What meat eaters really think about veganism new research – The Conversation UK

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters but for how long? My new research into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea. This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73% of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70% said it was good for the environment. But 61% said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77% said it was inconvenient, and 83% said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60% considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. One study for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: I like the taste of meat too much. The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.

Decades of food behaviour research has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.

In this way, the default widespread (and, lets be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs vegan sausage roll.

Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even fast food outlets. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time. When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

The widespread availability of these options means that the growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.

With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is falling drastically while the market for alternatives has skyrocketed.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only pretty good will not be a good look in the near future.

Patch infused with smell of bacon developed to help vegans and vegetarians with meat cravings – The Independent

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

A patch infused with the scent of bacon has been developed by a scientist with the aim of helping people who choose to adopt a plant-based diet curb their meat cravings.

The device was created by Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford.

Spence, who specialises in sensory perception and the way in which the mind is connected to our senses of taste and smell, collaborated with plant-based food company Strong Roots to create the patch.

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When a person who is wearing the patch scratches it, it produces a smell similar to that of cooked bacon.

Professor Spence explained that this may help those who wish to refrain from eating meat to imagine that they are eating bacon, which should supposedly sate their appetite.

Studies have shown that scent can reduce food cravings, said the author of Gastrophysics: The New Science of Eating.

Our sense of smell is strongly connected to our ability to taste therefore experiencing food related cues such as smelling a bacon aroma, can lead us to imagine the act of eating that food. Imagine eating enough bacon and you might find yourself sated.

This week, the patches are being trialled in Reading, Leeds and Liverpool.

Strong Roots stated that the company hopes the product will become more widely-available to consumers in the future.

The patch is being promoted by former Love Island contestant and boxer Tommy Fury, who said on his Instagram Story: Ive been hearing a lot about Veganuary, and I really wanted to try it. One of my new years resolutions was to cut back on meat.

While some may think the productis innovative, described by Strong Roots founder Samuel Dennigan as the worlds first ever meat patch, others have expressed their cynicism.

The pop singer is a passionate animal rights advocate, telling Vanity Fair in 2019 that her diet also reflects her fashion choices: "Im challenging the system more than ever. Choosing to live as a sustainable vegan activist means wearing more vintage (less waste; loving pieces for longer), playing with the newest eco-materials and technology, and making custom vegan pieces with some of my favorite designers."

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The Clueless star went vegan shortly after wrapping the hit 1990s film and has been a passionate campaigner for animal rights since. Speaking in a video for Compassionate Meals in 2017, she said: "Knowing the truth about where our food comes from is just so disturbing to me. Once you see it, theres no way to go back from that for me."

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The music mogul revealed in a recent interview with The Sun that he decided to give up animal products earlier this year "on a whim", adding that he feels much better as a result.

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"I started for health reasons," Williams told Health in 2019. "I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I wanted to maintain my performance on the court. Once I started I fell in love with the concept of fueling your body in the best way possible. Not only does it help me on the court, but I feel like Im doing the right thing for me."

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The American-Israeli actor decided to go vegan eight years ago after learning more about the environmental consequences of eating animal products. Speaking at an Environmental Media Awards benefit, 2017, she said: "Factory farming is responsible for most of the air, water, and land pollution - that disproportionately affects our poor communities as well. So we get to make decisions three times a day, what we do with our planet, and you can make a difference by even once a day or once a week choosing not to eat animals or animal products."

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While she chooses to refer to herself as plant-based as opposed to vegan, the 'Halo' singer underwent a 22-day vegan challenge with husband Jay-Z in 2013 and is believed to have maintained the diet ever since. Writing in the foreword of The Greenprint: Plant-Based Diet, Best Body, Better World by Marco Borges, the couple say: "We used to think of health as a diet some worked for us, some didnt. Once we looked at health as the truth, instead of a diet, it became a mission for us to share that truth and lifestyle with as many people as possible."

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The British boxer extolled the virtues of veganism in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in 2016: "A lot of the meat that people eat has been genetically modified, or if it hasnt then the food the animals been fed has been. Thats tough for a human being to process, so cutting it out made me feel immediately better and stronger than ever."

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The 'Dangerous Woman' singer announced she was going vegan in November 2018. Speaking to The Daily Mirror in a recent interview, she explained: "A lot of the meat that people eat has been genetically modified, or if it hasnt then the food the animals been fed has been. Thats tough for a human being to process, so cutting it out made me feel immediately better and stronger than ever."

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The British singer has been toying with veganism for a while, having been a vegetarian for seven years. Speaking to The Cut in 2018, she revealed that she will "never eat fish or meat again" and eats a predominantly vegan diet.

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The former heavyweight boxing champion revealed he had become vegan in 2010. "I wish I was born this way," he told Fox News in 2011. "When you find out about the processed stuff you have been eating. I wonder why I was crazy all those years."

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The Zero Dark Thirty star decided to go vegan roughly 13 years ago because of low energy. Speaking to W Magazine in 2017, she clarified: "being vegan was not anything I ever wanted to be. I just really was listening to what my body was telling me."

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Mara has been vegan for eight years, telling Harper's Bazaar in 2018 "its better for your health and the environment.

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Reality star Kim Kardashian West revealed that she has started eating a plant-based diet on Instagram in April 2019. Sharing two photographs of vegan dishes on her Instagram story, the 38-year-old wrote: I am eating all plant-based when I am at home.

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The music mogul revealed in a recent interview with The Sun that he decided to give up animal products earlier this year "on a whim", adding that he feels much better as a result.

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Mara has been vegan for eight years, telling Harper's Bazaar in 2018 "its better for your health and the environment.

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This surely cant be an actual thing, one person tweeted.

April Fools Day has come early this year? another remarked.

Over the past few years, the vegan market has become saturated with new products, with an increasing number of food manufacturers jumping on the plant-based bandwagon.

It was recently reported that Leons vegan burgers have become more popular than its meat versions, while earlier this month restaurant Wagamama announced it was to start serving vegan tunamade from watermelon.

However, not all vegan food launches have been smooth-sailing.

Joaquin Phoenix urges people to go vegan to help fight climate change

Earlier this year, KFC launched its new vegan Quorn chicken burger.

Shortly afterwards, several customers complained that they had been served the meat version in error.

A KFCspokesperson issued an apology with regards to the wrong orders, stating: Were only human.

Were really pleased so many fans have come in to try the vegan burger this week, that said, we know theres been a handful of instances where weve made mistakes its not great and were really sorry thats happened, the spokesperson told The Independent.

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Patch infused with smell of bacon developed to help vegans and vegetarians with meat cravings - The Independent

Vegan influencer is now a hunter-gatherer teaching people to kill animals – New York Post

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

A zealous vegan who became an influencer in the raw-food movement has made a drastic change to his lifestyle becoming an internet-famous hunter-gatherer teaching people to kill animals for food.

Daniel Vitalis, 42, gave up meat as a teenager and was vegan for 10 years, becoming a popular speaker espousing the extreme diet.

He dumped veganism five years ago, however, after reading a book that convinced him animal foods were crucial for a healthy diet telling The Boston Globe that the switch came in the middle of a vegan speaking tour.

I would get up on stage and unravel the problems with the vegan diet, he told the paper of his new belief-system. Pretty soon I got kicked out of the nest.

Vitalis soon became equally as zealous about the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, driving with the license plate HNTGTHR, starting a podcast and becoming an online influencer for a completely new crowd.

Instead of raw-foods, his Instagram now showcases carefully curated images of animals and fish he has killed as well as how he preps them for meals at home in Maine.

His most recent post even celebrated how he personally caught the lobsters and halibut used to feed guests at his wedding to wife Avani, a French-Canadian teacher.

Vitalis house in Bridgton is full of skulls and weapons and has freezers packed full of meat from his kills in what the Globe called a vegans nightmare.

He is now hoping to become an even bigger star with an online video series called Wild Fed that promises to teach people the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

There needs to be somebody who gathers this into the modern world, and I care more about getting this message to soccer moms than I do about living in a teepee, he told the Globe of his carefully packaged product.

What people miss about all this is that Im not into eating bad-tasting food, he told the paper.

People assume that the reason we stopped eating wild food is because it doesnt taste as good, but thats simply not true. It tastes better and its more nutritious.

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Vegan influencer is now a hunter-gatherer teaching people to kill animals - New York Post

Neon Tiger, a vegan cocktail bar set in the year 2048, is coming to King Street this spring – Charleston City Paper

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

The flickering outline of a roaring tiger stares out from a black screen. The neon orange and pink pulsates, like a power line is fighting to fuel the light. "It's a glitch in the Matrix," says John Adamson of his new vegan cocktail concept Neon Tiger. "It doesn't adhere to the rules of the Matrix."

Adamson explains that his new restaurant will be set in the year 2048 when it opens at 654 King St. (formerly Juliet) in early spring. Less whimsy and more end times, this is the world Adamson believes we will have to grapple with if humans continue to kill, consume, and imprison animals.

