The Rise of ‘Veganuary’: More Than Just a Trend
Every January, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world participate in “Veganuary” — a month-long challenge where participants swap out meat for plant-based alternatives.
What began as a simple initiative by a non-profit in 2014 has grown into a global phenomenon, with over 25 million people now taking part.
It’s not just about the challenge, though—companies are catching on, with more vegan and vegetarian options appearing on menus to cater to those looking for healthier or animal-friendly meals.
While advocates claim that going vegan is good for the planet, animal welfare, and personal health, the reality is a bit more complicated.
Some studies suggest that vegan diets may not always be as beneficial as they seem, particularly when processed ingredients are involved.
Many meat alternatives are loaded with additives to mimic the taste and texture of real meat, which could offset any potential health benefits.
So, how do the fast food vegan options stack up? I decided to try some popular vegan fast food alternatives and see if they really compare to the originals.
Trying Vegan Fast Food: The Experiment
As someone who’s not strictly vegan but is curious about plant-based diets, I decided to bring my colleagues along on a taste test of vegan fast food.
We ordered vegan “burgers” from some of the biggest fast food chains: Burger King, Shake Shack, and White Castle.
None of them offer entirely vegan versions, but they do provide vegetarian options that can be made vegan by swapping a few ingredients.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t try popular spots like Wendy’s or McDonald’s since they don’t offer sufficient vegetarian or vegan options across all locations.
But that didn’t stop us from diving into the offerings from the other chains.
Burger King’s Impossible Whopper: A Close Call
The Impossible Whopper from Burger King was the favorite of the day.
Made with the Impossible Foods vegetarian patty, it’s one of the most well-known meat alternatives in fast food.
While it’s not clear if Burger King makes any changes to the Impossible patty itself, we all noticed the version in their Whopper was noticeably thinner than usual.
Still, the Impossible Whopper came out on top in terms of taste.
The flavor was pretty close to the traditional beef Whopper, and it was served with the classic toppings: lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and ketchup.
The one thing to watch out for is the mayo, which contains eggs and isn’t vegan-friendly.
Sadie, one of our health reporters, noted that the burger had a good mix of ingredients and a nice, firm texture.
Ellyn, our science reporter, agreed, saying it was the most convincing of all the plant-based burgers we tried.
However, Emily, another health reporter, felt it lacked some flavor, although she thought adding cheese could improve it.
In terms of nutrition, the Impossible Whopper is slightly healthier than the regular Whopper.
It has fewer calories (630 vs. 670) and less fat, though it does have some additives that have been linked to health concerns.
The original Whopper is made with 100% beef, free from preservatives or additives, but the Impossible Whopper’s patty contains soy, coconut oil, and methylcellulose, a binding agent.
Shake Shack’s Veggie Shack: A Mixed Bag
Next up was Shake Shack’s Veggie Shack, which came with mixed reviews from the team.
The burger wasn’t exactly a visual masterpiece, and some of us weren’t too excited about the presentation. However, the flavor was a bit more impressive.
Though it’s not vegan by default, you can make it vegan by removing the cheese, ShackSauce, and crispy onions, and opting for a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.
The fries are vegan-friendly, as they’re not cooked in animal fat like McDonald’s fries. We added those to our order.
In terms of nutrition, the Veggie Shack came in at 630 calories, which is a bit more than the original ShackBurger’s 500.
The veggie patty, made with sweet potatoes, quinoa, farro, and carrots, has more fat and sodium than the regular burger but fewer carbs and protein.
Ellyn enjoyed the taste of the veggie patty, but she felt the lack of a vegan-friendly bun was a big letdown.
Cassidy agreed, saying that while the patty had a good texture, the lack of a proper sandwich made it feel incomplete.
Sadie also noted that the presentation felt more like a salad than a burger.
White Castle’s Impossible Slider: A Disappointment
The Impossible Slider from White Castle, priced at $3.22, was unanimously considered the least appetizing of the bunch.
Despite being made with the same Impossible Foods patty, it just didn’t deliver. For the price, the flavor and texture were a letdown, with many of us describing the patty as mushy and bland.
The slider’s patty had a texture similar to pâté, and the taste was underwhelming, with a
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