Vegan and vegetarian meat ‘cheat meals’ are ‘more common than you might think’

About one in three vegetarians or vegans admit to eating “cheat meals” of meat – while one in five vegetarians or vegans admit to craving meat at least once a month, a new study finds.

“With January’s ‘Veganuary’ trend in full swing and New Year’s resolutions to try a meat-free diet, The Linz Store took a closer look at how common it is for Americans to stick to a meat-based lifestyle plant,” Collin Czarnecki, a. The Linz Shop researcher, who conducted the newly released survey, told Fox News Digital.

The Linz store is a family business that sells premium meats, according to its website. The company is located in Indiana.

As shared in the report “Vegan and Vegetarian Meat Desires 2024-25,” researchers found that committing to a plant-based diet “may be more challenging than it seems,” Czarnecki said.

“Meat ‘cheat meals’ are more common than you might think,” he also said.

A total of 38% of vegetarians and vegans surveyed – or more than one in three – admitted to having a meat cheat meal, with a third saying they had eaten meat within the last six months.

One in five said they crave meat “every few months”.

Chicken, at 64%, was the most desired meat by vegetarian and vegan respondents.

Steak came second with 40%, while overall “beef” came in third with 36%, the survey found.

In terms of specific dishes, fried chicken was the offering that tempted vegetarians the most, with just under half of respondents saying they would break their diet to indulge in that dish.

Burgers, with 41%, and barbecue, with 40%, were the second and third most tempting meat dishes.

“Whether it’s nostalgia-induced cravings for a favorite meal, or just the smell of meat, going meatless isn’t always easy,” Czarnecki told Fox News Digital.

The smell of cooking meat was the most cited reason vegetarians and vegans wanted meat, the survey said.

More than half – or 54% – of those surveyed listed this as the reason why they were tempted to break their diets.

Coming in second was “nostalgia”, with 47% of respondents admitting this.

Peer pressure also played a role, with 33% of respondents saying that being around others who eat meat makes them want it.

The ages of the respondents range from 18 to 84 –

Despite the relatively common practice of temporarily cheating on veganism or vegetarianism, many people who do don’t tell others, Czarnecki said.

“Interestingly, one in three admit to keeping their meat indulgences a secret, choosing not to tell family or friends that they have eaten meat,” Czarnecki said.

The nature of trends like “Veganuary” means they’re unlikely to be true, Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian based in Charleston, South Carolina, told Fox News Digital.

These all-or-nothing approaches, she said, “rarely lead to lasting habit changes from what I observe.”

She added, “While these efforts may inspire temporary awareness or positive change, long-term success tends to come from gradual shifts and lasting habits rather than extreme, short-term challenges. Small, achievable steps can often have an impact larger and are easier to maintain over time.”

In any diet, not only in vegetarianism, the so-called “cheat meals” should be treated with a certain mentality, said Manaker.

Rather than viewing a “cheat meal” as a negative, “it’s more helpful to take a balanced approach that allows for the inclusion of favorite foods in moderation while focusing on an overall pattern of eating healthy foods.” nutrient-dense foods that are low in saturated fat and added sugars,” she said.

This “more holistic view” of “cheat foods” can actually help people stick with their dietary goals, she said.

“For example, a small cookie can be part of a balanced meal without being considered ‘cheating,'” she said.

Manaker continued, “Having a cookie along with a bowl of fresh fruit and a serving of yogurt can make for a satisfying and complete snack that delivers both pleasure and nutrition. Ten cookies in one sitting? Well, that’s another story,” she added.

Regardless of a person’s diet, “animal-based foods can also play a valuable role in a balanced diet when consumed carefully,” she said.

“Striving for moderation and balance in meal choices allows for greater flexibility while still promoting long-term health and wellness,” Manaker said.