The past few years have seen more people globally transition to plant-based foods. Vegetarian and vegan curiosity has become evident thanks to the over 100,000 internet searches for vegetarian or vegan recipes monthly. That prompted Amy’s Kitchen to survey over 2,000 participants to determine what has resulted in the rising numbers.
This is the leading United States producer and distributor of vegetarian and organic canned and frozen foods. It was founded in 1987, and one thing that sets it apart from other organic and vegetarian food producers is that they grow and prepare their own foods.
That has helped them maintain authenticity and preserve the food’s natural flavor, aroma, and nutritional value. Their survey showed that many Americans, especially parents, have high vegan food curiosity, with 66% of parents showing an interest in trying.
Nearly 52% of the adults from the survey expressed an interest in venturing into a vegan lifestyle. They also expressed that convenience is essential when preparing meals, with 56% of the adults expressing a desire for time-saving alternatives or shortcut methods to prepare plant-based meals.
Even with the increasing number of people interested in trying plant-based meals, there are different motivations depending on individuals. 55% of the people in the survey said their motivation was because of the meals’ health benefits. 34% cited environmental concerns, while 28% said their motivation was their love for the taste of plant-based ingredients.
Fred Scarpulla, the organization’s Chief Culinary Officer, said they are committed to offering clients delicious and high-quality organic foods regardless of their motivation.
Having more plants in every meal benefits everybody, regardless of age. However, it is sometimes challenging to do that for adults, especially parents looking for nutritious, family-friendly meals.
Approximately 69% of the parents in the survey said they experience challenges when looking for convenient, healthy meals to feed themselves and their kids. Amy’s Kitchen understands that challenge because even the founders experienced it before founding the brand. 61% of the parents surveyed said they look for frozen meal options, which usually make it easier to prepare healthy family meals.
The brand helps meet that demand by offering kid-friendly frozen meals that taste like homemade ones. These include Amy’s Macaroni and Cheese, Amy’s Spinach Pizza, and Amy’s Organic Black Bean Veggie Burgers.
They also launched numerous new foods in the summer of 2023, including burrito multi-packs and family-pack items featuring vegetable lasagna, poblano enchiladas, Chinese noodles, and broccoli cheddar bake.
The survey also indicated that 45% o the parents have family members with dietary restrictions, and 72% of those have difficulties finding foods that meet those restrictions. Therefore Amy’s Kitchen offers over 100 gluten-free, 120 vegan, and numerous Kosher products. They also don’t use shellfish, peanuts, eat, or eggs in their meals.