Going vegan has been one of the biggest and most popular food trends of recent years. Now that people are more health and eco-conscious than ever before, the global demand for plant-based foods has been increasing significantly over the past 10 years. According to a report by research firm GlobalData, the number of people claiming to be a vegan in the U.S rose from 1% in 2014 to 6% in 2017. And in Great Britain, according to recent statistics from The Vegan Society, there are now over half a million people following a vegan diet, compared to just 150,000 10 years ago. As a result, supermarket chains around the world are now stocking more vegan options and meat-free alternatives in order to keep up with changing consumer food choices.
Even The Meat Is Going Vegan
Business is currently booming for meat-free alternatives. Even multi-national food corporations such as McDonalds and Tyson Foods, which are primary animal product based, are now investing their own stakes in the vegan market. McDonalds is now selling their own McVegan burgers, while Tyson Foods currently has a 5% share in ‘Beyond Meat,’ a Los Angeles-based company that has developed an extensive range of plant-based meat substitutes. We’re talking burgers that look, feel and taste like the real deal, oozing with blood made out of beetroot juice, yet the whole product is made entirely out of plant proteins.
Getting The Most Out Of Plant-Based Foods
If you’re one of the many people who have chosen to live life on the veg, then you’ll know that the world of vegetables is incredibly colourful and varied. And being able to access the full flavour and nutritional profile of vegetables will help you get even more satisfaction and enjoyment our of your vegan diet. Many vegetables have to be prepared just right in order to achieve the best texture and flavour. For example, if you cook peppers for too long, they will start to disintegrate and go mushy – not very appetising. Many people are now opting for sous vide cooking, which is a new and exciting food preparation technology that ensures food is cooked to perfection. Sous vide machines will cook food to precise temperatures, so everything tastes exactly as it should.
The sous vide method involves placing food in heat-proof, air-tight plastic bags and then cooking the food in a circulating hot water bath. It is particularly good for cooking plant-based foods such as tofu and tempeh, as well as the whole range of plant-based meat substitutes, as it helps to maximise the tenderness and succulence of plant-based meat alternatives so you can enjoy them at their best. Cooking using methods like this is contributing to the rising trend for meat substitutes, as it ensures that they deliver an end result that’s comparable to a meat dish.
Millions of people worldwide are now relishing the benefits of a plant-based diet. And with the emergence of meat-free alternatives, vegans now have an even more diverse range of foods to enjoy. This way, people can still eat some of their favourite foods, but in a much more ethical, healthy and sustainable way.
*collaborative post
