8 things Boomers say about veganism that Gen Z completely disagrees with

There’s a generational divide that shows up in almost every conversation about food.

For Boomers, veganism still feels like a fringe lifestyle choice, something you “try” for a month before going back to “real food.” For Gen Z, it’s becoming a baseline.

The difference isn’t just about taste or trends. It’s about values, psychology, and how each generation defines responsibility.

As someone who’s been vegan for over a decade, I’ve had this conversation at family dinners, in airports, and even during photo shoots with friends. The same eight points seem to pop up over and over, and every time, I can almost predict Gen Z’s rebuttal before anyone even says it.

Let’s go through them.

1) Humans are meant to eat meat

This one always comes first.

Boomers love the evolutionary argument: “Our ancestors hunted and ate meat, so we’re meant to.”

But Gen Z isn’t falling for that logic. They understand that “what humans did in the past” doesn’t automatically mean “what’s best for humans now.” Our ancestors also lived without antibiotics, electricity, or seat belts, but nobody’s arguing we should go back to that.

Modern research backs this up. The American Dietetic Association and the British Nutrition Foundation both state that a well-planned vegan diet is healthy and nutritionally adequate for every stage of life. That’s not ideology, it’s evidence.

Gen Z sees it through that lens. Evolution explains where we came from, not where we should stay.

I’ve had older relatives tell me, “But your body needs meat.” And yet, here I am, stronger, more energetic, and healthier than I was when I ate animal products.

The truth is, we’re meant to adapt. That’s the whole point of evolution.

2) Veganism is just a trend

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this one, I could buy out the vegan cheese section at Whole Foods.

To Boomers, veganism can look like another passing health craze, like the Atkins diet or kale smoothies. But Gen Z doesn’t treat it as a phase. They treat it as a foundation.

Surveys show that nearly 73% of Gen Z believe their generation is more concerned about the environmental impact of their food choices than older generations.

They see veganism as part of a much bigger picture: climate change, sustainability, and ethical living. It’s about systems, not snacks.

When I first went vegan, a family friend smirked and said, “You’ll grow out of it.” That was ten years ago. What I actually grew out of was believing that culture doesn’t change.

Gen Z isn’t following a trend, they’re creating one.

They’re doing what every generation does when the old rules no longer make sense: rewriting them.

3) Plants don’t have enough protein

Ah yes, the great protein panic.

Boomers were raised on food pyramids built by meat and dairy lobbyists. For decades, “protein” was synonymous with animal products. So it’s no surprise that many still believe plants can’t compete.

But science and Gen Z say otherwise.

Tofu, lentils, tempeh, seitan, beans, chickpeas, edamame, quinoa, and even oats provide ample protein. The average person needs about 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, which is easily achieved through a balanced plant-based diet.

What’s changed is not just access to information, but how people use it.

Gen Z spends hours on TikTok learning about macronutrients, B12, and omega-3s. They follow dietitians, not just influencers. They’re fluent in food science in a way that previous generations weren’t encouraged to be.

I still remember a barbecue where someone asked, “Where do you get your protein?” while eating potato salad. I couldn’t help but smile. My answer? “The same place your protein gets its protein, plants.”

4) It’s too expensive

This one’s half true, but also half myth.

Veganism can be expensive if you fill your cart with imported mock meats, cashew cheeses, and plant-based convenience foods. But at its core, vegan eating is one of the most affordable diets there is.

Rice, beans, lentils, potatoes, oats, vegetables, fruit, all inexpensive staples.

Boomers associate meat and dairy with status because they grew up during a time when those foods represented prosperity. Having steak for dinner meant you were “doing well.” But Gen Z’s version of success looks different.

It’s not about abundance, it’s about awareness.

Many Gen Zers meal prep, grow herbs at home, and use social media to share budget-friendly recipes. They understand that eating plant-based is less about money and more about mindset.

I’ve mentioned this before, but when I backpacked across Southeast Asia years ago, I lived mostly on rice, tofu, and vegetables. It wasn’t expensive. It was grounding. It reminded me that simplicity doesn’t mean sacrifice.

