Why Eating Plant-Based Isn’t Just a Fad

At the beginning of 2018, Food Revolution Network posted an article about the rise of plant-based diets.

Vegan and vegetarian diets have often been considered on the fringe of society. But that’s all changing as plant-based diets are becoming more mainstream across different countries and generations. If you want to find out why eating plant-based isn’t just a fad, keep reading…

People are moving towards plant-based

We already know plant-based diets are great, but the rest of the world seems to be figuring that out too!

Celebrities and athletes are pledging to eat healthy each day. Countries as large as China and companies as large as Google have begun to encourage plant-based eating. Nestle, the largest company in the world, believes that plant-based food will continue to grow and that the trend will stick.

The plant-based diet is popular in other avenues, too.

Just Eat, an international food delivery service says that veganism is a top trend in 2018. The service saw a 94% increase in the amount of “healthy food” that was ordered. In addition, GrubHub, the top takeaway marketplace in the U.S., says that orders for plant-based foods have reached a new high.

Plant-based is global

Eating plant-based isn’t just a hipster trend in Los Angeles, it’s a trend all over the world! Just take a look at the numbers…

• The number of people identifying as a vegan in the U.S. has risen 600% in the last three years
• Individuals following a plant-based diet in the U.K. have seen a 350% increase
• The trend has grown by 400% in Portugal in 10 years
• Canada’s 2017 yearly food guide draft favors plant-based foods.
• Citizens in China are being encouraged to reduce their meat consumption by as much as 50%
• 22% of citizens in Hong Kong say that they follow some sort of plant-based diet
• The number of Australian products with a vegan claim rose 92% between 2014 and 2016

This is great news for consumers because stores and organizations are also making a move to plant-based diets. Big chains have started asking their suppliers for more plant-based options, and organizations like the American Institute for Cancer Research are encouraging a plant-focused diet for health reasons.

Active individuals eat plant-based

Athletes of all different sports are also busting the myth that plant-based diets don’t support active lifestyles! Some who follow and support plant-based diets include:

• Tennis player Venus Williams
• Olympic weightlifter Kendrick Farris
• Armenian-German strongman and former bodybuilder, Patrik Baboumian
• Gold medalist and world record holding skier and amputee, Heather Mills

Tom Brady, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, follows a mostly plant-based diet. The football star eats 80% vegetables and whole grains, and 20% lean proteins like salmon. He is passionate about eating healthy and launched a healthy meal delivery system, Purple Carrot. Listen to his wife discuss their dedication to eating plant-based here:

“The thing is he said he’s been feeling so much better,” Gisele Bündchen says on husband Tom Brady starting a plant-based diet pic.twitter.com/dFBkULKleD

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 17, 2017

In addition, NBA players like Kyrie Irving are following a plant-based diet. The Boston Celtics 2018 MVP candidate claims that he wanted to go plant-based to improve his playing. “My energy is up; my body feels amazing,” said the basketball star.

Other NBA players are getting in the game, too! Wilson Chandler of the Denver Nuggets has given up meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. He says that eating vegan has “changed my everyday living…I feel better overall in everything I do.”

Plant-based replacements are more available

Replacing meats and other processed foods with plant-based options is a fast-growing trend in the mainstream. Restaurants and grocery stores are providing customers with access to these products more and more.

The demand for plant-based kinds of milk has increased 61% between 2012 and 2017, while the demand for dairy milk has decreased (22% between 2000 and 2016). Companies like Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger are providing meat replacements for grocery stores and restaurants.

#Vegan Beyond burger outsells beef in major supermarket’s meat case. “I never thought in a million years that we’d rise this quickly to be the number one seller in terms of patties in the meat case.” – Ethan Brown, CEO of @beyondmeat https://t.co/rRx4rCbFG0 pic.twitter.com/AEgouG6q3X

— LIVEKINDLY (@livekindlyco) May 15, 2018

Going Plant-Based

Going to a plant-based diet can seem like a challenge, but it doesn’t need to be all or nothing. Simply eating vegetarian or vegan one day a week can help reduce food waste and increase sustainability, and we think that’s something to celebrate!

Our products are non-GMO verified, pre-seasoned, and, of course, tasty, making it even easier to get veggies on your plate.

If you have your own ideas on why eating plant-based is great, make sure to leave us a comment below!