Are there lots of vegan restaurant options traveling?
- Sammy_Browne
- Apr 6, 2020
- 2 min read
Eating plant based foods isn't just a new trend that will turn out to be a fad in a few years. There’s been a 600% increased in people identifying as vegans in America since 2017 and a 350% increase in the last decade of people identifying as vegan in the UK. Citizens in countries all over the world are starting to switch diets. The worlds biggest search engine company, Goggle is leading the rise in companies creating more plant based options for their employees for lunch, "Google recognizes that meat consumption is an important part of its carbon footprint and that animal agriculture is a big part of our environmental crisis"(Oberst). Its not just companies that are making the switch but countries are also making changes. In 2017 German companies launched the most vegan products than any other country. In diatary restriction guidelines released by China it is suggested that everyone has a 50% meat consumption decrease in their diets.
There are thousands of restaurants catering to different diets opening every year and vegan options being added to more and more mainstream/food restaurants than ever before. When I was first traveling it was difficult to try to find a vegan option in the restaurants my friends were eating at but technology has helped emensly. My go to apps when trying to find a place to eat have become Trip advisor and Happycow. With the world changing in a more economical direction plant based or incorporating "meatless-mondays" into diets could be the new norm and restaurants will start to see a huge demand and cater even more. To this day its still surprising to see how many bigger restaurants are starting to offer options. Even in remote cities there will still be an option for any vegan traveler out there.
When I was traveling to the UK I knew I wouldn't have a problem finding vegan specific restaurants but I had heard for tea tasting Fortnum and Mason is where you have to go. I mentally prepared myself ahead of time to order the vegetarian option for food, not eat any, get a cute picture to send to my parents, and then ask for a to-go bag to give to my friend I was meeting up with later so it wouldn't be a waste. I was genuinely surprised and embarrassingly a little emotional when my server mentioned they have an all vegan selection. Times are changing, "More than 39% of consumers in the United States and 43% in Canada say they are trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet"(Oberst). Semi-plant based diets are predicted to be the new normal soon. Worrying about finding vegan restaurants is no longer the challenge it used to be. Armed with technology regardless of diet there will be an option.
Souces:
Oberst, Lindsay. “Why the Global Rise in Vegan and Plant-Based Eating Isn't A Fad (600% Increase in U.S. Vegans + Other Astounding Stats).” Food Revolution Network, 18 Jan. 2018, foodrevolution.org/blog/vegan-statistics-global/.
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