THE NATION’S TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: BRITS ARE OPTING FOR PLANT-BASED FOODS OVER THE BRITISH BANGER

20 March 2012

It’s official, roast beef loving Brits are starting to shun Sunday roasts, the British banger and milk on their cereal for healthier plant-based swaps, a survey* from Alpro reveals.

The power of plant-based eating is a fast-growing trend.  In fact, four out of 10 of us are eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods than we were a year ago. And six out of 10 of us are eating more of these types of foods than we were five years ago.

People of all age groups are fuelling this trend, although it is younger consumers – those aged between 18 and 30 – who are looking to change their diets and turn to alternative eating regimes in the greatest numbers.

In fact, the independent survey commissioned by Alpro revealed that more than half of 18 to 30 year olds surveyed have added more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods into their diets in the last year alone, pointing to a major change in the UK’s dietary habits for generations. Meanwhile, of all those surveyed, one in five admitted they ate meat and dairy-based foods merely ‘out of habit’.

Plant-based eating conjures up images of a strict vegan diet, but enjoying the benefits of more plant-based choices doesn’t mean becoming a full-time vegan or vegetarian. It’s about reshaping what’s on the plate by making a few simple swaps, while still treating yourself to your favourite meat or dairy products every now or then.

While many of us are already eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods for health reasons, a growing section of society is also becoming concerned over the affects that the production of meat and diary-based foods has on the environment. For example, it takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat, while it takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk.

In contrast, plant-based crops and foods, meanwhile, are much more water efficient, with an average of 25 gallons of water needed to produce one pound of food.

Despite more and more people becoming more commonly aware of such facts, it appears there is still a lack of knowledge in some quarters about the effect that the production of meat and dairy products has on the world around us.

Six out of 10 people are still unaware that plant-based foods offer the most environmentally sustainable option for food production. Even so, four out of 10 of us are already determined to cut down on the amount of meat and dairy currently in our diets.