It’s tough to be a vegetarian in a country where waitresses often consider chicken to be part of a herbivore’s diet. Kazu Koikeda, founder of vegan go-to Anna Maya, is two years into a meatless diet. She says her entire friend base changed when she opted for vegetarianism because it became so difficult to eat out.

But the sacrifices are worth it. The meat supply chain is a scary place. While chickens in China tend to live a more free-range life, and China does not rely as much on factory farming as the U.S., the growing demand for meat is putting pressure on farmers to use hormones and antibiotics. During the 2008 Olympics, the New York Times reported that the American team imported 25,000 pounds of meat for their Olympians. One caterer explained: “[Local meat] was so full of steroids that we never could have given it to athletes. They all would have tested positive.”

The way meat, especially pork, is transported is also potentially problematic. A recent supply chain conference reported that most pork goes through severe temperature fluctuations on its way from farm to grocery store, even if it ends up in the cold section. Such temperature changes mean the meat is likely to lose its nutrients and decomposition is accelerated.

But it’s getting easier to find dining options for vegetarians in Shanghai. Jujube Tree (aka Vegetarian Lifestyle) is a Shanghai favorite and Pure Pavilion boasts healthy food for fashionable people. Koikeda’s personal favorite is Wu Guan Tang.

A lot of vegetarians, along with organic and local advocates, agree on one point. Trade-offs are unavoidable, and neither fanaticism nor apathy will solve anything. “You’re living in a society with different beliefs,” says Alexa Chiang of Shanghai’s Vegetarian Club. “It’s OK if not everything is perfect all the time.”

Words by Monica Liau.

Are you a vegetarian living in China? How do you cope with the lifestyle choice in Shanghai?

Read more about eating right in Shanghai. See our other articles; organic food in China; Anna Maya's exclusive ethical recipe and the top vegetarian restaurants in town.