The restaurant will be entirely plant-based, with locally sourced booze, no cans or bottles, and as little waste as possible. Prolific Toronoto-based activist and vegan chef Doug McNish serves as Neon Tiger's consultant.

"We have pretty grand plans," says Adamson. Neon Tiger will be a B Corp, an entity that functions as a business while also meeting standards for social responsibility and sustainability. "It's all about education, for me as an activist, you have to play to your strengths and my strength is creating and designing restaurant concepts."

Adamson has a been a vegan for two-and-a-half years. The day he decided to change his way of life, Adamson says he was ready to turn his restaurant, The Rarebit, into a vegan-only eatery. "There would be no greater statement for the movement," he says. But it wasn't practical, so the restaurateur decided to sell his popular King Street joint and put money toward a new venture. Serendipitously, Neon Tiger's landlord is also a vegan.

"Designing those spaces [Rarebit and The Americano] from my head, it's just what I enjoy. This one happens to be more important than any I've ever done."

Adamson is ready for keyboard warriors to attack his animal-free restaurant the outspoken activist is used to getting flack from meat eaters. "The funny thing, well it's not funny, but the interesting thing about veganism is you have so many people who want to fight you on it, but you are fighting for them. Animal liberation is human liberation."

He says his goal since becoming vegan was to "create a space for people to have a cruelty free meal." The response from fellow vegans in the hospitality industry has been great, says Adamson. Turns out there are plenty of front and back of house workers who desire an animal-free work place, but haven't been able to pursue this goal and still keep a roof over their heads.

If you don't buy into the whole "veganism will save the world" thing, that's OK says Adamson. "You only need about 10 or 15 percent of the population think about any movement in history. We're just racing for that 10 percent."

According to a Forbes analysis in 2018 based on a Science mag report, "Since livestock production is the single largest contributor of emissions around the globe (more than planes, trains and cars combined), removing it from out food system could allow the planet to regenerate. Raising animals for food is also the largest contributor to wildlife extinction around the world."

Whether you're a vegan, on the fence, or an adamant consumer of animal products, Adamson hopes you'll check out Neon Tiger. It will be open nightly until 2 a.m. with a "sexy, lounge-y feel" that also happens to be mid apocalypse themed.

"The idea is in 2048 the only tiger youll have will be representations of these animals. It also brings that human element it's like a slight to humanity of course we'd only be left with neon ... It's a responsibility we had that we completely neglected and failed."

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Neon Tiger, a vegan cocktail bar set in the year 2048, is coming to King Street this spring - Charleston City Paper

Joaquin Phoenixs Oscar Speech Was About Animal Rights and Veganism – Eater

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Phoenixs impassioned speech about animal rights got mixed reactions

In the most tWisTeD win at the Oscars last night, Joaquin Phoneix won for Best Actor for Joker, a movie about a sad clown. He began his acceptance speech speaking on the many injustices in the world, be they gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights.

Phoenix, whos been a vegan since he was a child and has campaigned for PETA, spoke of how we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakeable. Then we take her milk thats intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal, and that humans should create change beneficial to all sentient beings. Hes used his platform to advocate for vegan causes before, whether its pushing the Golden Globes to serve a vegan menu, or attending a pig vigil in LA. PETA tweeted support of his message, and Kelsey Piper at Vox wrote that his speech elevated the moral worth of animals.

While Phoenix has used other speeches this awards season to call out social injustices, some people expressed frustration at language that equates drinking diary with injustices like racism or transphobia. PETA has been criticized in the past for co-opting the language of social justice in its work, and for doing things like comparing the Holocaust to factory farming. Vice said that, while his heart was in the right place, more than anything the speech was unhinged. Thats Arthur for you.

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Veganism won’t save the world from environmental ruin, researchers warn – New York Post

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

Heres a red-hot take on red meat: Going vegan wont save the environment.

Livestock farmers are being unfairly demonized by vegans and environmental advocates, experts from the University of Edinburgh and Scotlands Rural College told their peers at a panel in London, the Telegraph reports.

The shocking stance comes despite the urging of hoards of climate scientists who say eating a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to curtail our current environmental crisis.

According to the Scottish scientists, meat production isnt the culprit of global warming in fact, breeders are producing cattle that are less harmful to the environment. Also, they argue, meat is critical for the development of children worldwide, and fewer livestock farms wouldnt necessarily mean more sustainable land use.

Often the argument is made that going vegan would minimize land use, and the modeling studies that have been done demonstrate that thats not the case, said Geoff Simm, director of Global Academy Agriculture and Food Security at Edinburgh. We feel that while livestock production has a range of economic, social and environmental costs and benefits, the costs have perhaps been receiving far more attention recently than some of the benefits.

A primary benefit of livestock production, according to Simm, is that even small amounts of animal-sourced food have a really important effect on the [cognitive and physical] development of children, thanks to the high concentration of protein and bioavailable micronutrients in meat.

Mike Coffey of Rural College slammed veganism as completely unnecessary.

If everybody went vegan, it would be devastating for the UK environment, he said. Animals bred for food help boost biodiversity.

Coffey points to research being done to develop genetically modified cows that would grow faster and eat less, and emit 30 percent less methane than conventional cows.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the cultivation of animals such as cattle produces almost 1/3 of [all] emissions from the agriculture economic sector, which is responsible for 9% of the planets overall greenhouse gas output. Furthermore, they add that manure management on these farms accounts for nearly a fifth of the farm sectors greenhouse gas footprint.

Coffey hopes that farmers in the UK and around the world will soon have the option to invest in more efficient cattle.

By next year farmers will be able to select bulls whose [offspring] consume less feed for the amount of milk they produce, said Coffey. Where we go next is can we actually measure methane emissions from groups of animals?

Edinburgh University professor Andrea Wilson added that the environmental impact of veganism has not been scrutinized to the same degree.

We know a lot about the livestock sector because people have looked at it. We actually know very little about the vegan sector, she said. The danger is we demonize one and jump too quickly to the other.

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Veganism won't save the world from environmental ruin, researchers warn - New York Post

Vegan Burgers Will Conquer the World in 2020 and Here’s Why – vegconomist – the vegan business magazine

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Credit: Greg Williams photography / AUGUST

In a much publicised image, vegan activist Joaquin Phoenix celebrates his Oscar win by enjoying a vegan burger with fiance Rooney Mara. The implications of this, in addition to his beautifully crafted acceptance speech, could be immeasurable for veganism as a whole.

Vegan burger chains, plantbased fast food restaurants, and vegan options in mainstream foodservice, are beyond a doubt exploding all over the planet, as consumers wake up to the fact that its time to look towards cruelty-free and more sustainable options, and respond to the heightened availability of delicious and innovative plantbased alternatives to animal flesh.

Phoenix quoted to Veganuary organisers this January: If you look at the climate crisis or the violence of our food system and feel helpless, thinking I wish there was something I could do- you can. And now in 2020, almost everyone can as the plantbased burger becomes omnipresent on the international stage and is taking a giant chunk of the market.

Without even mentioning the enormous range of options available in retail outlets, such as the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger and all of their peers, this article is to demonstrate the recent influx of vegan burgers in food service around the world, namely from vegan brands who have released news of expansion in the past months.

This is just a sample, and the point is, burgers and fast food are an access point, popular in every corner of the globe. And now that the vegan burger is being endorsed by international celebrities such as Phoenix and Hamilton, this is set to really change the industry as we know it.

However you feel about vegan options at McDonalds or Burger King; the movement is evolving. Vegan industry is at a time of unprecedented growth, and with more options available that any point in history, coupled with a growing awareness of health and sustainability, 2020 is going to see the vegan burger absolutely dominate in 2020. And that is a phenomenal thing not only for vegan industry, but more importantly, for the countless millions of animals it could potentially save.

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Vegan Burgers Will Conquer the World in 2020 and Here's Why - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Vegan-ish: Welcome To The Era Of The Part-Time Vegan – Green Queen Media

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

While the concept of being a part-time vegetarian has been around for decades, the idea of dabbling in the 100% plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle is becoming more widespread than ever before. Dubbed by some as the vegan-ish trend, we are now seeing more everyday consumers, especially the eco-conscious younger generation, as well as high-profile celebrities adopt plant-based eating and vegan habits for a portion of the time but stopping short of full-time commitment to veganism. So, how did this trend come about?

Similar to the concept of being a flexitarian, which doesnt bind those who practice it to a stringent plant-based diet and instead encourages adopting several meat-free or dairy-free days in a week, being vegan-ish refers to following veganism just sometimes. While some have shunned it as the latest trend to come and go, it appears as though the part-time vegan is well becoming a permanent fixture across the world.

