From teenagers to massive celebrities and athletes, many have switched to a vegan or vegetarian diet in the past few years. Once upon a time, it was quite challenging to find vegan meals; however, now, you can find them everywhere – especially in London. As it turns out, London has transformed into one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the entire world!
Why Do People Go Vegan?
Have diet or food allergy issues? So do many others! And a large number of those have converted to a vegan or vegetarian diet to help. In the United States, more than 1 out of every 15 children has a severe allergy to food – there has been a 50% increase in milk, eggs, and fish allergies since 1997. Meanwhile, these numbers do not include those with illnesses like celiac disease or those who are lactose intolerant (around 50 million people). So, you can see why so many are turning to a natural, vegan diet!
However, others, like athletes and the elderly, are turning to vegetarian and vegan diets for health benefits. Of course, we all know that dairy and red meat consumption leads to higher rates of diabetes and heart disease. Eliminating these foods can significantly improve one’s health. Finally, animal abuse also presents a fantastic reason to eat less meat. Factory farming is not only horrible for animals, but it’s also terrible for the environment.
So, without so many reasons to go vegan, it’s no wonder that the number of vegas rose from less than .25% of the population of the United States in 2015, to over 1% by 2019. And that does not include vegetarians or those who go vegan once or twice a week. In response to the growing movement, London has quickly become the vegan capital of the world!
London: A Vegan Heaven
This year, the online magazine Happy Cow, the biggest and most popular vegan-friendly restaurant guide, concluded that London reigns as the current vegan heaven, for the second year in a row! Currently, there are 152 vegan-friendly restaurants there and over 100 vegan-only options. New York followed as a close second on the list, with 111 vegan-friendly restaurants, and Berlin, Los Angeles, and Toronto rounded out the top five.
Ken Spector, Happy Cow’s spokesperson, stated that he believes veganism is on its way to becoming the dominant diet in London. While vegans only make up about one to two percent of Britain’s populations, just like here in the States, a whopping 51% of British citizens said they are trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets!
Adapting To The New Culture
What does it mean for restaurants to turn vegan-friendly? Today, including vegan items on the menu and even turning full-vegan means that the owner is opened to adaptations in business. Aside from that, it’s an excellent way to rebrand and improve the place, all while caring for Mother Earth.
Of course, the increased business won’t hurt either! Experimenting with the menu is amazing for accumulating a bigger customer base. When 93% of customers check the online menu before coming to the café or restaurant, around 50% are looking for vegetarian or vegan options. So, owners should update the information and let people know about expanding.
“Of all our 20 years, this past year has seen the most dramatic growth in vegan interest,” said Eric Brent, CEO, and founder of HappyCow.
Sources: Trading Blvd, Single Platform, The Guardian