New Study Shows 31 Percent of Americans Opt for Meat-Free Days

Meat-free Mondays are really catching on — and so are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, et al. According to a new report by research firm Mintel, 31 percent of Americans are now opting into meat-free days.

This info was revealed as part of Mintel’s “The Protein Report: Meat Alternatives US 2017.” Health concerns are apparently the top motivator for cutting back on meat, with cholesterol and saturated fat worries leading the pack; weight loss is another key driver of behavior change.

In good news for cows, Mintel’s report shows that more than one-third (35 percent) of Americans are eating more protein from sources other than red meat — and 66 percent of consumers who eat alternative proteins agree they’re healthier than animal flesh.

One important takeaway from the report is the fact that 66 percent of people who consume meat alternatives say they would eat more of them if they knew how best to prepare them. Clearly, more vegan cooking classes are in order.

“As consumers appear largely unwilling to experiment with protein alternatives, likely due to lack of familiarity, alternative brands have significant room to grow in terms of establishing themselves as a ‘go-to’ meat alternative option,” says Billy Roberts, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel. “Consumers are looking not only for more information about the ingredients in these products, they are also looking for guidance in how best to prepare them.”

Eggs are also addressed in the report. A whopping 86 percent of Americans eat eggs at least once a month — but 31 percent of Millennials consume egg substitute products at least weekly.

All of this news is is in keeping with growing numbers of veg eaters. Stats suggest some 16 million Americans are vegan or vegetarian.

You can read more from the report on Mintel’s website.

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