Background/Introduction (500 words)
Vegetarianism and veganism are movements that are becoming an epidemic throughout today's society. As the vegetarian and vegan markets begin to grow, there is a widespread trend of people omitting all animal products including milk, cheese, eggs and meats, all of which, have been America’s favorite foods for years! Some vegetarians refrain from eating animal products such as meats, fish and poultry. According to the Oxford dictionary, a vegetarian is a person who does not consume meat and other animal products for the most part for heath, religious or moral reasons. The Merriam-Webster dictionary explains it as a person who does not eat meat and has a diet of only vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts and sometimes eggs or dairy products. It is clear that there is no set way to define vegetarianism because there are so many different stages of being a vegetarian. Whether one is considered a pescatarian and eats fish, a vegan who avoids animal products, or eats meat occasionally and becoming a semi-vegetarian, they are still considered to be a form of vegetarianism.
So where did this movement begin? The history of vegetarianism began primarily from the Greeks many years ago, around 580 BC (World). The Greeks had a tradition of Pythagoras, a wise independent thinker, who saw the nutrition and heath advantages from a diet free of meat (World). Pythagoras saw that slaughtering animals brutalized the human soul and believed that by not doing so it would bring human peace (World). He believed that all creatures should be treated equal to humans and should be treated in a kind manner. Vegetarianism was practiced by religious groups in Egypt by simply avoiding the consumption of animal fle...
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...have to address this growing market and accommodate the vast amount of consumers. The marketplace should project to make products that are 100% free of animal products.
4. References (AMA or APA style)
Avey, T. (2014, January 28). From Pythagorean to Pescatarian The Evolution of Vegetarianism. PBS. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/evolution-vegetarianism/
Bellows, L. (2012, January 1). Vegetarian Diets. Vegetarian Diets. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09324.html
Vegan Diets: Healthy and Humane. (n.d.). PETA. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/animals-used-food-factsheets/vegan-diets-healthy-humane/
World history of vegetarianism. (n.d.). Vegetarian Society. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from https://www.vegsoc.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=830
“Vegetarian Diets.” MyPyramid.gov. United States Department of Agriculture, 9 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.
As believed, vegetarianism had been originally founded in ancient India and was generally formed on ethical and moral issues. There were two religions that were the first ones who accepted vegetarianism. Hinduism made a cow a sacred animal. Over the time, there were other reasons founded by Hindus that encourage them to be vegetarians: Ahimsa principle that obliges not to injure a living creature, a fear of negative karmic impact and dietary purity. Since there was no religious law prohibiting the consummation of meat, the strong commitment to vegetarianism was based mostly on moral reasons. Buddhism had distinctive reasons for supporting vegetarianism. One of them is the first precept that tells not to kill any living organism. In addition to prohibition of killing, there was also a requirement not to participate in the murder and not to be the cause of death of a living creature. However, there was an amendment that if the animal is already dead and the man did not kill him specifically ...
Years ago it would have been unheard of for anyone to not eat meat on a daily basis, since during one period of time it was considered a staple for some. However, meat eaters started to pay attention to what they were consuming once Upton Sinclair’s famous novel The Jungle was published in the early 1930’s. It drew so much attention that the Pure Food and Drug Act passed to prevent the unsanitary and hazardous practices mentioned in The Jungle from happening. However, before Upton Sinclair’s novel was published few were already recognizing the ethical and nutritional (in this time period) hazards that happened because of the commercial meat industry. The International Vegetarian Union was established in 1908 and was one of the first notable movements and the organization that brought the most publicity towards vegetarianism in the western world. This organization stood against the ethical, environmental, and economic effects the commercial meat industry had on our nation. Even with the founding of this organization many do not understand vegetarianism or veganism in Europe or the United States and thus discuss it negatively, but this is an event that should cease to happen. The negative discussion of vegetarianism has negative effects that should be avoided and will be discussed.
Being vegetarian opens up so many doors for people. For those who do not know what a vegetarian is or are confused on what they do or eat let me inform you that being a vegetarian simply means that you go off of plant-based diets. Although there are several kinds of vegetarian diets, it is all based on what type of food you are consuming. For example, a strict vegetarians or vegans avoid all foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, fish, diary products, and eggs. Many people become a vegetarian for different reason according to the Calorie King he states, “being vegetarian means different things to different people, and people follow a vegetarian diet for different reason including health, religion, and ethical beliefs.”(Deusen p.1)
Every day across America millions of people wake up to start their morning. Throughout the day the vast majority of these people will consume meat, but 3% will replace the pig, cow, and chicken products for vegetable or fruit made meals (Harris). These vegetarians all have many different reasons to make this choice. This decision is a huge change in one’s life and is not without questions. Some people may wonder why would anyone abstain from the amazing food that contains meat. This essay will briefly explain the history of vegetarianism, the reasons for vegetarianism, and answer questions about vegetarianism. Vegetarian diets are all around better than diets containing meat because of three main reasons; the abuse of animals, the environmental damage, and the health benefits for humans.
