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Plant-based diets in Switzerland – what types are there?
The number of people who are avoiding meat or other animal products and putting more emphasis on a nutritious, plant-based diet is steadily increasing. But how many different types of diets actually are there? Switzerland's first Plant-Based Food Report identified four types of diet.
The health benefits of a plant-based diet are very well documented in scientific studies. Collected data show that vegetarians are less likely to be overweight, have lower blood pressure levels, and are less likely to die of cancer and die less early from cardiovascular diseases.
In most cases, however, a vegetarian diet is also associated with a healthier lifestyle, which of course also strongly influences the points mentioned. Most vegetarians do more sport, are less likely to smoke and drink less alcohol.
Coop commissioned a comprehensive study on plant-based nutrition. Based on the findings, Coop published the Plant-Based Food Report. Four different types of diet can be derived from the results of the Plant-Based Food Report. They consciously avoid foods derived from animals and instead rely on a plant-based diet.
The term "flexitarian" is a portmanteau of "flexible" and "vegetarian". Flexitarians often eat a vegetarian diet, but do not want to cut out meat completely. They could also be called "part-time vegetarians".
58 per cent of the Swiss population consciously avoid eating foods of animal origin several times a month. The proportion of flexitarians has increased sharply since 2016, when it was just 43 per cent. The main motivation for this type of diet is personal health. Looking at the age groups, there are a particularly large number of flexitarians among 15-29 year olds and the over-60s. Comparatively more women opt for this form of diet than men. People living in German-speaking Switzerland are slightly more fond of flexitarianism than those living in Italian- or French-speaking Switzerland.
Top reasons for this type of diet:
- Health aspects
- More variety in their daily diet
- Environmental awareness
People who identify with this type of diet choose a plant-based diet with products that imitate products of animal origin – and thus reduce animal proteins in their diets.
The report shows that people who purchase plant-based substitute products are usually not strict vegans or vegetarians, but rather a sub-group of flexitarians. They usually also eat meat, fish, milk or cheese and often combine these foods with plant-based substitute products. They can be classified as a whole new dietary group – the Food Report dubs them "Substitarians".
In German-speaking Switzerland, plant-based substitute products are primarily consumed by young women from urban areas as well as by those in their 50s and 60s – the latter sometimes shop for grown children who still live in the same household. Conversely, the over-60s only rarely buy substitute products – they tend to purchase vegetables or other vegetarian foods as alternatives to products of animal origin.
Vegan cheese substitute products are mainly popular with women; men, on the other hand, tend to go for meat replacement products. Another interesting finding is that customers who regularly purchase plant-based substitute products seem to place more importance on a healthier lifestyle in general – they buy less alcohol and chocolate, and more vegetables and fruit.
Top reasons for this type of diet:
- Desire to try new products
- More variety in their daily diet
- Health aspects
With a vegetarian diet, meat and fish are off the menu and predominantly plant-based foods are consumed instead. 3 per cent of the Swiss population eat a vegetarian diet. In contrast to flexitarians and substitarians, the main motivations for people choosing a vegetarian diet are ethical reasons and animal welfare.
Top reasons for this type of diet:
- Ethical reasons
- Commitment to animal welfare
- Environmental awareness
With a vegan diet, people avoid consuming any foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, milk, eggs and honey. As veganism is also a lifestyle, many people who eat a vegan diet choose to avoid using animal products in other areas of their lives as well. As such, vegans do not usually wear clothes made from leather, silk or wool and are careful to use vegan personal care products that do not contain animal ingredients.
2 per cent of the Swiss population eat a vegan diet. Vegans avoid animal products most commonly for ethical reasons.
Top reasons for this type of diet:
- Ethical reasons
- Environmental awareness
- Health aspects
