Eight Reasons Why 2014 Was The Year Of The Vegetable

Seventy-five percent of restaurants at major U.S. airports now offer at least one healthful, cholesterol-free, fiber-packed, plant-based option, according to the 2014 Airport Food Review. From O'Hare's Italian Bean & Rosemary Salad—with herbs fresh from the world's first aeroponic airport garden—to Denver International's veggie burger sliders and sweet potato falafel, airports are bringing the fresh and healthy culinary scene to new heights. Pictured above is LAX's Real Food Daily, the first all-vegan airport eatery.

Airports aren’t the only places where healthful food is popping up: Major chain restaurants, convenience stores, and supermarkets have added a bunch of plant-based grab-and-go options this year. Fruits and veggies make a greater appearance at corner store checkout lines; Starbucks now offers a healthful portable brown rice and vegetable salad; Subway is testing two all-vegan subs, and Chipotle rolled out its tofu Sofritas across the globe. Best of all, fast-casual healthful food chains are emerging everywhere, cementing this way of eating in the culinary mainstream.

Vegetables were dubbed “the new bacon” this year by world-famous chefs like José Andrés, René Redzepi, and Mario Batali, who consider veggies and fruits the foods of the future and, in Andrés’s words, “sexier than a piece of chicken.” Culinary masters, including France’s top chef Alain Ducasse of the luxury Plaza Athénée hotel, are moving vegetables to the center of the plate in a big way.

Vegan diets were a huge hit in the celeb world this year: Beyoncé, Jay Z, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Simpson all enjoyed weight loss and boosted energy thanks to their plant-based eating habits. The stars look and feel better than ever and joined the likes of long-time veg celebs Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, Ariana Grande, and Joaquin Phoenix… just to name a few.

Speaking of celebs, famed New Jersey Senator Cory Booker ignited a positive Twitterstorm last month when he, too, decided to eschew animal products in favor of healthful vegan fare—at least until the end of the year. So far he seems to love it so much that he’s considering “doing it forever.” For his first vegan Thanksgiving, Booker dined on pomegranate and chickpea stuffed squash, butternut squash and sage soup, mushroom and potato gratin, grilled grit cakes, and broccoli. The public health advocate sees his nutritious diet as a natural reflection of his own push for better health policies.

Former Vice President Al Gore, Congressman Ted Deutch, and former Congressman Dennis Kucinich embody their passion for health and the environment in the same way.

One of the country’s leading voices for health and the president-elect of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams says he recommends a heart-healthy vegan diet for all his patients. The officials at Kaiser Permanente, the country’s largest HMO, advocate the same in a new guide to plant-based nutrition. Lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar; longer life; healthier weight; and lower risk of cancer are just a few of the benefits Kaiser doctors highlight, while a new diabetes study finds low-fat vegan diets are comparable to some medications when it comes to reversing diabetes.

Soon to become the first plant-powered K-12 school in America, MUSE School CA—founded by renowned environmentalist and former actress Suzy Amis-Cameron—will be a role model for educators who want to tackle childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes head-on. School gardens, nutrition curricula, and vegetarian options are cropping up at many other schools throughout the United States. Even a public school system in Nebraska—one of the largest beef producing states in the country—features labeled vegetarian options like veggie burgers and garden vegetable wraps on its menu every day. Along with Desert Garden Montessori in Arizona, these schools were honored with this year’s esteemed Golden Carrot Award.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Griff Whalen and Oakland Raiders defensive lineman David Carter are a few of the athletes now running exclusively on plants. They’re playing better and healing faster after intense games and workouts—all while breaking down the myth that meat is the only place to get protein. This year also saw the hugely successful launch of Thrive magazine, the first to feature plant-based performance nutrition as a means to enable professional and Olympic athletes to excel at the highest level. Speaking of the Olympics, vegan figure skater Meagan Duhamel won silver for her stellar performance in Sochi. Check out this list of more plant-powered athletes’ incredible accomplishments this year.