Its likely that youll have noticed multiple family members and friends around you choose to try veganism for a month or pledge to stick to meat and dairy-free for several days of the week, thanks to the growing popularity of a number of vegan campaigns. This new decade, for instance, kicked off with Veganuary, which attracted over 400,000 participants this year, almost doubling the figure in 2019.

Social media has been flooded with celebrity endorsements of being vegan-ish too, most famously by idolised pop and R&B singer Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay-Z who followed a vegan diet for 22 days as a part of their so-called spiritual and physical cleanse. While the Golden Globes decided to present a 100% vegan 3-course menu, the Academy of Motion Pictures took a more part-time vegan approach by offering 70% plant-based dishes alongside salmon, wagyu beef and caviar at the Oscars afterparty. The Grammys took a similar vegan-ish approach, with attendees choosing between a Mtley Cre-inspired Dr. FeelGood superfood platter and a 64-ounce steak.

But the concept of kind of ditching meat and dairy isnt new, and had always lingered around in the background for decades. Since the mid-1990s, the idea of being a part-time vegetarian became increasingly popular, and really started to take off in the 2000s when Stella, Mary and Paul McCartney decided to launch Meat-Free Mondays. Although the McCartneys managed to attract hundreds of thousands of followers around the world who would eat vegetarian every Monday, the campaign didnt exactly manage to rebrand plant-based food as cool.

Then as 2010s rolled around, startups began their innovative work to create meat that looked and tasted just like the real deal, but was made entirely from plant ingredients. With their biomimicking technology, we saw the rise in popularity of plant-based meat iterations created by pioneering brands such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Backed by the growing awareness amongst consumers about the detrimental environmental impact of animal agriculture, and not to mention the scientific evidence showcasing the adverse health effects of meat consumption, eating vegan no longer became associated with only animal welfare and ethical concerns.

The two Silicon Valley companies arguably changed the landscape of the plant-based movement, and the word plant quickly became very much vogue. From the largest fast food chains such as Burger King, Triple Os and McDonalds, to independent restaurants all over the world, vegan beef patties became widely rolled out across thousands of locations, catering to pure vegans, but also the enlarging demographic of consumers who want to occasionally indulge in a cruelty-free, low-carbon meal. According to the Good Food Institute (GFI), the total value of the plant-based food market now stands at a whopping US$4.5 billion.

In general, the rising vegan-ish trend will be a positive for the planet. While of course, cutting out meat and dairy from our diets would be the most impactful individual choice, the popular preference to go part-time vegan, especially if adopted en masse, would significantly drive down the demand for a global industry that is unsustainable, offer a boost to our health, and bring about the motivation to change the world for the better.

Looking for more vegan news? Follow the latest in the plant-based world on Green Queen here.

Lead image courtesy of Vegan Society.

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Taco Bell Is Adding Vegan Meat to Its Menu Nationwide – LIVEKINDLY

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Taco Bell announced it will add plant-based meat to its menu in the next year.

Last fall, the Mexican-inspired fast-food chain debuted a dedicated vegetarian menu. It featured two new menu items: a Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme and a Vegetarian Quesarito.

At the start of 2020, the chain vowed to continue providing the most vegetarian choices and to make it even easier for customers to order them.

Now, the company is embracing veganism as consumer demand for plant-based products grows, especially in the fast-food sector.

We definitely see that plant-based protein has a place on the menu, Taco Bell CEO Mark King told Bloomberg Green.

The fast-food chain is still deciding which plant-based options to add to the menu.King says the company met with Beyond Meat Inc. and Impossible Foods Inc. in recent months

King sampled Beyond Meats items just last week and says hes a fan. I tried all the food which was really exciting, and way beyond my expectation.

According to Fast Company, monthly average searches for the word vegan along with names of major fast-food chains rose 12 percent from 2018 to 2019.

The words vegan Taco Bell ranked number one, yielding 456,500 total searches from January 2018 to August 2019.

By comparison, vegan Starbucks came in second with 216,500 total searches, and vegan Burger King came in third with 127,700.

The arrival of vegan meat to Taco Bells in the US comes on the heels of a shift towards veganism in chains overseas.

Last fall, Taco Bell China added OmniPork, vegan pork that looks and tastes like animal-derived pork, to its menu for a limited time.

The vegan pork is made from shiitake mushrooms, pea protein, soy protein, and rice protein.

Taco Bell Spain also added plant-based meat to its menu last year.

The meat-free meat is made from oats and beans and is marinated in a sauce with secret Taco Bell spices.

Customers can substitute the new oat meat in place of animal-based meats in any of Taco Bells menu options.

Taco Bell launched a limited-time menu featuring the oat-based meat in London locations last May.

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Taco Bell Is Adding Vegan Meat to Its Menu Nationwide

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Mexican-inspired fast-food chain Taco Bell announced it will add vegan meat to its menu in the next year; it is still deciding on plant-based options.

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Audrey Enjoli

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Is your wine vegan? – The Press

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Photo: Erick Madrid / Special to The Chronicle

This may seem as silly a question as asking, Are grapes vegan? Of course, they are, but some argue that the answer for wine enters gray territory. Dont fret that bacon-y character flavor you taste in your favorite Syrah isnt actually bacon. But to be vegan or vegetarian, a wine must meet certain requirements during the production process just like wines with official labels like organic, biodynamic or kosher. Unlike organic wines, however, vegan and vegetarian wines are not governed by a certifying body.

So what would make a wine non-vegan or -vegetarian? It has to do with a winemaking procedure called fining.

One of the final winemaking steps before bottling, fining requires the use of various agents to help clarify to a wine. The brilliant luminosity youll observe in a glass of golden Chardonnay or the polish you might admire in the deep ruby hue of a Merlot that precision of color is thanks to fining. Beyond clearing any haziness, fining can also soften harsh tannins. The processing aids are often compared to a magnet: Various particles stick to the fining agents like Velcro and can then be easily removed.

The majority of common fining agents are animal-derived, which is where the vegan question comes in. The most traditionally common fining agent is egg whites, often used for more tannic red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties. Wines fined with egg whites would be considered vegetarian, but not vegan, as would those that see casein a milk-derived protein employed in some whites to remove oxidative characters. Conversely, fining agents like gelatin (derived from pigs) or isinglass (coming from sturgeon bladders) would render a wine neither vegetarian or vegan but would get it crystal clear.

If a winemaker wants to fine a wine but doesnt want to use an animal product, one common solution is bentonite clay. Nonetheless, many vegan and vegetarian wines may just simply forgo fining altogether. Some winemakers criticize the practice of fining, arguing that it values color over flavor that it scrapes off some of the good along with the bad. While vegan and vegetarian wine is unrelated to the natural wine movement, most natural wine nonetheless defaults to being vegan and vegetarian as theyre typically bottled unfined (and unfiltered).

While some wineries might advertise vegan or vegetarian on their back labels, many dont. When in doubt, you can ask the tasting room staff, or check Barnivore, a directory of vegan and vegetarian beverages.

But its important to know that fining agents are not ingredients, and no one consumes egg whites or fish bladders in a wine that was fined with them. The fining agents are removed by the time of bottling. Its a completely different effect than having a cocktail with Clamato (clam juice) or a shot of pechuga, a type of mezcal distilled with chicken or other meats. Still, its not impossible to imagine that trace residue might make it into the final product.

Then again, true skeptics might even point out the insects that inevitably make their way into a grape destemmer which get cleaned out during fermentation positing no wine can be truly vegetarian.

Ultimately, as with all food choices, whether or not to consume wines fined with animal products is a personal decision. Luckily there is no shortage of excellent wines around the globe that meet most criteria of being vegan or vegetarian. Here are six from California worth visiting.

Domaine Carneros

One of Californias pioneering producers of traditional-method sparkling wine, Domaine Carneros is partly owned by Taittinger, a pedigreed Champagne name. While the classic combination of bubbles and caviar is an option for visitors, so is a flight of Asian-influenced bites an experience that can accommodate other dietary restrictions, such as veganism and vegetarianism.

Foursight

Foursight Wines, in Mendocinos Anderson Valley, was one of the first American wineries to label its bottles as suitable for vegans and vegetarians. While best known for its Pinot Noirs, its also one of the few Anderson Valley producers to bottle Sauvignon Blanc. The Boonville tasting room offers a casual, leisurely visit, and guests staying the night can also rent out one of the guesthouses.

Frogs Leap

Perhaps the most obvious companion to Napa Valley Cabernet is a big hunk of red meat. While creative pairings abound, one option for vegetarian dishes might be to choose a Napa Cab with a lighter touch as is consistently the case with the ones coming from Frogs Leap, as well as the rest of their portfolio, which happens to be vegetarian and largely vegan-friendly. Its also difficult not to be charmed by the setting a bucolic red barn more in line with a Winslow Homer painting than Napas palatial tasting locales.

