Is A Plant-Based Diet A Fad? 9 Reasons A Plant-Based Eating Is Here To Stay!
By: Suzanne Kvilhaug
Over the last decade Veganism has become increasingly common, and whenever something that was once associated with a counter-culture or sub-culture goes mainstream, it’s easy to wonder if it’s simply another “trend” that will eventually fade out.
So, is plant-based living a fad that’s had a good run, or does it have legitimate longevity?
We’re going with the latter. A new study has revealed that the number of Americans following plant-based diets is up nearly 9.6 million over the last 15 years. That’s a 300% increase to nearly 3 percent of the U.S. population. If 3 percent doesn’t impress you, here are 9 more reasons why we’re pretty sure that plant-based living is in it for the long haul.
Meatless Meat-Products continue to become available at new, Widespread locations
Meatless Mondays have never been so easy. Let’s start with one of the most well-known plant-based products on the market, the Impossible Burger - a plant-based alternative made from proteins, flavors, fats, and binders. In 2019, Burger King made big news when they launched the Impossible Whopper at more than 7,000 U.S. locations and sales exceeded expectations. Also in 2019, Qdoba added Impossible foods to the menu at all of their locations, and in 2020, Starbucks rolled out the Impossible breakfast sandwich using meatless sausage. Additionally, DoorDash, one of the nation’s largest on-demand door-to-door delivery services, has created a dedicated Impossible Cuisine category to highlight merchants that offer Impossible menu items. But in case you’re thinking this is just good news for Impossible Foods Inc, the rise in popularity is also touching other major plant-based brands.
Beyond Meat is another product that continues growing at a rapid pace. By now, even meat-eaters have probably noticed Beyond Meat in the grocery store (or at Dunkin Donuts) and maybe even tried it. Beyond Meat’s mission is to create what they refer to as The Future of Protein® – delicious plant-based burgers, beef, sausage, crumbles, and more. Their products are now in over 58,000 grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, universities and the brand continues to grow each year. But the impact of meat replacements products goes, well, beyond meat (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Plant-Based Foods are Better For the Environment
The meat production industry has had a significant detrimental effect on the environment including animal methane, pollution, fossil fuel usage, and land and water consumption. All of these factors have made meat production a major contributor to the current state of environmental crisis. That’s why a special report on climate change conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) characterized plant-based eating as a substantial opportunity for addressing climate change. It even includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption.
Meanwhile, meatless products leave a much smaller environmental impact. A study by the University of Michigan determined that Beyond Meat production requires 46% less energy and generates 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than U.S beef. Beyond Meat even received an “Environment Champion of the Earth” Award from the UN in 2018, for their efforts in sustainability.
Vegan Grocery Availability Is On the Rise
While brick-and-mortar stores that carry only vegan products may still be in relatively small numbers around the country, traditional grocery retailers are offering more plant-based products than ever and the online vegan market place is booming. Backing that up, The Good Food Institute reports that grocery sales for plant-based foods that replace animal products have grown by 29% in just two years, reaching $5 billion. Additionally, their “Good Food Retail Report” rated the top 15 retailers in the United States and determined that the biggest plant-based assortments can be found at Whole Foods Market and Kroger-owned King Soopers that offer 360 and 410 plant-based products, respectively. Looking online, Amazon offers thousands of vegan products, and other sites like BillionVegans, VeganEssentials, and VeganOrganic are filled with plant-based foods and other vegan-friendly options.
There’s also GTFO It’s Vegan, which could be among the most exciting new-comers in a while. GTFO It’s Vegan seeks out the newest innovations in vegan food from around the world and delivers it right to your doorstep. The company GTFO It’s Vegan currently offers 400 products and the number climbs daily. Right now they have started with online retail but will also open retail stores soon.
Plant-based milk is gaining popularity and predicted to keep doing so
Dairy-based milk is seeing some serious competition from plant-based milk. With choices like oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk there is no shortage of options when it comes to vegan milk. And now the plant-based milk market is expected to reach $21.52 billion by 2024. Even Coca Cola recently entered the plant-based milk sector with Simply Almond Milk. And the pubic appears to be receptive to those choices. The Good Food Institute, plant-based market research report notes that 41.3% of U.S households have purchased plant-based milk. In terms of environmental impact plant-based milk production also has lower greenhouse gas emissions than dairy milk.
