3 Reasons That Being a Vegan Is Easier Than Ever

The 2020s have been deemed the age of veganism, with the U.S. showing a 500% increase in the number of vegans between 2014 and 2020. Reasons such as kindness to animals, a wish to reduce the number of greenhouse gas emissions, and health concerns have helped bring the value of the plant-based market to around $4.5 billion. Of course, many Texans would add another reason to the list: the array of vegan establishments to choose from. Whether you hail from the Lone Star State or you are simply visiting a city like Austin, Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, these are just a few reasons why you will find it easier than ever to skip animal products.

A Dining Extravaganza

Gone are the days when vegan members of a dining party had to lament the scarcity of suitable products on a typical gourmet menu. These days, some of the trendiest (and best reviewed) restaurants in Texas are vegan. At these establishments, presentation and artistry are married with a variety of textures and flavors, and menus often change seasonally to keep diners surprised throughout the year. Just a few establishments you might like to try are Counter Culture in Austin (try their pumpkin curry quinoa, their biscuit bowl with a tofu scramble and gravy, or their daily pizza specials); Vegan Food House in Dallas (try their vegan wings, tacos, and po-boys), and Green Seed Vegan in Houston (famous for its gourmet sandwiches and fresh, healthy smoothies).

Vegan Meal Kits

If you want to go vegan but you're worried that you may not know how to whip up healthy and delicious meals for you and/or your family, there are a host of services that deliver vegan meal kits with required ingredients for everything from vegan soup bowls to stews, hot salads, and raw desserts. Vegan meal kits frequently offer promos and coupon codes so you can save as you go along: for example, there is currently a Sunbasket coupon available. You can additionally go online and learn to prepare a host of easy vegan dishes—ranging from vegan cheese platters (easy and attractive) right through to sophisticated fare like vegan bacon (the trick is to use finely sliced zucchini, well spiced and dehydrated in a food dehydrator or in your oven).

Vegan Product Substitutes

If you love the smoky flavor of burgers, sausages and bacon, then one thing that may have been keeping you from going back in the past is the lack of comparable vegan products. Today, there is a host of companies selling on a national scale that manufacture ingredients very similar indeed to the real thing. Texas also has groceries (such as Rabbit Food Grocery in Austin and Sprouts Farmers Markets in McAllen and Corpus Christi) that sell fresh, seasonal vegetables full of color and variety.

Veganism is growing quickly in popularity across the U.S. Texas is no exception, as is evident from the range of plant-based gourmet restaurants about. In addition to dining out, you can also have meal kits delivered, or make a vast number of delicious dishes thanks to meal kits and ingredient substitutes that make it easy not to miss the omnivore lifestyle.