View Poll Results: How old were you when you became a vegan/vegetarian?

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  • 13 years old or less (or raised veg*n)

    90 14.61%
  • 14-17

    173 28.08%
  • 18-23

    205 33.28%
  • 24-31

    85 13.80%
  • 32-40

    40 6.49%
  • 41-50

    19 3.08%
  • 51-60

    4 0.65%
  • 61-70

    0 0%
  • 71+

    0 0%
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Thread: How Old Were You....

  1. #151
    Biozombie's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I went vegetarian at 16 and first went vegan at 21 (though have slipped back to vegetarian a couple of times since then).

  2. #152
    * petunia's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    i became veg at 16, after realizing that there was no difference between my dog and cats and the chickens and cows i was eating.

    even as a little kid, (like 4 and 5) i remember not wanting to finish my meal, and my mom saying, "well just eat your meat" (cause it was the expensive part, im assuming), and me saying "can i just eat the bun?"

    i also remember being forced to drink milk, and hating it. so i would ask to be excused to go to the washroom, and i would take my milk with me, pretending to drink it while in the bathroom. i would then go into the playroom and dump it out the window onto the rocks, and go back to the table saying how i finished it. haha... i was MEANT to be a vegan.

    (my parents were pretty dumb... lol... they mustve figured it out eventually)

    went vegan for the first time at twenty two; have fallen off the wagon a few times, but am now very committed...

  3. #153
    Khashoggi
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    Veg at 15, vegan at 16 Best decision I've made.

  4. #154
    littlewinker
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I've been veggie all my life.

    When I first wondered if veganism existed (I didn't know the name) I thought it was the right thing to do, I must have been about 6 or 7. I asked my mum and I took on her opinion the veganism was really hardcore and difficult and unnecessary. I knew in the back of my mind that what she said wasnt true and veganism WAS necessary or you would still contribute to the meat indusrty, but I deliberately didn't think about it.

    Until I was 9, when someone let me know that milk was 16% pus (a man who had to be about 40 was criticizing me being a veggie) and what he said was credible, so I tried to go vegan. I kept trying every day for about a week or 2 and lasted 2 whole days, but my mum and auntie thought it was a phase and kept offering me non-vegan stuff. I had no supprt so I quit.

    For the next few years I didn't think about it again convinced that veganism was a realy restrictive diet.

    I had the intention of going vegan from the age of 13, I done it age 14 but went back to the dark side a few months later, (I lost weight and thought it was from being vegan - it wasn't, I never put the weight back on) then soon went back to being vegan again and I've been one a year now

    sorry i rambled *blushes*

    So basically I've wanted to go since I was a child and been one on/off since 14 and one properly since 15

  5. #155
    pavotrouge
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    really, thats awesome, thinking about such matters so early in life. I first wanted to go vegetarian when I was about 11/12 but my family wouldn't let me, so I know what you mean about the no support thing as a kid.

    what does your mum think about veganism nowadays?

  6. #156
    JoeVegan Joe's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I became vegetarian at 42, but had to give it up as I felt so weak.
    I became a vegetarian again at 45, with no problems the second time around.
    I became a vegan at 48.
    Animals are not food, they are our friends.

  7. #157
    LuVegan15
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    Vegetarian at 12, vegan at 14, and I'm 15 now. I've been vegan for 9 months.

  8. #158
    Metal Head emzy1985's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Way hey! Glad things are going good LuVegan15. Haven't seen you around in a while. You ok?
    The taste of anything in my mouth for 5 seconds does not equate to the beauty and complexity of life.

  9. #159
    Why hello! xwitchymagicx's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Tut, mine is still on the 16-17 section.

    Shows how long I've been here I guess. lol
    "It's not that people suddenly start breeding like rabbits; it's just that people stopped dropping like flies" - population explosion

  10. #160
    pavotrouge
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    you're an old lady now, Sarah Let's go feed some ducks.

  11. #161
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I was NEARLY 22. . .

  12. #162
    Dylan Mulenburg
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    I became vegetarian when I was 11 and vegan when I was 12. (almost 13) I am now 15.

  13. #163
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I became veggie at around 13, vegan at 17 - that was four months ago. I am now 17.

  14. #164
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    that's great that you found this forum so quickly

    ..it took me around 8 years

  15. #165
    pavotrouge
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    didn't you know search engines existed before *lol* ?

  16. #166
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    i never thought there could be more vegans beside me in this world

  17. #167
    pavotrouge
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    self-centered boy

    yeah I'm in a teasing mood today...

  18. #168
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I was around 13 when I went vegetarian and then 21 when I went vegan.

  19. #169

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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I became vegan when I was 18.

  20. #170
    Qaxt
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I turned veggie four months before my 17th birthday. I turned vegan a few days shy of that same birthday.
    Last edited by Qaxt; Aug 18th, 2008 at 05:38 PM. Reason: Left out which birthday!

