What is the origin of the word vegetarian?

Answer 1

The word vegetarian, coined by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in 1842, comes from the Latin word vegetus, meaning "whole, sound, fresh, or lively," as in homo vegetus-a mentally and physically vigorous person. The original meaning of the word implies a balanced philosophical and moral sense of life, a lot more than just a diet of vegetables and fruits.

Answer 2

While she may not be the only originator of what could be called "the vegetarianism movement," Ellen Gould White was certainly one of the early advocates of a vegetarian diet. She was one of the founders of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, and wrote many books on subjects related to health, including the benefits of vegetarianism. It is largely a result of her teaching and writing that many, though not all, Seventh-Day Adventists are vegetarian. Vegetarianism is not required by the SDA church, but Seventh-Day Adventist boarding schools and hospitals don't serve meat - or at least they didn't when I was growing up SDA. I don't know if SDA hospitals, which of course serve people who aren't Seventh-Day Adventists, have meat options now.

The Seventh-Day Adventist church used to own plants that manufactured several well-known brands of soy-based meat analogs, including Loma Linda Foods and Worthington Foods. Worthington Foods was bought out by Morningstar. I'm not sure if Loma Linda Foods is stil in operation.

Of course, these days there are many people who are vegetarian for reasons other than health or religion, including ethical problems with the way animals are raised and slaughtered for meat, attempts to minimize the environmental damage caused by agribusiness and the meat industry, etc.

Answer 3

Adam and Eve.