5) Vegans are too extreme

This one always reveals more about perception than reality.

Boomers often equate activism with aggression. They remember protests from the 70s and 80s that made headlines for the wrong reasons. So when they see passionate animal rights advocates online, they sometimes label it as “too much.”

But Gen Z doesn’t shy away from moral clarity.

They’ve grown up in a world of visible injustice: climate change, inequality, animal cruelty. They’ve learned to speak up. They don’t see compassion as radical; they see complacency as outdated.

For them, choosing a plant-based meal isn’t extreme. It’s everyday activism.

I’ve talked to high school students who are more informed about the meat industry’s carbon footprint than some adults in politics. That’s not extremism, that’s education.

And maybe that’s what unnerves older generations: conviction without apology.

6) You can’t live without cheese

Every Boomer has said this at least once.

Cheese is the holy grail of comfort food: rich, creamy, nostalgic. It’s tied to childhood memories and dinner parties. I get it. I used to love it too.

But the attachment isn’t really about cheese. It’s about habit and identity.

For Boomers, cheese represents comfort. For Gen Z, it represents cholesterol and animal suffering. They’ve seen the documentaries, read the studies, and watched footage from dairy farms that changed their perception for good.

And let’s be honest: the vegan cheese game has leveled up. Ten years ago, it tasted like plastic. Now it melts, stretches, and actually tastes good.

I once hosted a vegan pizza night for a group of friends in their fifties. I didn’t tell them the cheese was plant-based until after they finished eating. The reaction? “That was actually… really good.”

Progress doesn’t always come from debate. Sometimes it comes from dinner.

7) One person going vegan won’t change anything

This one hurts a little, because it usually comes from people who’ve lived through real change.

Boomers saw movements that reshaped the world: civil rights, women’s rights, environmental protection. They know what collective action can do. And yet, many have grown cynical.

Gen Z hasn’t lost that faith.

They see personal choices as part of a bigger system. They understand that individual action plus digital amplification equals influence. They’ve watched online movements turn into policy.

And that’s exactly how veganism is growing.

Every time someone swaps meat for plants, it sends a signal. Every time a brand introduces a new plant-based product, it reinforces demand.

The proof is everywhere: the global plant-based market is projected to reach over $90 billion by 2030. Fast-food giants are investing heavily in vegan options, not out of charity, but because the demand is undeniable.

Change doesn’t start when everyone participates. It starts when enough people care.

8) We didn’t have all these options back then

This one’s true, and that’s precisely the point.

Boomers didn’t have Beyond Burgers, oat milk lattes, or vegan sushi. But that doesn’t make veganism a fad, it makes it progress.

When I first went vegan, eating out meant scanning menus for the one salad without cheese. I once ate plain fries for dinner at a roadside diner because that was literally the only option.

Now? You can get vegan ramen, tacos, and doughnuts in small towns across America. Grocery stores have plant-based aisles. Even airlines are catching up.

Gen Z grew up expecting choice. They see variety as normal, not exceptional.

So when Boomers say, “We didn’t have this,” Gen Z replies, “Exactly. That’s why we’re using it.”

They’re not just benefiting from innovation, they’re driving it.

The bigger picture

At its core, this isn’t just a debate about diet, it’s a debate about worldview.

Boomers were raised on stability, tradition, and the idea that comfort was earned. Gen Z grew up in chaos: climate anxiety, pandemics, economic uncertainty. They see survival and sustainability as part of the same equation.

For them, veganism isn’t rebellion, it’s responsibility.

And maybe that’s the biggest generational difference of all. Boomers often ask, “Why give up something good?” Gen Z asks, “Why keep doing something harmful when we don’t have to?”

It’s not moral superiority, it’s moral evolution.

Veganism represents more than food; it’s an identity built on awareness. And while Boomers may roll their eyes at the enthusiasm, many are slowly coming around. Some are even making the shift themselves, quietly, one almond milk latte at a time.