Vegan Cuisine Guide: Plant-Based Foods Worldwide (2024)

FAQs

Which country is #1 for vegans? ›

India. Three of India's major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism — teach the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence towards all beings. Because of this religious tradition, India has the highest percentage of vegetarians out of all the countries in the world.

Chef Gordon Ramsay, who has been known for teasing vegans, confessed on TV that he actually "loves" plant-based food. The British TV personality and the world-famous chef made his vegan confession on the US series of Masterchef: Back to Win.

When dining out, Middle Eastern restaurants offer the most consistently vegan-friendly menus. Nearly everything that isn't meat is commonly vegan, especially falafel, hummus, tahini dressing, tabbouleh salad, and lavash bread or pita.

In other words, plants were paired with protein sources, like eggs, to make a nutritious and well rounded meal. Eggs can and should be part of a plant-based diet, and these five suggestions showcase how easy it is to incorporate the incredible egg into your plant-forward dishes.

With a total score of 61.38, Portland earned top honors as the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly city in the country—just as it has every year since 2019. It's no surprise, considering that Portland is a top wellness destination, as well.

India is the unique outlier. Going by percentage of the population, Mexico is the second most vegetarian country, at 19%, then Brazil and Taiwan at 14%. Then Israel 13%, Australia 12%, Argentina, Sweden, and Finland 12%. After that it's mostly European countries, mostly around 10%.

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

While almost half of chefs surveyed (48%) believe that new alternatives to animal proteins can improve human health, they also apply the need for change to their own personal diets: a third have reduced the amount of meat they eat, while 15% of chefs even describe themselves as vegetarian or vegan.

After weeks of vegan activists protesting in front of his nose-to-tail bistro, chef Michael Hunter decided to make a statement by butchering a freshly-killed deer's leg in the window of his Toronto restaurant, Antler Kitchen & Bar, right in front of the demonstrators.

Beer and Wine

Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.

What is the most eaten vegan food? ›

Some of the most widely enjoyed vegan foods are legumes, nuts and seeds, chickpeas, and black beans. Nuts and nut butters are packed with nutrients. Airheads, Cracker Jack, Cinnamon Life Cereal, Fritos, and Fruit By the Foot are also vegan foods that are widely enjoyed.

Some negatives of a plant-based diet include giving up foods you enjoy, finding restaurant meals, finding affordable plant-based foods, and getting enough protein.

A whole-foods, plant-based shopping list. Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, pineapple, bananas, etc. Vegetables: kale, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, peppers, etc. Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc.

Fats in olive oil, olives, nuts and nut butters, seeds, and avocados are particularly healthy choices. Cook a vegetarian meal at least one night a week. Build these meals around beans, whole grains, and vegetables.

London and Berlin are the most vegan cities

It currently has 161 fully vegan restaurants and over 350 fully vegan establishments. “London remains a global frontrunner in vegan consciousness and the diversity of plant-based offerings,” commented Emma Cebuliak, Head of Marketing at HappyCow.

Plant-based eating is deeply rooted in three of the prominent religions practiced in India – Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. All these religions believe in the concept of Ahimsa, which means kindness and non-violence towards all living things.

About four percent of the U.S. population follows a vegan diet. It is noteworthy that the number of vegans is so small, that surveys have a hard time clearly showing how many vegans there are.

India has the highest number of vegetarians in the world, with around 38% of the population following a vegetarian diet. India also has the lowest meat consumption rate in the world.