Many children and teenagers think about giving up meat at some point growing up. But according to new research, most don’t follow through long term.
A study published in Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations found that nearly half of young adults surveyed said they had considered stopping eating meat during childhood or adolescence. About half of those who considered it actually tried, but most eventually returned to eating meat.
Researchers from University of Exeter surveyed more than 1,000 adults ages 18 to 26 about their experiences growing up. On average, participants first thought about giving up meat around age 11, suggesting that childhood and adolescence may be key periods when people are more open to changing what they eat.
“There’s a growing shift towards plant-based eating, but many adults still struggle to change their behavior and view eating meat as natural, normal, and necessary,” said lead researcher Dr. Luke McGuire.
The study found that younger children were often motivated by emotional reactions, such as discomfort with the idea that meat comes from animals. Older children and teenagers were more likely to cite health or environmental concerns as reasons for wanting to reduce or eliminate meat.
But interest did not always translate into lasting change.
Participants reported that factors like taste preferences, convenience, social pressure and family routines made it difficult to maintain a meat-free diet. Parental support emerged as the strongest predictor of whether young people were able to stick with it. In many cases, parents were more supportive of their child returning to eating meat than of continuing to avoid it.
“Our findings suggest childhood and adolescence are natural periods for encouraging plant-based eating,” said co-author Professor Natalia Lawrence.
The findings highlight a broader pattern in eating behavior: being open to dietary change is not the same as sustaining it. Even when motivation is strong, everyday factors like food availability, social norms and household habits can shape what people actually eat over time.
The study did not assess health outcomes or nutritional quality of vegetarian or vegan diets. However, the researchers noted that plant-based diets can be nutritionally adequate when well-planned and supported.
Because the findings are based on self-reported recall, they reflect participants’ perceptions of their past experiences rather than direct observation of behavior. Still, the results offer insight into when people may be most receptive to changing their eating habits and what makes those changes difficult to maintain.
This research was supported by a university-based wellbeing initiative focused on children and young people.