The vegan market is booming! And there’s never been a better time to adjust your menu to the demand for vegan foods. If you’re not yet catering to vegans, you’re missing out on a $13 billion industry loaded with loyal customers who are ready to go out of their way for a remarkable vegan dinner.
Still, there is a lot of confusion around vegan foods— and adapting your menu can feel like grasping at straws. Maybe you’re unsure what vegans eat in the first place. Or you haven’t seen any demand for it yourself. Even worse— the only vegan thing on your menu is a garden salad and re-working it seems like an impossible task.
We know the struggle and we’re here to help you overcome it. In this blog, you’ll learn why and how to include vegan proteins in your menu to better serve your customers. We cover everything from what a vegan protein is in the first place to tips on how to easily adjust to a vegan menu.
Why Should You Add Vegan Proteins to Your Menu?
Restaurant experts rated vegan proteins as the #2 food and menu trend for the next 10 years. Plus, the demand for vegan foods skyrocketed by over 700% in the last few years. More and more people are seeking to cut down on their meat consumption— whether it’s for health, environmental, or ethical reasons. Sustainable menus are pivotal when adapting to hospitality trends.
As the world changes, so does the “traditional” way of eating. People are more conscious of their health and how food impacts it. In fact, 59% of consumers are eating meatless meals at least once a week. And 33% are actively trying to lower their meat consumption.¹
All these people have one thing in common— they don’t want to sacrifice taste.
Having a menu that adapts to these changes opens up a whole new market of people to cater to. And vegans are known for being loyal to the places going the extra mile to accommodate options for them.
What are Vegan or Plant-Based Proteins?
In essence, all protein comes from plants. Animals eat plants and these plants have proteins. Then, the proteins they ate build up in their muscles, which eventually are used as food. So animal protein is essentially the middle man— all protein comes from plants.
To make it clearer— vegan proteins are sources of protein that come only from plants or plant-based foods. And there are many of them— legumes, soy, oats, and nuts are all sources of plant-based protein.
Vegan Proteins to Include in Your Menu
There are many options for vegan, plant-based proteins to feature in your menu. Some of these are:
- Chickpeas
- Tofu
- Beans
- Seitan
- Lentils
- Nuts
- Edamame
- Quinoa
- Tempeh
- Peas
They’re as versatile as animal protein and they’re better for the environment and overall health. Plus, you get many options to choose from— use what best fits your menu!
Top Tips to Accommodate Vegan Guests With Better Meals
Now that you know what vegan proteins you can include in your menu, let’s take a look at how to better approach this. Remember— vegan guests want to experience your food just like anyone else. They’re looking for tasty options that adapt to their lifestyle, so a basic side salad is not going to cut it.
To ensure your guests have a worthwhile experience, these are some tips to follow.
1. Think Outside the Bun
If the only option on your menu for vegans is a veggie or Beyond burger, you’re due for a menu update. You can get a veggie burger at virtually any restaurant… and unless you crafted a homemade patty that’s worth raving about… most people won’t be excited about it. So think outside the bun!
2. Give Substitution Options to Your Dishes
If you have dishes that could be made vegan simply by swapping animal protein for plant-based protein— let your diners know! Offer a simple substitution to make the dish vegan. This means if you have chicken pasta on your menu, offer to substitute the chicken for crispy chickpeas or tofu. And of course, make sure the rest of the ingredients are vegan too.
This makes it a lot easier for vegans to know their options. Plus, they’ll notice the effort on your side to accommodate them, which leads to a loyal customer base.
3. Create a Vegan Version of your Best-Selling Dish
Vegans don’t want to just eat veggie burgers and basic salads. They go to your restaurant to have the same experience as anyone else. And the best way to give them that is by recreating your best-selling dishes using plant-based ingredients.
There are so many ways to recreate dishes. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to get creative and play with flavor profiles. If you’re an Italian restaurant and people go out of their way to try your spaghetti with homemade meatballs— swap out the animal meat for red lentils, tempeh, or eggplant. Create a next-level meat-free meatball that people would be excited about— even non-vegans.
4. Create On-Theme Vegan Recipes
Another way to have an inclusive menu that everyone is excited about is to keep your dishes aligned with the cuisine you serve. If you’re a Mexican restaurant, create Mexican dishes for vegans— black beans and seitan are a great options for protein and they’re easy to play around with.
It makes no sense to serve a vegan burger at an Italian restaurant. Plus, 49% of diners stated they would likely order a meal described as vegan— even if they’re not vegan themselves. And most vegan meals are more affordable to make. Win-win!
5. Educate Yourself on What’s Vegan and What Isn’t
When catering for vegans, information is key. It’s easy to let the small details slide, like butter on the bread you serve for the table, or cheese on the side asparagus. To avoid these issues, understand what vegans eat and what they don’t.
Some examples of non-vegan ingredients are:
- Butter
- Dairy products
- Mayo
- Gelatin
- Any animal meat (including fish)
- Honey
- Ghee
- Worcestershire Sauce
- White sugar
- Red 4 dye
- Confectioner’s glaze (shellac
- Pesto
- Refried beans (might contain lard)
- Alcohol
These are just a few of the things that you should keep in mind when catering to vegans. Avoid these ingredients on table items like bread or chips and make a note on the menu if you’re using them on side dishes.
Elevate Your Menu With a Vegan Hospitality Expert!
Is your restaurant ready to cater to vegans with confidence and mouth-watering dishes? At Next Generation Vegan, I help your restaurant seamlessly adapt to the plant-based movement. From menu evaluations to staff training, you’ll get a reliable support system for your restaurant.
Expand your customer base. Serve confidently. Become the go-to place for vegan diners.
It’s time to invest in the future of your restaurant. Book a free strategy session here!
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