They have names like Kale and Clover, Flower Child and Grabbagreen. If you’re searching for a vegan or vegetarian restaurant in Scottsdale, you likely don’t have to look far.
HappyCow, which provides a dining guide for vegans and vegetarians, lists dozens of eateries in Scottsdale.
The area has so many offerings, Wallethub recently ranked the city at No. 8 for vegan and vegetarian “friendliness” in the country. The company evaluated areas such as accessibility, affordability and quality.
Vegetarians generally avoid meat, seafood or poultry. Vegans add dairy and eggs – or anything that comes from an animal – to that list.
There’s a reason so many eateries now offer plant-based options: The vegan industry has skyrocketed in recent years. In the U.S., business that promoted vegetarian or vegan claims accounted for 17 percent of all product launches compared to 6 percent five years ago, according to Innova Market Insights.
Younger generations – millennials and Generation Z, in particular – have driven much of that growth, according to NPD Group Inc.
Lisa Schmidt, a clinical dietitian and professor at Arizona State University, said many people who adopt plant-based diets such as veganism or vegetarianism have numerous health benefits. Plant-based diets are low in saturated fat, which is correlated to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and other health risks.
Schmidt said people have misconceptions about plant-based diets, especially their concerns about protein intake. Many people eat more protein than needed when they eat meat, and it’s easy to fulfill protein needs on a plant-based diet.
People also associate veganism with wealth. For example, one writer for the International Business Times who tried a vegan diet complained that “cool vegan recipes” often require expensive ingredients. However, vegan advocates dispute that claim.