Age is said to bring wisdom, and that is certainly borne out by new research showing that meat free and plant-based diets are playing an increasingly delicious and nutritious role in care homes across the country.
According to a survey by Vegetarian for Life, a UK charity dedicated to improving quality of life for older vegetarians and vegans, the planet-saving diets have enjoyed an explosion in popularity, driven by residents who are aware of the environmental impact of their food.
Over the past decade, the number of vegetarian and vegan residents has climbed by almost a quarter (24 per cent), from just over 6,500 in 2014 to more than 8,000 last year. As a result of this shift, according to the survey of 1,000 care homes across the UK, nearly a third (31.8 per cent) of settings now cater for at least one vegetarian or vegan resident – a rise of 39 per cent over the decade.
While many people mistakenly consider planet-saving diets the preserve of the younger generations, Amanda Woodvine, chief executive of Vegetarian for Life, said: “Older adults are increasingly choosing vegan and vegetarian meals for health, ethical, and environmental reasons.” She added that it was important for care homes to respond to the dietary preferences of the elderly and other residents, not only to meet current demand for more environmentally friendly fare but to “prepare for a future where dietary choice is central to individual care”.
The survey found that there had been a 56 per cent increase in the number of care homes serving vegetarian and vegan residents, putting the figure today at 41.8 per cent. Given that there are roughly 16,700 care homes in the UK, according to carehome.co.uk, that means 6,980 are delivering healthy and delicious plant-based grub … and 9,720 need to update their menus! It makes sense at the most basic business level, given that prospective residents who are veggie and vegan will likely choose their setting on that basis.
Vegan for Life says there are only three fully vegetarian care homes in the UK and is working to improve the standard of plant-based catering across the board. “We are striving towards a vision where at least one in every six UK care homes are members of our UK List, and 1 in every 100 will be Vegetarian for Life accredited,” the charity adds.