Walters, Kerry S, and Lisa Portmess. Ethical Vegetarianism: From Pythagoras to Peter Singer. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999. Print.
A person that avoids any animal products, as in any meats or animal-derived foods is considered a vegetarian. This is the general classification of a vegetarian. It is a challenge to classify a vegetarian; many variations were created to suit certain diets. Lactovegetarians are vegetarians that consume milk and dairy products. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but no dairy products, and some do consume honey. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians exclude meats and seafood’s but consume dairy products and eggs. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian eating pattern also consists of legumes, seeds and nuts. Vegans are the only pure vegetarians; they exclude all animal derived foods. There are also people that classify themselves as near vegetarians, for example macrobiotic diets. The macrobiotic diet consists mostly grains, legumes and vegetables and limited amounts of fish. There is also an instance where people will adopt being a vegetarian occasionally; this is called being a flexitarian.
The amount of people becoming vegetarians these days is growing. There are a few different types of vegetarians for example; the lacto-ovo vegetarian doesn’t eat any animal products except milk and eggs. Another type of vegetarian is the vegan, they exclude all animal products.
Phillips, F. “Vegetarian Nutrition.” British Nutrition Foundation: Nutrition Bulletin 30.2 (2005): 132-167. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.
Vegetarianism used to be an unusual lifestyle choice. Today it is becoming more common and accepted by mainstream society. While there are many reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet, the most important are health reasons, environmental and economic reasons, and, above all, ethical reasons.
Primarily, the opponents of vegetarianism disagree with it's strictures on scientific grounds. “But of course,” answer the vegetarians “their own muse, science, silences those claims without effort.” No, in fact; studies indicate vegetarians are much more at risk for deficiencies in calcium, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. Although many devoted vegetarians take supplements to counteract these deficiencies, the eventual lethality of an iron deficiency-related anemia, for example, completely debunks many vegetarian's claims that no meat is somehow “more natural”—if normal humans can't survive unaided after eliminating part of their diet, it can only be concluded that part of their diet was essential.
According to vegansociety.com, “ Veganism represents a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, other animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, other animals and the environment.“ People that follow this way of living are called vegans. The vegan diet is more a lifestyle choice and a philosophy than just a diet. The vegan life is the best way to live because it’s healthier, helps the environment, and is kinder to animals.
According to the Human Research Council, the percentage of the United States population surveyed in 2014 that claimed to be vegan or vegetarian was 1.8% (“Reasons for Choosing Vegetarianism or Veganism,” 2016). Vegans are individuals who do not eat any animals products including meat and dairy products, whereas vegetarians are individuals who do not eat meat products. Vegetarians, as well as vegans, are considered minorities in society because they choose to eat a certain way and stray from social norms. They are made fun of and are constantly harassed by sensitive meat eaters and people who think it is “weird.” Vegetarians are thought to be crazy for not wanting to eat meat. This evolving era of vegetarianism is an ethical issue because majority
At the age of five I questioned my grandmother why we do not eat meat. She told me that eating meat was against the Hindu religion and I never questioned her until today. A vegetarian is someone that follows a plant based diet consuming mostly fruits and vegetables. There are many different types of vegetarian diets, some choose to become vegan and do not even consume eggs or dairy products. Anti-supporters of the vegetarian diet believe that vegetarians are missing out on the vitamins and minerals that meat eaters are gaining. However, vegetarians believe that this plant based diet will lead them to a longer life, not only this but it is better for the environment and it will help save animals.
For several years the issue of eating meat has been a great concern to all types of people all over the world. In many different societies controversy has began to arise over the morality of eating meat from animals. A lot of the reasons for not eating meat have to deal with religious affiliations, personal health, animal rights, and concern about the environment. Vegetarians have a greater way of expressing meats negative effects on the human body whereas meat eaters have close to no evidence of meat eating being a positive effect on the human body. Being a vegetarian is more beneficial for human beings because of health reasons, environmental issues, and animal rights.