The Veggie Trend: Helpful or Harmful?

Over the last few decades, vegetarianism and veganism have become increasingly common. A vegetarian for seventeen years, I'm greeted with a great deal more understanding than in the past, restaurants are much more likely to carry vegetarian alternatives, tofu can be found in most grocery stores, and upon declaring my vegetarianism, I'm no longer surprised to hear "Oh yeah? So is my [co-worker/best friend/etc]."

And the statistics show it: the veggie population is increasing. Polls conducted by the Vegetarian Resource Group showed that the percent of those surveyed who never ate meat rose from 6 to 8 percent between 1994 and 2009; not a huge leap percentage-wise, but an increase of a few million people nonetheless. Half of the respondents to the more recent poll said they "sometimes, often or always" order vegetarian meals when eating out; fifteen years ago, only 20 to 30 percent said they looked for veggie meals on the menu. 

In VRG's latest survey, they noted the change in attitudes toward vegetarianism: "The word now has a positive connotation, as many people who are not actually vegetarian call themselves vegetarians" (which seems to confuse some members of the non-veggie population who have the impression that it's not usual for a vegetarian to have the occasional burger). Going vegetarian seems to be trendy, especially amongst young people. But for those of us who have made a commitment to an animal-friendly diet, does this help or hurt our cause?

I meet a great deal more vegetarians and vegans these days than in the past, and many of them are college-age. Students have always been among the most liberal in our society, and the most likely to try new things as a part of figuring out who they want to be. This does not, of course, mean everything they try will be a lasting part of their lives. I also frequently encounter people of all ages who claim to have been vegetarian "once ... for about a month".

On the one hand, I find myself increasingly concerned that, while more people understand when I say I don't eat meat, they also aren't always likely to take me seriously. I'm often asked how long I've been a vegetarian — people genuinely expect it to be a phase. I wish more people understood that, for millions the world over, vegetarianism or veganism is a commitment, a way of life. Many of us could simply not imagine living any other way, and would never want to.

So, I worry somewhat about the image people are getting from the masses that flippantly try vegetarianism on, then discard it when their friends do.

At the same time, often the only way to know if something is for you is to give it a try. Going back to eating meat after an attempt at vegetarianism may mean that person made the attempt for the wrong reasons, yet I have to applaud the spirit of open-mindedness and am grateful for the small difference made during that period of time. And, I'm sure there are those who stop eating meat to follow a trend just to find that it really was the right choice. It introduces a great many people to animal rights and welfare issues.

The apparent Veggie Trend may make it harder for ethical vegetarians and vegans to be taken seriously, but at the same time, an animal not eaten is an animal not eaten. And not eating animals for just one day a week saves five animals a year.

I urge people to educate themselves about vegetarianism, veganism, and the many reasons behind these dietary decisions. And consider giving it a try. It's not about what's trendy, or "veggies vs. meat-eaters" or "us vs. them;" for many, it's all about the animals. 

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