America has something of a commercial eating disorder. We process food like it’s a commodity, a material good rather than the fuel we need to survive. And of course, the meat industry is no exception. The image of feeding troughs packed with pigs or lines of metal cages with clucking chickens are the unsung components of the business we don’t see advertised on the packaging.

Diet is one of the few things over which we have full control in our lives. With it comes a huge, daily responsibility. For me, it has been T-35 days (give or take) since I last ate meat and decided to go vegetarian. It hasn’t been easy, but the takeaways far outnumber the struggles.

1. We don’t realize just how environmentally impactful the meat industry is.

The meat business uses a lot of resources and fuel to function. Fields used to grow feed crops and for grazing occupy a shocking 30% of the entire world’s landmass. This not only takes a tremendous amount of water and energy to sustain but also contributes to problems with runoff and pollution from pesticides. Raising the animals themselves is a difficult process enough, but imagine the energy involved in cutting/trimming the meat, transporting, cooking, and cooling the meat before consumption. John Vidal, of “The Guardian,” wrote, “In 2006, the UN calculated that the combined climate change emissions of animals bred for their meat were about 18% of the global total – more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.” One of the biggest reasons I decided to opt out of my omnivorous lifestyle was out of concern for the environment. Eating like this cannot be sustainable and we have to make a switch. And trust me, I understand this is easier said than done.

2. Vegetarianism comes with a reduction of choice.

You can’t expect to win them all. Being a vegetarian does make it more difficult sometimes to find alternative options when you go out to eat with friends or want to grab a snack on the way home. As a college student, finding food in the dining hall that doesn’t include some form of meat (which is surprisingly harder than you’d think) sometimes leaves me with a choice of salad or slice of cheese pizza for dinner. However, don’t be deterred. Studies have shown that more and more restaurants are either including vegan/vegetarian options on their menus or entirely basing their message to include these dietary restrictions.

3. There are misconceptions about vegetarians/vegans.

We’ve all heard the stereotype about vegetarians and vegans being judgemental about others’ diet choices. But in reality, that trope only applies to a select few. Often times, if vegetarians/vegans want to engage you in conversation it’s not to make you feel guilty for your chicken sandwich- it’s to help educate you on the broader perspective. So let’s give our veg friends a little bit of a break, ok?

4. You gotta work to get that protein in.

Mmm, love that quinoa. It’s definitely true that meat products and eggs contain special amino acids and proteins that your body needs, but dieticians say that there are plenty of alternatives with which to supplement your diet that will provide the same vital substances without consuming meat. Just Google it--there are thousands of recipes that include substitutes like hummus, peanut butter, avocados, beans or chickpeas. Going vegetarian or vegan can not only be healthier for you but also can be cheaper (a plus for college students like me).

5. I am more conscious of my consumption habits.

Despite the obstacles of embracing a vegetarian lifestyle, I feel better about my more ethical choices. Making sacrifices makes you more conscious of your role as a member of society. The fact that more people are making the switch to a plant-based diet isn’t a coincidence. As of 2014, veganism has grown by 400%. Despite what some skeptics may think, the future is green. It’s unrealistic to believe we can sustain our current cultural eating habits at the pace we do now. Ultimately, we will run out of resources, pollute the Earth or exhaust the soil, which is why vegetable-based diets are so essential. The time to change is now.

The decision to make a diet modification may not be an easy one, but it’s one that I don’t regret.