Go Veggie With Style | Teen Ink

Go Veggie With Style MAG

By MelodyBee BRONZE, Tarrytown, New York
MelodyBee BRONZE, Tarrytown, New York
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.&quot;<br /> -Walt Disney


I am a vegetarian. Many people are quick to stereotype vegetarianism as bizarre behavior, appropriate for those on another planet. I treasure our Earth, and since we only have one, we should protect it and the wildlife that populates it. But that’s only one reason to be a vegetarian.

Vegetarians may live longer, healthier lives. There is a ­correlation between red meat consumption and diseases ­including osteoporosis, kidney stones, gall stones, ­diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, gum disease, and even acne. From an economic standpoint, it requires less land, money, and energy to produce foods for a vegetarian diet. While there are many benefits to being a vegetarian, only a handful of those who attempt to adopt this lifestyle succeed.

The most important quality is dedication. We are surrounded by meat. It would be easy to forgo vegetarianism at any moment and devour a steak. This is why vegetarians must be staunch and zealous.

Creativity is almost as important as commitment. It’s easy to tire of eating nothing but ­salad. But with a little creativity and some soy products, almost any meal can become vege­tarian-friendly. Many ethnic cuisines also offer abundant flavorful options. Studying these cultures is an excellent way to generate new ideas. Another is to go to a restaurant that specializes in vegetarian food. This can spark a plethora of creative ideas.

Since creativity is a necessary attribute, it is no coincidence that many vegetarians work in creative fields. Many brilliant individuals were vegetarians, including Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, and Albert Einstein. Some current famous vegetarians are Madonna, Paul McCartney, ­Natalie Portman, Pink, and Milo Ventimiglia.

Not everyone wants to be a vegetarian. Accepting this is part of being a vegetarian with style. Forcing your beliefs on others, by subjecting them to long lectures on the nutritional benefits of not eating meat or shoving PETA fliers in their faces, is disrespectful. Stylish vegetarians should also be able to gracefully decline a meaty dish without offending their hosts. Another differentiating quality between the stylish and the un-stylish vegetarian is the ability to stick with it. The latter group can typically be overheard saying things like “I’m a vegetarian – I just eat chicken,” or “I haven’t eaten meat in ten days. I’m a vegetarian.”

Being educated is also important. Do your ­research about different types of vegetarians, and learn as much nutritional information as possible. Your goal as a stylish vegetarian is to be healthy, not trendy. Don’t become a vegetarian solely ­because a celebrity says it’s cool. People who do rarely stick with it for long.

Being a successful vegetarian has been easy for me – I’ve been one since I was born. My family is vegetarian, so no meat is available in my house. However, constantly being surrounded by others who eat meat, and sometimes those who are not accepting of vegetarianism, can be a challenge. To be successful, I’ve relied on personal traits like flexibility, since I’m often in situations where the food choices aren’t ideal.

A common mistake is quitting before your body has adjusted to the transition. It can be difficult to stay committed in the beginning because of temptation. How­ever, this fades over time.

Another common mistake is quitting because you’ve been misinformed about the ­nutritional wisdom of being a vegetarian. That’s why it is vital to be educated. Countless people will tell you that it’s impossible to obtain the nutrients and protein your body requires without meat, but they are incorrect. People actually need only 44 to 55 grams of protein a day, and that is easily found in a vegetarian diet. Many meat eaters are consuming triple that amount, which is not beneficial; on the contrary, it has been linked with Alz­heimer’s disease. Vegetables can also supply all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs. However, if you’re still not convinced, you can take a multivitamin.

A society in which people have the constitutional right to live freely is well suited for vegetarians. If you need further convincing, read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. In a style comparable to Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, Schlosser passionately exposes the dangers of eating meat. For great recipes, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman has got you covered.

Vegetarianism is an important cause that more people should support. PETA estimates that every vegetarian saves over a hundred animals a year. Not only is being a vegetarian healthy, but it also has a positive impact on the world.



