According to Forbes,
a recent Gallup poll found that the majority of vegetarians and vegans in the
United States made less than $30,000 per year, classifying them as low income by federal
standards.
What’s more, the survey found
that meat consumption was greater among higher-income people. Those earning
more than $70,000 annually were least likely to have veg diets, with 5 percent
being vegetarian and only 2 percent being vegan. This flies in the face of the belief
that a plant-based diet is expensive and only achievable for the affluent.
The poll concludes:
Americans earning less than $30,000 annually are more likely to identify as vegetarian. Nine percent of this group say they are vegetarian, a higher percentage than is true of Americans in the two higher-income groups.
The poll also revealed that
the two age groups most likely to be vegetarian or vegan were 30–49 and 18–29,
respectively. Over the past decade, veganism has seen consistent growth as
millennials—now
the world’s largest generation—purchase their own food. Concerned about health,
the environment, and animal welfare, this generation boasts more
self-identifying vegetarians than any other, according to The New York Times.
It makes sense that those with
lower incomes are more likely to be vegetarian or vegan. Many vegan foods, such
as legumes, root vegetables, rice, beans, and pasta, are some of the most
affordable foods on the planet. In fact, countless delicious vegan
dishes
happen to be inexpensive without even trying!
Additionally, factory farming discriminates
against low-income communities.
Factory farms are a public-health and
environmental nightmare.
From contaminating groundwater to exposing people to dangerous gases, factory
farms wreak havoc on vulnerable local communities. It just makes sense to be vegan if you are someone who’s considered low
income.
By choosing delicious vegan
foods, we can stand up for communities suffering discrimination and spare
countless animals a lifetime of misery. Cows, pigs, chickens, and fish raised and
killed for food are subjected to unthinkable cruelties: tiny, filthy cages;
horrific mutilations; torturous transport; and violent slaughter.
See for yourself.
Show your support for farmed
animals and save some money by switching to a compassionate vegan lifestyle.
Click here to get started. And check out our Pinterest page for thousands
of recipe ideas!