Why Some French Students Choose Veggie Meals More Often

It's no secret that cutting down on meat is good for both people and the planet. University cafeterias, where millions of students eat daily, offer a great chance to encourage young folks to try meat-free meals. This study looked at why some students in a French university cafeteria picked vegetarian main dishes more often than others. They had 257 students snap pics of their trays for three months and fill out a questionnaire about their background and reasons for choosing veggie meals. The results? Women were more likely to go for veggie dishes. Those who knew more about the environment and cared about animal welfare, health, ethics, natural food, religion, and their mood chose veggie meals more often. Surprisingly, students who liked meat less were also more likely to pick veggie dishes. Plus, those who chose veggie meals more often had healthier and more eco-friendly trays. It seems like encouraging veggie meals at university cafeterias could help students make better food choices.

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