A vegetarian food regimen, or a minimum of one that features much less meat, has a wide range of well being advantages, together with a decreased threat of coronary heart illness, stroke, weight problems, hypertension, excessive ldl cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and plenty of cancers.
About 10% of Americans over the age of 18 contemplate themselves vegan or vegetarian, based on a survey by Oklahoma State University. But whereas America doesn’t appear to be gaining any extra vegetarians, extra individuals seem like inquisitive about a minimum of decreasing meat consumption, or consuming “flexitarian,” that’s, primarily vegetarian, however sometimes consuming meat or fish. U.S. retail gross sales of plant-based meals grew 6.2% in 2021 over a document yr of progress in 2020, bringing the full plant-based market worth to an all-time excessive of $7.4 billion, based on the Plant Based Foods Association and The Good Food Institute.
But for anybody who desires to scale back meat consumption or go vegan or vegetarian, discovering meatless choices at eating places and supermarkets can typically be a problem.
But today, extra shops, eating places and even fast-food joints are providing meatless choices that don’t value an arm and leg, so to talk.
To decide the very best and most cost-effective U.S. cities for a plant-based food regimen, private finance website WalletHub in contrast the 100 largest U.S. cities throughout 17 key indicators of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness. They examined every metropolis based mostly on metrics similar to the price of groceries for vegetarians, the share of eating places serving meatless choices and salad outlets per capita.
Based on WalletHub’s rating, these are essentially the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities.
1. Portland, Ore.
Affordability rank: 38 (of 100 cities)
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 5 (of 100 cities)
Vegetarian life-style rank: 27 (of 100 cities)
The prime rating, metropolis, Portland additionally ranks fifth amongst all cities for having essentially the most vegetable nurseries per capita, and fourth for essentially the most farmers markets and CSA applications. Above, a vendor makes vegetable stir-fry on the Portland farmers market.
2. Orlando
Affordability rank: 37
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 2
Vegetarian life-style rank: 15
Orlando ranks second amongst all cities for having essentially the most vegetable nurseries per capita. It’s additionally one of many prime 5 cities for many salad outlets per capita.
3. Los Angeles
Affordability rank: 45
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 17
Vegetarian life-style rank: 2
Pictured is an natural juice store within the Venice space of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is residence to the one-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Comptoir, contained in the historic Hotel Normandie and run by Chef Gary Menes.
4. Phoenix
Affordability rank: 19
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 13
Vegetarian life-style rank: 65
5. Austin, Texas
Affordability rank: 12
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 12
Vegetarian life-style rank: 66
6. Seattle
Affordability rank: 92
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 3
Vegetarian life-style rank: 3
7. San Francisco
Affordability rank: 99
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 1
Vegetarian life-style rank: 1
Despite its rating, the price of groceries in San Francisco is among the many 5 highest of the 100 cities, however it is also amongst these with essentially the most farmers markets and CSA applications per capita and is without doubt one of the prime 5 cities with essentially the most salad outlets per capita.
8. Tampa, Fla.
Affordability rank: 62
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 9
Vegetarian life-style rank: 5
Tampa ranks third amongst all cities for many vegetable nurseries per capita.
9. San Diego
Affordability rank: 35
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 8
Vegetarian life-style rank: 19
10. Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
Affordability rank: 15
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 63
Vegetarian life-style rank: 35
11. Boise, Idaho
Affordability rank: 25
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 25
Vegetarian life-style rank: 44
12. Miami
Affordability rank: 82
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 4
Vegetarian life-style rank: 8
Of all 100 cities, Miami has essentially the most farmers markets and CSA applications per capita, most juice and smoothie bars, and most vegetable nurseries per capita. It’s additionally one of many prime 5 cities for many salad outlets per capita.
13. Cincinnati
Affordability rank: 6
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 27
Vegetarian life-style rank: 74
14. El Paso, Texas
Affordability rank: 4
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 80
Vegetarian life-style rank: 53
15. Plano, Texas
Affordability rank: 9
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 50
Vegetarian life-style rank: 52
Of all 100 cities, Plano, Texas, has the best % of eating places that serve vegetarian choices
16. Las Vegas
Affordability rank: 26
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 16
Vegetarian life-style rank: 26
17. Bakersfield, Calif.
Affordability rank: 27
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 33
Vegetarian life-style rank: 97
18. Washington, D.C.
Affordability rank: 93
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 7
Vegetarian life-style rank: 31
Washington, D.C., ranks No. 5 among the many cities with the best % of eating places serving vegetarian choices. It is the house of Oyster Oyster, a one-Michelin-star, vegetable-focused restaurant. Pictured is a Hip City Veg, a 100% plant-based, fast-casual restaurant with three places in D.C.
19. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Affordability rank: 8
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 74
Vegetarian life-style rank: 70
20. Chicago
Affordability rank: 28
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 19
Vegetarian life-style rank: 25
Pictured is the within of Althea restaurant, run by vegan chef Matthew Kenney, within the Saks Fifth Avenue constructing on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
21. Louisville, Ky.
Affordability rank: 16
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 49
Vegetarian life-style rank: 73
22. Atlanta
Affordability rank: 42
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 15
Vegetarian life-style rank: 21
Atlanta is without doubt one of the prime 5 cities for many salad outlets per capita.
23. Oakland, Calif.
Affordability rank: 95
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 20
Vegetarian life-style rank: 10
24. Houston
Affordability rank: 13
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 53
Vegetarian life-style rank: 64
25. Lincoln, Neb.
Affordability rank: 5
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 86
Vegetarian life-style rank: 49
26. Tucson, Ariz.
Affordability rank: 40
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 22
Vegetarian life-style rank: 96
Tucson ranks fourth amongst all cities for having essentially the most vegetable nurseries per capita.
27. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Affordability rank: 63
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 14
Vegetarian life-style rank: 54
Scottsdale ranks among the many prime 5 cities with the best % of eating places serving vegetarian choices, in addition to the best % serving vegan choices.
28. Chandler, Ariz.
Affordability rank: 60
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 26
Vegetarian life-style rank: 47
Chandler, together with Plano, Texas, has the best % of eating places serving vegetarian choices.
29. Denver
Affordability rank: 52
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 11
Vegetarian life-style rank: 72
30. New York City
Affordability rank: 91
Diversity, accessibility, high quality rank: 6
Vegetarian life-style rank: 18
New York makes the highest 30 regardless of the price of groceries—the place it’s among the many 5 most costly of the 100 cities, (No. 96.) But it additionally ranks third for many farmers markets and CSA applications per capita. It’s one of many prime 5 cities with the best proportion of eating places serving vegan choices.
Above, individuals line up on the opening of a department of the PLNT Burger meatless restaurant chain within the NoMad neighborhood of New York in July 2022.
See the rating of all 100 cities, and the total methodology at WalletHub.com.