Hamburg Area High School is soon going to open the cafeteria doors to a whole new group of students. They will offer vegetarian options for those who prefer not to consume meat. With growing buzz around the animal-rights movement and health being a major focus of the newer generations, this change is a welcome one. In addition, those who have never given vegetarian food a shot will have the opportunity to try out the lifestyle.
As defined by Wikipedia, vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat and may also include abstention from by-products of animal slaughter. People adopt vegetarian diets for a wide variety of reasons which include health, political, and environmental concerns. There are also many variations to the vegetarian diet which include ovo-lacto vegetarians who still eat eggs and dairy products. Other variations include Semi-vegetarians who continue to eat fish and poultry, but mainly consume vegetarian foods. Last but not least, vegans abstain from all animal-based products.
Student Alexis Mengel used to be a vegetarian, but has since given up her attempt at the diet. A few years ago when she was still actively a vegetarian, she was unable to eat lunches provided by the school because of their meat-based menu. It makes her happy now to see that those who are actively vegetarians will have a chance to eat school lunches.
Mrs. Seidel, one of the cafeteria workers at Hamburg Area High, describes her job as, “busy, very busy.” She says that her job will not become any busier or change with the increase in menu items. She is not personally a vegetarian, but her daughter does not eat meat, which is why she is happy to see that there is a change in the menu to accommodate different types of students.
Elizabeth Seidel is currently a vegetarian and has been for almost four months. She made the choice to go vegetarian because she says, “It is healthier for you.”
Seidel also touches base on the staggering statistics of animal cruelty in the food industry. She says she was “super grossed out by the facts.”
Seidel says that it has been a bit hard for her transitioning to a vegetarian diet.
“Not because I don’t consume meat,” she says, “but because a few of my family members tease me for not eating meat.”
Other than that, Seidel says that most have been supportive and that her diet is going well.
