A Plant-Based Life

Society’s eating habits are always changing. Key diet trends include fiber-focused eating, gut-health optimization, and intermittent fasting. However, in recent years, plant-based diets have increased rapidly. Vegetarianism has grown significantly across Southern California, especially in Long Beach, where attitudes about health, environmental sustainability, and fluctuating food costs are heavily influencing what people choose to eat, and restaurants are expanding their options.

Many choose vegetarian diets to feel healthier, both physically and mentally. Meat, particularly red meat, causes health risks such as high saturated fat, increased cholesterol and cancer. 

Tyler Pacheco has been a vegetarian his whole life, growing up in an entirely plant-based household. 

“Both of my parents are vegetarians and that's just the way I’ve been raised,” Pacheco said. “I’m proud of myself for continuing with it, and I’ve found the absence of red meat and unhealthy fats to actually be really healthy for myself.”

Eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based foods is also associated with improved cognitive function and lower rates of anxiety as well, according to PubMed Central.

Environmental and ethical concerns have also led to an increase in vegetarian diets. Awareness has increased greatly, especially among younger generations, regarding factory farming and animal rights. Animal agriculture is also a main cause of greenhouse gas emissions, which is a big contributor to climate change. Some consumers refuse to support an industry that involves killing animals raised in confined conditions. More than 100 billion animals are killed for meat and other animal products each year, according to Our World in Data.

“I feel that it’s my responsibility to stand up against the cruelty being placed on these animals subjected to factory farming,” Pacheco said. “Abstaining from meat may seem like an unnoticeable impact, but it makes a difference.”

The rising cost of food has also contributed to dietary changes. The growing cost of meat has resulted in a higher demand for more affordable, plant-based alternatives. Shannon Nix is a second-year student at Cal State Long Beach, and while she isn’t strictly vegetarian, she mostly follows a plant-based diet. 

“Most of what I eat is pretty simple, like rice or pasta with vegetables later on, and meals with beans for protein,” Nix said. “It’s usually cheaper and it just makes me feel better.”

Meat prices, specifically beef, have reached record highs in California, with ground beef increasing by nearly 48% since 2020, according to NBC 7 San Diego. As a result of these cost pressures, a large portion of consumers are purchasing less beef, leading to a direct growth in vegetarianism, as plant-based staples such as beans, rice and veggies are often more affordable.

Southern California, particularly Los Angeles County, is one the most vegetarian friendly areas in the United States based on the affordability of plant-based food, and the high number of vegetarian restaurants and businesses. Long Beach has a growing vegetarian scene as well, with entirely plant-based food spots like Plant Power Fast Food.

“We are a completely vegan fast food restaurant, serving something that everybody can enjoy,” Plant Power Employee Claire Robinson said. “We have a lot of regulars, a majority of them being vegan or vegetarian.” 

View the numerous plant-based options in Long Beach: https://www.google.com/maps/d/...

Many restaurants and businesses in the Southern California region are adapting to the increased popularity of plant-based diets by adding vegan and vegetarian items to provide inclusivity. These changes are making vegetarianism easier and more accessible, as well as encouraging more people to try it. 

  Ultimately, the rise of vegetarianism in Southern California is a reflection of the combination of health awareness, environmental and ethical responsibility, and economic changes in society. As people become more conscious of what they eat, and as global issues continue to be concerning, the vegetarian population will most likely grow even more. Once seen as just a trending diet choice is now an extremely popular and easily accessible lifestyle, further shaping the future of food. 

Take a look into some of my favorite convenient vegetarian meals! https://docs.google.com/presen...