There is nothing like a medium-rare New York Strip, grilled to perfection, sautéed with a delicious butter sauce with a splash of A1. Vegetarians would clearly disagree.

In the past few years, I’ve noticed a rise in the number of vegetarians who I have encountered. I’ve been trying to figure out whether or not vegetarianism is a fad, phase, or something that is gradually creeping into the public as a lifestyle that will not fade. There are already a number of grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, the Fresh Market and now even a Greenwise Publix, that focus their markets on organic foods and healthier food products.

First of all, I have a lot of respect for vegetarians – especially vegans. Vegans stick to a strict diet and lifestyle that prohibits the use of any animal product – including animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Not only are they extremely limited on what they eat, but going out to a restaurant with one can be disastrous.

My mother recently decided to go on a 28-day vegan diet and I haven’t been out to dinner with her since. I think she consumes more vitamins and minerals in pill form then she does through food.

Is the idea behind this not to harm animals, or to prevent chemical substances from entering your body? In my mother’s case, probably the former. I always thought we were supposed to acquire all of our nutrition from what we eat. A vitamin C supplement is something I’ll occasionally swallow if I can’t make it to the store for my orange juice. However, I’m getting the impression that these pills are becoming the main source of my mother’s nutrition, whereas the food is becoming the supplement.

Health is definitely an important issue and concern. I am in favor of healthier foods, but somehow I feel like this lifestyle is growing out of hand. I admire the personal decision made by vegans who choose their lifestyle because they don’t agree with eating animals or their by-products.

After deciding a little research concerning vegetarianism was necessary to further indulge myself, I found myself on Google and within seconds I was looking at www.vegetariantimes.com. I quickly found myself looking at their Q&A page filled with over a dozen reasons to go vegetarian and how to do so. Not only can you spare animals, but “your dinner plate will be full of colors,” according to Vegetarian Times.

I once decided to be vegetarian. For me it lasted about two weeks. I realized after that why a vegetarian lifestyle does not work for me: I live to eat. Eating, to me, is such a pleasure that I don’t care how many animals have to die for me to get a steak on a plate. Especially if the meat is organic – at least then I know the animals were eating healthy before they were slaughtered. That is my life choice, though, and I don’t push eating meat upon anybody.

For those of you who don’t know, cheese has an addictive chemical in it. I find myself eating cheese daily. I love cheese. Many vegetarians I’ve spoken with have agreed – they’ve tried becoming vegans, but simply love cheese to much.

Vegans and vegetarians put extra effort into their days just to maintain their lifestyles. Definitely a respectable decision, but I hope they’re doing it for themselves and not because it’s a popular thing to do. Plants are organisms, too. Maybe I shall start a diet in which I receive all my nutrition from supplements. I’ll figure out a way to get protein and carbohydrates. If vegans can do what they do, any lifestyle is possible.