Veganism and plant based diets are a big thing in the UK at the moment. It seems that each and every day the amount of people turning their back on animal products is growing and this means that there are more people adopting the vegan approach to eating and lifestyle choices.
In fact, towards the end of 2017 it is thought that there is as many as 3,000,000 meat free diners in the UK.
Whilst this has also meant that there has been a rise in vegan restaurants, cafes and takeaways, there is still not much in the way of vegan and vegetarian choices when you visit a mainstream restaurant.
We believe that this has to change. Whilst there will be plenty of restauranteurs that might not agree with the vegan choices, that doesn’t mean that they can exclude them from their menu creations.
What choices do vegans have currently?
Unless you are eating in a specifically designed vegan or vegetarian restaurant then you may find that you are incredibly limited in what you can eat. Whilst vegetarians often have a few more choices than those who are completely animal free, they are not always faced with the most exciting choices.
For vegans this is even worse. There have been plenty of stories on social media of vegans who are pained to find out that their menu choices in mainstream restaurants are more than just a little on the limited side.
Some have told how they have been offered a bowl of chips as a choice of main meal and of course, there are plenty who have known the horror of the side salad. But why is this the case?
Why is vegan catering so dire?
Vegans understand that not everyone is on board with their choices, however, they feel that doesn’t mean that they have to be made to eat the blandest of foods. Many feel disappointed even when they are served with a tasty vegan choice at a restaurant. They may look and taste good, but often they are a combination of pureed veg and not much else. Essentially a form of baby food.
With so many top quality restauranteurs spread throughout the UK, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that more isn’t being done to include vegans in their menu. Veganuary and The Humane League have decided to make a stand against this. They have launched a new project which is aimed to work with mainstream restaurants up and down the country. They want to help these places to improve their vegan offerings, with at least 2 different choices per course for those who have a larger menu.
The thing to remember with catering to a plant based diet is that if you own a restaurant, you might find that some of your dishes are already suitable for vegan dining. You may just need to exclude one item or offer it as an addition, such as cheese.
In doing this, you can, in no time at all, include vegans and vegetarians in your menu and appeal to a whole new raft of customers.
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