Vegan Food Hits Football Stadiums
The stereotypical view of a football fan is someone who eats plenty of meat. Between stadium hot dogs and tailgate grilling, the old school view of football fandom had little room for veganism. However, an increased interest in the animal product-free lifestyle has prompted some stadiums to offer vegan options.
Vegan and vegetarian diets in the U.S.
According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, about 5 percent of Americans eat a vegetarian diet and half of those people eat vegan. Those who identified as a vegetarian or vegan never eat the animal products excluded by the lifestyle. However, more Americans eat vegetarian or vegan meals occasionally. Vegetarians exclude meat from their diets, while vegans do not consume any animal products, including dairy, eggs and gelatin.
The health benefits of avoiding meat consumption could be the reason many Americans choose this lifestyle. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vegans and vegetarians had generally better health than meat eaters. Their “bad” (HDL) cholesterol levels were lower and they had a decreased risk of certain diseases, including heart disease.
Vegan options
Food companies have developed around the idea of creating meat-free products to cater to the tastes of vegetarians and vegans. From tofu bacon to seitan hot dogs, non-meat eaters have a variety of “junk food” options. Now vegan football fans and online cooking school students don’t have to bring their meat alternatives to tailgates – they can buy them in the stadium.
PETA developed a list of the top 5 NFL stadiums for vegetarian and vegan eaters. The winners include:
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders)
- Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
- Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons)
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) and Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
Though these stadiums were awarded most vegetarian friendly, other locations around the country offer meat-free options to fans. Check on your team’s website to find out whether they have meat alternatives.
One company expands
According to PR Newswire, Field Roast Grain Meat Company has expanded its business to supply more products to sports stadiums. The company creates meat alternatives using healthy grains.
“Over the past few years, our company has grown tremendously because we’re focused on making a flavorful real food product instead of a fake version of something else,” Chef David Lee, Field Roast founder, told the source.
The products will be available at MetLife Stadium in time for the 48th championship game scheduled for February 2. Vegan and vegetarian fans attending the game can find meat-free hot dogs, burgers and more.
