The Best Things That Happened for the Vegan Movement in 2020 - VegOut Magazine

Nov 1, 2020 BY: Tanya Flink

Happy World Vegan Day! November 1 is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and while 2020 did not go as planned, it has still provided us reasons to advance and celebrate the plant-based movement. From Lizzo going vegan to Starbucks testing plant-based breakfast sandwiches, 2020 has not kept the vegans down! Here are the eight best things that happened to veganism this year.

RELATED: Lizzo Goes Vegan

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The international pop sensation began posting home-cooked vegan recipe videos on her Tiktok platform back in March, but in June, she made it official. Nearly six months later, shes still vegan, and her 11 million followers know it.

We didnt just see one new product from Ben & Jerrys this year, but five! In February, the decadent Non-Dairy Netflix & Chilld flavor hit the market, soon followed by three new non-dairy flavors with a creamy sunflower butter base. More recently, the company launched vegan cinnamon bun cookie dough bites in stores. These new products have certainly gotten us through a few rough patches in recent months.

Vegans collectively rolled their eyes when Starbucks launched a vegetarian breakfast croissant with the Impossible sausage patty, as the buttery croissant, egg, and cheese made it virtually impossible to veganize. However, the coffee behemoth began testing a completely vegan option of this sandwich at a location in Seattle. Vegan cream cheeseformulated exclusively for Starbucks by Miyokos Creameryhas also been consumer tested in a Seattle location. Heres hoping the rest of the country gets to experience these products soon.

Upon accepting the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the Joker, Joaquin Phoenix addressed the injustices of the worldfrom social issues to animal rights. He said, We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and when she gives birth we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. And then we take her milk thats intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and cereal. He called for peace and justice for allpeople, the animals, and our environment. Post-Oscars, he and Rooney Mara swung by Montys Good Burger for a late night vegan bite.

This chicken chains original Chickenless Pollo contained egg, but in July, the company announced a new vegan-friendly recipe. Now available in all 482 locations nationwide, customers can order a wide variety of tacos, burritos, salads, and bowls with the Chickenless Pollo and the phrase make it vegan to signal the cashier to remove all dairy, meat, egg products.

Finally! The department store announced that by 2021, fur sales will be banned from all Nordstrom storesincluding Nordstrom Rack, last chance stores, and online shops. The decision was made following a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States.

Made possible by Switch4Good, three 30-second commercials aired continuously on NBC from July-September. The ads featured plant-based Olympic athletes and encouraged viewers to go dairy-free for their health and the planet. This was the first PSA campaign of its kind on national, mainstream television.

For those unfamiliar, a PieCaken is a towering sweet monstrosity of multiple flavors of pie and cake combined into one epic dessert. Karma Bakera dedicated vegan and gluten-free bakery in Westlake Village, CAhas veganized this creation and made it available for nationwide shipping. Layered with pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and apple spice cake all held together with a whipped cinnamon buttercream, this treat is intended for Thanksgiving celebrations. However, we believe it should be the unofficial celebration dessert of World Vegan Day.

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1Nov

Happy World Vegan Day! November 1 is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and while 2020 did not go as planned, it has still provided us reasons to advance and celebrate the plant-based movement. From Lizzo going vegan to Starbucks testing plant-based breakfast sandwiches, 2020 has not kept the vegans down! Here are the eight best things that happened to veganism this year.

21Oct

Whether youre an avid runner or yoga enthusiast, having comfy and eco-friendly athletic wear at your disposal is always a plus. From flexible leggings to colorful crop tops, youll be sure to find pieces to fit your active lifestyle. Here are 12 sustainable activewear brands to add to your wardrobe today!

13Oct

Weve got the denim youre looking for to create your favorite fall look. Whether its jeans, jackets, jumpers, or tops, youll find what you need on this list to pair with that knobby cardigan, throw over your everyday autumn dress, or fancy up your go-to vegan Uggs. Youll even find looks for your pup! So grab that PSL and give yourself a minute. Youre going to want to browse the brands below for your new favorite old denim.

31Oct

The Bel Groupa French company behind popular brands such as The Laughing Cow, Boursin, Merkts, and Babybelis currently creating plant-based cheese options, and plans to release vegan mini Babybel cheeses on store shelves in the US next year. The goal to provide consumers with healthy, vegan-friendly options was inspired after Bel Group acquired French startup All in Foods, which is behind the plant-based brand Nature & Moi.

