Unboxed: 8 plant-based centerpieces for holiday celebrations

As consumers become increasingly interested in plant-based alternatives reminiscent of traditional meat-based holiday favorites, plant-forward roasts are appearing on more consumers’ dinner tables.

In 2022, total plant-based food dollar sales grew 7% while unit sales declined by 3%. 6 in 10 U.S. households purchased plant-based foods, similar to the prior year.

The Good Food Institute reported that in 2022, 60% of U.S. households purchased plant-based foods—a similar percentage compared with 2021—and 93% of households that purchased plant-based meat, also bought animal meat. GFI’s report is based on retail sales data for the 52 weeks ending Jan. 1, 2023, from SPINS. Last year, plant-based food sales dollars grew 7%, but unit sales declined 3%.

Sales of plant-based meats declined, 1% in dollars and 8% in unit sales, in 2022, according to GFI. Still, they are higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic: Dollar sales are up 43% and unit sales are up 20% since 2019.

As consumers continue to seek entrees for family holiday gatherings, the wide selection of plant-based options in the natural products market provides consumers with a multitude of meat-free alternatives.

Click through the gallery to see some of the newest innovations in vegan centerpieces.

Related:Unboxed: 10 feel-good alcohol alternatives to celebrate the season

Editor's note: Upon discovering that not all of these products are vegan, the gallery's description has been changed.

Correction: When originally posted, this statistic, "60% of U.S. households purchased plant-based foods," referred to the wrong year. It was corrected on Nov. 17.