Stolpman

Syrah can smell like bacon. Sangiovese might give the impression of dried meats. Stolpman makes some of the best of each in Santa Barbara, but their wines are purely vegan. Their Ballard Canyon tasting room offers a glimpse into the countys impressive diversity of wine beyond their signatures Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Make sure to ask about their mother block, an experimental project that replicates the historic vineyard planting techniques of pre-19th century Europe.

Big Basin

One of the most dynamic producers in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin bottles its wines unfined and unfiltered and thus vegan. Their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are among the regions very best, but perhaps their most distinctive contribution is their suite of Syrah and Rhone-style wines. Guests can either visit the tasting room in downtown Saratoga, or drive out to the more remote winery after a morning hike at the neighboring Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Broc

An early spirit leader for the American natural wine movement, Broc Cellars appropriately bottles all of its wines vegan. Its in Berkeley, so it wont be hard to find a vegan meal nearby either. The lineup is ever-changing, filled with idiosyncratic bottles that offer an entirely different perspective to California wine. Make sure to try their Angelica, a dessert style mimicking the Golden States very first wines made from the Franciscan monks that climbed the West Coast.

See the original post here:
Is your wine vegan? - The Press

The hidden biases that drive anti-vegan hatred – BBC News

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

In July 2019, a bare-chested, pony-tailed man turned up at a vegan market in London, and began snacking on a raw squirrel. In video footage of the bizarre incident, the pro-meat protester can be seen clutching the animals limp, furry body sans head while a stunned crowd waits for him to be arrested. His mouth is encrusted with blood. At one point, a passing onlooker asks Why are you doing this?

This, it turns out, is a deceptively tricky question to answer.

As the popularity of vegan life continues to gather pace, a tide of vitriol has risen. To eat meat, or not to eat meat: the question has become a battleground, with passionate carnivores and vegan activists deploying some deliciously headline-grabbing tactics. There have been pig robberies. There have been defiant public carvings of deer legs. There have been nude protesters smothered with fake blood. There have been provocative sandwiches.

Though its natural for people to disagree, the passionate rage and even mild irritation that veganism stirs up seems to defy rational sense. Research has shown that only drug addicts face the same degree of stigma and the least popular vegans of all are those who cite animal cruelty as their reason. Given that most of us would probably like to see less suffering in the world, why is there such resentment towards those who do something about it?

Read more from The Vegan Factor on BBC Good Food

If you dare to ask, veganophobes have plenty of reasonable (and not-so-reasonable) sounding explanations at the ready. First up theres the hypocrisy argument the idea that vegans have blood on their hands, too in the form of plant massacres, the environmental cost of avocadoes, and all the field mice killed while harvesting crops.

But even when vegans are consistent, this also seems to fuel their bad publicity. In the UK, a campaigner recently caused a stir when he revealed that he wont use public transport, in case it runs down any unfortunate insects.

Other popular arguments include the perception of vegans as over-smug as the joke goes, How do you recognise a vegan at a dinner party? Dont worry! Theyll tell you! and over-zealous; a rapper recently cancelled a gig after the singer Morrissey insisted on an all-out meat ban at the venue. On forums, vegans face bizarre accusations like only psychopaths like vegans enjoy tofu bacon.

But are these really the reasons that people hate vegans? Not everyone is convinced. Some psychologists take another view that far from being driven by factors within our conscious awareness, the widespread resentment we have for vegans is down to deep-seated psychological biases.

Read this article:
The hidden biases that drive anti-vegan hatred - BBC News

After 10 years, going vegan continues to be a fun adventure – OregonLive

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

It all started out as a journalistic stunt.

Ten years ago, I received a dare from a co-worker: Could I go vegan for a month? I accepted the challenge, ditching meat, cheese and dairy on Feb. 1, 2010. It was supposed to last a brisk 28 days or so I thought.

Cynically, I chose the shortest month of the year, because I wasnt sure that eating vegan would agree with me. I grew up in Kansas City, where steakhouses and barbecue joints are as common as coffee shops and Thai restaurants are in Portland. Burgers and smoky ribs felt like part of my DNA.

Around this time, I had been thinking seriously about ways to reduce my carbon footprint, and I got a chance to interview James McWilliams, the author of the controversial book "Just Food."

McWilliams had some ideas that were sure to rub the farmers market crowd the wrong way, such as his contention that a tomato grown by a local farmer doesn't necessarily have a lower carbon footprint than one grown in Southern California that's trucked to your neighborhood grocery store.

One of his ideas really resonated with me. In our quest to eat more sustainably, McWilliams believed our efforts were irrelevant if we didnt drastically reduce the amount of meat we eat, given the amount of natural resources the livestock industry consumes, and how it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

McWilliams challenged me that if I was serious in my concern about the environment, I needed to look seriously at the amount of meat I was eating. That forced me to confront the way I shopped and ate. I was one of those zealots about using reusable grocery bags years before Oregon forced everyone to get in on the act. Yet I wasn't paying any attention to what was going into those green bags. All the beef and chicken I was buying had a huge carbon footprint.

After 10 years, food writer Grant Butler is continuing his exploration of plant-based cooking and eating. (Beth Nakamura | The Oregonian/OregonLive)LC-

Then came the dare. I went to my editor with the idea of eating vegan for a month and writing about the experience. Unlike other food writers who had dabbled with short-term veganism, I didnt want to focus on what I couldnt eat. I wanted it to be a month of adventurous eating, a chance to try new foods, and to learn the upsides of vegan eating.

To my surprise, my editor said yes.

And that first month was crazy fun. I'd known about foods like quinoa, tofu and tempeh, but I'd never really given them a fair shake as a home cook. I wasnt just eating good food at home. I was blown away by Portlands vegan dining scene, which I had never explored.

When my month of vegan eating ended, I felt like Id had a physical and mental cleanse. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels had dropped significantly, and I felt more rested because I was sleeping better. So I decided to keep it going. To celebrate, I threw a dinner party for friends who had been rooting for me.

Vegan Dark Chocolate Cupcakes With Creamy Chocolate Frosting, a recipe from Everything Chocolate by the editors of Americas Test Kitchen, 2020.Keller + Keller

Recipes included with this story: Vegan Dark Chocolate Cupcakes; Creamy Vegan Chocolate Frosting.

Ten years later, its easier to eat a plant-based diet than ever before. A decade ago, you had to go to food co-ops and specialty markets to find many vegan products and ingredients. Now theyre in every grocery store. At mainstream restaurants, vegan options used to be bowls of blah pasta primavera. Now, serious chefs show vegetables plenty of respect, and you can score vegan options at Burger King.

Burger Kings menu changes are keeping up with public demand. During the last 10 years, more people have embraced the idea of eating less meat, even if they arent ditching it altogether. Every meatless meal presents an opportunity to take a step toward a better environment, better health, and compassion for all living beings. Even if you switch to vegan meals only a few days a week, you're making a powerful choice and helping change the world.

For me, going completely vegan has been a gift beyond imagination. Now its time to celebrate with chocolate cupcakes.

-- Grant Butler

gbutler@oregonian.com

503-221-8566; @grantbutler

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

Read more from the original source:
After 10 years, going vegan continues to be a fun adventure - OregonLive

Vegan claims on the upswing as plant-based innovation accelerates – Food Business News

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

KANSAS CITY While the number of consumers who claim to lead a vegan lifestyle has remained small and steady, the number of food and beverage products making a vegan claim has risen. The difference highlights the changes taking place in the market for plant-based products and demonstrates how manufacturers are trying to develop points of differentiation in the market as it achieves mainstream status.

The number of consumers identifying as vegan is less than 1% of the total U.S. population, according to The NPD Group, Chicago. In its The future of plant-based snapshot report, NPD said consumers identifying as vegetarian or vegan represent less than 3% of the population, with 2% identifying as vegetarian and 0.7% identifying as vegan.

Yet data from Mintels Global New Products Database show the number of food and beverage products making vegan claims from 2015 to 2019 has risen 105% (the research firm does not disclose specific numbers as a matter of policy). The top three product categories making vegan claims were meat substitutes, meal replacement and other beverages, and snack, cereal and energy bars.

The International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC), Washington, predicted that in 2020 environmental concerns will continue to drive adoption of plant-based diets. However, consumers conceptions of plant-based diets vary, reflecting a fragmentation of the market, according to IFIC. In a survey, 32% of consumers said a plant-based diet is a vegan diet, while 30% define it as a diet that emphasizes minimally processed foods that come from plants, with limited consumption of animal meat, eggs and dairy. Twenty per cent said a plant-based diet is vegetarian and one that avoids animal meat while 8% said it is a diet in which you try to get as many fruits and vegetables as possible, with no limit on consuming animal meat, eggs and dairy.

The food service market research company Technomic, Inc. identified veganism as one of its leading global trends for 2020. Aaron Jourden, senior research manager for Technomic, said, The no-animal-products diet has never exerted more influence on the food and beverage industry. But, he added, it does not mean consumers are going animal-free. They see animal-free as a way to eat healthier, do their part for the environment or be a part of the latest eating trend.

