Skinny, weak, pale, confrontational and downright annoying. That is non-meat eaters, right? They just need to eat a fat, juicy steak to be happy.

But I can manage heavy lifting, I mind my own business, I’m white but not overly pale and I’m only a little bit annoying. Most importantly, I have meat on my bones, I just don’t eat it.

People cut meat out of their diet for various reasons. Animal cruelty, environmental and health being the big three. Yet happiness is a reason people rarely think of. Studies show that vegans’ happiness is 7% higher than those who eat meat. Showing that improving yourself mentally through your diet may entice more joy in the long run.

In my 6 years (and counting) of being vegetarian, more people have had issues about me not eating meat than me having a problem with them. Now picture this, I’m at Wetherspoons of all places, when the strangers opposite incite some small talk. When my meal comes it becomes a hot topic. One of the men, who enjoys hunting in his spare time, takes obvious disgust with my diet.

Especially the fact I eat, and actually quite enjoy, Quorn. Now I am not the face of this product, yet I’m told it’s unhealthy, doesn’t taste good, it’s weird or even attention seeking. But if these queries are actually so important then tell Monde Nissin, the food company that has owned Quorn for their 36 years of activity.

Meat and dairy make up the majority of carbon emissions the food industry produces, 51% of emissions can be linked to animal agriculture. So, Quorn isn’t a bad option if you want to help tackle this. Their mince product uses 94% less land and produces 95% lesser carbon emissions, according to their website.

It is corporations and the industry itself that can lead the change in this. But statistics from University of Oxford still show that if we all went vegan carbon emissions would drop 70% by 2050. Eating green also widens your taste palette and makes you excited to try different foods. For all food is a great source of happiness, if only it wasn’t limited by having chicken in every dish.

With life moving as quickly as it is, it won’t be long before New Year’s resolutions and no meat January creeps up on us. These are promises people make to cut down on their meat intake, something in their subconscious must tell them that eating this produce is wrong.

In 2020 the number of vegans in Great Britain grew 40% with around 1.5 million people taking up a plant-based diet. So even if you do think their opinion gets ‘shoved down your throat’ it seems to be working and they’re even happier in the process.

If you’ve ever thought that you could cut meat out of your diet, then do it! Maybe joy will come your way too. Not eating meat makes you think. It makes you consider what you buy, your intake and how you do that. Ignorance isn’t bliss and surely, it’s a given that conscious people have more access to receiving happiness?

So yes, I do believe if you eat green, maybe a bit of fat, juicy Quorn too, you’ll be happier.