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Article excerpted from One Element Realm Vegetarian Media Information Platform

When you are still hesitatingWhen it comes to “what to eat next”, netizens are almost going crazy about “what to eat” -Is the vegetarian trend abroad true compassion or false morality?

Initially, the online discussion of vegetarianism had calmed down after years of debate between those who supported and opposed it. That was until a large influx of foreign users onto Xiaohongshu, which also brought with it a wave of vegetarianism.

Image taken from Xiaohongshu

Whyforeign countryofAre there so many vegetarians? The existence of vegetarians has sparked discussions among netizens. From the carbon emission bills of environmentalists to the anthropocentricFrom the "limited animal insurance" debate to the foodie who "surrendered" to braised pork late at night, to the unsolved mystery of "why monks don't lack nutrition," we've excerpted some relevant online discussions, but we're not the judge. Perhaps the world is more diverse than you might imagine, and more real than chicken soup.

The following are some self-narrations from foreign netizens:

I am a vegetarian, I have been a vegetarian since I was 10. This is my choice because of my preferences and the way animals are treated in American slaughterhouses.But everyone has their own reasons for becoming a vegetarian. Most reasons involve health, ethics, or the environment.

Being a vegetarian is incredibly easy in California, where I live. Most of the time, I don't even think about it unless someone brings it up. I like to think that if someone isn't used to eating a certain food, they don't notice its absence. You've probably never eaten snake, so you don't miss it.Haven't eaten meat since I was 10 and I neither miss it nor want to eat it. I'm fine with that.

——By：Toyish

I used to be a vegetarian because I felt compassion for animals.

In addition, many studies have shown that livestock farming accounts for 20%。

Some people can eat this food their whole lives, but I gave it up because it was too hard to stay healthy. Even though I took supplements and changed my diet, I was always deficient in vitamins.

Now, I'm grateful for the animals that gave their lives, and I don't waste any meat. I eat a lot of vegetables and a small amount of meat, not much beef. They say beef is the worst for the environment (deforestation).

Also, remember thatWesterners eat too much meat. Our diet is very different from that of the Chinese.。

——By：Illykitty

Here are some Chinese netizens' views on the vegetarian trend abroad:

More and more vegetariansThis phenomenonIt must be related to the current trend, young peoplechoosevegetarian dietofToo many. Since moving abroad, I've rarely eaten meat. For a long time, I even ate only eggs. But I don't want to say I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian to gain recognition from my peers. It feels hypocritical. Even they know they're just making themselves feel morally satisfied. The biggest contributors to environmental protection are DINKs. Having one less child can save a lot of carbon emissions and biomass.

——By：Eva

Personally, I think that eating meat is totally incompatible with environmental protection. To put it bluntly, even these animals might not survive if released into the wild....The real cause of wildlife population decline is the combination of space squeeze and a deteriorating environment. As long as humans remain so numerous, without genuine environmental protection, fundamental solutions are impossible. Simply not eating meat is a bit... too idealistic. I can accept religious or health reasons for being vegetarian, but forget about this kind of thing.

——By：Siweiniao

I certainly understand and sympathize with vegetarians, even though I'm not a vegetarian.，But I'm also an animal rights activist+People who care about animal welfare.

But as a fish lover, I find it hard to accept the pescatarian community (those who only eat fish and are vegetarians for animal protection reasons). Categorizing animals and arguing that fish are inferior to other creatures and therefore edible is anti-animal protection logic.

If you want to protect animals, then you should either not be a vegetarian, or be a lacto-ovo vegetarian or a vegan. I don't know what the person who invented the concept of pescatarianism was thinking (of course, it is understandable that some people only eat pescatarian food for health reasons or taste).

——By: momo (AAA Dutch bear sales version)

I'm a staunch anthropocentric person. I support animal protection efforts that align with human survival and development, because they ultimately safeguard humanity's overall interests (for example, protecting genetic diversity and preserving habitats for animals). I personally disagree with any other animal protection efforts, some of which even cause significant inconvenience to human production and life.

——By: Still so awesome!

Why only consider mammals?

And in fact, dairy products are also cruel to cows.Milk-producing cows have to be pregnant to produce milk, and they are also in pain.If we consider so many ethical factors, we will eventually have to rely on various supplements to survive.

——By：Gugugugugugu

There's no way around it. Some people have too strong empathy, and when they eat meat they can't help but think about the suffering of animals. In order to alleviate this guilt, they simply stop eating meat.I feel bad every time I eat beef, because cows are really smart, but in the end they are defeated by hunger and greed....So I really admire those who can persist in not eating meat and not affect others.

——By: Xiaohongshu user @超膳者xiaolin

Maybe the economic base determines the superstructure.Their economic development has long provided conditions for the development of ideas such as vegetarianism., as well as things like protecting animals and protecting the environment.

——By: Little Red Potato 669336AF

I've also heard from many friends. Vegetarians have their own reasons, ranging from religious to environmental. So far, no one has urged me to become a vegetarian, so I have a pretty positive impression of this group. Isn't it great if everyone eats their own food and doesn't interfere with each other? Currently, I feel like meat-eaters are the ones criticizing vegetarians more.

——By：Una

In reality, many vegetarians aren't extreme; they simply have a strong empathy for animals. This, coupled with their knowledge of the inhumane treatment of food animals, leads them to be deeply opposed to eating meat and want to contribute to environmental protection. As for the self-interest issues involved, they're not in a position to understand them. There's no need to act as if they're all fools and you're the smart one.

——By: Xu Shu

Even today, people are still arguing"Is being a vegetarian a sign of saintliness or is it truly environmentally friendly?" But every thought is a re-examination of life.

Some people shed tears for cows and switch to oat milk, while others admit that"I want to be vegetarian, but I get anxious after three days without meat." While these choices may seem quite different, they're actually quite similar: they're all beginning to care about where every bite comes from. A young foodie self-deprecatingly jokes, "I'm still hungry after the third meal, but I still give in to steak." This is a clumsy exploration of good intentions.

Perhaps we will eventually understand that vegetarians and non-vegetarians are never enemies, but rather they are all living in the same world, loving the world's life in different ways.