Every year on October 1st, people around the world celebrate World Vegetarian Day — a day dedicated to exploring and enjoying the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. Whether you're a long-time vegetarian, just curious, or thinking of going meat-free for a day, this is your invitation to join the global movement for healthier people and a healthier planet.
This day also marks the beginning of Vegetarian Awareness Month, celebrated throughout October with food tastings, potlucks, presentations, fun events, and lots of learning!
History
- Founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS)
- Endorsed in 1978 by the International Vegetarian Union
Purpose: To promote the joy, compassion, and life-enhancing possibilities of a vegetarian diet.
Since then, schools, colleges, restaurants, libraries, healthcare centers, and individuals have joined the celebration every year with delicious food and informative events.
Why Go Vegetarian?
Choosing plant-based foods doesn’t just help you — it helps the whole planet. Here's how:
For Your Health
- Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers
- Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Helps maintain a healthy weight
- Less exposure to foodborne illnesses from meat
For Animals
- Saves countless animals from factory farming and slaughter
- Promotes compassion and respect for all living beings
For the Planet
- Uses fewer natural resources like water and land
- Helps fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Protects rainforests and wildlife habitats
- Decreases pollution from animal agriculture
Easy Ways to Celebrate World Vegetarian Day
You don’t have to be a full-time vegetarian to participate! Here are some fun and simple ideas:
- Try a new vegetarian recipe at home or with friends
- Watch a documentary about food and the environment (like Food, Inc., Forks Over Knives, or The Game Changers)
- Organize a plant-based cooking challenge at school
- Share vegetarian facts or posters in your classroom or community center
- Post your vegetarian meals on social media using hashtags like #WorldVegetarianDay or #GoVeg
- Start a conversation — ask your friends or family what they think about going meatless once a week
Fun Facts & Trivia
- Over 1 billion people worldwide follow a vegetarian or plant-based diet.
- The word “vegetarian” comes from the Latin vegetus, meaning “lively” or “vigorous.”
- Some of the strongest animals on Earth (like elephants and gorillas!) are herbivores.
- Today, there are meat-free versions of almost everything — burgers, sausages, nuggets, even bacon!
- Going meat-free for just one day per week can save hundreds of animals over a lifetime.
Further Reading