THE YOUTH RESPONSE: COMMUNITY THE WAY WE EAT TODAY

Choosing to reduce the amount of meat or animal products consumed in one’s diet is becoming increasingly popular. We checked in with 16-24 year olds to see if/ how their consumption is changing, and their thoughts on the way eating habits in general are shifting.

IT’S ALL ABOUT MODERATION: WHILE THE PREVALENCE OF AND IS INCREASING, MANY FEEL THAT SIMPLY REDUCING ANIMAL PRODUCT INTAKE IS ENOUGH…

16-24 year olds better understand the benefits of reducing animal product consumption. This is largely owing to popular documentaries (, ) and conversations with friends, family and on social media.

ECO ANIMAL GENERAL SAVING CONCERNS WELFARE HEALTH MONEY Some reference that The treatment of animals Buying meat can be Production of meat reducing consumption of throughout the farming expensive and - through mass farming animal products can help industry encourages based alternatives can is seen as a driver of improve skin, maintain a some to switch to plant- offer a cheaper option based lifestyles healthy diet, & avoid intolerances

OF 16-24 YEAR OLDS MOVING TO THE MAINSTREAM… BELIEVE THAT MORE Cultural understandings of food and the environment PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING 84% have shifted, and plant-based options are being TO TURN AWAY FROM solidified in the mainstream making them more ANIMAL PRODUCTS available, accessible, and varied.

IN THE FUTURE, AS EDUCATION & I feel like people may be moving towards a more plant-based diet as they are realising the danger AWARENESS ACCELERATES, 16-24 posed by climate change and the harm that many YEAR OLDS ANTICIPATE A FURTHER animals are facing, it is forcing them to consider this transition to a more plant-based diet. REDUCTION IN SOCIETIES CONSUMPTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS COVID-19

Some note it can be difficult to know where to The pandemic has perpetuated start; but with more education surrounding the awareness and education in reducing benefits and the ways to incorporate plant- animal products for many – the based alternatives into one’s diet, many more lockdowns have given people time to will cut down, or switch completely in future. reconsider how we treat the planet and time to learn new ways of eating

Source: 4Youth Community. August 2021. 104 16-24s THE YOUTH RESPONSE: COMMUNITY THE WAY WE EAT TODAY

HALF OF 16-24 YEAR OLDS STILL IDENTIFY 16-24 year olds classify AS OMNIVORES, OWING TO: themselves as…

CONVENIENCE (38%): feel vegan/ vegetarian options are 5% limited, however they note this is a perception and is 8% Pescatarian improving significantly Vegan TASTE (32%): many people love the taste and range of food 8% Vegetarian in a omnivore diet BUDGET (27%): seeing animal products as the cheaper option 52% SITUATION (16%): some struggle with significantly changing 27% Omnivore Flexitarian their diet due to living with parents or their religion

TO MOST OMNIVORES IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE. In comparison to a year ago…

40% 34% say they will reduce their meat intake further in 7/10 the future or become fully veggie/vegan Eat less dairy Eat less meat

AS BALANCE IS PRIORITISED AMONGST 16-24 YEAR OLDS, ONLY 21% CURRENTLY IDENTIFY AS VEGAN, VEGETARIAN OR PESCATARIAN

Why 16–24-year-olds became vegan/ Some see their consumption choices as sitting veggie/ pescatarian… within their moral spectrum of doing something good for the world as a whole… ENVIRONMENT 45% 41% My main aim when turning vegan was to protect animals HEALTH and for the environment. I disagree with animal cruelty, 36% whether it be to kill or to test cosmetic products on. TASTE 15% Therefore, I look for vegan products everywhere I go

There is still a perceived stigma around what This is argued to be part of the being ‘vegan’ encapsulates which puts off ‘gentrification of veganism’ some people labelling themselves as such whereby a simple choice of food despite often following a vegan diet; veganism has been co-opted by some to

can seem too radical, with some having felt be more antagonistic, niche and THE LABEL THE

STIGMA attacked due to their food choices therefore expensive

Source: 4Youth Community. August 2021. 104 16-24s