29Oct

2020 has been a lot of things, including the year for plant-based chicken substitutes! With vegan mock chicken options rolling out at El Pollo Loco, KFC, and even Burger Kings in Germany, California Pizza Kitchen has followed suit. Made from vegetables and wheat, CPKs chicken substitute is a great option for people seeking to lower their meat consumption, and for vegans who are looking for a quality option at a large chain restaurant.

27Oct

Chef Reina, a woman-owned online storefront, opens in San Francisco as the reincarnation of the now permanently closed Filipinx restaurant Nicks on Grand. Nicksa formerly full-service establishmentreopens as Chef Reinas, a 100% plant-based business with in-house delivery drivers and future weekly pickup times to be announced. Youll find care packages, entres from the original menu, and pre-packaged vegan Filipino meats on the menu.

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2Nov

We love piling our holiday plates high with vegan mac, green bean casserole, and savory stuffing, but without a holiday roast, our meal isn't complete. These protein-rich, satisfying roasts are the perfect offering to round out our plant-based plates during the holidays. Here are six of our favorite roasts to try this festive season.

28Oct

Its National Chocolate Day and were looking forward to enjoying some vegan-friendly chocolate treats. Here is a list of dark and milk chocolate options that are dairy-free, delicious, and perfect for snacking.

27Oct

If youve spent time in Northern California lately, youll likely recognize the name of Souley Vegan. A widely cherished piece of the Oakland plant-based community, the restaurant has been serving up some of the best authentic Louisiana Creole cuisine in the area since 2009.

25Oct

There is no denying that pasta is a vegan diet staple. While weve all got a jar of marinara in the kitchen cupboard, its time to upgrade pasta night and give it the glow-up it deserves. Dont get us wrong, there is a time and a place for linguine with red sauce, but we are all about creamy vegan alfredos, herbaceous pestos, and meatless meat sauces atop our noodles. Check out these 13 must-try sauces for your next pasta adventure!

1Nov

Everything is betta with fetaFollow Your Heart Dairy-Free Feta Crumbles, that is. And this holiday tart is no exception. Share this flavorful dish at your holiday brunch, as an appetizer, or at dinner partiesits the perfect anytime recipe to get you through the festivities of the season.

8Aug

Pasta Salad is the Midwesterners way of tricking themselves into thinking that theyre eating healthy. This recipe serves one. Or like eight people. Whichever.

3Aug

Everyone needs a go-to chocolate cookie, so consider this your new one. Gooey and thick, this rich chocolate cookie is grain-free, vegan, and refined sugar-freesweetened only with Just Date Syrup. Its gonna be a ritual, starting tonight.

13Jul

This uber creamy 20-minute vegan mac delivers the tang of sharp cheddar from a surprising sourcesun-dried tomatoes! A few basil leaves add complexity to the flavors without making it taste tomato basil-y. I like to top it with hemp seeds for a little extra texture and nutrition, but thats totally optional. Use chickpea or lentil pasta to make this mac n cheez super healthy! Add a side of steamed green beans or broccoli for a complete meal.

Allie is a writer, musical theatre performer, yoga instructor, and walking vegan restaurant directory. On any given day, you can catch her making tofu scramble, scouring Trader Joes for new plant-based products, or watching The Lizzie McGuire Movie! Visit her website at alexandrammitchell.com.

Anja is a plant-based dietitian by day and vegan foodie by night. She offers virtual nutrition coaching for vegan and veg-curious clients. Check out her site for coaching services, recipes, and nutrition tips at vegcentricdietitian.com.

Cayla is an event planner, copywriter, catering manager, and vegan foodie. If shes not working, shes probably catching one of her favorite composers in concert, riding her bike to the movies, watching a gorgeous sunset at the bluff in Long Beach, or convincing her girlfriend to go out to eat at another vegan restaurant ... again.

Vegan 4 years, Kayla Pasko is originally from Milwaukee, WI and graduated from St. Johns University in 2015 with a degree in communications. When shes not scoping out trendy vegan spots in NYC you can find her reading, taking a yoga class, or shopping at Trader Joes.

Vegan 15 years, Tammie is a VegOut OG, with the team since its beginnings. Self-proclaimed super-woke wellness guru, she's an author, dreamer, and YouTubestar wannabe. Her passion, aside from writing about #alltheveganfood, is helping individuals overcome personal barriers to happiness and success.

Tanya Flink is an Orange County journalist willing to run for vegan food. She's written for several plant-based publications, including VegNews, Organic Authority, EcoSalon, and LIVEKINDLY. She currently serves as the Content Manager for Switch4Good.

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The Best Things That Happened for the Vegan Movement in 2020 - VegOut Media LLC