The results of a recent survey found that 7 out of 10 people apart of Generation Z have embraced veganism, but results indicate that many of them are doing it for long term health and not the environment.
The survey was conducted by the Medical Inspiration Daily For Stronger Society (MIDSS), a leading provider and repository for information regarding effective medicines, medical treatments, and active ingredients.
According to the group, 3,000 participants considered to be apart of Gen-Z were asked about their diet and specifics, and “surprisingly,” they said, a lot of people in this age bracket are going and staying vegan, and that “it’s clear that the vegan trend is going to continue to convert meat-eaters to a more plant-based diet.”
MIDSS published the results in a press release on March 30th, which are as follows (emphasis theirs):
Who is Gen Z?
Gen Z is the population born between 1997 and 2012. Right now, they’re in their pre-teens up to about 28 years old. They’re the digital natives of the world; the first ones born into a fully digital era. They’re also the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in U.S. History.
Gen Zers generally consider themselves tech-savvy, socially conscious, and with an entrepreneurial spirit. They’re even one of the most proactive generations about their mental health, seeking out therapy more often than anyone else. Unfortunately, according to the American Psychological Association, they’re also the most likely generation to report poor mental health.
Why Is Gen-Z Turning Vegan?
We asked Gen-Z what their biggest reasons were for going vegan, and here they are:
Health Concerns Top Priority
About 50% of vegans chose this lifestyle because of its health benefits, and it is completely validated. The growing issue of obesity is reaching children and young adults just as much as the rest of the population. Almost 20% of children and adolescents are obese in the U.S., with issues like type 2 diabetes, asthma, and joint problems becoming chronic conditions.
The Socially Conscious Effect
This socially-aware generation is taking stock of the growing concerns about the environmental impact of eating meat. Almost 17% chose the diet because of animal cruelty, with another 17% going vegan for the environment.
But even an overall 40% of vegans believe their dietary practices have an overall positive impact on the environment. So while it might not be the primary reason for the majority of vegans, it’s still an important benefit. The majority are proud of their efforts to preserve animals, as well.
Shockingly, 48% of non-vegans doubt the positive environmental impact of veganism, while 40% believe it. The reasons why the majority doubt its environmental benefits are unknown, but it could simply be due to a lack of education.
In addition to their personal reasons for veganism, about 60% of vegans say they also educate those around them about the benefits of veganism with the hope that people will follow. This might also be a part of the reason why veganism continues to grow.
What About The Cost?
It’s a widely held belief that eating vegan is more expensive than a traditional meat-eating diet — but that’s a myth.
While the cost of plant-based meat substitutes can be expensive, it’s not a necessary part of the vegan diet. Eating mostly vegetables, legumes, and whole grains is considerably cheaper than a meat-eating diet.
Of course, if you don’t mind the added expense, meat substitutes offer more flavor variety.
The Future of Veganism
Of those already vegan, 70% say they have no plans to quit. Of course, the biggest challenge for vegans is that 37% crave non-vegan foods. As for non-vegans, more than half said meat cravings are their biggest barrier toward veganism.
Fortunately, that’s where the meat-substitute market comes into play. It’s currently worth over 10 billion USD and is estimated to reach almost 34 billion by 2027. Clearly, there’s a growing interest in eating more plant-based foods, and the market is listening.
Besides wanting more variety, about 51% of vegans said that the biggest barrier to just starting the diet was understanding the health benefits. Fortunately, this means there’s great potential to convert more people to eating a plant-based diet with improved education on health and nutrition.
Will Veganism Take Over?
Nearly 80% of non-vegans said they will not go vegan within the next five years. While that may seem like a big number, it doesn’t mean that the majority won’t be swayed to at least eat less meat.
With more health education and plant-based options available, there’s great potential to convince people of the benefits of eating less meat. In our poll, just over 50% didn’t even know what the term flexitarian meant, which is a predominantly plant-based diet, but not fully vegan. It’s similar to the Mediterranean diet and research shows it still has many of the benefits of veganism.
Switching to a more plant-based diet, without worrying about ever eating meat again, could be a great way to improve the health of the general population and reduce greenhouse gasses and animal cruelty.
Final Thoughts
The idea that a plant-based diet is the best choice for both physical and mental health is gaining traction. And while veganism might still seem a bit too extreme for much of the population, Gen Zers clearly prefer it more than any other generation. Their plant-based preferences are also changing the health and food landscape as we know it.
