As tastes and palettes evolve, fans are seeking more than peanuts and Cracker Jacks when visiting their favorite ballpark. The Economist named 2019 the year of the vegan, noting that a quarter of 25-34-year-old Americans now say they’re vegan or vegetarian. There was a 600% increase in vegans in the US between 2014 and 2017, and that number continues to grow.
Chefs at Levy kept veganism in mind when building the menus for the 2019 Major League Baseball season. Vegan options this season range from hearty meals like a decadent vegan burger to a refreshing fruit salad for a grab-and-go snack. With the ever-innovating vegan food market, there are more products available today that make plant-based protein readily available, like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. These two companies have created plant-based burgers and sausages that have the same look and taste as meat. The products even have a comparable protein value.
At Chase Field, Executive Chef Stephen Tilder created two new, vegan-friendly game day options that raise the bar from the everyday vegan dog and burger. He came up with the Camelback Burger, an Impossible Burger patty smothered with brown sugar truffle ketchup, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, herb mustard, jalapeño-onion relish, and toasted onion flakes. The second delicious vegan option he crafted is the Mediterranean Vegan Wrap, a spinach tortilla stuffed with Gardien mock chicken, hummus, cucumber and olive tapenade. Two delectable options to keep vegan fans cheering into the 9th inning!
Appetizing vegan options are not limited to Chase Field, however. Wrigley Field offers veggie dogs which are a must as Chicago is home to the world-renowned Chicago Dog, just don’t get caught adding ketchup. Wrigley Field also has great vegan snacks like seasonal fruit cups, house-made potato chips, and hummus and vegetables. Dodgers Stadium has some great dishes for vegans as well, like the protein-packed Tempeh Nachos piled high with pico de gallo, black beans, and avocado. Dodgers Stadium also offers a Beyond Sausage Brat topped with sizzling peppers and onions.
Whether you’re a strict vegan, or more of a flexitarian and trying to limit your meat-based meals, plan your next ballpark visit with the following plant-based proteins as awesome options.
Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
Vegan options
- Fruta Cup: market fresh sliced seasonal fruit
- Vegetable Chopped Salad: romaine, spinach, garbanzo beans, carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and Kalamata olives
- Spicy Tofu Taco: spicy Asian marinated tofu topped with toasted sesame seeds on a corn tortilla
- Hummus and Vegetables: hummus served with assorted seasonal vegetables and warm pita bread
- House-made Potato Chips
Can be made vegan
- Loaded Garlic Fries: crisp French fries topped with roasted garlic aioli, grated parmesan cheese, green onions, and zesty Italian seasoning
- Vegan: Exclude cheese and aioli
- Roasted Cauliflower Sandwich: marinated cauliflower topped with garlic chickpea spread and red pepper pesto
- Vegan: exclude roasted red pepper pesto
Dodgers Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers
Vegan options
- Tempeh Nachos: citrus-marinated tempeh with pico de gallo, black beans, and mashed avocado on crispy tortilla chips
- Beyond Sausage Brat: bratwurst topped with grilled peppers and onions
- Tempeh Burrito Basebowl: tempeh on a bed of rice topped with black beans and pico de gallo served in a souvenir basebowl
Can be made vegan
- Beyond Meat Burger: plant-based burger topped with cheese, herb mayo, lettuce, onion, and tomato
- Vegan: add vegan bun and exclude cheese and herb mayo
Chase Field – Arizona Diamondbacks
Vegan options
- Vegan Mediterranean Chicken Wrap: spinach tortilla, Gardien vegan chicken, hummus, greens, cucumbers, olive tapenade
- Camelback Burger: Impossible Burger patty topped with avocado, cucumber, lettuce, brown sugar truffle ketchup, herb mustard, jalapeño-onion relish, toasted onion flake, and vegan bun
Marlins Park – Miami Marlins
Vegan options
- Trumpet Mushroom Tacos: trumpet mushrooms topped with pickled onions, guacamole, and serrano salsa
- Sweet Potato Tots
Can be made vegan
- Mini Impossible Meat Burgers: Impossible Burger patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and herb mayo
- Vegan: add vegan bun and exclude cheese and herb mayo
- Plant-Based Meat Meatball Grinder: meatballs on a baguette with marinara sauce
- Vegan: add vegan bun, exclude baguette and cheese
Nationals Park – Washington Nationals
Vegan options
- Melissa’s Clean Snax Chips & Salsa: yellow corn tortilla chips with Melissa’s Produce Hatch Chile Salsa
- Veggie Dog
Can be made vegan
- Vegetable Chopped Salad: chopped lettuce, dried sweet corn, 6-bean medley, cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, queso fresco with cilantro lime vinaigrette
- Vegan: exclude the queso fresco
- Southwest BBQ Salad: chopped romaine, radicchio, avocado, tomato, grilled corn, black beans, cucumbers, barbecue ranch dressing, chopped parsley and fried onion strings
- Vegan: exclude the BBQ ranch dressing
- The Impossible Burger: lettuce, tomato, cilantro crema, house-made zucchini pickles, peppadew pepper, split-top bun, French fries
- Vegan: exclude the cilantro crema
- Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos: shaved carrots, cilantro, onions, queso fresco
- Vegan: exclude the queso fresco
- Southwest Veggie Dog: Melissa’s Produce Hatch Chile Salsa, cilantro, onions, queso fresco
- Vegan: exclude queso fresco