According to The Vegan Society, there are now 350% more vegans today than just over a decade ago. There are several reasons for this trend towards a plant-based diet, including newfound concerns for health, animal rights and environmental concerns.
With more people adopting a vegan lifestyle, you can expect more diners (and potential diners) who are looking for vegan options in your menu. And if you have what they’re looking for, you’ve just won yourself a customer!
Vegetarian vs vegan diets
First, it’s important to understand the difference between a vegetarian and vegan diet. Vegetarians avoid meat, fish, seafood and poultry, but still eat eggs, milk and cheese. In fact, most vegetarians choose to get their protein from dairy products and eggs. Vegans, on the other hand, remove all animal products from their food options, including meat, eggs, milk, honey and cheese.
The group eats where the vegan can
When dining out, what vegans want most are options. A generation ago, before vegetarianism was en vogue, many restaurants could get away with offering only one meatless menu item – usually a tossed salad.
These days, we recommend including at least half a dozen choices in your menu that are free from meat and dairy. Remember that while your restaurant may cater predominantly to non-vegan customers, when groups of families and friends visit a restaurant, they’re looking for a place where everyone can enjoy a good meal – including the members of the group who are vegans.
Cooking vegan simply means getting creative
Adding vegan dishes to your menu is not difficult, as food preparation doesn’t require special kitchens or utensils. All you need is some creativity and a willingness to conjure up a few vegan dishes that taste good while meeting vegan requirements.
And with access to fresh, seasonable produce, you have all the tools (and ingredients) you need to experiment with vegan recipes.
Dishes like quinoa and black bean combos, or squash medleys and sweet potato quesadillas, are making their way into restaurant menus to the delight of vegans everywhere. You can be among the leaders in this movement by taking advantage of seasonal produce to create unique specialty dishes that are offered for a limited time. This gives your vegan diners even more reasons to choose your restaurant for their next dining experience.
