Vegetabletarianism

The Modesto Bee, not what I'd cite as the paragon of journalism, has a half-decent article on growing vegetarianism movement amongst teens, particl'ly emlys - and for very varying reasons.

I'm a struggling vegetarian. I eat vegetarian, then I end up eating meat. I don't like eating meat, I just get cravings. I think the problem is that I can't cook to save my ass, which makes vegetarian live very dreary. Incidentally, PETA makes my skin crawl, so don't take my citation as evidence that I support them in any way.

According to People for Ethical Treatment for Animals, teenagers are the fastest-growing demographic of vegetarians. In 2003, Teenage Research Unlimited, an Illinois-based market-research firm, reported that one of every four teenagers thinks vegetarianism is "cool".

Data from the Vegetarian Resource Group, a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization, concurs: 2% of US youth ages 13 to 17 ate strictly vegetarian diets (foods that contain no meat, fish and fowl) in 2000, that number up from 1.4% in 1995. The group also reported that in 2003, 11 percent of teenage girls stopped eating all meat.

In their book What, No Meat?! What to Do When Your Kid Becomes a Vegetarian, (ECW Press, 2004) co-authors Debra Halperin Poneman and Emily Anderson Greene state that, based on their research, teenagers are taking a serious stand by giving up meat, on issues including animal rights, eco-politics, genetically engineered foods (including bovine growth hormones present in meat), and the evils of the corporate fast-food industry. 'Most teens are deciding that meat is out, tofu is in,' says Cathy Lewis, publicist for ECW Press.

Locally, in response to student demand, Julie Jamison, coordinator of the Healthy Start Program at Downey High School in Modesto, said vegetarian items are being added to the school lunch menu: those already available include a veggie sub sandwich, a "workout salad" (that comes with or without tuna), the "light and lean" vegetarian salad featuring tofu, and, to drink, the "Vedge" -- a vegetable cocktail "rich in anti-oxidants".

"We've introduced these vegetarian items in all the area high schools," said Criss Atwell, director of nutrition services for Modesto City Schools. "They serve both the vegetarian students and those interested in healthier meal options."

Atwell said all the items are very popular so far. "If they continue to do well, we'll offer them in the middle schools, too."

McDonald's can't be lovin' that.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association certainly isn't -- it has responded to what it considers an "alarming" trend with a Web site targeted to these age groups -- specifically preteen girls. The site, called Zip 4 Tweens ('Zip' stands for zinc, iron and protein, as in, "found in meat"), features recipes, essays, and health tips and information extolling the virtues of eating meat.

Meanwhile, teenagers continue stop to eating meat for different reasons.

I don't have the website for Zip4Tweens yet to evaluate their flamingly offensive claims, but I'll post it when I find it.

I'm not arguing there aren't valid reasons to eat meat. I'm just saying that Zip4Tweens, an arm of the NCBA, is going to be flamingly biased and I bet there will be references to patriotism. I frelling bet.

You should read the article. They even mention religious motivations: a Sikh teen girl. Of course, there are maaaaany religions that have groups therein that recommend (Judaism) or require (Seventh-Day Adventists) vegetarianism, but Sikhism doesn't get enough press anyway.

Thank heavens I'm a girl. I couldn't stand having a beard and a turban, though Sikh magic underwear is waaaay cooler than Mormon magic underwear. Although perhaps the latter is more comfy? I haven't tried them to compare. Anyone got any feedback for me on this?

I also appreciate that the schools point out that "vegetarian" options aren't just for vegetarians: they are just offerings of the food program that happen not to have meat in them.

All this talk of food is making me hungry. It's 1106h & I've not had a bite. Maybe I'll have a veggieburger.