asian foods and restaurants becoming more popular. Granted their success is their own and Asian Americans are finding great growth, but they're restaurants often have really great vegetarian choices, (more than even when I went to Tokyo) which makes me think a large part of their patrons could be vegetarian.

When I first was vegetarian, fake meat was made by two main companies. Now there are at least 4 big companies and many smaller ones trying a lot of new things. 20 years ago, fast food places didnt have vegetarian meals or meats (except burger king but only for a few years when they had a deal with Gardenburger.) Now Impossible meats are in most fast food locations. Disneyworld 20 yrs ago didnt have vegetarian food except for snacks, 10 years ago had 1 vegetarian meal per restaurant and not necessarily vegan. Now they have plant based meals and desserts at most of their restaurants.

Most recently, I am shocked at the amount of milk alternatives in the store, all very good tasting, all of different sources. When I was a kid, it was soy or milk, that was it, and I was allergic to the soy, which is the most common allergy too.

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<need various answer!>
2nd time post!

How do you see vegan/vegetarian movement in America?
I’m doing a research how and why it’s spreading . And I need the real voice from people in America or people who have American point of view!
Thank you.