After investing her time in AP Environmental Science class, senior Sanjana Venkatasubramanian became an avid supporter of vegetarianism, but she was always aware of the positive ramifications of her choice to go vegetarian. “I’ve read many articles and my teachers taught stuff in India when I was in school,” Venkatasubramanian said. “But I learned a lot more in AP Environmental Science, which is really an eye-opening class.” 

Venkatasubramanian lives in a Hindu family, where vegetarianism is a core facet of her religion. “I was born vegetarian, and I’ve always eaten vegetarian food,” Venkatasubramanian said. “My options may be limited, but I enjoy my food as much as a non-vegetarian would.”

According to Venkatasubramanian, living in an Indian household makes being vegetarian easier because many people in India are vegetarian, so the culture is full of meat-free recipes that are melting pots of flavor while also providing enough nutrients. 

Her personal favorite is a recipe known as rasam (rah-SUM), which is similar to tomato soup, except without milk and with the addition of Indian spices which give it a unique flavor. When she does go out to eat, Venkatasubramanian leans towards products that are bread or rice based because those are among the few food options that can be made meat-free. “Certain smoothies and ice creams also have eggs in them so I have to make sure I ask before eating,” Venkatasubramian said.

Venkatasubramian also believes that there is a clear causal relationship between climate change and animal farming, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. “I think by eliminating methane production, the effects of climate change can…be reduced,” Venkatasubramanian said. “Finding out about how much water consumption [is used by] animal farming…really exposed me to the waste associated with raising animals.” Cows create almost 120 pounds of waste on a daily basis, and one of the primary contributors to global warming is the increased presence of methane gas in the atmosphere, something that is produced abundantly by cows.

Although she’s a vegetarian she still interacts with non-vegetarian people. “I know a lot of people around me…who eat meat, but it’s not like I hate on them, it’s their way of life,” Venkatasubramanian said. She understands that it is not her place to regulate other people’s lives, but she personally chooses to conduct herself in a way that she believes will help the environment. “It’s just that I’m particular on my choice and if I can make an impact on someone else’s life, I always try,” Venkatasubramanian said.

For people who are trying to go vegetarian, Venkatasubramanian explains that it’s important to set goals instead of trying to stop eating meat altogether. “I really advocate reducing [meat consumption] step by step… and understanding the impact of vegetarianism on the environment,” she said. “At least you can reduce it to once a week…that’s still a substantial impact.”

“My biggest message is to at least try…you’ll find that there are so many options with being vegetarian,” Venkatasubramanian said. It’s not like you’re going to miss out on a taste…because there are so many varieties that you can still experiment with, so give it a try.”