How Many Adults Eat Vegetarian And Vegan Meals When Eating Out?
by The Harris Poll
Posted: 2016-12-16 15:12:25 EST

More and more restaurants and companies are offering vegetarian and vegan meals. For example, Subway tested a vegan burger in Florida, vegans can find a burrito at Taco Bell, and Ben and Jerry's has recently released a vegan ice cream. But how many people are interested in vegetarian and vegan meals?

To help answer this question, VRG commissioned Harris Poll to conduct a nationally representative online poll of 2,015 adults aged 18 and over. We asked: Which of the following, if any, best describes your eating behavior?

1.      I never eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs.

2.      I never eat meat, fish, seafood, or poultry.

3.      I never eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs when eating out or getting takeout, but eat one or more of these foods at home.

4.      I never eat meat, fish, seafood, or poultry when eating out or getting takeout, but eat one or more of these foods at home.

5.      When eating out or getting takeout, I sometimes eat meals without meat, fish, poultry, dairy, or eggs.

6.      When eating out or getting takeout, I sometimes eat meals without meat, fish, or poultry.

7.      None of these.

We considered those that never eat meat, fish, seafood or poultry; plus those that never eat meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs, as vegetarian. We classified that second category of vegetarians who don't eat dairy or eggs also as vegan. Because we use the word “never” and don't just ask if a person considers him/herself vegetarian, our numbers may be lower than others. Be wary of comparing to polls in other countries that ask if you are vegetarian or vegan, since people may self define differently. We did not ask about honey.

Thirty seven percent of the population always or sometimes eats vegetarian meals when eating out. About three percent (3.3%) of the population is vegetarian (including vegans) all the time, and about five percent always eat vegetarian or vegan meals when eating out.

Since thirty seven percent of the country eats at least some vegetarian meals when eating out, this has strong implications for food companies and restaurants. There is incentive for producing vegetarian dishes as there is demand from over one third of the population.

Those that always or sometimes eat vegetarian meals when eating out pick as their top reasons health (36%), Cost (11%), animals (8%), and other (25%).

Vegetarians (including vegans) chose as their top reasons animals (29%), health (18%), ethics (10%), environment (9%), and other 12% . This group is “directional in nature” because of the smaller sample size.