The Complete Guide to Plant-based Eating
26th March 2025
It is no news that vegan and vegetarian diets are the talk of the town but many still confuse them. While vegetarian diets also abstain from meat intake and primarily rely on plant-based foods, vegan diets take a step further and exclude all or most meat, offal and animal products — usually eggs and dairy products.
Vegan or vegetarian diet is a healthy dietary practice because it shifts from heavy reliance on meat and animal products to whole foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts and seeds, which provide more fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals for your body’s needs.
Types of vegetarian diets
Don’t be fooled by the “meat-free” title! Explore the varieties of vegetarian diet as it can be classified into 4 categories:
Ovo-vegetarian diet
A diet excluding all animal products and dairy products, with the exception of eggs. Note that eggs, duck eggs and quail eggs have similar calories, where quail eggs also have higher protein
Lacto-vegetarian diet
A diet excluding all animal products and eggs, with the exception of dairy products. Dairy products are rich in protein, in particular cheese has a higher protein content. To have better control of fat intake, you may choose low-fat or skimmed milk. High-calcium and low-sugar milk powder are also great dairy options.
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet
A diet excluding all animal products with the exception of eggs and dairy products. In terms of nutritional value, egg-milk vegetarians are less likely to have insufficient protein intake because both eggs and dairy products provide almost all of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein).
Vegan
It is the strictest type of vegetarian diet. As mentioned, all animal products, including eggs, dairy products, meat, and offal, cannot be eaten, same even for foods of animal origin, including bird's nest and honey.
Why you should go vegan / vegetarian in Hong Kong
Whether it is for health, belief, ethical consideration, environmental protection, detoxification, beauty or other reasons, it is beneficial to have a vegan meal once in a while to cleanse your stomach and restore mindfulness.
It is a misunderstanding that being a vegan or vegetarian in Hong Kong equates to having limited Chinese vegan food options, e.g. vegetarian dishes, tofu and vegan dumplings. It is equally wrong to think that all vegan foods are bland and unflavorful. Nowadays, there are plenty of plant-based offerings just as mouth-watering as their meat alternatives. Fill up on these veggie delights to liven up your dining experience in the city!
From frozen foods including meat substitutes like vegan beef and vegan roasted BBQ pork, to vegan dim sum, canned food and snacks, some vegan/ vegetarian grocery shops offer hundreds of vegan food products (some of which are imported from foreign countries) for you to align with the needs of different vegan diets. “Less is more” really does hold true, you will be amazed that leaning towards less meat brings you so much more.
Apparently, while veganism/ vegetarianism is gaining ground in Hong Kong, vegan foods are often only available in Western supermarkets on the Hong Kong Island side. But don’t be disappointed yet! Because in this guide, we will walk you through different local and online vegan grocery shops as well as vegan / vegetarian restaurants all over the city.
Vegan / vegetarian grocery shops / supermarkets in Hong Kong
Batata Greens
They have many retail partners all over Hong Kong, such as Market Place by Jasons, Yata, City Super, HKTV Mall & more!
FoodCraft
Address: 16/F, Yiuga Factory Building, 62 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town
(Please enter from Sai Ning Street)
Tel: 2884 1299
Veggie Labo
Address: Room 503, 5/F, Cheung's Building, 1-3 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
ONE VEGAN SHOP
Address: Shop 12, G/F, Yee Fung Building, 31-35 Yau San St, Yuen Long
Tel: 2471 9575
Online vegan / vegetarian grocery shops
Looking for life or health insurance for yourself, your family or your team?
Do you already have an insurance policy? You could find a better plan!
Alea brings you choice, unbiased advice and outstanding service, with access to 100+ options from 25+ insurance companies. If you already have an insurance policy, switching insurance policies with Alea doesn’t cost you a thing.
Get free quotes with us today.
An advisor will be in touch to answer all your questions!
This article was independently written by Alea and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and should never be relied upon for specific advice.