  21. #171
    made of jam Aims's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Vegetarian at 21, vegan at 23

  22. #172
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Vegetarian since I moved out of my parents house (on and off though) at 18 years old, vegan since June 22, 2008 at 39. When I became veggie there was no one I knew who was veggie (except the mountain hippies in a neighboring town). I think that is why I kept going back to my carniverous ways.

  23. #173
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    veggie since my birth (lucky me), vegan at 19 (it is less than a month, i think)...

  24. #174
    qwerty
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    You are lucky Violet, I wish I was born that way
    Vegetarian at 18, vegan at 18

  25. #175
    shine on:) violet7's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    You are lucky too! It counts a lot cause you decided without help of family. well done!

  26. #176

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    Thumbs up Re: How Old Were You....

    I was going to vote in the poll, but I have more than 1 answer so I'll just reply here. My husband and I have been complete strict vegetarians for 15 years - husband went vegetarian at age of 28 - I went vegetarian at age of 23. We've been complete strict vegans for 11+ years. My husband went vegan when he was age 32 and I went vegan when I was age 27. Yikes, geez, it's difficult to do simple math when I'm feeling so tired, ugh. Going vegan was 1 of the best most important wisest, healthiest decisions we've ever made and we made the wise conscious decision together! We are primarily vegan for health reasons, but we are 2 of the biggest animal lovers on Mother Earth and we do everything in our power to show and demonstrate compassion and ahimsa for all living creatures. Thank you for posting this poll. My husband and I are always happy and grateful to be reminded of how long we've been vegan and vegetarian!
    From My Healthy Kitchen To Yours
    www.tastyvegankitchen.com

  27. #177
    my army bradders's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    went vegan at 21 but was nearly 22 and did it all in one go

  28. #178

    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    For me, when I was young (about 4), I remember having a lot of compassion for insects and other creatures. I don't think I understood fully that the meat on the plate came from animals - they would say it comes from cows, and sure you would see cartoon cows or blurry images on TV, but I don't think I understood that I was eating something that was once a living creature, like an insect would've been. I realized that within about a year I think, and then went into a bit of a denial about it because I didn't want to think that that's what I had been eating.

    When I was about 6, my dad told me about Jainism, and how they will sweep the ground in front of them to not step on insects. I then immediately imposed that we must do this, as there were lots of ants near our apartment I didn't want to step on.

    When I was 8 I announced that I would not eat meat anymore (I still didn't know anything about the dairy industry other than the "happy cows" propaganda, and in fact didn't know much about it until a few weeks ago). Unfortunately, my parents and I were quite ill-equipped to make the transition, and due to my intransigence and to our thoughts that non-animal protein somehow is only in tofu and mock meats, I was frustrated that I couldn't make an immediate transition, there wasn't the time to research, and I slipped into meat-eating again.

    Then I go to college at 18, when I don't have to plan my meals and neither do my parents (I am on a meal plan at the cafeteria). They have healthy vegetarian and vegan options available, usually tasty and with variety. With the help of my parents and the Internet (something I didn't have when I was 8), I look up stuff on nutrition data, and find out about protein and vitamin c and iron and calcium and all sorts of stuff.

    But instead of going from lacto-ovo-vegetarian to vegan, I started off this year with a dairy-free meat-eating diet (because I have physical sensitivity to dairy in addition to ethical reasons), and then dropped the meat, even though I was hardly eating any anyway and just when it was socially convenient (though no more, as that's a poor excuse to the animal that suffered).

    I think for me the main barrier was that I have a major difficulty planning life activities in general, so I felt like it would be too complicated to adopt a vegan lifestyle. But starting with a diet that is provided by meals I don't have to plan or prepare, now that I've been able to learn about nutrition and settle into that, has really simplified the process.

    BTW, my parents haven't disapproved of me being veggie/vegan - they've just encountered practical difficulties due to not knowing enough, and since I didn't know enough either, I couldn't inform them then. They don't know now that I'm vegan, only that I avoid dairy, though I've been using the word vegan a lot and discussing the plight of the honeybee...that's another topic though.

  29. #179
    LuVegan15
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Quote emzy1985 View Post
    Way hey! Glad things are going good LuVegan15. Haven't seen you around in a while. You ok?
    Haha, I just read your reply now... 6 months later .

    Everything was/is fine, I just had/have loadss of homework and coursework for school atm, so have been on and off the internet.
    Thanksyou for asking

  30. #180
    Jennie
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    Thumbs up Re: How Old Were You....

    I was a teenager the first time round, at boarding school, but my mother wouldn't support me, so I hadta stop. I was 38 when I took it all up again, going from omni-veg-vegan within the space of 6 weeks! never looked back, but OMG how I wish I'd stuck to my guns in my teens? Biggest regret of my life. Still, onwards and upwards, as they say! GO VEGANS! xx
    Life is what you MAKE IT: be glad for what you have, and can do, don't worry about what you don't have, and aren't able to do.

