What’s on the menu? Increasingly vegan or vegetarian options
For a growing number of consumers, there’s one thing that’s not on the plate anymore: meat. Vegan and vegetarian eating habits are taking the food service industry by storm. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead.
Vegetarian and vegan food trends are on the rise
Plant-based food is becoming one of the quickest ways to win customers' hearts and stomachs. From mums' home kitchens, to pubs and chefs' parlours, vegan menus are a recurring gastronomic theme. And for good reason considering how vegetarian and vegan eating habits have skyrocketed over recent years:
- In the UK, the number of vegans has doubled between 2016 & 2018.1
- 39% of european shoppers are buying vegetarian food options.2
- China has committed to reduce meat consumption by 50% by 2030.3
- Meat consumption is decreasing in 25% of countries around the world.4
- Each year there are 76 Million new vegetarians around the world.4
Whether you're a food service expert or just getting started, catering for vegans and vegetarians can feel equal parts challenging and exciting. Not anymore. In this series of insight articles, we're tipping the balance towards the exciting part.
Discover the unique challenges and opportunities of cooking without animal-based ingredients, get to know the main types of plant-based diets and the reasons people choose them, all while picking up helpful tips you can use in your establishment along the way.
Vegan and vegetarian menus: what your plant-forward customers wish you knew
In this series of insight articles, we’ll examine the main types of plant-based diets and the reasons people choose them. We’ll also cover some of the unique challenges and opportunities of cooking without animal-based ingredients, along with helpful tips you can use in your establishment.
From an occasional meatless meal to a strict vegan diet, you’ll know just what it takes to keep every guest satisfied.
Other articles in the series:
What Are Plant-Based Diets and Why Do People Commit to Them?
From an occasional meatless meal to a strict vegan diet, we're unpacking what it takes to keep every guest satisfied.
Why Are Protein Sources Important for Vegetarians and Vegans?
Both vegans and vegetarians make their food choices with one question in mind: "Am I getting enough protein?". In this article we're looking at how you can come up with a menu that gives them that straightforward “yes” answer.
Plant-Based Milk Alternatives for Your Vegetarian/Vegan Drinks Menu
A complete vegan or vegetarian diet also includes plant-based drinks ready to offer a tasty and nutritional alternative to dairy products. Here are some helpful tips for a delicious drinking menu.
Plant-Based Nutrition: What You Need to Know to Get It Right
While fruits, vegetables and herbs have always been an important part of cooking, more and more people around the world are opting to eat only plants for some or all of their meals. Here are the most popular ones to satisfy vegan eating habits.
Keeping a Watchful Eye
Keeping your vegan and vegetarian menu ideas animal-free is often a game of hide-and-seek. Hidden animal-based ingredients are everywhere. Find out who the usual suspects are and the food items where you're likely to discover them.
Plant-Based Menu Options Your Customers Won’t Get Tired of Eating
The increasing popularity of vegan food trends doesn’t mean taste has to go out the window. Make your vegan menu as fun and delicious as it is healthy. From condiments to sauces, here is how to spruce up any plant-based dish and win your customers over with show-stopping vegan menu ideas.
Vegan Alternatives to Essential Animal-Based Ingredients
“Find and replace” - it's often how food experts start the vegetarian and vegan menu preparations. We're making it easier with a list of plant-based alternatives you'll want to keep handy.
A Quick Guide to Sustainable Diets
As a food service expert, it’s important for you to stay on top of the rising sustainability trend. Find out what it actually is and how vegetarian and vegan food trends fit in.
Catering for vegans and vegetarians is a great way to win over your customers. Of course, you don’t have to abandon your existing menu, but by offering solutions that entice both the people who eat foods and beverages from animal sources and people who avoid them, you can expand your offerings to serve a wider range of consumers. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to help us get closer to important sustainability goals. Win-win!
- The Vegan Society. www.vegansociety.com
- IRI Survey. October 2017. www.iriworldwide.com
- China Dietary Guidelines, 2016. http://dg.cnsoc.org
- Euromonitor International 2018. Nutrition: Sustainable Protein - From Flexitarian to Vegan (Part 2).
