60% Of Americans Are Eating More Plant-Based Amid COVID-19, Says Survey

More than half (60 percent) of Americans have started eating a more plant-based diet since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a new poll.

The survey, which polled 2,000 adults, was conducted by market research firm OnePoll and by Eat Just, Inc – a food tech company best known for its plant-based JUST Egg product made from mung beans – ahead of Better Breakfast Month (September).

Plant-based

According to the polling, nearly six in 10 have found themselves ‘transitioning to a more flexitarian, or semi-vegetarian, diet’, citing health as their top reason for making the change since the pandemic began.

“Nearly 60 percent of respondents in the national general population survey said they ‘strongly agree’ or ‘somewhat agree’ when asked whether their eating habits were increasingly shifting to plant-based, with 39 percent of participants 18-25 years old and 23 percent of participants 26-41 years old stating that their diet already excludes animal products,” said a statement sent to Plant Based News.

“When it came to the motivations for plant-based purchases, half cited their desire to make healthier food choices, while about four in 10 said purchases were driven by a desire to eat fewer animal products (42 percent) and wanting to live a more sustainable lifestyle (39 percent).”

Open to trying

The survey found when it came to meals, the majority of respondents were more open to trying plant-based food at breakfast. Overall, more than 80 percent were open to trying a plant-based meal one day a week.

“The results dispelled the notion that plant-based products available today aren’t as tasty, or are more difficult to cook with, signifying the industry has made major strides in creating offerings that are not only delicious and nutritious but also easy to prepare,” said the statement.