About one in three vegetarians or vegans admit to eating meat-based “cheat meals” — while one in five vegetarians or vegans admit to craving meat at least once a month, new research 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 follow a plant-based lifestyle,” Collin Czarnecki, researcher with The Linz Shop, who conducted just released poll, Fox News Digital said.
Linz Shop is a family business that sells top quality meataccording to its website. The company is headquartered in Indiana.
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As noted in the “2024-25 Vegan & Vegetarian Meat Cravings” report, researchers found that sticking to a plant-based diet “may be more of a challenge than it seems,” Czarnecki said.
“Meat ‘cheat meals’ are more common than you think,” he also said.
More than a third of vegans and vegetarians surveyed essentially stated that they are “meat cheats”. (iStock)
A total of 38% of vegetarians and vegans surveyed – or more than one in three – admitted that they have cheat meal of meat, and a third said they had eaten meat in the last six months.
One in five said they craved meat “every few months”.
“Going meatless isn’t always easy.”
Among the vegetarian and vegan respondents, the meat they craved most often was chicken, 64%.
Steak is in second place with 40%, while “beef” is in third place with 36%, the research showed.
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As for specific dishes, this was offered by fried chicken seasoned vegetarians the most, with slightly less than half of respondents saying they would break their diet if they enjoyed the dish.
Burgers, at 41%, and grill, at 40%they were the second and third most tempting meat dishes.
Fried chicken was the most tempting dish cited by vegetarians who found themselves craving meat. (iStock)
“Whether it’s a nostalgia-induced craving for a favorite meal or simply the aroma of meat, it’s not always easy to go meatless,” Czarnecki told Fox News Digital.
The smell of cooked meat was the most frequently cited reason why vegetarians and vegans crave meat, according to the survey.
More than half – or 54% – of respondents cited this as the reason why they were tempted to stop their diet.
Some respondents say that around people who eat meat, they crave it.
In second place is “nostalgia”, which was acknowledged by 47% of respondents.
Peer pressure also played a role, with 33% of respondents saying that being around other meat eaters made them crave it.
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The age of the respondents is from 18 to 84 years —
Despite the relatively common practice of temporary cheating on veganism or vegetarianism, many people who do don’t tell others, Czarnecki said.
“Interestingly, one in three admits to keeping their enjoyment of meat a secret, not wanting to reveal it family or friends that they ate meat,” Czarnecki said.
One in three vegetarians or vegans have decided to eat meat and keep it a secret from family and friends, a new study has found. (iStock)
The nature of trends like “Veganuary” means they’re unlikely to actually stick, Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian in Charleston, South Carolina, told Fox News Digital.
These “all-or-nothing approaches,” she said, “rarely lead to lasting habit changes from what I’ve seen.”
“Small, achievable steps can often have a bigger impact and be easier to stick to over time.”
She added, “While these efforts may spur temporary awareness or positive change, long-term success comes from gradual changes and sustainable habits, not extreme, short-term challenges. Small, achievable steps can often have a bigger impact and are easier to stick with over time. “
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In any diet, not just vegetarianism, so-called “cheat meals” should be handled with a certain mindset, Manaker said.
Rather than looking at a cheat meal as a negative, “it’s more helpful to take a balanced approach that allows you to include your favorite foods in moderation while focusing on an overall pattern of eating nutrient-dense foods that are low in saturated fat and added sugars,” she said. .
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This “more holistic view” of “cheat foods” can actually help people stick to theirs dietary goalsshe said.
Taking a “holistic” view of food is the way to be more successful on a diet, according to a registered dietitian. (iStock)
“For example, a small cookie can be part of a balanced meal without being considered ‘cheating,'” she said.
Manaker continued, “Drinking a cookie with a bowl fresh fruit and a serving of yogurt can create a satisfying and well-rounded snack that provides both pleasure and nutrition. Ten cookies in one sitting? Well, that’s another story,” she added.
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Regardless of a person’s diet, “animal foods can also play a valuable role in a balanced diet if consumed thoughtfully,” she said.
“Striving for moderation and balance in the choice of meals allows for greater flexibility, while at the same time promoting the long-term health and well-beingManaker said.
