When it comes to what we eat, change can be hard. But it doesn’t have to be.

From the moment we take our first bite of food as a child, we as humans are pretty darn quick to figure out what we like –– and what we don’t. And while some of our culinary preferences can, and definitely do, change over time –– no more mushed peas, thank you very much –– much of what we latch on to tends to stay with us throughout our lives. And when it comes to the undeniably classic foods so many of us cherish, this rings especially true. But what happens when the continued enjoyment of our favorite food and drink faces extinction? Do we have to wave farewell to food as we know it, or is there a (delicious) light at the end of the tunnel? Let’s dive a bit deeper into these (not-so-distant) concerns.

Our Unwavering Attachment to the Foods We Love

For something as deeply personal as what we eat, there are certain foods the vast majority of us can agree rank pretty high. Our love of classics from chocolate to coffee to meat and cheese runs deep and is seemingly unfazed by a changing world. From an early age, we develop a passionate desire for our favorite foods –– like that piece of thickly-frosted chocolate cake on our birthday or an extra cheesy slice of pizza to share on a first date. But these foods exist as more than just fuel for our bodies: they shaped our childhoods, connect us to the people around us, and genuinely make us happy.

So when we think about food in this light, it’s easier to understand why changing what and how we eat is so daunting. But when change becomes increasingly inevitable, it’s important to recognize we’re we’ve been to help us figure out where we can go.

How (Many) Food Companies Have Tried to Convert Us

Now, it’s understandable why so many up-and-coming food companies have centered their focus on the creation of plant-based alternatives to traditionally animal-based foods. Is there really anything more classically American than a hamburger or really anything smothered in cheese? These plant-based meat and dairy products aren’t made solely for already devout vegans. With grandiose visions of saving the world one (plant-based) burger at a time, companies like Impossible Foods are inherently made for everyone to enjoy. After all, we all want planet Earth to stick around for the long haul, right?

Nobody wants to believe they have to give something up to continue enjoying their favorite foods. Whether it’s taste, cost, or how we experience it, compromise shouldn’t have to be part of the equation to creating the foods we love. And for us, it’s not.

But how that has played out is a different story. While many big names in the plant-based food arena have been successful in bringing devoted meat eaters into the fold, we can’t deny that there are still major gaps, from logistic concerns to how we even think and talk about these foods. If we want more folks to adopt a new way of eating, maybe the we don’t start by labeling exciting new options as alternatives? Nobody wants to believe they have to give something up to continue enjoying their favorite foods. Whether it’s taste, cost, or how we experience it, compromise shouldn’t have to be part of the equation to creating the foods we love. And for us, it’s not.

Our Unique Approach

What if there was a way to enjoy our favorite foods so that neither our values or desire for deliciousness had to be sacrificed? And what if there’s no “what if” to that because we here at Voyage have already made that a reality? As a team of passionate foodies, we never set out to create food that comes packaged with compromise or sacrifice. We truly believe that you can continue to enjoy what you’ve always eaten while still adapting to a rapidly changing world. Because with so much changing around us these days, it’s nice to know that what’s on your plate can stay the same –– in all the ways that matter.