When I was a teenager in Detroit, next door to my orthodontist’s office was a White Castle. Their burgers were great!
They’d throw a hamburger patty onto their grill, and slam it flat with a spatula. Then came an onion patty, also slammed flat with a spatula on top of the burger. Then heavy doses of salt and spices. Teenager heaven!
They were actually quite small, and, I recall, a bag of them was something like six for a dollar. Being as my mouth would be uncomfortable for a few days after my braces were adjusted, I always bought a bag of those burgers as a post-orthodontist visit treat.
What does this have to do with Sustainable Living?
The #1 reason people bought one of our homes was not eco-anything. It was the aesthetics of the home and site. Beauty, a quality-of-life-experience factor, dominated – by far – all buyer decisions. The quality-of-life-experience equivalent in food consumption terms: Flavor! Comments afterwards.
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White Castle adds veggie burger to
menu as plant-based eating grows
Ohio-based slider chain introduces Southwest Veggie Slider
permanently after customer feedback for meatless option
The Guardian
1 Jun 2026
Vegetarians have a new reason to celebrate:
White Castle has added a permanent meat-free option to its menu.
On Monday, the Columbus, Ohio-based slider chain announced the launch of the Southwest Veggie Slider, featuring a crispy brown rice crust and a smoky chipotle- and barbecue-inspired veggie patty made with sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, red bell peppers, onions and carrots.
The new slider is served on White Castle’s signature bun and topped with jalapeño cheese, though customers can substitute American or cheddar cheese if they prefer.
The latest addition comes as the number of plant-based eaters continues to grow nationwide. Recent surveys suggest that Americans who identify as vegetarian or vegan now account for at least 6% of the population, with some estimates placing the figure at 10-15%.
Jamie Richardson, White Castle’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement …
“Our Cravers have been pretty vocal about
wanting an alternative to traditional meat
sliders that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
“That prompted our menu innovation team
to prioritize finding a craveable alternative,
and we believe the Southwest Veggie Slider
delivers on that in a big way,”
According to White Castle, the new product was developed in response to customer feedback on a meatless option. White Castle ultimately selected a veggie patty created by Dr Praeger’s, a company known for its vegetarian frozen foods, as the base of the sandwich.
Despite the growing number of plant-based eaters across the country, sales of veggie burgers have declined amid a resurgence of pro–meat sentiments championed by the Trump administration.
New dietary guidelines announced earlier this year by the Trump administration encourage increased protein intake from both animal and plant sources, along with the consumption of full-fat dairy products.
As meat consumption gains momentum across the US, plant-based companies have been forced to reckon with the cultural shift, with Impossible Foods, for example, repositioning its plant-based burger messaging to appeal to meat lovers rather than vegetarians. Its website says …
“We’re not here to win over the salad eaters.
We’re here for the meat stans.”
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In this area of content, I have a bias. I ceased to eat meat – though I enjoyed it – years ago, in order to drop unwanted pounds and feel lighter.
(My eldest son led me into taking tae kwon do classes, and I needed to adjust my diet in order to stay abreast of the younger members of my class. In martial arts sparring, it’s truly far better to give than receive!)
I’ve been able to enjoy wonderful foods from all over the world, meat free. Are they healthier? I do feel better. Science says it’s healthier. But from a research perspective, will my personal long-term health be any better? I don’t know my “long-term health” quite yet. Adding D’s comments …
“We are always happy to celebrate when something comes to market that invites more vegetarian options. Plants use less energy than beef. In beef, you have to grow corn to feed the cattle to have beef. So, you are using more land, more water, more resources in order to eat a hamburger. So, congratulate White Castle for making these new vegetarian sliders available to all.
“There has been a new food triangle by the current administration. We do not believe it is based on any science that uses long-term health as one of its criteria. We were deeply disappointed at the shift toward meat and fat.
“At some point, each of you will need to decide what to eat. Bottom line: it really is your decision. In the meantime, for those of you who are heavy meat eaters, it might be worthwhile trying some of these new products.”
