Vegan Diet

Introduction

For much of the world, vegetarianism is largely a matter of economics: Meat costs a lot more than, say, beans or rice, so meat becomes a special-occasion dish (if it's eaten at all). Even where meat is more plentiful, it's still used in moderation, often providing a side note to a meal rather than taking centre stage. (Food and Nutrition Board 74-85)

In countries like the United States where meat is not as expensive, though, people choose to be vegetarians for reasons other than cost. Parental preferences, religious or other beliefs, and health issues are among the most common reasons for choosing to be a vegetarian. Many people choose a vegetarian diet out of concern over animal rights or the environment. And lots of people have more than one reason for choosing vegetarianism. (Nutrition and athletic performance 13-20)

Different people follow different forms of vegetarianism. A true vegetarian eats no meat at all, including chicken and fish. A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats dairy products and eggs, but excludes meat, fish, and poultry. It follows, then, that a lacto vegetarian eats dairy products but not eggs, whereas an ovo vegetarian eats eggs but not dairy products. A stricter form of vegetarianism is veganism (pronounced: vee-gun-izm). Not only are eggs and dairy products excluded from a vegan diet, so are animal products like honey and gelatin. Some macrobiotic diets fall into the vegan category. Macrobiotic diets restrict not only animal products but also refined and processed foods, foods with preservatives, and foods that contain caffeine or other stimulants. (Messina 25-85)

Following a macrobiotic or vegan diet could lead to nutritional deficiencies in some people. Teens need to be sure their diets include enough nutrients to fuel growth, particularly protein and calcium. If you're interested in following a vegan or macrobiotic diet it's a good idea to talk to a registered dietitian. He or she can help you design meal plans that include adequate vitamins and minerals. Some people consider themselves semi-vegetarians and eat fish and maybe a small amount of poultry as part of a diet that's primarily made up of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. A pesci-vegetarian eats fish, but not poultry. (Sellmeyer 118-22)

High Rate Of Fast Food Consumption

Fast food consumption generate obesity, obesity has become a major problem in the United States, the United Kingdom and many other parts of the world. Fast food is an integral part of life in the developed and also the developing world, and with it comes a massive increase in obesity and associated problems.

Children in the United States eat approximately five times the amount of fast food their counterparts ate in the 1980s. And Europe is not far behind them. Developing countries like China are also having to face childhood obesity for the first time, now that western fast food chains have opened their doors in the major cities. (Knight 138:460)

A research project in the United States, carried out over a fifteen year period, has established that there is a definite link between the consumption ...