At the beginning of the year, McDonalds Corp.s United Kingdom business unit rolled out its first vegan meal. The Veggie Dippers are made with red pepper, rice, sundried tomatoes, pesto and split peas surrounded by breadcrumbs and launched Jan. 2 in McDonalds U.K. and Ireland restaurants. Customers are now able to order the chains first vegan meal by pairing Veggie Dippers with vegan accredited french fries and any soft drink or sauce.

In the last 12 months weve seen an 80% uplift in customers ordering vegetarian options at McDonalds, so it is time for the brand famous for the dippable McNugget to launch a dippable option for our vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian customers, said Thomas ONeill, head of food marketing at McDonalds U.K. and Ireland.

In 2019, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., Newport Beach, Calif., introduced its Lifestyle Bowl platform. Among the products available are a vegan and a vegetarian option. The vegan option features brown rice, black beans, plant-based Sofritas, tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa and shredded romaine lettuce while the vegetarian option includes supergreens, brown rice, black beans, fajita vegetables, tomato salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

The efforts by both McDonalds U.K. and Chipotle Mexican Grill underscore how fragmentation of the plant-based category is pushing product developers to formulate plant-based options to fit a variety of consumer preferences

Local Vegans Weigh in on Secrets to Their Plant-Based Diets – hobokengirl.com

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Veganuary when an individual goes vegan for the month of January. Now, January is currently in full-swing, but that doesnt mean you cant still try your hand at a vegan diet for the rest of the month or even actually try to make the vegan switch entirely. The team at Hoboken Girlspoke with six local women who have adopted a vegan or plant-based lifestyle to share their top tips + tricks on going vegan and why they chose to do so. Keep reading for their stories and some tips on how you can incorporate more plant-based foods into your life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only please consult a physician before starting any type of lifestyle change or diet.

Veganism completely changed my life! From the way I eat and consume products to running a vegan business and dedicating my days to spreading the mission.

Ive been vegan since 2010, so a full decade now.

I really believe it is the most compassionate way to live my life. I love the way it makes me feel inside and out.

Getting educated. You need to first understand why you want to make the switch and really solidify the why. You can come back to this motivation when things get hard!

Realizing how many things include animal products. Its not just the cheese or chocolate, its your face wash, your laundry detergent, and most beauty products you own. This realization was what brought me to start The Vegan Warehouse, which takes out all the guesswork for consumers by providing verified vegan products in all life categories.

But plants have feelings too.

Go at your own pace and make it work for your lifestyle. I think veganism and the vegan community, in general, can be a bit intimidating for beginners, and I really want to change that. I personally believe that everyones journey to the lifestyle is different some of us transition overnight and others take months or years. My biggest advice to you is to veganize your life step by step. Start with the things that are easiest for you to give up and work your way up.

Absolutely! Im all about meal prepping to set myself up for success each week. I have a few favorite lunches and dinners that I prepare on Sunday night to always have something quick on hand. I usually get all of my basic ingredients at the Hoboken Trader Joes and my superfoods from our stores selection.

I love Ali Baba for dinner and Turning Point for brunch they both have some great vegan options!

The Brick Hoboken Pizzeria just introduced an entirely vegan menu. Ive been loving their traditional vegan pizza!

Being vegan over the past 10 years Ive noticed a huge shift in peoples perception of the lifestyle. I used to encounter lots of push back and misunderstanding around my choices and now I see a response of interest and engagement. I think that with the growing environmental concern within our society we are all starting to question our contribution to the problem. Switching to veganism for just one year can save 119,000 gallons of water, so truly every choice you make matters!

{Photo credit: @animal.babe}

Being vegan has so many meanings for me, but in a nutshell, it means no animals harmed. I always loved animals but I knew I needed my heart, head, and stomach to align with my morals.

Its been a decade! Best 10 years of my life. Admittedly, Ive fallen off the wagon for fish before, but I just hop back on. I always stress to people that these things will happen. Its progress, not perfection.

I grew up being a huge animal lover and always felt very connected to all walks of life. In my early 20s, I really connected with my spirituality and part of that was being authentic. I couldnt continue to eat beings that I also wanted to pet and snuggle, the two couldnt co-exist in my life. I also couldnt imagine hunting them for myself, therefore I decided it wasnt for me anymore. Ive never looked back.

The first step I took, and I tell everyone to take is doing your research. Everyone needs a why whether its for health reasons, ethical ones, or both, the motivation you need is in books, documentaries, podcasts, etc. For me, it was watching videos of what animals endured in the food system as well as learning about inflammatory foods like meat and dairy effects on the body. Once you do that, giving up one animal product at a time and supplementing properly is important. It takes time to let your body adjust and detox, so its more than okay to do it over an extended period of time.

For me, it was telling my family. Im first-generation Italian, my family used to own Margheritas since I was a wee one. I grew up on my dads fresh mozzarella and my nonnas Sunday meatballs. Refusing my familys food was almost disrespectful until they fully understood where I was coming from and that it wasnt a diet or phase. My nonna now fully supports my eating choices and makes me incredible eggplant every time I come over. Any time youre making a change it can take your friends and family a little while to process. Prepare yourself for a little heat and remember your why. Theyll back off or sometimes be influenced by you!

Definitely that vegans eat junk or are protein deficient. Its frustrating sometimes that people assume I eat nothing but tofu dogs or impossible burgers. I eat very consciously and protein has never been an issue for me. You should do your best to eat the rainbow. If you have colorful plates of veggies, fruits, nuts, and legumes, you wont have to track your protein. I promise. Im turning 33 next month and Im in the best shape of my life, I accredit my diet to this.

[Do it] slowly! I think we can get caught up with the labels vegan, plant-based, carnivore. Try to drown those labels out and focus on your relationship with food and your body. As you cut out each animal product and supplement it with a plant-based alternative, your body will thank you. Youll have more energy, your skin will look better, your digestive system will start to function properly. This will encourage you to keep moving forward. I tell people they can use the term eating consciously during their transition. Slow and steady wins the race.

Oh yes! Its funny because I was never good at cooking meat. Now I work for vegan Chef Chloe Coscarelli and cooking is the most therapeutic part of my day. I have so much fun vegan-izing all my old favorites. Vegan baking is honestly one of my biggest passions.

Whole Foods is where I spend most of my time off of work. I always think Im going to meet my husband there. In the warmer months, I try to go to farmers markets. Trader Joes has a great vegan guide and products, too.

In Hoboken, Im a big Alfalfa or Simply Juiced girl. In Jersey City, I love Subias or Frankie in downtown JC.

Vegan sushi from beyond sushi in NYC; vegan pizza from Porta Jersey City; everything from the Joyist in Montclair; everything from Good Plans in Montclair; and Bang Bang cauliflower from The Crosby Montclair.

The pea dumplings with tofu bchamel from Frankie will make you a believer. I also love the vegan ramen from Miso Ramen in downtown Jersey City. Hoboken, for vegan dessert, has to be the cookies from Shaka Bowl or Tri berry crepes from Simply Juiced.

In a day and age where everyone seems to know the newest nutritional trend, I just wanted to say Im so proud to be someone who has stuck to this way of life for as long as I have. I can confidently say this is the best Ive ever felt inside and out. It has made me a happier, healthier, and more confident person. This choice has stood the test of time for me and Im thrilled to be able to guide people into this lifestyle Im thankful that people trust me enough to take my advice.

{Photo credit: Falcon Griffith}

This is a very difficult question to answer simply and if going by the full definition of veganism, then Im only partway there. When you truly embrace a vegan lifestyle, you dont eat, wear or use animal products. I personally dont eat meat, fish or dairy, however, Im not fully vegan by this meaning. I use a lip balm with beeswax in it and still wear my old Vince leather jacket. Im conscious of my purchase decisions and try very hard to rock vegan leather and use vegan products when possible.

Ive been vegan for 14 years.

I first became vegan 14 years ago, because I was interested in eating as clean as possible and read a lot about factory and fish farming, added hormones and how the meat and fish get to our plates. {Ill spare you the details.} For the past couple of years though, beyond the health reasons, Ive been very into animal activism and dont believe in the inhumane treatment of animals. Ive visited sanctuaries, volunteered at shelters, and the more I learn about the emotional and mental capacity of farm animals, the more I try to use my online platforms as a space to protect them and give a voice to those who dont have one.

Know that you dont have to do it all at once. I recommend enlisting a nutritionist to help you make the transition so that you can focus on all you can eat to find your protein, etc., instead of stressing out about what you cant eat anymore.

When I first went vegan, I wasnt educated about how to create a well-balanced, plant-based meal. I became unhealthy from quitting meat, fish, and dairy cold turkey and had to take time to re-learn how to eat. I was surprised to find out how much protein you can actually get from plant-based foods.

People assume that Im thin simply because of my veganism, which isnt true at all. I eat clean, yes, but I also work very hard to maintain a fit figure.