Even if veganism isn’t for everyone, its popularity is helping spread the word about the importance of eating more plants. It’s also caused the meat-substitute industry to grow into a billion-dollar business while sparking interest among traditional meat eaters to sample new options. One of the top concerns of going or staying vegan was meat cravings, therefore the availability of plant-based meat flavors offers great potential to reduce meat consumption.
In the end, it looks like Gen Z is going to help veganism and plant-based eating spread, helping to improve the health of the planet and its people.
Summary Points
- 50% of vegans pursue this diet because of its health benefits.
- The biggest challenge for vegans is that 37% crave non-vegan foods.
- More than 7 out of 10 vegans expect to continue their diet for the next 5 years.
- 60% of vegans say they educate those around them about the benefits of veganism with the hope that people will follow.
- More than 51% of vegans said that the biggest barrier to starting the diet was understanding the health benefits.
- More than half of non-vegans said meat cravings are their biggest barrier toward veganism.
- 48% of non-vegans doubt the positive environmental impact of veganism, while 40% believe it.
- Nearly 80% of non-vegans said they will not go vegan within the next five years.
- 73% of non-vegans and 52% of vegans don’t know what “flexitarian” means.
Why Vegan Research Matters
With the plant-based food market exploding as vegetarian food becomes more nutritious and delicious, understanding two opposing perspectives can help us understand how the future of the food industry can be transformed.
Numerous studies have shown how the livestock industry has enormous harm to the environment and animals, as well as the countless great health benefits of being a vegetarian. Therefore, understanding the difficulties of vegetarianism as noted in the report can help the community support each other in making the transition to this healthy diet in order to protect our health and the environment.
Study Methodology
Between February 6th and February 13th, 2023, more than 3,000 people, made up of two distinct groups: Vegan and Non-vegan, were asked to take a survey with their own set of questions to find out the differences between opinions. Both multiple-choice and open-ended questions were used in the survey. The answers to the open-ended questions were standardized later on using qualitative analysis. Any unqualified responses, such as nonsensical answers, were excluded from our results.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
This survey, based on the way that it is written, obviously has a heavy bias towards veganism, instead of being neutral and just presenting their findings – if they are to believed, assuming the numbers were not fudged.
Nevertheless, these results do concur with other indices and surveys that show Gen-Z and more people in general are starting to fully embrace veganism, or at least a vegetarian diet. Most vegans, especially vegan influencers on social media, are total paid puppets to promote these vegan diets. I have seen a lot of them, and many of them are constantly shilling ineffective and ripoff supplements for nutrients that vegans are deficient in (because their diet is so healthy that they need supplements to function, right? (LOL)); and many of them have been caught and eventually confess years later that they eat eggs, chicken, and fish. Moreover, many of them also simply do not look very good at all, and many of them (namely the female ones) need a ridiculous amount of makeup to look presentable. Many of them, as seen in their videos, are usually exhausted, and are forced to spend ridiculous amounts of time and money to prepare these dishes that are not only unable to satiate them most of them, but many of which are very toxic, oxidative, and loaded with pesticides and agrichemical waste like vegetable seed oils.
All that to say, the propaganda is working and Gen-Z and more adults are embracing veganism, as I have reported before:
A reader recently sent me another one of these propaganda pieces, courtesy of CNN, citing a study that claims some bacterial strain (E Coli) in meat are causing urinary tract infections each year to the tune of hundreds of thousands. This is typical vegan propaganda. Granted, they did acknowledge that this was conventional meat that they studied, which indeed is harmful for your health, but then they take that and push only veganism as the answer; when in reality meat that has been regeneratively and sustainably raised the way God intended – the way it has been done for thousands of years – will not cause these problems. But that part never gets mentioned; thus lending into the other part of the psy-op of the radical Keto and Carnivore dieters vehemently denouncing grains and most if not all vegetables and fruits.
SEE: New Study Shows That Regenerative Agriculture Boosts Nutrient Density
To the same token other statistics show that Gen-Z and Millennials have been accounting for the rise in junk food sales since 2020 due to the lockdowns and switch to at-home work.
Also, the fake and plant-based meats have totally flopped in the United States, which shows that people and vegans do not want them. Even they recognize the hypocrisy in that: if you are craving meat, then just eat the meat.
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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That’s one thing that will never make sense to me. Why try to make a vegan dish that originally has animal products in it, and try to make it look and taste as much as the original one? That tells all about veganism.