1.6 billion. That’s the total number of vegans and vegetarians in 2017 according to VeganBits. Vegans and vegetarians are taking the world by a storm over the past several years. With these growing numbers, more people have become interested in the benefits of clean eating. The demand for vegan food has increased to 140% according to Livekindly.

Many are unaware of the difference between a vegetarian and vegan. A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat, but they do consume dairy products like cheese, eggs, milk, etc. A vegan is someone who does not consume anything that is produced from an animal and that includes clothing made from animals.

People become vegetarians or vegans for various reasons. Some do it for health and others do it for the safety of animals, as documentaries like “Vegucated”  depicts. “Vegucated” is a popular vegan documentary on how three meat-loving New Yorkers convert to veganism for six weeks. It depicts the multitude of reasons why one may switch diets, whether it’s for health reasons, losing weight, or for the benefits for animals.

Sophomore Sydney Trieu shared, “It was when I watched Vegucated with my family when I decided to make the switch. I didn’t like watching how the animals were being treated.”

Trieu also shared that a main concern that she noticed is that the person’s intent is to become healthier, but they haven’t done their research on the effects of going vegan/vegetarian and go all in on the first day. So, one important factor before avoiding meat and/or dairy is to research, research, research. One must be prepared to become a vegetarian or vegan. Many will need to be ready and willing to sacrifice any and all foods containing meat, especially SoCal’s favorite, In-N-Out. Often times, people lose interest because they can’t adjust to a meatless diet.

Senior Kalena Dan Ven Bergh shared the same thought and mentioned, “At first just because you eat meat your body gets used to it so when you feed yourself that excess protein that you don’t need and then you stop, your body kind of it tries to overcompensate. So what I did, which was wrong, when I first went vegetarian was I overate but I ate things I shouldn’t have been eating. So instead of eating more vegetables and stuff, I’d eat another bag of chips instead of a hot dog and a bag of chips. “

When transitioning from eating a meat-centered diet to mostly green and vegetable-based diet, an ideal way of converting  is to slowly cut out meat from one’s diet. Often times when people go all in to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, they tend to stray towards fast and easy dishes that avoid meat such as instant noodles or mac and cheese. As delicious as they are, they don’t contain the correct nutrients a person needs.

An easy way is to start out is by cutting out one type of meat like beef, and then after awhile, cut out another, like chicken, until you’re down to seafood.  Some people do decide to stop at seafood. People whose main source of protein is seafood, they are considered “pescatarians.”

Becoming a vegan does take a little longer because dairy products are everywhere. People don’t notice how much dairy products are part of their diet until they’re actively cutting it out. Again, start out with something simple, cut out milk or cheese. Keep going at a pace that you’re most comfortable with. Eventually, one might stumble upon something they don’t want to cut out, like chocolate, for example. A little Google search should fix everything. Since dairy has been a big part of many lives, it can often be hard to find replacements. Vegkitchen is a popular website that lists alternatives for dairy products.

Of course, it may take awhile to completely convert into a vegan or vegetarian. It takes a toll on one’s mentality to a certain degree. If you aren’t getting enough nutrients, your energy may be drained, so it is always important to watch what you’re eating and making sure you eat enough. One must also be strong-willed throughout this process. It may be a long and tedious process, but after awhile, it may be worth it in the end.