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This article has 160 comments.


on Oct. 16 2013 at 2:14 pm
RonnieAguilar69, Berwyn, Illinois
0 articles 0 photos 13 comments
I think being vegetarian is a bit to extreme for me because I need my protein. The mind has its way of craving meat (well for me) but I believe any one can go vegan if they tried hard enough and saved more animals!

on Jun. 12 2013 at 9:07 am
TheSihlouettedMan BRONZE, Hinckley, Ohio
2 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;There is something more to the knowledge that allows us to see. Some rely on logic to be their eyes. Others believe they know what logic is. But to be completely faithful in logic, you must someday realize that it points to the incomprehensible.&quot;

I personally believe all animals were put down here for a reason. (You're only justified by killing them if you use them) But, I find a few things that I'm not so sure of in your article. You mentioned many diseases, but those sound a bit more like attacks on the many meat eaters out there. Let me be honest, that's a matter of a consistent diet; not all meat eaters have a healthy life style nor do all vegetarians. I often hear that it is hard to get a higher grade of protein as well, if you rely on plants. I will respect one's choices and accept them. But please, don't think that meat corelates to disease.

on Jul. 23 2012 at 4:49 pm

oh thanks for clearing that up for me should have realized that earlier :P

 


on Jul. 23 2012 at 4:21 pm
TheGirlWhoAteTheWorld BRONZE, Newport, Pennsylvania
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sm:)e

She was saying that she was glad the author was a vegetarian since birth - she isn't. 

 

:)


on Jul. 23 2012 at 4:18 pm
TheGirlWhoAteTheWorld BRONZE, Newport, Pennsylvania
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sm:)e

I agree with you 100%!

on Jul. 23 2012 at 4:01 pm
TheGirlWhoAteTheWorld BRONZE, Newport, Pennsylvania
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sm:)e

I am also a vegetarian. :) I am really glad to know that someone is writing about it. This is an excellent article! :D

on Jul. 11 2012 at 1:07 pm
sunshine925 GOLD, Sugar Land, Texas
11 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot; You&#039;re only as tall as your heart will let you be and you&#039;re only as small as the world will make you seem.&quot; - Christofer Drew Ingle

i desperatly want to be a vegetarian...but my parents won't let me!! lucky you! good job on ur article!! :)

KatsK DIAMOND said...
on Mar. 28 2012 at 6:52 pm
KatsK DIAMOND, Saint Paul, Minnesota
57 articles 0 photos 301 comments

Favorite Quote:
Being inexhaustible, life and nature are a constant stimulus for a creative mind.<br /> ~Hans Hofmann<br /> You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.<br /> ~Ray Bradbury

Good article. I've never been a vegetarian, but it sounds interesting-- maybe I'll give it a try sometime. I read Fast Food Nation and well, let's just say I never want to eat at a fast food restaurant again. The worst part was that a few days after that, they were serving chicken patties and chicken nuggets. . . 

james14 BRONZE said...
on Mar. 22 2012 at 2:16 pm
james14 BRONZE, Charlotte, North Carolina
1 article 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Worst excuse for not turning in homework: &#039;I couldn&#039;t find anyone to copy it from&#039;&quot;.

i am also a vegetarian!!!! i tried it for lent, but i think im gonna keep doing it for the rest of my life! great article btw!

on Mar. 19 2012 at 5:47 pm
If you started being a vegetarian since you we born and you have been one for 4 years wouldnt that mean that your 4 years old?

abbyb13 said...
on Jan. 31 2012 at 3:21 pm
Being a vegetarian myself, I loved this article. I do agree that the beginning is the hardest, and it is difficult to stay committed and true to what you believe in. However, it does get better, and the temptation entirely wears away. Sometimes, it is awkward to decline meat if someone prepares it for you, but it was very good to see someone in the same boat as me. Great article!

on Jan. 31 2012 at 11:10 am
carothesparrow GOLD, Lilburn, Georgia
15 articles 9 photos 248 comments

