Feeder 2.1

Ever considered going vegetarian but had trouble sticking to it? As young adults thrust into the college lifestyle, the overwhelming food options may make becoming a vegetarian seem challenging at first. However, as Demi Canoutas, a steadfast vegetarian for seven years explains, college makes abstaining from meat increasingly easy, with many schools raising awareness of American Agricultural issues, and providing more vegetarian meals. Growing up in a period of growing acceptance for vegetarianism, her current ease with not eating meat stems from a variety of factors ranging from strong beliefs about the environment and animals, to the support she receives in school, to the peer support she receives at home. Looking at Demi demonstrates how effectively environmental and peer support help sustain big life decisions such as vegetarianism.

Perhaps the strongest source of Demi’s will, her disgust with eating animals, began at a young age. At age eleven Demi had a life changing revelation that triggered her vegetarian lifestyle when she discovered that by eating meat, one consumes muscle tissue. This notion repulsed her and she decided from that point on, to give up meat. Despite growing up eating meat and loving her aunt’s pot roast, Demi found that the idea of using another life for consumption overshadowed her desire for certain foods. Also, owning two cats made her develop a deep compassion for animals. These strong beliefs made her into a vegetarian but as a college student, she says she has discovered new reasons that keep her a vegetarian.

Once Demi enrolled in school, her vegetarianism took full force as she began to learn more about the environmental impacts of eating meat. In fact, her first assignment at the University of North Carolinal was to read the novel Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. This novel/expose reveals the downsides of eating meat, including its impacts on the environment, economy, health, and animal welfare. Demi says, “Now that I know how much factory farming impacts the environment, it’s something that keeps me a vegetarian but it didn’t make me one. Eating meat is so resource intensive.” College not only made her better informed about eating meat, it also offered her more opportunities to be vegetarian. From the vegetarian meal options in the dining hall, to the freedom to eat what she chooses and not what is cooked for her, college has eased her life of vegetarianism.

Another critical source of her determination is rooted in the familial and friendship support that she receives. Raised by her mother since she was seven, her mother has been very accommodating to her vegetarianism. Ever since Demi chose to stop eating meat, her mother stopped cooking meat at home completely. Her mom also never ate meat regularly in the first place, and stopped eating red meat altogether. Her friend’s have also been very supportive with her choice, “My friends always try to go to vegetarian-friendly restaurants when we go out.” It is this kind of open support and encouragement that has kept Demi strong in her resolve since she started her vegetarian life.

Of the choices Demi has made in her life, she says the easiest one is becoming a vegetarian. As time goes on, vegetarianism is getting easier and easier, with more vegetarian options offered at restaurants, and more emphasis put on the environment politically. Not only has college strengthened her beliefs by making her more aware of the resource intensive nature of eating meat, but it has also been helpful in providing her with lots of tasty yet vegetarian options. Furthermore, having the support of the people she loves she says, has made the biggest impact. For those whom wish to try out vegetarianism, Demi’s advice is to research the main issues surrounding the meat industry, and  then come up with a plan for how you will get vegetarian meals on a day to day basis. In observing Demi’s ease with such a life altering decision it becomes clear that the best place to get support is from your friends and family as well as your environment; whether at home, in school, or at work.