For sophomores Ben Li and Sky Yadav, it’s action time when the words “can you eat this” slips out of someone’s mouth. A hefty explanation awaits the question, fully prepared and rehearsed. It could be in a supermarket with friends – gazing at endless rows of snacks like Oreos, Twix, and Chips Ahoy— or in a restaurant looking at the menu. It could be in the school cafeteria when a classmate points at a carton of chocolate milk and raises their eyebrows in a silent query. Sometimes, the question pops completely out of the blue when a friend just has to know whether vegetarians can eat scrambled eggs in the morning. Whatever the case, it’s up to these two vegetarian teens to settle countless curiosities on the plant-based diet.
Vegetarianism is a dietary lifestyle that over 1.5 billion people, twenty-two percent of the world’s population, practice globally, according to the World Animal Foundation. In 2023 alone, over 700,000 people signed up to begin their vegetarian journeys. “It’s basically when you abstain from eating animal meat,” explained Ben, acknowledging common confusion with veganism and pescetarianism. “We’re not restricted to animal products [unlike vegans]. We can have honey, cheese, and milk— but not anything specifically with meat in it.”
The lifestyle, which has increased in popularity within the United States, is chosen for various reasons, depending completely on the individual’s own values and circumstances. For Ben and Sky, who both started the diet at an early age, the decision was dictated by their family’s religious practice. For others, health, ethics, and the environment are major factors in rationale.
However, values can change— especially for teenagers discovering their own outlooks in life. Many adolescents practicing vegetarianism explore personal connections to the lifestyle, increasing their sense of purpose and meaning. “My reasons today definitely differ from the original motivation behind my family becoming vegetarian,” Sky remarked. “I began to research the farming and agricultural industry more and became aware of some very concerning issues that matter to me. I’ve always had a passion for animal rights. So I think over time, I would have maybe even come to vegetarianism on my own.”
While intent can shift, impact often remains deeply etched. Many understand vegetarianism is influential in daily life; however, the extent to which it is felt by individuals varies. Simply put, the diet may not be a defining aspect of all vegetarians’ identities. Sky explained, “A lot of vegetarians are really passionate about the choice. But for me, it’s always just been one of those things that’s part of my life.”
“I don’t really think about it— it’s become really normal for me since I’ve been vegetarian my entire life,” Ben agreed. “A lot of people don’t realize this normalcy.”
In fact, misconceptions on the lifestyle plague daily life more noticeably than the actual abstinence from meat. “It could be really small where my friends just assume I can’t eat fish or eggs,” explained Ben. “It doesn’t bother me too much, but I do have to explain quite a lot.”
Going beyond the definition of vegetarianism, other confusions can stem from persisting stereotypes. “[People believe that] being vegetarian means being super duper healthy,” Sky said. “There’s also the belief that there aren’t many vegetarian options [available] – people assume I’m eating a plate of raw vegetables for lunch!”
Although misconceptions can become learning opportunities, extreme, overinflated myths of vegetarian practices can be hurtful and degrading. Especially with widespread use of social media, modern platforms allow people to reach a global audience, increasing potential impact.
“I’ve seen a lot of comments on Instagram posts featuring vegetarian recipes that make it seem as if vegetarians are torturing themselves,” Ben said. “It does take a sort of willpower to abstain from meat. But seeing those comments, even though I kind of just laugh at them, makes me want to clear things up.” Ben isn’t alone when it comes to dealing with hate and falsities online. A 2023 report found nearly a million social media posts had misinformation about alternative proteins and vegan diets.
Despite demeaning posts, social media has also promoted realistic vegetarian lifestyles to be healthy and rewarding. “Fifty years ago, I think people were more adverse to vegetarianism. The recipes in cookbooks back then looked awful!” Sky revealed. “But over time, the media has reported a lot on benefits and ethical reasoning behind the lifestyle. I think the world, overall, is becoming more friendly towards vegetarians.”
“There’s definitely been more talk about being vegetarian,” Ben added. “It’s more accepted and even popular because more people are beginning to care about lifestyle choices.” The dietary restrictions, while limiting to some extent, simply needs adjusting to. Moreover, the opportunity to personalize and follow a more flexible pathway can ease overwhelming feelings and guide positive decision making.
For instance, common dishes such as pasta or even popular desserts like cookies can be easily changed to fit the vegetarian diet. One of Sky’s favorite family dinner menus is lasagna – a similar recipe to her own can be found on Cookie + Kate, a vegetarian recipe blog dedicated to sustainable, healthy food options. Ben, whose family loves to cook and experiment with flavorsome new recipes, shared one of his favorites is his grandmother’s tomato egg dish (which can be found here).
Sky remarked, “I’m not a fan of titles like vegetarian and vegan because you don’t have to fit into these pre-made molds. It’s okay to eat an egg once in a while or have some fried chicken. You can adapt the lifestyle to fit your own goals.”
As teenagers consider their futures more deeply, it is vital that health and personal values are prioritized to create a meaningful, enjoyable life. “Go for it!” Ben exclaimed. “If you don’t like the choice you made, you can always go back. Don’t be afraid to try something to see if it fits you.”
