When we think about vegetarian and vegan food enthusiasts, the images that might come to mind are those of people deeply invested in health and wellness, plant-based nutrition, and sustainability. On the other side, there are those who might consider themselves meat lovers, sporting a more carnivorous lifestyle. But beyond these dietary preferences, are these two groups really that different?

In celebration of National Vegetarian Day, we #askedRYA to compare these two audiences and what we found may surprise you! It turns out that despite their culinary differences, these two groups are more alike than one might assume when it comes to their favorite forms of entertainment and hobbies. Whether you’re on team veggie or team meat, there are common interests that unite us all. Let’s dig into the details.

When we look at the top passions among these two groups, a few differences arise. For vegetarians and vegans, health & wellness and meditation rank highly, reflecting the holistic and mindful lifestyle many of them pursue. Whereas meat lovers are into road trips and football. But there are a few passions that unite both groups: Comed, Pets, and Cooking/Baking/Grilling.

So, are people who love vegetarian and vegan food that different from those who don’t? Not really! When it comes down to it, we’re all people who love to laugh, take care of our pets, and whip up something delicious in the kitchen. Food preferences aside, these common interests remind us that there’s more that brings us together than divides us.

RYA™ has been collecting data for the past several years with over 80,000 respondents so that we can tell you what any audience - down to 1% of the U.S. population - is passionate about.

If you are interested in learning more, we’d love to give you a demo. Sign-up for beta access here.