I love Shaka Bowl, Quality Greens, Karma Kafe, Charritos, and Bare Burger.

Im a sucker for a good smoothie! Also, almost anything Indian.

See More: A Guide to Indian Food in Hoboken + Jersey City

{Photo credit: @jacklynlune.photos}

To me, being vegan means living a healthy lifestyle that does not involve the unnecessary exploitation of animals. This means eliminating animal products {primarily meat and dairy} from the diet as well as from the wardrobe {leather and fur}.

Ive been in and out of veganism for the last 12 years. I recommitted about three years ago.

Originally, I chose veganism for vanity reasons. I read a book called The Raw Food Detox Diet, which drove home the idea that health and beauty begin and end in the gut. Meat and dairy are both cause digestive stress, which can contribute to weight gain, dull skin, and disease. Now, knowing more about the environmental and spiritual implications of the meat and dairy industry makes veganism the obvious choice for me.

Being clear on your reasons for transitioning is key to staying on track! Originally, I went vegan for vanity reasons. Vanity is fleeting, as was my commitment to veganism. But recommitting to veganism for reasons bigger than myself makes it less of a commitment and more of a fulfilling lifestyle!

Its so easy these days! There are substitution foods in every aisle at the grocery store and new vegan restaurants and creative recipes pop up every day.

Ewwwwww! But to be fair, I wasnt raised vegan, so I am very understanding when it comes to judgments and hesitations {especially when it comes to vegan cheese}. I was definitely once a nay-sayer myself. But now so many unsuspecting people are becoming educated on the benefits of veganism thanks mostly to some groundbreaking Netflix documentaries like What the Health and Game Changers that I believe acceptance is at an all-time high.

Start filling your plate with 80% vegetables. Start trying 100% vegan restaurants to get inspired. I find that most people are surprised at how little they miss animal products.

I love cooking sometimes Im more a fan of my boyfriend cooking for me. He went to culinary school, so I get spoiled with gourmet vegan [food] regularly. We generally grocery shop at Key Food and P&K Market in Jersey City, Basic Organic Market in Hoboken, and Whole Foods in Weehawken.

Subias Vegan Cafe!

Im addicted to the breakfast wrap at Subias Vegan Cafe. Tacoria has an amazing Brussel sprout salad {specify vegan and ask for the vegan chipotle on the side}, as well as Brussel sprout nachos. I love the vegan salad at Honey Grow in Hoboken and the Guadalupe Burger at Bare Burger. Koro Koro has the best miso soup and I love their vegan rice balls, especially the Indian! Im obsessed with the Chana Saag at Vaibhav and the Ghobi Manchurian at Honest in Jersey City.

Read More: The Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services in Hoboken + Jersey City

Veganism is so much more than a diet, its a way of life really. Being vegan to me means that I acknowledge that all living things are sentient beings. I believe that you should treat all beings with kindness and compassion including humans. Even humans who dont agree with your lifestyle choices or who choose to live a different way of life. Being vegan does not mean youre more worthy than others or that youre living a better way of life. I do not believe or condone the holier than thou hierarchy because a true vegan judges no one. Everyone in every walk of life does the best they can and I think if you label yourself vegan then thats what youre personally trying to do, living the best life for you.

Ive been vegan or plant-based since 2013.

I chose the vegan way of life initially for health purposes. I learned that the diet itself which is without meat, dairy or any animal bi-product will lower the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, inflammation, heart disease, along with other health concerns like obesity. It helped me heal through a lot of healing both physically and mentally. Through that, I then learned how being vegan helped the animals and earth and I learned more ways in which I can contribute to healing the planet and do my part as best I can.

The first step is doing your research. Learn about veganism whether youre doing it for health reasons or environmental reasons, being a voice for the animals, etc just educate yourself on it. Being vegan doesnt necessarily mean healthy. I know people personally who went vegan and got really sick because they did it irresponsibly. As with anything else you need to know what youre doing. Get a health care practitioner, nutritionist, or health coach on board if you can for guidance and structure. Living this way is not and should not be intimidating and its very easy to achieve, but we are all so uniquely different with different needs we also have to be smart.

I grew up in Hoboken and am Puerto Rican and Italian, so my childhood was all meat and dairy. I never looked at what was in my makeup or how and with what my clothes were made. Those things werent even a thought in my head. So if you werent born into veganism then its inevitable to miss the things you grew up on. Cheese is always the biggest one. I agree with the masses on this one though, vegan alternative cheese stinks and they mostly just take like chemicals. I like to make my own cheese and I stick to brands that use quality ingredients.

Also, generally, people are used to having meat with every single meal. At first, you may feel like something is missing on your plate or your plate is not complete and this is all OK, youre breaking out of old habits. You have to get used to the idea that your whole plate will be a mix of veggies, legumes, nuts, and seeds, among other things. Were also in a time that there is a vegan option for anything non-vegan that you may miss. You can give those a go as well, but I say try to at least more so than not, to stay away from the vegan processed stuff. That is just as bad as the non-vegan processed stuff. So again just to reiterate, veganism does not mean healthy. And remember Oreos are vegan.

In the very beginning whats annoying is peoples general opinion on it without really knowing much about it. You get a lot of where do you get your protein from? or I could never be vegan, I love cheese too much.

My favorite always is when they say vegans have an agenda. I am always curious to know about this agenda and how its bad to want to live a healthier way of life and help out the animals and planet. But what I learned from that is when people hear that someone is vegan they automatically assume they themselves are being judged so they get defensive. With me, this is not the case but I know it can be with others because again there are people who think they are better than you if theyre choosing to live vegan. In my opinion, they are no better than a butcher because the whole point and concept of being vegan, per se, is to live life without judgment, harm no one, and do your very best. So basically to stay in your own lane. I dont know if you got this yet but since I am only human I get very annoyed with people who claim to be more woke than others because theyre vegan. Veganism may not work for everyone and thats OK. People need to be respected either way.

Take it one day at a time and dont beat yourself up over any slip-ups. Jumping right into it can lead to a severe detox, [it] happened to me, and it can scare you off. Go into it slow and steady. Start off with your nutrition then start looking into your beauty products, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, etc. Every little bit counts so do what you can in your own way, let go of the guilt. Dont follow people on social media who make you feel bad about yourself because youre not living like them. Appearances are just that, appearances.

Yes, Im a fan of cooking but I wasnt always so dont get discouraged. Since starting NeuroticMommy I like to think that I made cooking vegan less scary and less intimidating. I make what I grew up on and what I love. I like to think I take the leg work out for people and make their lives easier by creating recipes they know, love, and enjoy. I shop at four different places to stay on budget as were a family of four. My first stop is Trader Joes, they have the best priced organic produce and other items like ACV, avocado oil, vegan ramen, and so much more. After that, I hit up WholeFoods, Basic, and ShopRite {which has a ton of options now too}. Sometimes I go to ShopRite first depending on what I need. But I have to say Im very happy with ShopRite because they now carry a lot of what we get for an affordable price so were not breaking the bank.

I mostly cook so I dont really have a go-to spot. But Ill name some of the places I hit up once in a while where I know I can get a vegan meal. HoneyGrow, BareBurger, Madison, Chipotle, Qdoba, Simply Juiced, Acai Ya Later, Pizza Republic for their vegan pizza, Illuzion has a great Pumpkin Tempura Roll, Karma Kafe, and Bluestone Lane.

My favorite vegan-friendly place with all their dishes is down in Redbank called Good Karma Cafe. They are fully vegan and the food is off the charts. When I go into Manhattan, I love Blossom down on Carmines.

Dont feel bad about your life choices, just do the best you can each day. Remember when going fully vegan to do it safely and responsibly. Social media is good for inspiration and recipe ideas but dont take health advice from anyone. Only you know whats best for you so do that. If youre not taking care of you, then youre really no help to other living things and the planet. What I always tell my readers is to take from me what will work for you. There is no one size fits all. Its like saying everyone would look good with the Rachel haircut and we all know {in my best Maury voice} thats a lie.

Being vegan now has a totally different meaning to me than it did when I first transitioned. Today, being vegan for me is truly conscious living. Consideration and compassion for the earth and all living things. I am not a poster child for this way of life but I take small steps to enhance and improve on it every day.

Ive recently made a year. I started off pescatarian about three years ago, then vegetarian, and vegan just last year.

Being vegan was never part of the plan for my life. The exact opposite in fact. But a few years back, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It ignited a deep dive into the black hole of truth about our food and nutrition and I happened upon many documentaries, one being What The Health. Im a very by the book person and I dont like the feeling of being lied to or manipulated. As crazy as it sounds, once I learned the truth, I felt that the food industry had been doing just that my entire life so I made the decision to break that generational, cultural cycle. Just strongly believe that simply because weve been living a certain way for years, doesnt mean it is right and should not be changed.