Popular brands are starting to make vegan ice cream
Speaking of milk, plant-based ice cream is also seeing traction. Analysts have predicted that the global vegan ice cream market is going to grow by $601.21 million over the next four years. Ben & Jerry’s went dairyless in 2016 and now offers 100% certified vegan versions made with almond milk and options that include favorite flavors like Cherry Garcia and Peanut Butter Half Baked. You know something has staying power when a household name like Ben & Jerry’s is on board. There’s also Oatly, a brand that has made waves in the US vegan ice cream vertical by launching 7 new ice cream flavors in stores. Oh, and while we’re talking about non-dairy milk products, vegan cheese is also a thing.
Vegan eggs do exist and they’re gaining momentum
Vegan eggs...check! There’s a lot of choices when it comes to vegan egg substitutes. One brand that’s creating some excitement is Just Egg. They are a plant-based egg alternative made with mung bean that recently partnered with Michael Foods—a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest processed egg suppliers—to bring its vegan eggs to more customers. Under the partnership, Michael Foods will be the exclusive manufacturer, supplier, and distributor of JUST Egg to foodservice and food ingredient customers in the United States who are looking for an innovative, plant-based egg product. The JUST egg product also comes with a lower carbon footprint than conventional egg production, and without the concerns about animal cruelty.
Vegan Options In The restaurant Industry are Growing
If you’re not vegan, you’ll never fully understand the dreaded dine-in experience at a non-vegan restaurant. But as more vegan restaurants continue to open and new vegan options are coming to traditional restaurants, plant-based eaters can rejoice at the thought that those experiences may be a thing of the past. Even restaurants that aren’t strictly vegetarian or vegan are offering increased vegan options, with one 2018 study suggesting that 51% of U.S chefs were adding new vegan items to their menus. Even chain restaurants like Applebee’s, Denny’s, TGI Friday’s, and Dave & Busters have added meat-free options.
To find fully vegan eateries try Happy Cow. It works like Yelp, but for vegan and vegetarian food, and lists over 24,000 veg-friendly eateries in the United States, including 1,474 exclusively vegan restaurants. Yes, California and New York are home to the majority of these, but vegan-friendly restaurants can be found around all around the country.
Colleges are becoming vegan-friendly
The PETA Vegan Report Card, which grades schools on their plant-based dining options, found that the number of vegan-friendly college campuses is at an all-time high. The number of schools that earned an “A” or “B” grade peaked at 709, compared to just 189 when the report card debuted in 2013. Schools with A ratings include major universities like Dartmouth, MIT, Syracuse, and Notre Dame. The increase in plant-based food items at the college level is another indication of the growing demand for vegan-friendly schools, especially among the younger generation. And after all, as Whitney Houston told us way back in 1985, the children are our future.
Plant-Based Eating Can Be Good For Your Health
We saved this for last because it’s probably one of the more common reasons that someone would go meat-free. Plant-based diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol while being higher in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Plant-based eating can also reduce risks for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) obesity, and digestive diseases. However, without consuming meat, plant-based eaters need to be diligent about getting enough protein and other nutritional needs commonly found in animal meat. But when done right, a vegan diet can be incredibly good for you, and the public push toward healthier lifestyles is only going to get stronger.
The availability of plant-based products is clearly growing in all aspects of our lives, from the grocery store to restaurants and colleges. And if the widespread access to vegan foods is encouraging, the economic indicators should be convincing. When you follow the money, it’s pretty clear that the plant-based industry is in a state of rapid growth, which means that plant-based eating isn’t going away. In fact, with all of the health and environmental benefits of plant-based foods, it will likely continue to expand in scope and popularity, helping even hard-core meat-eaters to explore their inner omnivores.
Whether you’re considering going vegan or just thinking about making an effort to eat more plant-based foods, we have helpful info, insights, food tips, recipes, and more!
Living Vegan
How To Succeed At Staying Vegan Long-Term
Foods and Recipes
Plant-Based Diet Recipes For Beginners
Vegan-Friendly Protein Rich Foods
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