Plant-Based Diets and the Growing Popularity of Vegetarian and Vegan Options
Plant-based diets have long been recognized for their health benefits and are growing in popularity. These eating plans eliminate meat, fish and poultry in favor of plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans and lentils), nuts, seeds, whole grains as well as herbs or spices.
Following these diets can result in weight loss, increased energy levels, reduced cholesterol levels and reduced blood pressure. Furthermore, they help reduce carbon emissions while improving overall health.
Vegans and vegetarians should be aware that their diets may not provide enough essential nutrients, such as iron and vitamin B12. To ensure adequate calcium intake, vegans and vegetarians should consume dairy products such as almond milk or fortified cereals.
People should also be wary of adding too much sugar to their diet, as many plant-based foods tend to contain free sugars such as maple syrup and agave syrup.
It is also essential to be mindful of the amount of saturated fat and salt a person consumes when on a plant-based diet, as these can contribute to heart disease. Furthermore, many people struggle with getting enough vitamins B12 and D from food alone; thus taking a multivitamin supplement or consulting your doctor about fortified foods that contain these vital vitamins is recommended.
Vegetarian and vegan options are on the rise in the food industry, with fast-food chains, supermarkets and other retailers providing more meat alternatives than ever before. These meals have become especially popular among millennials; in fact, their number who identify as vegan or vegetarian has grown 400% over four years.
PETA anticipates this trend to continue, with more plant-based meat alternatives on menus and vegan alternatives to organic eggs and milk for customers to choose from. Furthermore, they believe flexitarians – those who eat some meat but not all of it – will become increasingly interested in finding plant-based protein options.
Recent survey by inMarket has revealed that vegetarian-leaning shoppers are drawn to restaurants and grocers with the most meat-alternative items on their menus. These include Which Wich, MOD Pizza, Shake Shack, Pieology, Blaze Pizza and Wendy’s.
InMarket used location data from mobile devices to analyze customer traffic patterns. It identified those who bought plant-based products this year and compared it with their overall visitation patterns to determine where they overindexed.
According to inMarket, those who purchase plant-based products are most likely to shop at Vons, Sprouts, Kroger and Whole Foods stores. However, this trend is rapidly changing.
This trend has been driven by the surge in animal-free options from companies such as Boca Burger, Morning Star and Quorn, which have experienced tremendous sales gains recently. Furthermore, many traditional omnivores are now trying out plant-based alternatives to meat at their favorite restaurants.
While it’s beneficial to try new foods, it is essential that you stick with plant-based meals that provide the most nutritional value. Doing this helps meet your daily dietary requirements and provides all of the essential vitamins and minerals for good health.