Ive been blessed to have many friends and loved ones in my personal life and supporters/followers online ask me this question and I always say the same thing. My answer is to find your why. It works for practically everything in life. Figure out your reason for going vegan. Is it for your health, for the planet, for the animals? All of the above? Whatever it may be, remembering your why throughout that journey will keep you on the right path. My why has changed multiple times throughout my journey but it continuously keeps me going.

Discipline. Point blank. The main reason why remembering your why is so important! Personally, I lack discipline in things I am not passionate about. I was never much of a cook, I never meal prepped, I never cared about reading the ingredients or nutrition facts on anything {I assumed everything was good for us because otherwise why was it being sold to us?}, but I eventually completely adjusted and it all became second nature.

Honestly, I couldnt possibly pick just one thing. The thing is, I was once that person. I didnt know any better and used to speak from not what I knew but from what I was conditioned into thinking and believing. So as annoying as it is to hear people tell me that Im wrong for living this lifestyle or that Ill die from malnutrition, I used to think the same. So I try to have as much patience as I can and put myself in their shoes to then try to open up their minds.

Take your time! When I made my decision to transition out of animal products, I went cold turkey and cut them out the very next day. But I also wasnt prepared, didnt do my research and was totally winging it. I now tell anyone interested to start with an animal-free day one day out of the week like a meatless Monday or dairy-free Tuesday or cruelty-free Wednesday {which would be all animal products at once if you feel that youre up for it}. Once you get into a routine, you can start to add another day to the week and slowly but surely youll be animal product free all week. No one is asking you to go cold turkey like I did. Its too rash and I wouldnt recommend it. Take your time to get it right.

Like I previously mentioned, I was never into cooking. My type of cooking is trying my best to follow and not totally screw up a recipe I find online or in a cookbook. Ive always been super lazy in the kitchen and would constantly opt for instant meals. Going plant-based changed that for me {something I never anticipated}. I try my best every week to cook/prep meals that will keep me on track. Im at a point now where I know what I like and have my go-to recipes. And trust me, theyre all as simple as can be. Every now and then I make the effort to find and try new things to expand on.

Luckily, were at a point now where plant-based options are being more readily available and accessible in most grocery stores. My personal go-to stops every week are Whole Foods and Trader Joes.

Oh man, literally as local as it gets because its like 15 mins away from my apartment, but Seak is Edgewater is my jam. I love Thai food and their Thai eggplant with tofu is absolutely everything and more!

I dont think I have one favorite dish or spot for that matter, but to be honest, Ive also become pretty disciplined with refraining to eat out these days since Im big on saving these days, but on my treat days, Ive definitely got my go-to spots.

Veggie Heaven for incredible vegan Chinese food, By Chloe and anything by Chef Chloe Coscarelli in general, Subias, Tea NJ, Montclair Vegan, Good Plans Cafe in Montclair, Joyist, Johns of 12th Street for amazing vegan Italian, Bare Burger is always a nice fast food option, PS Kitchen, Red Bamboo, Beyond Sushi has great vegan sushi, Peacefood Cafe, and so many more but Ill stop there.

Do you have any vegan lifestyle tips youd like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Arielle is a born-and-bred Jersey girl and like a true NJ native, half her diet consists of bagels and the other half pizza. As a graduate of both American University and City, University of London, shes been a passionate writer ever since she wrote her first book in the first grade. When shes not furiously typing away at her keyboard, she spends her time ticking places off of her to travel to list, trying any and all new foods, and trying to stop herself from spending too much money at Zara.

Link:
Local Vegans Weigh in on Secrets to Their Plant-Based Diets - hobokengirl.com

Veganism in America is becoming increasingly Black — and hip-hop is listening – TheGrio

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Rappers are often criticized over their lyrics and extravagant lifestyles, but a trend toward less consumption of meat among African Americans is apparently being reflected in the choice to go vegan among some hip-hop performers.

In a Gallup poll that focuses on American consumers meat consumption habits, whites report eating 10 percent less meat, while people of color say they are eating 31 percent less.

READ MORE: Jermaine Dupri explains why hes been a vegan for the past 12 years

Popular and influential figures in hip-hop music including KRS-One, Stic.man and M-1 from Dead Prez, Russell Simmons, Erykah Badu, and later Jay-Z and Beyonc, Waka Flocka Flame, A$AP Rocky, and Jermaine Dupri, have made personal choices and business investments toward veganism, according to The Washington Post.

Jay and Bey famously gave out show tickets to fans who went vegan. Cardi B launched a vegan fashion line. Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, started a vegan food truck for the homeless. Eight of the Wu-Tang clan members also say they are vegan. And A$AP Rocky rapped about being vegan on his single Babushka Boi. As an ambassador, Snoop Dog helps promote Beyond Meat.

Jay-Zs venture capital firm Marcy Venture Partners last year invested $1 million in the Black-owned Partake Foods, which makes vegan cookies. He also has put investment support in Impossible Foods, which is behind Burger Kings Impossible Whopper.

KRS-One put out a song as far back as 1990 called Beef in which he cautioned listeners to think about the meat they are putting into their bodies. He rapped that it was a public service announcement.

READ MORE: Several months after his death, Nipsey Hussles legacy inspires The Marathon Book Club

KRS-One was an inspiration for me, Keith Tucker, a health activist in Seattle, told The Post. His song Beef in 1990 influenced a lot people in hip-hop to think about veganism, to think about the meat in the slave diet, about the chemicals that were starting to be put in the food and the rise of highly processed foods.

It appears that many Black people are heeding the message. In addition to the Gallup poll, a 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that while only 3 percent of American adults said they were vegan and 1 percent of Hispanic Americans, 8 percent of African American adults identified as vegan.

READ MORE:Gross inequality in access to healthy food

Hip-hop is the biggest influence on planet Earth when it comes to young people, Tucker adds. Its the CNN for the black community. If we can move it in a green direction, the world will move in a green direction. Its going viral right now.

But more attention and concern for health could also be a driving force. AshEL Eldridge, an Oakland, Calf.-based rapper and activist says the plant-based food movement is catching on as a way of taking back control among Blacks.

How do we take care of ourselves? How do we govern ourselves? How do we regain the wisdom of our ancestry? And how do we reclaim our health, he asked. The answer is to take the reins of ones own body. Theres a huge movement around decolonizing the diet. There is disease related to diets heavily reliant on meat and genetically modified crops and monocropping. How do we extricate ourselves from that? Its revolutionary.

That message is being heeded in hip-hop today, says Stic.man.

When I was a young teen getting into hip-hop, LL Cool J and them [sic] were swole superheroes. Now I see a lot of cool b-boy yogis. Thats a whole movement. There were break-dance battles back in the day; now theres a movement of calisthenics, bar athletics and Nike-sponsored events, he says. The New G Code takes empowerment in a healthy way: I dont care how many weights you can lift, how many people have you lifted up?

Continued here:
Veganism in America is becoming increasingly Black -- and hip-hop is listening - TheGrio

Here’s What Meat-Eaters Really Think of Veganism, According to a New Study – ScienceAlert

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea.

This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73 percent of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70 percent said it was good for the environment.

But 61 percent said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77 percent said it was inconvenient, and 83 percent said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60 percent considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: "I like the taste of meat too much." The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples' views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

In this way, the default widespread (and, let's be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only "pretty good" will not be a good look in the near future.

Chris Bryant, PhD Candidate, University of Bath.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Opinions expressed in this article don't necessarily reflect the views of ScienceAlert editorial staff.

In 2020 sustainability and veganism will become a moral responsibility for hospitality and catering – Hospitality & Catering News

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Veganism and sustainability only heading in one direction 2020

The two trends that will shape hospitality and catering in 2020 for us more than any and all others are sustainability and veganism. They are clearly linked to each other, but more than that we see them both as much more than trends, and the impact from people adopting and adapting to both will be far bigger than most forecasts.

Our reasoning is that the change in 2020 will be one of perspective, as more and more people will see both sustainability and veganism as a moral responsibility.

These opening statements may seem extreme to some but after decades of climate change warnings the world is now seeing the consequences of ignoring them. Today sees Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg attending the same event as both speak at Davos, how things are changing.

And only yesterday Malaysia followed Chinas example by ceasing to accept plastic waste imports from developed nations across the globe, including the UK. Malaysia is now, and rightly so, returning 42 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste back to the UK.

Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysian Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change took a firm stance saying that Malaysia would take ensure the country does not become the garbage dump of the world.

The key driver in 2020 to motivate a change in perceptions will be driven not by politicians or climate change activists but by money men. The people responsible for managing money all over the world will see that maintaining as much of the world as we can as their priority.

The Australian fires sweeping the country over recent months has not only been and continues to be a disaster for nature, it is also an economic disaster. With one third of the Australian population already reported to have been exposed to the smoke from the fires, the long term impact on healthcare costs will be enormous. Tourism is already severely impacted, which of course has a knock on impact on hospitality businesses. Insurance claims from the devastation to date run into hundreds of millions of dollars, the list of business sectors impacted grows by the day.

