Increased Popularity of Plant-Based Alternatives among College Students

Key Takeaways:

• University campuses across America, particularly in the heartland of meat-producing regions, are seeing an increased popularity of plant-based alternatives among students.
• Factors such as novelty, curiosity, flavor, influence from peers or family, and environmental consciousness are driving students to try out plant-based substitutes.
• Out-of-state students and environmentally conscious individuals were more likely to experiment with plant-based options.
• The preference for meatless meals was connected to positive environmental attitudes and concerns over global food supply and animal welfare.
• Countering pattern, students from significant agri-culturally dependent regions were also inclined towards plant-based products, bringing a unique facet to the findings.

University campuses across the heartland of meat-producing America are gravitating towards plant-based alternatives, with surveys indicating a rising trend in their consumption. To illustrate this, a survey conducted showed that a little over half of 1,400 students had tried a vegan substitute for meat.

College Student’s Preferences

The study conducted primarily at Iowa State University’s College of Human Sciences discovered insights about individuals’ tendencies towards plant-based products. It was seen that out-of-state students were more likely to experiment with plant-based alternatives, along with those environmentally conscious or vegetarians. “Many of these students are enjoying the novelty that comes with trying new food,” Elizabeth Davitt, the leading researcher, stated.

Plant-based alternatives are particularly popular among students in regions where agriculture and meat/feed production for livestock is a significant industry. Apart from the pursuit of novelty, other motives for students trying plant-based meat substitutes included inquisitiveness, flavors, and influence from peers or their family.

Perception of Meatless Options

However, those who avoided vegan alternatives held a different viewpoint towards meatless meals. Davitt further noted that a positive attitude towards the environment correlated with trying a plant-based meat alternative. The findings appeared recently in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Emerging Concerns and Perspectives

For several years, there has been rising consumer concern regarding the environmental sustainability of the global food supply, animal welfare ethics, and the health implications of red meat consumption. A striking correlation was observed that out-of-state students or those not from the significant livestock-producing Iowa were more willing to test a plant-based alternative.

“Considering that the University’s well-known agriculture degree programs and Iowa’s status as a leading producer of livestock and livestock feed, the correlation certainly adds an intriguing dimension to the findings.”

Additional Resources

The Cleveland Clinic provides more information on meat alternatives.

Source: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, News Release.