Food February 8, 2019
The McVegan is actually not a joke.
What do McDonald’s, White Castle and TGI Friday’s have in common? They’re all great places to pick up plant-based alternatives when you’re in a hurry.
These fast-food chains, usually known for their meaty meals, have recently introduced new vegan options to make their menus inclusive to a variety of diets.
In early 2018, McDonald’s released a vegan burger, aptly named the McVegan, in Sweden and Finland with plans to release it to the greater public in the future.
Shortly after, White Castle released its “Impossible Burger,” which even mimics the way a meat burger bleeds. The Impossible Burger is not unique to the chain, however. The burgers are made by a separate franchise called Impossible Foods, which is why you can also find them at Fatburger, Bareburger, and Wahlburgers.
The company Beyond Meat makes meatless burgers that bleed, too. In January 2018, the brand teamed up with TGI Friday’s to sell the Beyond Burger in its restaurants. The meatless patty was initially tested in 2017 with a limited release, which was met with positive reviews.
All these burgers try to go beyond the traditional veggie burger alternative, offering instead a burger that could be mistaken for the non-vegan original.
Considering the stronghold these restaurants have on the meat-eating market, their move to appeal to vegans is certainly noteworthy. While maybe not the most obvious move, it does make sense. Why?
According to Harvard Magazine, veganism has become more popular for a variety of reasons. Some people decide to turn to the plant-based diet for the most obvious reason—a love for animals.
People are also committing to veganism as more and more studies show animal agriculture’s effect on the environment. Many proponents of veganism discuss how farming cows and other animals can contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions.
Others cite the diet’s health benefits as their reason for making the change. A vegan diet can be high in nutrients and low in saturated fats. However, it is important to remember that vegan is not synonymous with healthy. French fries, for instance, are a vegan option that don’t exactly boast exceptional nutritional value. The meatless burgers discussed in this article are also not particularly healthy.
With more people deciding to commit to a vegan lifestyle, it’s clear why large chains want to appeal to the growing new market.
Restaurants that specifically cater to customers seeking fast food plant-based alternatives are not entirely new. Vegan burger chain By Chloe opened in 2014 after its founders recognized there was a lack of fast burger options for vegans. Now, the New York-based restaurant has multiple locations in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and London.
Vegan fast-food drive-throughs were also in existence pre-McDonald’s. Plant Power Fast Food first opened in San Diego with drive-up windows and a completely vegan menu. Since then it’s expanded throughout California, and with upcoming openings in Long Beach and Redlands, picking up a vegan meal will be easier than ever.
As previously mentioned, most restaurants offer vegan options, but they’re not specifically marketed as vegan. Think french fries.
Taco Bell has an entire webpage with advice on how to order vegan meals at the restaurant.
Additionally, almost any meal can be ordered “Fresco-style,” which replaces cheese, sour cream and mayo-based sauces with pico de gallo.
But now, restaurants are making more of an effort to provide full meals that don’t need special vegan modifications. By making menu changes, these chains reflect the increasing variety in diets among their customers. This way, a group of diners that includes meat-eaters and vegans alike can enjoy a meal knowing there are options for everyone.
