HEARTY & HEALTHY
Is Malaysia Vegetarian Friendly?
- October 10, 2023
For many centuries, many people have followed a Vegetarian way of life as part of their religious and cultural traditions. But in recent years, there has been a shift in dietary preferences.
People are now moving beyond simply skipping meat and are focusing on adopting healthy and balanced vegetarian diets.
Even though vegetarians avoid meat, they can still get the protein they need from a variety of plant-based sources. A great example of a protein-rich vegetable is tofu and soy sticks.
Additionally, protein can come from different plant-based options like vegetarian fish slices, vegetarian drumsticks, and more.
Diverse Culinary Delights of Malaysia
When it comes to Malaysian cuisine, it’s truly a delightful gastronomic experience. Malaysia’s diverse culture introduces us to a wide range of delicious foods, from traditional Malay dishes to tempting Chinese and Indian cuisine, and more.
The rich blend of flavours and textures in Malaysian food has even gained popularity in countries like the United States.
Malaysia's Impressive Ranking on the Global Vegetarian Index
Malaysia has recently achieved an impressive third place ranking on the respected Global Vegetarian Index in the culinary world.
This ranking was determined through thorough research by the experts at Oliver’s Travels, which included factors like the number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants, their ratio to the population, and the average meat consumption per person in countries worldwide.
Remarkably, Malaysia has clinched the impressive third place position.
Vegetarianism in Traditional Malaysian Cuisine
Many Malaysians are pleasantly surprised by our high ranking on the Global Vegetarian Index, especially since many traditional Malaysian dishes are meat-based, like nasi lemak, char kuey teow, and nasi kandar.
However, there’s been a notable shift towards healthier lifestyles in Malaysia recently, leading to more vegetarian and vegan restaurants. What’s interesting is that even traditional restaurants are now adding vegetarian options to their menus.
This trend is especially noticeable in popular areas in Kuala Lumpur like Bangsar, Damansara, and Mont Kiara, which are popular among tourists and expatriates. So, finding top-quality vegetarian food has become quite convenient in these areas.
Comparing Malaysia's Ranking with Other Countries
It’s quite surprising that Malaysia came out on the third place, especially when there are other countries like India and Sri Lanka with mostly vegetarian populations.
The fact is, many Malaysians consume very little meat in their diets, although they may not strictly follow vegan or vegetarian diets.
Insights from the Global Vegetarian Index
To compile the data for the Global Vegetarian Index, the researchers at Oliver’s Travels considered factors like the number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants, the country’s population, and the annual per capita meat consumption.
On the flip side, Malaysia reached the third spot in the rankings because it has a significantly higher number of individuals per vegetarian restaurant.
Malaysia has an impressive total of 1,185 vegetarian restaurants, surpassing Thailand’s count by almost 200 more dining options.
India seems to have a limited number of 679 vegetarian restaurants for its vast population. With a population of 1.3 billion people, it’s clear that each of these establishments would serve a remarkably large customer base of approximately 1.9 million people.
Seychelles came out on top in the rankings with an outstanding score of 328. Thailand followed closely in second place with a strong score of 326, while Malaysia secured a commendable third place with a score of 311.
Although Malaysia shares a similar score with São Tomé and Príncipe, a nation in Central Africa, the country achieved a higher ranking because it has more vegetarian restaurants.
In a Nutshell
It’s fascinating that Malaysia, not known for significant vegetable consumption, ranks among the top three most vegetarian-friendly countries globally.
But real statistics speak for themselves, and Malaysia is indeed one of the most vegetarian friendly countries in the world.
For vegetarians in Malaysia, many nutritious and convenient vegetarian meat and food options are available, including Everbest’s signature series, the Soybean series, and more.
These options are not only flavourful, they are also best paired with various home cooked meals according to your preferences.
Everbest, founded in 1995, is a leading vegetarian food manufacturer in Malaysia. Over the years, we have introduced a variety of great tasting and natural soybean products to our valued customers globally.
Feel free to explore our vegetarian products here.
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