Search
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Arts & Culture
Opinion
Subscribe
Life & Times
Fine Arts
Features
Send a News Tip
100 Years
Archive
Advertise
Donate

Subscribeto The Echo

The Echo

Monday, June 27, 2022 Print Edition

Donate

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Arts & Culture
  • Life & Times
  • Features
  • Fine Arts
  • Multimedia
  • Archive
  • 100 Years
  • Advertise
  • Send a Tip
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Arts & Culture
  • Life & Times
  • Features
  • Fine Arts
  • Multimedia
  • Archive
  • 100 Years
  • Advertise
  • Send a News Tip
Search

Subscribe

Subscribe to The Echo

The Echo aims to represent the views of diverse voices on Taylor University's campus fairly and without bias and to be a vehicle of accurate and pertinent information to the student body. The Echo also aims to be a forum that fosters healthy discussion about relevant issues, acting as a catalyst for change on our campus.

Fill out my online form.

4/15/2021, 7:00am

Plant-based dieting gains popularity on campus

Students weigh in on why they eat plant-based

By Adeline Gonzalez
Plant-based dieting gains popularity on campus
The latest eating trend is more colorful than most.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Plant-based dieting has been around longer than most realize. While it gains even more popularity in many homes across the globe, this diet has also made its way to Taylor University’s campus.

For those who wonder what exactly plant-based dieting looks like, author for Harvard Medical School, Katherine McManus writes, “Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans.” 

The latest trending diet and eating habits come and go, so what makes a plant-based diet so appealing when it seems to be limiting options from the outside point-of-view? 

Abigail Stewart, a senior human physiology and preventive medicine major, has been eating a plant-based diet for almost two years now. She first found out about this lifestyle in her “Exercise as Medicine” course at Taylor University. 

“I decided to start eating plant-based because I was drawn to the positive health benefits of this lifestyle,” she said. “I also liked the positive benefits it has on the environment and animals. The most rewarding thing about eating plant based is knowing that I am reducing my risk for developing cardiovascular disease.”

This choice to start eating this way has left Stewart feeling better physically and does not leave her with that “heavy feeling” after eating outside of the plant-based diet. 

This also has encouraged her to experiment with new recipes and broaden her horizons. 

When asked about the attainability of the plant-based diet at Taylor University, Stewart shared that she feels Taylor does a good job in offering options for plant-based dieters, but that there is always room for improvement.

Freshman Amelia Bostick seconded this opinion.

 “Eating plant-based at Taylor is actually super achievable if Chick-fil-A is something you can resist,” Bostick said.

Bostick’s vegetarian diet has allowed her to search for protein in things other than meat that she wouldn’t usually eat a lot of before starting this diet. It’s made her more energized in the long run, as well as feel healthier in body and in mind.

The plant-based diet not only has many physical and mental health benefits, but it also allows its dieters to be challenged to try new foods. 

While many lean towards a plant-based diet for health reasons, there are a percentage that feel it is rather a moral obligation and Christian duty.

“I try to eat only ethical meat as much as I can due to the mistreatment of animals, mass production and unhealthy chemicals used in producing most meat,” sophomore Mary Sargent said. “Since there are not many ways for me to know for sure whether Taylor or other places are using ethical meat sources, this leads me to try and stick to a plant-based diet. I think if we do what we can to stop unethical meat production, small farmers will be supported and maybe we can change the mistreatment of animals in the food industry!"

She shared how she believes that, as Christians, it is our duty to make sure that we are not abusing the gifts God gave to humankind. One should never take advantage of this. In this case, that gift is animals. 

Sargent expressed that there are many health benefits, but ultimately her choice to try to be a plant-based eater is rooted in her ethical obligations to herself and as a Christian. 

When considering if a plant-based diet is something you would want to try, be sure to take into account the physical and mental health benefits, accessibility to plant-based food options and your own values and moral duties.  

Share



Related Stories

Taylor students wearing shirts in support of Myanmar.

Asian students respond to shootings

By Mer Fenton

Pie Co. now serves wings and pizza in the Student Center.

Taylor dining services introduce new options

By Claire Nieshalla

Students from Third Center Olson and Third East Wengatz perform in their 2019 Airband

Airband makes its grand return to the stage

By Adeline Gonzalez


Most Popular


Last Updated < 1 minute ago

 

The Echo To Homepage
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Covers
  • Awards
  • Get Involved

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2022 The Echo

Powered by
Solutions by The State News.

Taylor University