A New Normal at the Table: Moving Plant-Based Options to the Main Menu written for The Walleye
By Ashley Priem, Co Executive Director, EcoSuperior
More restaurants are choosing to offer menus with vegetarian and vegan food, and it's changing the way people think about plant-based dining. What was once seen as a niche or restrictive choice is now proving to be flexible, creative, and deeply satisfying. For restaurants, plant-based options aren't about giving something up; it's about working with great ingredients and making food people genuinely enjoy.
From an environmental point of view, plant-based dining makes a lot of sense. Vegetables, grains, beans, fruits, and herbs generally require fewer resources to grow than meat and dairy, using less land and water and producing fewer emissions. Animal agriculture, especially beef and dairy, has a much larger environmental impact. When restaurants build more of their menus around plants, they reduce their footprint in a practical, everyday way. For many diners, knowing that a restaurant is making more sustainable choices adds to the appeal, especially when the food is thoughtful and well made.
More plant-based menu options are more welcoming to a wider range of people. Traditional menus can make dining out tricky for those who avoid meat or dairy for health, ethical, or religious reasons. Vegetarian or vegan meals mean that everyone can order freely without asking for substitutions or feeling like they need to explain their choices. At the same time, these dishes aren't just for vegetarians or vegans. Many customers simply enjoy good food and are open to trying something different, especially when the dishes are flavourful and familiar in comforting ways.
Focusing on plant-based food also opens the door to creativity in the kitchen. Chefs can play with seasonal produce, global flavours, and simple techniques that bring out the best in vegetables. Well-cooked beans, grains, and vegetables can be just as filling and satisfying as meat-based dishes when they're prepared with care. Plant-based dishes often feel fresher and more connected to the seasons, changing naturally as ingredients come into and go out of peak availability.
Restaurants offering plant-based cuisine often build strong relationships with local farmers and suppliers, since fresh produce is at the heart of what they do. That connection shows up on the plate, with dishes that feel grounded, honest, and rooted in place.
By offering more vegetarian or vegan dining, restaurants show that good food doesn't have to be complicated or exclusive. Plant-based dining can be approachable, flavourful, and enjoyable for everyone, proof that eating well and eating responsibly can go hand in hand, one meal at a time.
