This is the day we’ve all been waiting for (and some of you probably feared) – meaty fast foods are going vegan! Well, not entirely and just as a trial in one of the KFC restaurants, but still. Is this the next stage of the ‘meatless meat’ era that’s been unfolding for the last decade? I believe it is! And just imagine the positive impact on the environment as more and more fast food chains go vegan, using healthy substitutes for meat and dairy. It’s like a dream come true!
McDonald’s and Burger King have already introduced vegan burgers in some of their outlets, boasting successful trials and great popularity of the new healthy meals. It was only a matter of time that KFC would launch its very own meatless meal to appeal to even more customers, especially those who are interested in eating less meat.
KFC’s new meat-free chicken isn’t aimed at vegans exactly – the company admits that the meat substitute is cooked in the same oil as the actual meat, which is a big no-no for any vegan. Their main customers are people who want to consume less meat, but find it very hard to do so after so many years of meat-eating. They call it ‘flexitarian’ and that’s exactly what it is – an intricate balance between being a vegetarian and still be drawn to meat.
Flexitarians are striving to eat less meat, but they would still eat some from time to time. That’s why it’s important for the meat substitute to actually resemble meat. This is exactly what it is! Beyond Meat, an expert in creating meatless meats of all kinds, came up with the vegan chicken idea quite some time ago, but then withdrew it from the market to improve the recipe. KFC, known for its delicious meaty meals, was the perfect partner to do just that!
For now the only place where you can enjoy the vegan variety of fried chicken is the KFC restaurant in Atlanta. If all goes well, we will soon see more of them popping up all over the US, introducing the new recipe to the whole world.
Enjoying the same meaty meals, but without the consequences of consuming animal flesh, is definitely something we have all dreamed about. It looks, tastes, and smells like an actual piece of meat, which means it’s a perfect meal for any flexitarian. Plant-based meats are becoming more and more popular as we speak with the invention of new yummy recipes. Even meat-lovers in Germany and the UK are switching to healthy plant-based meats!