People everywhere are adopting plant-based diets. In the United States, nearly 37 million adults and 12 million children are vegetarian. And that number is growing. Whether you\u2019re a manufacturer, a restaurant owner, a salesperson, a marketer, or a restaurateur, understanding the vegetarian trend is crucial to make informed decisions, attract and retain consumers, and grow your business. In this article, we\u2019ll examine the rise in consumer interest in vegetarian diets, including why people decide to go vegetarian, what key vegan food trends look like across various countries and continents, and the things to consider when developing dinner combos and menus to satisfy both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. <\/p>\n
Vegetarianism \u2013 A Changing Food Choice<\/p>\n
In recent years, vegetarianism has gained immense popularity across the world, with almost 20 percent of the U.S. population adopting a semi-vegetarian, vegetarian, or vegan diet. Although the trend has grown slowly since the 1970s, the rapid rise of its popularity in the past few years is difficult to ignore. <\/p>\n
But why are people opting for vegetarianism? People adopt vegetarianism for a multitude of reasons \u2013 it could be animal welfare, environmental concerns, religious reasons, or simply a desire to consume healthier, sustainable, and high-quality food. And in many parts of the world, it\u2019s a lifestyle choice that is gaining favor among consumers.<\/p>\n
Mapping The Global Vegetarian Food Trends<\/p>\n
The \u2018meat-free\u2019 trend is gradually becoming a way of life, and that has led to a diversification of vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets across regions and countries. In Europe, especially, vegetarian and vegan diets are gaining prominence. Studies suggest that while 20.1 percent of the entire population of Europe is vegetarian or vegan, that number rises to 33 percent of millennials and even higher among adults aged 18-30 years .<\/p>\n
In countries like the UK, the trend is more crisscrossed, with Barclaycard Payments, for instance, finding that despite more than two-thirds of the UK population adapting to a meat-free meal at least once a week, some age groups are more inclined towards vegetarianism and veganism than others.<\/p>\n
In other parts of the world, such as India, vegetarianism is as old as time. In fact, about 78.6 percent of the population is vegetarian. Here, people refrain from eating meat and adhere to a strict \u2018no-animal-products\u2019 diet, due to religious beliefs and the idea of achieving spiritual purity. <\/p>\n
What To Consider When Implementing Veggies<\/p>\n
Understanding the local vegan and vegetarian food trend sis crucial to help the foodservice market make informed decisions and meet the needs of their customers in the best way possible. Here are the top 10 things for foodservice operators to consider when implementing veggies onto their menus and combos:<\/p>\n
1. Have a Plan: When introducing veggies in menus, it\u2019s important to devise a plan to make sure that the items remain in constant circulation. This way, your vegan and vegetarian customers will always have something to look forward to.<\/p>\n
2. Variety: A wide range of items is essential to keep customers interested. Make sure to provide variety in colour, flavour, texture, and presentation.<\/p>\n
3. Keep it Interesting: It\u2019s key to come up with creative ways to make vegan dishes interesting. Experiment with international cuisines and explore fresh ideas to keep customers engaged.<\/p>\n
4. Ask for Feedback: This is one of the best ways to understand what your customers want and make sure to meet their preferences in the best possible way.<\/p>\n
5. Get Visual: Presentation is key when it comes to vegan dishes. Creative presentation can make even the simplest of dishes look appetizing and eye-catching.<\/p>\n
6. Include Meatless Protein Sources: Protein is key for a healthy and balanced diet. Hence, it\u2019s important to include non-meat protein sources such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, and legumes in your menu.<\/p>\n
7. Make Sure the Recipes are Vegan-friendly: Make sure all vegan dishes are free from animal-based ingredients, are suitable for all diets, and do not contain any dairyproducts like milk, cream, or butter.<\/p>\n
8. Keep Allergen Awareness in Mind: It\u2019s important to keep allergen awareness in mind when creating vegan recipes. In certain countries, the labels for allergen-free food remain very limited. Hence, be sure to communicate clearly and provide allergen-free options on your menu.<\/p>\n
9. Focus on Quality: Provide quality vegan meals that are healthy, flavourful, and satisfying.<\/p>\n
10. Track the Performance: Monitor customer reaction to vegan recipes and dishes and observe which ones seem to be performing the best. This can be done within your restaurant operation software.<\/p>\n