Page 36 - FoodFocusThailand No.186 September 2021

SPECIAL FOCUS
SPECIAL FOCUS

Healthy & Meaningful Living with

Plant-based Diets

Plant-based diets, a growing trend among youth and
young adults
In the past few years, a growing trend has arisen among young people due
to their increasing awareness of health, environment, and compassion for
animals.
Veganism: avoid consuming or using any animal products or byproducts.
Vegetarianism: avoid eating the products or byproducts of animal
slaughter.
Flexitarianism: avoid eating animal products most of the time.
Refer to an article by Bangkok Bank , according to The Vegan Society,
1
the global vegan trend has increased 987 percent from 2017 while sales of
vegan food in 2018 was 14,000 USD and forecasted to reach 200,000 USD
in 2023 by a market research company (Markets and Markets). For Southeast
Asian, Mintel reports that 440 percent more of the new face become vegan
during 2012-2016, and about 2.3 million Thai are vegans, as of 2019. consumption was approximately 68 grams/person/day—or more
The 2019 Global Vegan Survey collected data from 97 countries (74.3 than one-third higher than the recommended daily intake.
percent from Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand) showed that Overconsumption of calories without burning them out to make a
about 60 percent of vegans who participated in the survey are young people balanced diet can cause NCDs (Noncommunicable diseases) such
(< 35 years old). Their main reason for becoming vegan is animal welfare as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
(68 percent), followed by health-consciousness (17 percent). Choice of plant-based food, then, now and future
Plant-based diets, adequate protein or not? In Thailand, we are very familiar with textured vegetable (soy) protein
As we know, protein is an important nutrient required for building, maintaining, during Vegetarian Festival for more than 20 years. As a trend of
and repairing of body tissues. Considering protein, including essential amino plant-based diets grows, more and more food producers develop
acids, the first question for all meat eaters is how vegan and vegetarian get products to serve market need. In this era, Meat analogue, a meat-
enough protein from a plant-based diet ? like substance made from vegetarian ingredients, becomes the first
2
Refer to Recommended Daily Intakes for Thai aged 6 years old and above choice of plant-based food for people who plan to start plant-based
(Thai-RDI) by Thai FDA based on a 2,000-calorie diet; only 50 grams of diets. It comes with various shapes such as mince, chunk, patty
protein is required daily. Let’s take a look; how many grams of protein in burger, and so on designed for consumers preferable menu when
100 g of different kinds of food? they still want to have the feelings of biting meat.
2
In addition, plant-based proteins such as Quinoa, Chia seed and Tofu Taking a look at ingredients in meat analogue,
provide all 9 essential amino acids. 3 Protein source - Almost all producers use soybean or soybean
Healthy living led to a happy life; a good balance of diet leads to a healthy derived products such as defatted soybean, isolated soy protein as
body. As information by World Resources Institute in 2016, overconsumption the main ingredient to provide protein. Some use Pea, Mung bean,
of protein occurs in all of the world’s regions. Global average protein or Brown rice.
Meat-like texture provider - Vegetable oil, Starch, Thickening
agent
Color provider - Beetroot juice, Apple juice
On the other hand, people who have been being on plant-based
diets for a long time or researching on how to ensure the nutrient
balance for plant-based diets, tend to prefer materials with less or
non-processed, create veggie dishes with varieties of natural
ingredients to get sufficient nutrients, and enjoy the texture from
nature. So, seeking an optimum planting condition such as moisture,
minerals, and temperature to enhance overall nutrients or specific
nutrients and maintaining those nutrients by using food technology
is a big challenge for food technologies. Plant-based diet consumers
always take good care of their health who are willing to pay for a
better.

More Information Service Info C002

เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
1 https://www.bangkokbanksme.com/en/vegan-niche-market-thai-food-producer
Source: http://www.eliteplusmagazine.com/home/content/782/4#gsc.tab=0 2 https://en.biotechusa.com/news/protein-chart:-protein-content-of-food/
3 https://www.medicinenet.com/10_foods_high_in_essential_amino_acids/article.htm
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