Vegans and vegetarians meat cheat meals are more common than you might think

About one in three vegetarians or vegans admit to having meat “cheat meals” — while one in five vegetarians or vegans admit to craving meat at least once a month, a new survey reveals.“With January’s ‘Veganuary’ trend in full swing and New Year’s resolutions to try a meat-free diet, The Linz Shop took a closer look at how common it is for Americans to stick with a plant-based lifestyle,” Collin Czarnecki, a researcher with The Linz Shop, which conducted the just-published survey, told Fox News Digital.The Linz Shop is a family-owned business that sells premium meats, according to its website.The company is based in Indiana. As shared in the “2024-25 Vegan & Vegetarian Meat Cravings” report, researchers found that staying committed to a plant-based diet “can be more challenging than it seems,” Czarnecki said.“Meat ‘cheat meals’ are more common than you might think,” he also said.

 A total of 38% of the vegetarians and vegans surveyed – or more than one in three – admitted to having a cheat meal of meat, with a third saying they had eaten meat within the last six months. One in five stated they crave meat “every few months.” Chicken, at 64%, was the most commonly craved meat by the vegetarian and vegan respondents.The steak came in second at 40%, while general “beef” came in third at 36%, the survey found.In terms of specific dishes, fried chicken was the one offering that tempted vegetarians the most, with just under half of respondents saying they would break their diet to indulge in that dish. Burgers, at 41%, and barbecue, at 40%, were the second- and third-most tempting meat dishes.“Whether it is cravings triggered by nostalgia for a favorite meal, or simply the aroma of meat, staying meat-free isn’t always easy,” Czarnecki told Fox News Digital.The smell of cooking meat was the most commonly cited reason that vegetarians and vegans craved meat, the survey said.More than half – or 54% – of th...