Vegetarianism

Introduction
Historical vegetarianism
American vegetarianism
Vegetarianism debate: 1990s – 2010
Post-2010s polls, studies, and political Figures
Impact of COVID-19 on meat supply
The future of vegetarianism
Pros
- Pro 1: Killing animals for food is cruel and unethical.
- Pro 2: A vegetarian diet is healthy.
- Pro 3: A vegetarian diet is better for the environment.
Cons
- Con 1: Eating meat is natural.
- Con 2: Eating meat, poultry, and fish is part of a healthy diet.
- Con 3: Vegetarian diets are not necessarily better for the environment.
Famous vegetarians and vegans
- Athletes
  - Daniel Austin: Powerlifter
  - Dotsie Bausch: Cyclist
  - Héctor Bellerín: Right-back/wing-back, Real Betis (La Liga)
  - Tia Blanco: Surfer
  - Frans Claes: Mountain biker
  - Cheavon Clarke: Boxer
  - Kelly Colobella: Former Utah Falconz football player
  - Meagan Duhamel: Pair figure skater
  - Sophia Ellis: Powerlifter
  - Dalila Eshe: Head women’s basketball coach at Yale University and former WNBA player
  - Kendrick Farris: Weightlifter
  - Lewis Hamilton: Formula 1 race car driver
  - Mike Jensen: Motorcycle stuntrider
  - Kuntal Joisher: Mountain climber
  - DeAndre Jordan: Center, Denver Nuggets (NBA)
  - Andy Lally: Race car driver
  - JaVale McGee: Race car driver
  - Charlotte “Charm” McShane: Triathlete
  - Heather Mills: Skier, model, and activist
  - Elena Congost Mohedano: Track and field athlete
  - Alex Morgan: Forward, U.S. Women’s National Team and Orlando Pride (NWSL)
  - Micky Papa: Skateboarder
  - Chris Paul: Point guard, Golden State Warriors (NBA)
  - Spencer Pumpelly: Race car driver
  - Lawrence Okolie: Boxer
  - Kristen Santos-Griswold: Speed skater
  - Chris Smalling: Centre-Back, Roma (Serie A)
  - Diana Taurasi: Point guard/shooting guard, Phoenix Mercury (WNBA)
  - Ed Templeton: Skateboarder
  - Tennessee Titans team members:
  - Hannah Teter: Snowboarder
  - David Verburg: Track and field athlete
  - Venus Williams: Tennis player
  - Deatrich Wise: Defensive end, New England Patriots (NFL)
- Entertainers
  - Pamela Anderson: Actor and animal rights activist
  - Erykah Badu: Singer
  - Chloe and Halle Bailey: Actors and singers
  - Travis Barker: Drummer for Blink-182
  - Mayim Bialik: Actor and author of Mayim’s Vegan Table
  - Tabitha Brown: Actor and social media personality
  - Alan Cumming: Actor
  - Emily Deschanel: Actor
  - Billie Eilish: Singer-songwriter
  - Game of Thrones Actors
  - Ricky Gervais: Comedian
  - Ariana Grande: Singer
  - Woody Harrelson: Actor
  - Liam Hemsworth: Actor, The Hunger Games trilogy
  - Joan Jett: Singer
  - Killah Priest: Rapper
  - Jared Leto: Actor and musician
  - Leona Lewis: Singer
  - Lizzo: Musician
  - Evanna Lynch: Actor, Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films
  - Trixie Mattel: Drag queen persona of Brian Michael Firkus, RuPaul’s Drag Race star
  - Kate Mara: Actor
  - Rooney Mara: Actor
  - Marvel’s Avengers actors
  - Brian May: Guitarist for Queen
  - Moby: Musician and animal rights activist
  - Morrissey: Musician and animal rights activist
  - Cillian Murphy: Actor
  - Mýa: Singer and veganism advocate
  - Elliot Page: Actor
  - Madelaine Petsch: Actor, Cheryl Blossom on Riverdale
  - Natalie Portman: Actor
  - Joaquin Phoenix: Actor
  - Sia: Singer-songwriter
  - Alicia Silverstone: Actor and animal rights activist
  - Sadie Sink: Actor
  - Maggie Q: Actor and animal rights activist
  - will.i.am: Rapper
  - Wu-Tang Clan (most members)
  - Rob Zombie: Musician
- Leaders
  - Cory Booker: U.S. Senator (D-NY)
  - Bill Clinton: 42nd President of the U.S.
  - Jeremy Corbyn: Member of Parliament for Islington North
  - Nat Friedman: Founder of GitHub
  - Tulsi Gabbard: Former U.S. Representative (D-HI)
  - Jane Goodall: Primatologist and anthropologist
  - Al Gore: 45th Vice President of the U.S.
  - Dennis Kucinich: Former U.S. Representative (D-OH)
  - New York Politicians
  - Adam Schiff: U.S. Representative (D-CA)
  - Greta Thunberg: Climate activist
- Artists & Authors
  - Scott Adams: Cartoonist, Dilbert
  - Clive Barker: Horror author
  - JM Coetzee: Author
  - John Darnielle: Author and indie folk singe-songwriter
  - Eve Ensler: Author, The Vagina Monologues
  - Jonathan Safran Foer: Author, Eating Animals
  - Jim Jarmusch: Filmmaker
  - Patrick McDonnell: Cartoonist, Mutts
  - Alan Moore: Graphic novelist
  - Jeremy Scott: Fashion designer, Moschino
International meat consumption and slaughter
- Animals slaughtered for consumption by country and type of animal (2022)
- Per capita meat consumption (kilogram per capita) by country and type of meat (2021)
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Colorful Buddha bowl with tofu cubes, spinach, cherry tomatoes, carrot strips, chickpeas, radish slices, cucumber ribbons, and shredded cabbage, served with a bowl of soy sauce and chopsticks.

Vegetarian Starter Kit

Animal-rights vegetarians

Illustration of a vegan food pyramid divided into four sections: whole grains at the base, followed by vegetables, then fruit, and legumes at the top, with recommended daily servings and images of representative foods in each group.

Vegetarianism: Media

Should people become vegetarian?

Images

Colorful Buddha bowl with tofu cubes, spinach, cherry tomatoes, carrot strips, chickpeas, radish slices, cucumber ribbons, and shredded cabbage, served with a bowl of soy sauce and chopsticks.

A vegetarian meal

Should people become vegetarian?

© Sunny Forest/stock.adobe.com

Pythagoras

Pythagoras

Ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, and vegetarian advocate Pythagoras.

© PHAS—Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Vegetarian Starter Kit

Vegetarian Starter Kit

From the Vegetarian Starter Kit, The New Four Food Groups, a vegan/vegetarian...

PCRM Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Animal-rights vegetarians

Animal-rights vegetarians

Protestors with “Mercy for Animals,” an animal advocacy organization promoting a...

© Mercy for Animals

Illustration of a vegan food pyramid divided into four sections: whole grains at the base, followed by vegetables, then fruit, and legumes at the top, with recommended daily servings and images of representative foods in each group.

Food pyramid

The basic vegetarian/vegan food pyramid.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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