More than just another fad diet, veganism has really taken off in the last few years. Many cultures around the world have followed a vegan or vegetarian diet for thousands of years, but the last decade has seen veganism become increasingly popular in the United States. Everyone from your neighbor to favorite celebrity is doing it, and in Fort Collins, it is incredibly easy to find delicious vegan options just about anywhere. Fort Collins is called The Choice City for a reason! Why Are People Going Vegan? As of 2019, approximately 600,000 Americans have adopted a full-time vegan lifestyle. That’s over 1% of the population! There are many different reasons that people choose to make the full switch to a vegan diet, including health, environmental, animal rights, and spiritual beliefs. You don’t have to go full vegan to experience the benefits, every plant-based meal you incorporate into your regular diet goes a long way! These days, most people become interested in vegan options because of environmental, health, or animal rights reasons. Did you know that creating one pound of beef uses as much water as 120 showers? Plants use up resources too, but a plant-based equivalent of one pound of beef requires 95% less water and 85% less land to produce. For Yourself And The Planet Last, but not least, many people choose to eat less meat and dairy because of the practices of large-scale meat and dairy producers. Factory farming, even when cited as ethical, can often be incredibly inhumane and unsanitary. Supporting plant-based agriculture and local family farms helps reduce the amount of widespread animal cruelty and also reduces the environmental impact that large factory farms have on the entire planet. Fort Collins Makes It Easy You might have noticed Fort Collins has a lot of places to grab a bite to eat. In fact, we have about double the national average of restaurants for a city of our size. With the immense growth of people incorporating plant-based meals into their diets, many of the 600+ restaurants in town offer at least one, if not many, vegan options to choose from. Even if a restaurant doesn’t have a vegan option on their menu, many meals can easily be made vegan by substituting or leaving out an ingredient or two. Most restaurants in town make it simple for vegans to get a delicious meal at any time of day. For example, Ginger and Baker, at 359 Linden Street, has amazing vegan options on the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. We were there for breakfast, so I had the Avocado Toast. It is absolutely massive and piled high with perfectly-seasoned chunky-mashed avocado and pickled red onions. I have made a serious vow to return for lunch to try their Beet Rueben and Roasted Butternut Squash for dinner. One of the best things about being vegan in Fort Collins is having access to amazingly creative dishes without having to make them yourself at home. You Don’t Have To Go All-In You don’t have to go all-in to the vegan lifestyle to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet, and help the planet out a little while you’re at it. Every small step is a step closer to personal and global change, and Fort Collins makes it so easy to not miss meat or dairy in your meal for even a second. Embark on a vegan month, a vegan day each week, or just fit in plant-based meals where you can, it will all make a big difference.
Article by Hailey Groo
Photography by Hailey Groo
Originally published in Fort Collins City Lifestyle