EXPLAINED: Bad horrible vegan food | Vintage Vibes

If you walked into a restaurant 30 years ago and asked for a vegan meal, there's a good chance you'd have been met with a confused lookmor at least a lot of questions. Plant-based eating simply wasn't as common as it is today, and dedicated vegan menus were few and far between.

Fast forward to the present, and things couldn't be more different. Supermarkets now have entire vegan sections, fast-food chains offer plant-based burgers, and restaurants proudly highlight vegan options on their menus. In fact, The Economist even dubbed 2019 "The Year of the Vegan," reflecting just how quickly the lifestyle has grown around the world. What was once considered a niche way of eating has become part of the mainstream.

Of course, people choose veganism for many different reasons. Some adopt it for health benefits, while others do so because of environmental concerns, animal welfare, or religious and ethical beliefs. For many, it's a combination of several factors rather than just one. Whatever the motivation, plant-based eating has become increasingly visible across cultures and age groups. As awareness grows, so does curiosity, with more people experimenting with vegan recipes even if they don't follow the lifestyle full-time. Today, vegan food is no longer aimed solely at vegans; it's become something many people are willing to try.

That growth has been remarkable. Based on national surveys and United Nations statistics, there are now more than 79 million vegans worldwide, with some countries seeing particularly rapid increases over the past decade. The United States, for example, has experienced one of the fastest rates of growth, with estimates suggesting the vegan population has increased by around 600% since 2014. While exact numbers vary depending on how they're measured, one thing is clear: plant-based eating is becoming far more common than it used to be. What once seemed like a passing trend has evolved into a global movement.

Interestingly, public attitudes toward veganism have also become more positive over time. Research conducted by The Vegan Society found that most people around the world have either neutral or favorable views of veganism. Even in countries where opinions tend to be more mixed, the majority of respondents still viewed the lifestyle positively or at least without negativity. According to the charity's Veganism Around the World report, veganism is no longer seen as a niche movement but one that's steadily gaining acceptance across different cultures. Restaurants, supermarkets, and food companies have all played a role in making plant-based options more accessible than ever before.

That said, veganism doesn't look the same everywhere. India has one of the highest proportions of vegans in the world, with roughly 10% of the population following a vegan diet. In many Western countries, the percentage is considerably lower, typically hovering between two and three percent, while several European nations report figures closer to one or two percent. Cultural traditions, religious practices, food availability, and local cuisine all influence how popular veganism becomes in different parts of the world. It's a reminder that eating habits are shaped by far more than trends alone.

Finding vegan food has also become much easier in many countries. New Zealand is often ranked among the most vegan-friendly places per capita, boasting an impressive number of restaurants serving plant-based meals. Taiwan has become famous for having one of the world's highest concentrations of fully vegan restaurants, while Iceland (perhaps surprisingly) has seen a huge increase in restaurants offering plant-based options, with around 43% now including at least one vegan dish on the menu. Whether you're traveling or eating close to home, it's never been easier to find something plant-based.