Medical Inspiration Daily For Stronger Society (MIDSS) recently conducted a poll of over 3,000 members of “Gen Z” to learn how the generation will shape the food and health industry. And the results revealed most of them are in favor of a vegan diet.
Gen Z refers to the population born from 1997 to 2012, their preteens up to 28 years old. They were raised in the digital age, they’re the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in the United States’s history. They often consider themselves tech-savvy, socially conscious and have an entrepreneurial spirit. They actively seek out mental health help if they think they need it. According to the American Psychological Association, they’re also the generation most likely to report poor mental health.
When asked why they were going vegan, Gen Z had this to say:
HEALTH CONCERNS
50% of Vegans choose the lifestyle because of the health benefits. The growing issue of obesity is reaching young people at an increased rate. 20% of children and adolescents are obese in the U.S and they have comotbidities such as type 2 diabetes, asthma and joint problems becoming chronic conditions.
SOCIALLY CONCIOUS
Climate change is an often discussed issue, and the socially-aware generation of GEn Z is worried about the environmental impact of eating meat. 17% chose the diet because of animal cruelty, but another 17% went vegan for the environment.
40% of vegans believe their lifestyle has a positive impact on the environment. 60% of vegans say they educate those around them about the benefits ion veganism to hopefully switch people to the diet.
While it is a widely held belief that eating vegan is more expensive than a meat-eating diet, this is actually a myth. The cost of plant based meat substitutes can be expensive but that isn’t actually a necessary part of a vegan diet. The vegan diet, traditionally, is mostly vegetable, legumes and whole grains, which is considerably cheaper than a meat eating diet.
70% of vegans say they have no plans to quit the lifestyle.
37% of vegans say the biggest challenge of the diet is that they crave non-vegan foods. Non-vegans say the biggest barrier towards switching to veganism is meat cravings. The current meat-subsititue market in the United States is worth over $10 Billion and is currently estimated to reach 34 Billion by 2027. Which seems to indicate a growing interest in meat substitutes in the country.
80% of non-vegans say they will not go vegan in the next five years, which is a big number but it doesn’t mean that they won’t be swayed to eat less meat. As more health education and plant based options become available, the potential to convince people to the positive personal and environmental benefits of eating less meat will increase too. In the poll, MIDSS reported that 50% didn’t know what the term flexitarian meant. Flexitarian is a diet that is mostly plant-based but not fully vegan, similar to the mediterranean diet, and research indicates that flexitarianism has many of the benefits of veganism. Switching to a more plant-baed diet without entirely giving up meat, could be a great way to improve the health of the population while also reducing greenhouse gasses and animal cruelty.
Gen Z is going to help veganism and plant-based eating spread and that will improve the health of the planet and its people, MIDSS concludes.