Unraveling the Misconceptions about Veganism

There are a myriad of myths and misconceptions that surround the words “vegetarian” and “vegan.” One perhaps thinks that becoming vegan is synonymous with becoming weak and holier-than-thou or only consuming foods such as Tofurkey. Thankfully, this isn’t the case for the vast majority of vegans or vegetarians. For financial and health concerns, many Americans are consuming less meat and poultry; approximately one third of Americans follow a diet centered upon vegetables and whole grains, with the occasional consumption of meat. Nonetheless, meat consumption per capita is still extortionate in America—the highest per capita with the exception of Luxembourg—largely due to its ingrained nature in our economy and culture.

Our society sanitizes animal products to the extent that we are disconnected from the food we consume. Most of us empathize with the cute baby animals that the Dartmouth app conveniently provides and most of us understand that going vegan is one of the most effective ways to alleviate world hunger and combat climate change. Most of us are neither vegan nor vegetarian.

Pescatatarians, consuming fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy, only refrain from red meat and poultry. Pollotarians consume poultry, fowl, eggs, dairy, but not red meat, fish, and seafood. Lacto-ovo vegetarians, consuming eggs and dairy, only refrain from meat. The list extends to ovo vegetarians (who consume eggs), lacto vegetarians (who consume dairy), to vegans, who consume neither meat, meat by-products, nor animal