Favorite Quote:
dont give up she will talk someday my friend made this quote she is really cool cause she understands about my sister<br /> it starts with ONE to make a differerence!!! i learned this quote at a leadership camp<br /> <br /> ohana means family no one gets left behind

I'm trying to become a vegetarian but its hard on me since my dad eats a ton of meat i read some things about what some people do to animals its very sad :(

on Jan. 13 2012 at 1:57 pm
TerraAnimusPatronus BRONZE, Eden, North Carolina
1 article 0 photos 61 comments

Favorite Quote:
&laquo;You are either the best kept secret or just surrounded by blind people.&raquo;

I glad that you are trying to educate people to the pros of your lifestyle but humans are omnivores we eat both plants and meat but im glad that you are taking a mature approach to this topic i do believe eating more vegetables can be healthier but we all need meat sometimes becuse that is what nature intended us to be. but overall it was well written and mature good job

on Dec. 10 2011 at 9:20 pm
swcricket98 GOLD, Williamson, Georgia
13 articles 17 photos 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

I live in a small county town and my mom, although she is not a vegetarian, is a veterinarian and is huge on animal rights. She will only buy local, free range, organic chicken, beef, and my dad hunts our deer.

I eat meat, but I am not unhealthy or against animal rights. I just feel that there is a natural food chain in the world - as there has always been - that is neither wrong nor inhumane.


on Dec. 5 2011 at 7:13 pm
aspiringauthor_ BRONZE, Fairfield, Connecticut
1 article 0 photos 324 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.&quot; - MLK Jr.

I think being a vegetarian is really great and it's great that you are one, but I have just one question. In the first paragraph, you talk about how being a vegetarian preserves the environment... If you're eating all the plants, won't that not preserve the environment? Do forgive me for being ridiculously undereducated on this issue, I must sound completely ignorant. But if you or some other vegetarian could explain that to me, I'd be ever so grateful. :)

gingerbabe44 said...
on Dec. 2 2011 at 4:21 pm
I totaly agree with you article and I can relate to everything you say because I am a vegetarian too! Thats great that you have been a vegatarian since birth, I have only been one for around 4years. I decided to be a vegetarian because I couldnt stand knowing that I was eating those adorable moo moos♥ Anyways, I love your article!

on Nov. 23 2011 at 3:04 pm
camohunter19 GOLD, Sedro-Woolley, Washington
14 articles 13 photos 128 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Girls are so queer you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits for the fun of it.&quot; &quot;Violence is never the answer! It is a question, and the answer is yes.&quot;

Your article and topic were easily expressed by the way you wrote, but I had a small problem with the "protect [earth] and the wildlife that populates it" part. You see, I am a hunter, and it is a proven statistic that there are more hunters in the U.S. than ever before, and your article states that humans are mindless zombies that kill all wildlife in their path--and maybe that is an exaggeration--but there are more deer and other wild game in the U.S. than before the settlers came--the settlers were what we call market and subsistance hunters, they contributed to the national almost-extinction of the buffalo, not sport hunters, they were different.

on Nov. 17 2011 at 6:57 pm
Imperfectlife SILVER, Rochester, New York
7 articles 0 photos 74 comments
I am not a veggan, but I love animals deeply-and not sure I should go veggan. That is because I simply love the taste of meat. However, I do agree with your views that people should go veggie, I just don't have the "fading desire things". I am unable to lose desire of to want to eat meat and other things. Besides all that, I love your article in total.

on Sep. 12 2011 at 7:10 pm
Rocinante SILVER, Wexford, Pennsylvania
7 articles 1 photo 386 comments
Great job! You presented your case beautifully, and with respect to other people. I love it. I think you just inspired me...I want to be vegetarian someday!

Janeyy BRONZE said...
on Aug. 25 2011 at 9:00 pm
Janeyy BRONZE, Vancouver, Other
4 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
\&quot;The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams\&quot; &lt;3

Yay! I'm vegan too. I have been pretty much my whole life... and it feels awesome :)