  31. #181
    my army bradders's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I did have certain family members try to ridicule me for it and my mum seemed to think that "i was going against her" thankfully I stuck to it and now all seems to be well

  32. #182
    my army bradders's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Quote ms.vegan View Post
    I was a teenager the first time round, at boarding school, but my mother wouldn't support me, so I hadta stop. I was 38 when I took it all up again, going from omni-veg-vegan within the space of 6 weeks! never looked back, but OMG how I wish I'd stuck to my guns in my teens? Biggest regret of my life. Still, onwards and upwards, as they say! GO VEGANS! xx
    good for you for sticking to it now though

  33. #183
    Jennie
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    Thankyou Bradders! I feel so much better, physically, psychologically, emotionally, less lethargic, more aware of so many things...it goes so much deeper than what we do/don't eat/drink doesn't it? People say I look better, even though I've got a lotta weight to lose...best thing I ever did! Has really opened my eyes, if you can do that to a blind person, and in doing so, has opened the minds of those around me also, and that can only be a good thing! xx
    Quote bradders View Post
    good for you for sticking to it now though
    Life is what you MAKE IT: be glad for what you have, and can do, don't worry about what you don't have, and aren't able to do.

  34. #184
    my army bradders's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    indeed the more of us there are the more of us can set the example to others

  35. #185
    African_Prince
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    I was a vegan from 14-17 for health reasons and switched back to it at 22 for ethical reasons.

  36. #186

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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Became vegan at 15. Stopped a few months later due to a severe depressive episode. Stayed omni due to social pressure. Got over it and went vegan again a month before I turned 17.


  37. #187

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    I became vegan when i was 13, i was exploring PETA's site.

  38. #188
    rxseeeyse
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    I made this decision when I turned 18, right after the piece of meat I ate for that birthday dinner, I turned vegetarain cold turkey the next day Then I become vegan 3 months after.

  39. #189
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I was about 14 when I went veggie, causing a scene in school (I was the only vegetarian there), at home (mom just wouldn't believe it was healthy, and now she is one, too ) and among people I knew. Where I come from (Russia), vegetarianism is very unpopular, so I was very frustrated for a while. I wanted to go vegan then, but there was just no opportunity due to dairy/eggs being put in EVERYTHING (at home, at school, at friends' houses, in cafes and in shops) and not much cheap fresh fruit & veg (as well as soya products) being available, esp. during long winter months. When I moved to London (and away from my family) at the age of 16 (or almost 2 years ago), I became vegan straight away. It was so easy and natural and I'm never going back. Although when I go home for holidays I still find it very hard to find what to eat, but now that I've learned more about food and nutrition it seems a lot easier. Or is it the whole culture that starts to acknowledge veg*nism?

  40. #190
    rxseeeyse
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    Cool. Russia I wish I would be vegan earlier too, instead of doing stupid things in my teen years

  41. #191

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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    intrigued as to why the results are so strongly weighted to the 14 to 23 age group. any ideas?

    starlight

    aged 40+

  42. #192
    ~*Fiery*~ Phoenix's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I was 16 when I became Vegan.
    I think that alot of people become Vegetarian/Vegan in their teens/twenties because it's usually when you're getting to know yourself, your opinions, your beliefs, etc.
    “We need to be the change we wish to see in the world”
    – Mahatma Gandhi

  43. #193
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Stopped eating meat at 8
    Entertained the idea of being a vegan age 13, but didn't fully become vegan untill 14. Now I'm 15

  44. #194
    Keyja's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I became a vegetarian at age 15, upon learning about what really goes on in the meat industry, despite my parents disapproval.

    I'm 19 now, live on my own since I moved for college, and became a vegan about a month ago.

  45. #195

    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I may have already commented this... i was 17 when i went vegan and i'm 28 next month eek! I went veggie when i was 9 along with my sis and mummy wish they'd join me in veganism tho grrh

  46. #196
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Its great reading all of your stories, esp those who have had children and brought them up vegan, I think it's great that we can have a generation of children who've never consumed an animal product!!!

    I decided to go vegan this year, and I am 23. While I'd entertained the idea before it had never really clicked. This time I know there's no going back, it feels natural to me and I'm so happy in my veganism, just wish I'd made the change earlier...
    "Who was the guy who first looked at a cow and said, 'I think I'll drink whatever comes out of these things when I squeeze 'em!'?” - Calvin and Hobbes

  47. #197
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    I'm shocked by how many people went vegan in their teens! It would have never even occured to me. Wish it did. I was 24.
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  48. #198

    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    13. Went vegetarian.

    Vegan at 16.
    I run purely vegan.

  49. #199

    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    25, but I wish I did it it a long, long time ago. I'm thinking of raising my future kids vegan.
    Eat your veggies!

  50. #200

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    Default Re: How Old Were You....

    Vegetarian at 17 (watched a video about how the animals are treated), literally dropped meat entirely over the next day.

    Became vegan a year and a half later (almost 7 months ago) took a bit longer, but pretty painless, haha.

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