How veganism killed the vegetarian
telegraph.co.ukVegan cheez, tofu scramble, cauliflower steak or chickpea curry: meat-free cho-ices have never been so great. I’m quite envious of the modern ‘plant-based’ posse: when I gave up meat for a decade back in the ’80s, I was lucky to be offered a baked potato with congealed cheese.But it’s not all rosy: if you are an old-fashioned veggie, who prefers to get their protein from eggs and cheese rather than ‘plant-based meat and dairy alternatives’, it can feel like the vegetarian option has been pushed off the menu.
If you don’t want meat, it’s go vegan or go home.In restaurants, those great vegetarian dishes – a buttery risotto, macaroni cheese pimped with truffles or, the pinnacle of restaurant showmanship, a quivering, rush-it-to-the-table soufflé – are losing out, as vegan dishes are deemed to ‘do’ for vegetarians too.
Our local Côte brasserie has three vegan main courses but none solely vegetarian.The same is true in the supermarkets. A quick search of Asda’s website promises 199 vegetarian ready meals – impressive until, on closer examination, most of them are vegan.
Squeaky Bean Marinated Chicken Style Pieces BBQ, anyone?Veganism is certainly big business. Last December alone at least 682 new vegan products were launched in the UK, including vegan versions of Babybel and Philadelphia cream cheese.
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