Vegetarianism and Veganism: The Greens and the Beans
Emily P.
In today’s world, the idea of a healthy, organic lifestyle is becoming more and more common. Because of this, being a vegetarian or a vegan is gaining popularity.
History of Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism dates back to Ancient Greece, where the philosopher Pythagoras became the “father of vegetarianism”. He spread his idea of meatless eating to his followers, who continued the diet after he died. Skip ahead to the 1960s, where the movement grew. It spread because Francis Moore Lappe discovered in her book Diet For a Small Planet that it not only has health benefits, but it can help the environment as well. Some notable vegetarians are Mahatma Gandhi, George Bernard Shaw, and Louisa May Alcott. Today, there are about 375 million vegetarians in the world, and about 3 million people in the United States are vegan. The diets are gaining the most popularity in countries like England, India, and Ethiopia. The vegan / vegetarian lifestyle is also very popular in urban, American cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia.
A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any product that comes from a dead animal. Their main food sources are fruit, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Most eat eggs and dairy. However, vegetarians are careful to avoid chicken stock, beef stock, lard, and gelatin. A vegan is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat any animal products. For example, vegans do not eat eggs, milk, yogurt, honey, and cosmetics that include animal products. Some even decide not to wear any clothing that comes from an animal. Such as, leather, wool, and silk. Los Angeles even passed a “Meatless Monday” resolution stating that choosing meatless foods one day a week will make the population healthier. These diets are definitely gaining popularity.