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Food consumed is for survival. But the types of food
that individuals take vary from family to family and regions to regions of the
world. Accordingly, there are different categories of people based on the foods
they take and foods that they refrain from consuming. Most of the people stick
to their categories throughout the year but there are some who switch from one
category to the other for religious or health reasons. During air travel, the
airlines companies serve foods of different broad kinds based on what the
travellers would choose and order. The categories types are increasing and new
groups are added every year based on their new food preferences! So what are
these categories?
Broad
categories of people based on foods intake
The broad categories of people based on their food
intake are vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The term vegetarian has been in use
since 1839 and refers to food that is made of vegetables. Animal food is
totally out in this group. In the UK and the USA, stress on such type of food
gained momentum in the 19th century. This was to decrease animal
cruelty and the propagators of this type of food claimed that it had health
benefits.
In this group are the lesser severe types of food
restriction. These include those who eat additionally eggs, milk, and fish.
Thus they are ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-lacto-vegetarian and the
like.
Whereas, the non-vegetarian group eats all types of
meats, fish, eggs, and milk and milk products.
Veganism
In 1944, a subgroup of the vegetarian society
cropped up that was against drinking of milk and milk products. They started a
separate group and called themselves Vegans. This word was coined by Donald
Watson and Dorothy Morgan (his wife). Thus it was meant to imply non-dairy
vegetarian. A separate society came up and World Vegan Day started to
commemorate this. It is celebrated everyday on 1 November. The month of
November is also considered as the World Vegan Month.
Veganism [Source: Viva UK] Also, read on Secrets and assumptions in relations! Are they good?
This group is not only about diet. It has a
philosophy of going animal-free in clothing and preventing animal cruelty in
any form. In 1947, Donald Watson had said:
“The
vegan renounces it as superstitious that human life depends upon the
exploitation of these creatures whose feelings are much the same as out won.”
In the USA, a vegan society was established in 1948.
Side-by-side, other food movements came up. This was about organic farming and
pesticide-free agriculture. Soon scientists also started showing the
association of animal foods and poor health and diseases. But vegan was more
associated with punk culture. It is only in the last decade that veganism has
gone mainstream. Supermarkets started stocking such foods and had special
corners for vegan foods. Governments also started regulating these items and
making it compulsory to write about them on the labels.
Mock-meat markets came up around the same time.
These had plant-based meat. Such foods were also introduced in schools. In
2016, plant milk was increasingly sold and consumed by over 50% of Americans.
New
generation and veganism
The millennials are for veganism and China and Hong
Kong also had increasing vegan population. These people had stopped use of
animal furs in clothing and also not buying insect-based products and clothing
material. Artificial replacements for these came up such as leather, and also
hemp, cotton, synthetic use rose. Cosmetics and personal use products such as
soaps also started putting the label of vegan when they were free of animal
products. People started serving their pets also vegan foods. Food additive use
was minimized. Soya products production and sales increased. Vegan cheeses and
soy yogurt was manufactured. Egg substitutes were discovered. Raw foodism also
started.
But are vegan foods healthy? American Dietetic
Association has stated that plant-based foods are healthy and sufficient. But
vitamin B and D deficiencies can occur. And hence one should take supplements
for it.
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