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A Plant-Based Future for the Hospitality Industry?

by | CAREER GUIDANCE, Hospitality Trends

It’s hard to imagine the restaurant industry where meat isn’t the main attraction. But, times are changing and so are people’s eating habits. In recent years, a lot of people have made the jump to a plant-based diet.

Does this trend away from eating meat mean steakhouses will soon be a thing of the past?

What is a plant-based diet?

You may have heard the term “plant based” being used quite a lot lately. It can be confusing at first because many people assume it is the same thing as being vegan or vegetarian

Vegans and vegetarians do indeed follow plant based diets. But, not every person who follows a plant based lifestyle is a vegan or vegetarian.

Following a plant based diet doesn’t mean that you have stopped eating meat and animal products entirely. It’s an adjustment in a person’s eating habits to reduce their reliance on them for calories and nutrients.

Instead, people who go plant based make whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and nuts the main attraction on their dinner table.

Dedicating yourself to a vegan or vegetarian diet can be a big commitment. Many people break these diets because they find them too restrictive. Plant based diets are more flexible and allow people to slowly adjust the way they eat so they are more likely to stick with the change.

Why are people adopting plant-based diets?

Vegetarianism and veganism have both been growing in popularity for decades. For many people this is more than a dietary choice, it’s a moral one. 

They’ve made the decision to avoid eating meat or all animal products to reduce their impact on the environment. This is often because of the harm caused to ecosystems or the mistreatment of animals that result from the commercial production of meat.

While some people adopt a plant-based diet due to their principles, others make the change for more practical reasons. 

A number of people have switched to a plant-based diet because they feel healthier overall when they eat less meat. They don’t eliminate meat entirely but they greatly reduce how much they consume on a regular basis. Instead, they strive for a more balanced and sustainable diet that focuses on fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains to give their body the energy it needs.

Another reason is that, with inflation at record highs, meat is becoming more and more expensive. While rising food costs are also affecting the price of fruits and vegetables, it’s still much more affordable to follow a plant-based diet than one that is reliant on meat.

Also, the covid-19 lockdowns saw many people take up home gardening as a hobby. This led to the realization that you can grow your own fruit and vegetables at home in a sustainable way. But, you’ll never be able to grow a steak in your home garden.

How does this movement affect the hospitality industry?

Vegans and vegetarians have already had quite an impact on the hospitality industry in recent years. Every major city has countless options for restaurants that have no meat on the menu at all. Furthermore, the vast majority of restaurants have some vegetarian offerings, if not an entire section dedicated to them.

As consumer preferences change and we move into a more meatless future, restaurants will need to give more consideration to their approach. 

However, it’s more than just putting a veggie burger or jackfruit “pulled pork” sandwich on the menu

Restaurants will have to reexamine their business from a plant-based perspective. They may need to make big changes to the menu, pursue partnerships with more sustainable vendors, or retrain staff to move in a new direction.

Moving away from meat can also lead to increased profits from the kitchen. Meats and cheeses are expensive ingredients but vegetables are affordable and versatile. If you can train chefs to deliver the same quality of dishes with a plant-based focus then it will have a positive impact on the bottom line.

It’s clear by now that the move toward a plant-based diet is not just a fad that will disappear. More and more people are making the change and hospitality companies should change with them. Become a member of Hosco today to browse our company directory and see which hospitality brands match up with a plant-based lifestyle!

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