The Vegan Explosion

If you haven't noticed there's a vegan movement out there that's taking hold on the way we shop and eat. More and more people are going meatless, dairyless and eggless. Why is this phenomenon happening?Are people getting smarter?Or are companies jumping on the bandwagon.

Eating vegan has never been easier. Some of the most beloved fast food chains are going meatless, Burger King introduced its' Impossible Burger to rave reviews and it's still one of the best selling. KFC also has Beyond Fried Chicken  which has all the herbs and spices of the original recipe. It's selling and becoming just as popular as a bucket of real chicken and the company's famed pot pie. The taste for all of these are the same as actual meat. The only complaint about Burger King's Impossible Whopper is that it's too big to eat and can be shared.It wasn't always this way . Years ago vegan burgers and hot dogs were vile tasting, vile colored soy chunks. The only way they were appetizing was if a lot of mustard and ketchup was poured on them. The taste was a strange taste  reminiscent of the smell of rubber. The texture for the hot dogs was slimy. Even splitting them and frying in margarine or butter didn't help. There's still a lot of room for improvement but they have come a long way since thirty years ago.

Luckily the hamburgers fared much better. Boca was the gold standard of veggie burgers back in the day. They were OK, being filled with mostly peas and carrots. Morningstar Farms came along and they improved them along with satisfying vegetarians' needs for bacon and chicken nuggets. The burgers were now coming in flavors like pizza with basil and tomato added and the Tex-Mex burger, spiked with chiles and jalapenos. The company now has breakfast sandwiches, with vegan patties however with real eggs and cheese. Gardein's Burgers come the closest in taste and texture and the ones I recommend for both air frying and outdoor grilling. Now the company has come out with their own version of the Beyond and Impossible Burger with their Ultimate Burger, a doubly "meaty" patty that's just great on its' own. They also have their fried "fish" fillets which again, taste like the real thing and pasta bowls filled with faux chicken or Italian sausage. Vegans and vegetarians are also getting their day with vegan only bakeries and cafes. Vegan cakes are just coming into their own and they and vegan cupcakes  are usually hits or misses. Some have a dense crumb and a heavy frosting. In a few years,they'll be bound to be improvements too.

The vegan movement is truly picking up steam. Don't be surprised if there is no more need for meat, dairy or eggs. Things are changing and changing fast.