BY ZACH HRYNOWSKI
WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 5% of U.S. adults consider themselves to be vegetarian.
Nonwhite Americans (9%) are three times as likely as white Americans (3%) to describe themselves as vegetarian.
11% of self-identified liberals identify as vegetarian, compared with 2% of conservatives and 3% of moderates.
Vegetarianism is less prevalent among older Americans: 2% of adults aged 55 and older say they adhere to a vegetarian diet, compared with 8% of 18- to 34-year-olds and 7% of 35- to 54-year-olds.
U.S. Adults Identifying as Vegetarian
In terms of your eating preferences, do you consider yourself to be a vegetarian, or not?
Though plant-based diets and meat alternatives have been featured in some recent high-profile forums, including the United Nations and Democratic presidential debates, and are becoming a staple even on fast food restaurant menus, the percentage of vegetarians has remained stable over the past two decades. A 1999 Gallup survey that asked the same question found that 6% of Americans identified themselves as vegetarian.
Gallup periodically measures vegetarianism in the U.S. as part of its July Consumption Habits poll — one of 12 surveys that make up the Gallup Poll Social Series.
Gallup’s full trend on vegetarianism is available on the Nutrition and Food “Topics A to Z” page.
Explore Gallup articles about vegetarianism and other food-related topics on the “Health Habits” page.
Hrynowski, Z What percentage of Americans are vegetarians – Search (bing.com)
U.S. Adults Identifying as Vegetarian – Bing images
Dear Dietitian:
LEANNE McCRATE, RD, LD, CNSC, is an award-winning dietitian with more than
17 years of clinical experience in the hospital setting. Her mission is to educate the
public on sound, evidence-based nutrition. Do you have a nutrition question?
Email her at DearDietitian411@gmail.com.
Dear Dietitian does not endorse any products, health programs or meal plans.
By now, you probably know someone who has adopted a vegetarian diet. Estimates put vegetarianism at around 5% of the American population. That may not sound like many, but it comes to roughly 16.5 million. People cite different reasons for converting to vegetarianism, from better health to environmental factors to better treatment of animals.
There are various types of vegetarians, but all base their diets on plant foods.
1. Vegans eat only plant foods.
2. Lacto Vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish or shellfish but drink milk and consume cheese and yogurt.
3. Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish or shellfish but enjoy milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.
4. Pescatarian are sometimes considered semi-vegetarian or flexitarian. This group eats fish and shellfish but abstains from red and white meat. Some pescatarians consume milk products and eggs, while others do not.
5. Flexitarian are vegetarians that cheat. No, really, these are people who are in the process of going vegetarian and, on occasion, will eat a meat product.
If you are considering vegetarianism, it may be wise to do some meal planning to get all the nutrients needed for good health. Below are some essential nutrients to consider:
1. Iron is needed to take oxygen to our cells. But have no fear; it is abundant in lentils and leafy greens. Vitamin C aids in iron absorption, so have oranges available.
2. Calcium is needed for strong bones. Our bodies stop building bone between the ages of 18 and 21, making it essential to obtain this nutrient in your diet every day. Plant sources include fortified soy, almond, and rice milk. Be sure to check the label, as not every product is calcium-fortified. You also can get calcium in certain vegetables, like broccoli and bok choy.
3. Vitamin D is needed to lay calcium to the bone and aids in immune health. Our bodies have the capacity to make this vitamin, but it requires consistent sunlight exposure. Keep in mind the sun is also the leading cause of skin cancer, so choosing fortified foods may be a better option. These include plant-based milk, orange juice and breakfast cereals.
4. Vitamin B12 is needed for the proper functioning of the nervous system and in the production of red blood cells. The most reliable source of B12 for vegans is found in fortified foods. However, it is also in dried purple laver, a type of seaweed.
In today’s market, several meat substitutes are fortified with some of the nutrients mentioned above. Again, be a label reader. Of course, there are vitamin and mineral supplements. If you choose this route, be sure to purchase a supplement with USP on the label. USP stands for United States Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit group that tests supplements to be sure they contain what the label claims and can be absorbed by the body.
Until next time, be healthy!
New Study Shows Veganism is up by 300% in US With 9.7 Million Americans Now Plant-Based
Image supplied by IpsosA new study exploring the explosion of veganism in the USA shows that the number of Americans following plant-based diets is up nearly 9.4 million over the last 15 years. The research also reveals through an interactive map which states are the most popular for veganism.
The study, conducted by Ipsos Retail Performance reveals how veganism and plant-based diet interest has changed across the US, comparing differences in state-by-state adoption throughout a 15 year period. It shows that over 9.7 Million Americans now follow plant-based diets, increasing from just 290,000 15 years ago.
Illustrated through an interactive timeline and map charting search data between 2004-2019, findings include:
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The most consistently ‘vegan’ state is Oregon, achieving the highest search value for 12 years out of 15. This is followed by Vermont, Washington and California.
The state which is most reluctant to seek out vegan trends (and therefore the biggest meat-eaters) is Mississippi, followed by South Dakota, Alabama and North Dakota.
Political leanings correlate with how vegan each state is, with the top 10 biggest vegan states all largely Democrat voters, and the 10 lowest vegan states all largely Republican.
The states seeing the biggest change in attitudes include Nevada (38 point increase in vegan searches) and New Hampshire (31 point decrease in vegan searches).
ipsosThroughout the period covered in the research, the North Eastern and West Coast states Showed the earliest interest in veganism. More states followed suit in 2013, where there was a significant increase in interest-driven by high profile awareness driven by celebrities and the increased availability of meat alternative products in stores and restaurants.
Commenting on the map, Kelly Fairchild, global business development manager from Ipsos Retail Performance said:
“Plant-based diets are fast becoming mainstream, but the change hasn’t been a steady one. Recent years have seen rapid adoption of vegan diets and more meat-free products making their way onto shelves. As the dialog around veganism shifts from one of animal welfare, to wider concerns around climate change and personal health, we are seeing more and more people adopt this once minority dietary preference.
The full timeline and interactive map is available at the following link:
https://www.ipsos-retailperformance.com/en/vegan-trends/
Vegetarianism and Veganism Demographics | Veggin’ Out (wordpress.com)
HOW BEYONCE’S VEGAN DIET CHANGED MY LIFE – Steve Harvey – YouTube
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Getting necessary nutrients in a vegetarian diet Leanne McCrate – Search (bing.com)
What If D-Day Failed? | Alternate History – Bing video