Each year, the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) surveys U.S. adults about their eating habits in an effort to quantify the U.S. vegetarian population. The 2009 results are in and when asked about which foods respondents never eat, 3.4% are classified as “vegetarian,” indicating they never eat meat, poultry, or fish/seafood.

Decision-making is a complex process that varies from individual to individual. Moreover, research by the University of Minnesota finds that our emotions can play a big part in the choices we make because people anticipate how a certain choice will make them feel.

As 2009 comes to a close, it’s a great time for vegetarian food businesses to examine the future and determine what food segments offer the most opportunity for growth in upcoming years, particularly as consumers become increasingly conscious of the health and social aspects of what’s on their plates.