This topic was suggested by @i-like-words!

Veganism is something that's really blown up in the past couple of years, and has ended up becoming a sort of joke within society. People are constantly making a mockery of it, and I think that's due to a few very outspoken vegans ruining the image for the rest of the vegans on this planet.

In theory, I think veganism is a really wonderful, forward-thinking idea which combats the real problem we're facing. Climate change is affected by us eating and buying animal produce. Think of how much methane cattle produce everyday. And I don't agree with the way animals are treated on some farms either. So why aren't I vegan?

For me right now, it's too hard to be vegan. I'm living at home, have no actual income to buy my own food, and we're living in a society that is run on animal products. Meat is such a huge part of the culture I live in- a traditional English meal is meat and veg. Although I don't eat that meal specifically a lot of the time, the idea of meat being a huge part of every meal is so woven into our culture.

I tried being vegetarian for a few months, and it taught me a lot about what I put in my body and how to cut down on my meat intake. Maybe when I'm older I'll become vegan, but as a sixteen-year-old right now I don't really have a say. I eat what's on my plate.