Diets and trends change quickly, but at the moment, veganism has grasped the attention of teens and influencers. Reasons for veganism include helping the environment,  reducing animal cruelty, and avoiding food sensitivities

Veganism is eating plant-based foods and avoiding animal-based foods such as meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs, and honey. Vegans also refrain from buying animal products such as leather. 

There are many things that vegans miss out on, other than dairy and eggs. According to Flo, a women’s health-conscious website, vegans can deal with nutritional deficiencies that non-vegans don’t struggle with. Those can be deficiencies in healthy fats, calcium, iron, and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. 

Becoming a vegan is not just a change in your diet, it’s a major change in your life. It helps people to be more aware of their environmental footprint and how what they purchase can affect animals. Surprisingly, lots of common foods and ingredients are derived from animals.  Eating Well magazine lists such foods as marshmallows, gummies, chewing gum, and mayonnaise. For a vegan, a trip to the supermarket would require diligent checking of food labels and making sure that what they are choosing corresponds with their diet.

Although it may seem like a daunting diet, becoming a vegan also opens many doors for trying new food recipes. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are part of the reason for an uptick in people using ingredients such as almond milk, tofu, and soy protein. Vegans can enjoy fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, nut butters, plant-based milks, and soy products. 

Celebrities, including Gordon Ramsey, Jay-Z, and Alicia Silverstone have converted to the vegan lifestyle. People are becoming more aware of what the environmental impact of eating animals can do to the world. 

Middle school is a time when students are deciding what issues are important to them, and many of them are considering veganism.

“I think I would consider it because of its health benefits,” said 7th grader Valentina C.E. “Since you’re not eating things from animals, then, you’re eating more salads and healthy things, but I think it’ll be really hard for me to get off barbecue.” 

Making the sacrifices for becoming vegan is a big reason why lots of people don’t become one. According to theminimalistvegan.com, one reason why people don’t become vegan is because of their culture. In France, butter is a large part of their diet and in Argentina, red meat is in almost every meal. In many Asian countries, poultry, pork, and eggs are a large part of their foods. 

Others say it’s “too hard” and are not willing to give up the foods they love most to accommodate their new lifestyle. Another reason why people don’t become vegan is because eating plant-based foods is expensive. Not everyone is willing to go the extra mile and pay for something that is more than their already expensive shopping list.

Becoming a vegan comes with many changes in your life and diet. But those who decide to convert to this lifestyle help decrease the number of animals slaughtered for meat and animal products. According to thehumanleague.org, becoming vegan stops the deforestation, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with meat production. 

Pop singer, Ariana Grande said, “I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-around happier person.”