Veganism is becoming increasingly popular among young people.

Shushu Le (Ho Chi Minh City), owner of the TikTok channel.@le.shushuWith nearly 375,000 followers, her channel specializes in sharing vegan dishes in a European style. Despite her young age, Shushu has been a vegetarian for a long time. She shared: "I started eating vegetarian with my family in 2006, and became a vegan in 2009. Being a vegetarian makes me constantly creative, resourceful, and appreciative of the food I make. It also led me to adopt greener practices in my daily life, such as shopping, dressing, and traveling. Perhaps because I started very early, I don't see too many drastic changes."

Nowadays, many young people decide to practice vegetarianism daily, perhaps for religious, health, or culinary reasons. In this article, we will listen to young people share their different perspectives on their vegetarian journey with Travellive readers.

Facing many difficulties when starting out.

Like many others, Shushu also faced difficulties in the beginning when she first started a vegetarian diet while living in Germany. She confided, "For the first year, the vegetarian diet was quite boring and tasteless. Vegetables and fruits are very expensive in Germany. But because my belief and purpose in being a vegetarian were so strong, I started searching on websites and animal protection groups for more recipes, and participated in many activities to learn more about vegetarianism."

Anh Tú (26 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a content creator on the IG channel "Zoey ăn chay," shared her experience after two years of practicing vegetarianism: "When I first started being a vegetarian, I immediately noticed a change in my digestion. Vegetarianism makes digestion easier, improves skin complexion, reduces acne, and makes me feel lighter. After a period of being a vegetarian, I also get sick less often, and my weight is much more controlled and stable. When my body receives nutrients from plants and no longer eats animal meat, my mind naturally becomes calmer and less irritable."

Anh Tú also faced many difficulties when practicing this lifestyle: "Initially, when I first started being a vegetarian, I got hungry and tired much faster. A vegetarian diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies, so in addition to diversifying your diet with plant-based foods, you should also eat afternoon snacks to replenish energy." She gradually increased the amount of fruits and vegetables in each meal, reducing the amount of meat and fish consumed. Furthermore, she advised readers to always supplement with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12 and iron to improve metabolism.

As for Thu Trang (30 years old, Vinh City), an office worker, she started a vegetarian diet in January 2022. "Before completely switching to a vegetarian diet, I stopped consuming red meat and gradually reduced my intake of white meat and fish. After a while of being a vegetarian, my body is more resilient and I get sick less often than before. When I eat vegetarian, my body feels lighter, more comfortable, and has a more pleasant smell than when I ate a lot of meat," Thu Trang shared.

When Thu Trang first started a vegetarian diet, she lost two kilograms. "At that time, my body hadn't adapted yet, and the pressure of work made me feel tired and lacking energy. But then, I started listening to my body, understanding my needs, and gradually adjusting my vegetarian diet to suit my constitution. I always focus on eating a variety of colors – the more diverse the colors, the more diverse the nutrients so that my body doesn't lack any essential elements," Thu Trang shared.

Many people force themselves to switch to a vegetarian diet immediately while still eating meat. This can easily lead to discouragement and make it difficult to maintain in the long run. To make vegetarianism a lifestyle, you should try to start the change gradually.

Are vegetarian dishes that imitate meat dishes truly vegetarian?

When asked about her opinion on the currently popular vegetarian meat substitutes on the market, Thu Trang shared her thoughts: "I find vegetarian meat substitutes unsuitable for me. They take a long time to prepare and, for me, aren't very tasty."

In addition, Anh Tú added: "I find that eating vegetarian dishes that imitate meat easily causes bloating, which isn't good for my digestion. But I think that vegetarian dishes that imitate meat also offer a more positive perspective for those who don't eat vegetarian regularly, only on certain occasions. Or for those who are just starting to eat vegetarian, this can also be a gentle beginning."

Finally, Shushu shared her personal views: "I think we shouldn't be too critical of vegetarian dishes that imitate meat. The names 'vegetarian imitation meat' like 'vegetarian chicken' or 'vegetarian pork' might sound a bit off-putting, but it's actually just a way of naming it. Instead of using animal-derived ingredients, the chef replaces them with plant-based ingredients and uses it as a name to help people easily visualize the dish. Furthermore, it's a way of 'recreating' a plant-based dish, making vegetarian food more appealing, palatable, and diverse."

Try experiencing vegetarianism.

"When I first started being a vegetarian, I wondered why I had to be a vegetarian, since I wasn't someone who directly handled animal meat. But after learning more about the animal husbandry industry, I realized it would be difficult to continue eating animal meat," Shushu said.

"Anyone can be a vegetarian; being a vegetarian is a contribution to the environment and the planet. And it's especially good for everyone's health. Not using products of animal origin keeps your body feeling light and minimizes the intake of toxins," Thu Trang added.

Anh Tú also agreed with that viewpoint, adding: "To start a vegetarian diet, we need to understand its nature and whether it suits our body and mind. It's always necessary to listen to yourself and find a balance to create energy equilibrium in your body."

Shushu advises that if you're not particularly skilled in the kitchen or don't cook often, you should dedicate more time to learning how to prepare vegetarian dishes. You can also try vegetarian food at restaurants to learn about cooking and presentation techniques. A proper and serious vegetarian diet requires investment of time and knowledge to provide your body with scientifically sound nutrition. Therefore, you can regularly update your knowledge through books, blogs, videos, and social media to discover more dishes. Don't stress too much; you can create fun and positive challenges with vegetarianism and start eating vegetarian comfortably.

All three individuals also suggest that the journey to becoming a vegetarian can be more enjoyable if you find a companion. Have you found a companion to start your vegetarian journey yet?

Bi Le