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Vegetarianism – more popular than you think

Feb 08, 2012

While there are surely plenty of hardcore meat-lovers in the United States, the number of vegetarians in the nation is on a steady rise. According to the Vegetarian Times study, there are 7.3 million (or 3.2 percent of American adults) Americans who are vegetarians and an additional 22.8 million who follow a vegetarian-inclined diet.

Further, a recent study conducted by Bonnie Riggs, of the leading market research firm, The NPD Group, forecasts five major influences that will continue to drive consumer behavior of diners in 2012. One key point is the higher consumption and demand for healthier and lighter foods.

The statistics alone cries out for the need of more vegetarian menu items at restaurants. We have to admit, your run-of-the-mill fast-food chain salad, typically loaded with high calories and fat, won’t always cut it in terms of flavor and nutrition.

Our recent work over at LYFE Kitchen exemplifies a wide range of healthy food for vegetarians and carnivores alike, without sacrificing taste. Let’s take breakfast, for example. Breakfast menu items anywhere usually conjure up images of soggy, buttery pancakes with sausage or breakfast sandwiches whose calorie count alone could fulfill your daily recommended value. Over at LYFE kitchen, a vegetarian breakfast burrito made of whole-wheat tortilla stuffed with red peppers, onions, avocado, baby spinach, chipotle aioli, cheddar cheese, your choice of scrambled eggs or egg whites; with salsa, served with fruit salad, is nutritious, delicious and just 496 calories.

For lunch, you may want to take a bite into LYFE’s classic burger – grass-fed beef or gardein*, organic romaine, tomato, red onion, agave pickles, agave ketchup and cheddar cheese on a multigrain bun – entirely vegetarian! A classic favorite, eggplant parmesan, works great for dinner – breaded and baked eggplant medallions, topped with pomodoro sauce, ricotta and five-cheese blend, served with garlic broccolini. Vegans also have many menu items to choose from at LYFE Kitchen.

 

Take a look at this blogger’s vegan experience at LYFE Kitchen.

 

“My fears were wasted energy because as it turned out not only would we be dining on all vegan dishes, one of our dining companions would be none other than Chef Tal Ronnen, one of the two Executive Chef’s at LYFE Kitchen!

Chef Tal told us that we were about to enjoy a meal that would be delicious, satisfying and coincidentally, cholesterol free. That’s right, zero cholesterol. Every dish would be under 600 calories and each would be packed with flavor.” Read on.