Vegans are those who seek to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. According to CNN, about .2 percent of Americans are vegan. In order to maintain a healthy diet, vegans must consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that often form their staple foods. Fortunately, there are a number of places in Raleigh that offer vegan goods.
One of the best places for vegans to find fresh produce is at farmers markets. Shopping at farmers markets allows vegans to maintain their diets while supporting local farmers. The Raleigh Farmers Market is located right next to Centennial Campus off of Centennial Parkway. The market is open every day during business hours and offers more than 300 different items. Examples of seasonal products offered at the market include apples, blueberries, peanuts, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons and strawberries.
In addition to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, the market offers vegan prepared products, including condiments. Yah’s Best, a company based in Huntersville, offers different varieties of organic vegan salsas that can be used to spice up dishes. In addition to traditional tomato-based salsas, they also have novel types, such as mango salsa and peach salsa.
For those looking for vegan products a little closer to home, the University hosts a farmers market on campus. The market is in the Brickyard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. It has five vendors, two of which offer vegan products, including broccoli, green beans and sweet peppers. Though the market will end Nov. 18, it will return next semester on Feb. 17.
Several local grocery stores offer specialty vegan products that cannot always be found at farmers markets. Tofu, which is a product made from soybeans, is a good source of protein and a common item in vegan diets because of its wide-ranging uses.
Whole Foods Market, a specialty grocer with stores in Raleigh, features several varieties of vegan goods in its stores and a multitude of vegan recipes on its Web site.
Amanda Knost, who is a vegan employee at Whole Foods, said the grocery store carries a variety of vegan food products
“We’ve got a whole array of vegan meat substitutes in our dairy section; we’ve got tofurky sausage and tempeh bacon,” Knost said.
Tofurky is a meat substitute made from tofu and tempeh is also a meat substitute made from beans and grains.
According to Knost, the store also just received a line of vegan candy bars and marshmallows. Other specialty grocery stores, such as Trader Joe’s and The Fresh Market, have stores close to campus and offer vegan products that can’t be found elsewhere.
Restaurants in Raleigh offer menu options for their vegan customers. At some restaurants, they offer vegan dishes or regular dishes with vegan substitutes, and they can be found in the most unlikely of places.
For instance, The Angus Barn, a popular steakhouse in the city, offers a vegetable platter and seasonal grilled vegetables on its dinner menu.
The Pit, a downtown restaurant that specializes in traditional pork barbecue, features a barbecued tofu dish that allows vegans to enjoy the restaurant’s specialty while staying in concordance with their principles.
Shay Dunbar, an employee at The Pit, said though she is not vegan herself, she sometimes eats the barbecued tofu.
“I like it — I really enjoy it a lot,” Dunbar said
Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill offers an ethnic vegetarian dish with grilled peppers, onions, chilies, black beans, red leaf lettuce and pico de gallo.
Being a vegan isn’t always easy in a society consisting almost entirely of omnivores. However, Raleigh offers places where vegans can purchase and eat foods without animal products. With a little effort, anyone can manage to maintain a vegan diet.