The fires are still burning and are a long way from subsiding, so news coverage will continue around the world for some time to come yet. The fires do also seem to have had more impact than polar ice melts, possibly as people are directly impacted from the fires now, rather than the ice melting impacting in future.

The only conclusion to be drawn from scientific evidence that investigates climate change, and the daily impact from it being reported on our news channels, is that it is real, and it will get worse.

So, what does all this mean for the hospitality and catering industry in the UK?

Sustainability and veganism have both migrated up the pecking order for all hospitality and catering businesses in the UK in recent years. In 2020 we think they will both become a fundamental of hospitality and catering businesses in the UK.

What do we mean by that?

Lets deal with sustainability first.

Sustainability not so long ago was a term bandied about by marketers across hospitality and catering to paint their brands as green, while operations took little notice if any.

It then gathered momentum and significance with procurement teams selecting suppliers and products on sustainability credentials. The money men have most effect not evangelists, and as sustainability climbs higher and higher with private and institutional investors, so will its role within the return on investment priorities and operations of businesses.

Veganism

Hospitality and catering businesses across the UK meet the day to day out of home food and drinks needs of consumers. So, monitoring food and drink trends in foodservice is of paramount importance.

The popularity of vegan, plant-based and vegetarian food is almost impossible to ignore, and coupled with the benefits to sustainability this mix is impossible to ignore.

The scales have tipped, and this was driven by non-vegans and non-vegetarians embracing a more plant-based diet, including vegan, plant-based and vegetarian options when eating out of home.

The adoption of vegan, plant-based and vegetarian menu options are prevalent across hospitality and catering, from McDonalds and Greggs to Michelin star dining and everything in between.

Last year we saw clear evidence from caterers that not only is sustainability and veganism a priority for them, it is more profitable as a business.

We reported on The University of Cambridge removing all beef and lamb from their menus and replacing all carnivorous options with plant-based ones. It was first implemented in October 2016 and was actioned across 14 foodservice outlets at the University of Cambridge and over 1,500 hospitality events held there each year. Profits increased at the University of Cambridge across the period of implementation.

We also reported on the Brighton Centre, in conjunction with their catering partner KUDOS, announcing the removal of all beef products from its menus from January 1st, 2020. Both companies implemented the change citing their reasoning as implementing moral responsibilities to their consumers.

Like many changes, their impact eludes many as the speed and scope is unrecognised. So, we will continue to report regularly on both sustainability and veganism in the hope that none of our readership miss the business opportunity.

See the rest here:
In 2020 sustainability and veganism will become a moral responsibility for hospitality and catering - Hospitality & Catering News

Do you love a vegan? Study claims 62 per cent of people don’t think veganism is attractive trait in a partner – Gloucestershire Live

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Despite veganism being more popular than ever, new research claims it's not that popular when it comes to finding love.

According to YouGov research commissioned by supermarket Sainsbury's, 41 per cent of Brits claim they would be less interested in a potential partner if theyd listed vegan on their online dating profile.

It seems that the least desirable traits include opposing political views and differing dietary preferences.

This won't come as a massive shock though as going out for dinner and sharing snacks with a loved one is one of the best things about being in a relationship at all.

But what do the figures say exactly? If you're just not into animal bits in your food, are you destined to die alone?

Should vegans date vegans and carnivores date carnivores? Or perhaps there is a way we can all live in romantic mixed diet harmony after all.

Vegan love in numbers

The figures show that six in ten (62 per cent) of people dont agree that veganism is an attractive trait in a partner, with 41 per cent saying that they would be less interested in someone if they listed veganism as a trait on their online dating profile.

Differing dietary preferences (17 per cent) were found to be the second least attractive trait in a partner after opposing political views (37 per cent).

In fact, more people found dietary preferences to be a deal breaker in comparison to friendship circles (9 per cent) and even hobbies (7 per cent).

Sainsbury's are of the opinion that even though trends suggest otherwise, there is still a considerable gap to be bridged when it comes to vegans and non-vegans dating one another, highlighting the need for meal options that can help unify singles with contrasting diets.

They said: "Its not all doom and gloom although a key consideration, when asked to rank the importance of lifestyle factors when looking for love, the more traditional qualities, such as kindness (96 per cent) sense of humour (94 per cent), physical attractiveness (73 per cent), financial income (35 per cent) ranked more important than dietary preferences (23 per cent)."

When it comes to that all important first date, over two thirds (41 per cent) of respondents aged 18-24 were the most open to the idea of seeking a vegan dining spot to win over their date, compared to older generations.

Once love has been found, it seems that vegans do in fact influence their partners plate.

Brits who are vegan, or have previously been, revealed that the fourth biggest reason for turning to veganism is to align with their partners, or love interests, views.

The results confirmed that vegetarians and vegans would make the perfect match, with 74 per cent of vegetarians thinking that veganism is an attractive trait in a potential partner in comparison to only 7 per cent of meat-eaters.

This comes as Sainsburys has seen a 40 per cent year on year increase in spend on plant-based alternatives, and has just launched its new Plant Pioneers range to make catering for all lifestyles easier than ever.

Sainsburys new meat-alternative Plant Pioneers range offers delicious plant-based options for vegans, flexitarians, and meat-eaters alike.

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From its smash hit Gary vegan-friendly cheese in 2016, to the introduction of the first ever Meat-Free Butcher to the UK in 2019, Sainsbury's has now extended its meat-alternative offering to over 25 Plant Pioneers lines.

The new range offers delicious plant-based options suitable for both meat-eaters and vegans alike, and provides even more inspiration and choice to those who might want to explore a flexitarian lifestyle.

Vegans looking for love have found solace in the likes of vegan dating app, Grazer, which saw 4,000 downloads within its first week of launch in 2017.

CEO and founder of the vegan dating app, Lewis Foster said: Going plant-based is more than just a diet, its a lifestyle choice, which often means rethinking many habits and daily choices.

"We believe when people are looking for love, theyre looking for their people. The ones who can not only share the same meals but also live by the same like-minded values.

"Grazer is an app built solely for the plant-based, the ones who want their lovers to be plant-lovers too.

"However, for many couples who dont currently have this in common, its fantastic to see the offering of meat-alternatives widely available on supermarket shelves providing a great solution to enjoying meal times together, and in turn helping introduce non-vegans to tasty vegan food."

New products launching as part of the range include a meaty offering of banana blossom, a popular alternative to white fish, and a number of vegan cheat options, such as Smokey Vacon Rashers and Southern Fried Bites.

This comes two years after Sainsburys became the first supermarket to introduce pulled jackfruit to customers in 2018.

The extended range is perfectly placed to satisfy all relationships, whether plant-based or not, with its authentic and delicious taste and texture, making romantic meals a breeze.

Plant-Based Buyer for Sainsburys Plant Pioneers, Rosie Bambaji said: We can see from this research that there is still an element of uncertainty amongst vegans and meat-eaters when it comes to looking for love.

"Dining with a new love interest, or even a long term partner, is an opportunity to connect and try new things.

"The new Plant Pioneers range offers an innovative, not to mention delicious, option for both meat-eaters and vegans alike.

"Whats more, many of the products come with the benefit of having added B12 and iron, making them both tasty and healthy.

"For carnivores who might be tempted to explore a plant-based meal to enjoy with their vegan partner, but cant bear to wave goodbye to that meaty taste and texture, the range has plenty of options to satisfy that craving!"

The new range of 25 Sainsburys Plant Pioneers products launches in store and online from January 1, 2020 and can be found in the fresh, frozen and canned veg aisles.

What do you think is the most important trait for a partner to have? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media channels.

To read more about vegan food, click here.

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Do you love a vegan? Study claims 62 per cent of people don't think veganism is attractive trait in a partner - Gloucestershire Live

Tired of turkey? Here’s why you’ll want to try a vegan Thanksgiving this year – USA TODAY

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

7 percent of millennials subscribe to a plant-based, Keto, vegan or other special diet, and food is very central in their everyday lives. Buzz60

Jasmine Briones was nervous during her first vegan Thanksgiving. She wasnt sure how her family of omnivores would react to the plant-based Thanksgiving foods she had made for them.

It was 2012, Briones first year of veganism,which her parents thought was a phase, though it eventually led to her becoming theSweet Simple Vegan. She had done the best she could with the ingredients and recipes she had on hand for vegan biscuits, mashed potatoesand green bean casserole.

My parents didnt really enjoy it, but I could do a much better jobnow, Briones said. Nowadays, theres a plethora of vegan products and recipes to help make Thanksgiving food vegan.

While strictly vegan Thanksgivings probably wont slow the demand for turkey anytime soon, interest in plant-based foods and Thanksgiving recipes has grown in recent years, and companies are responding to demand.

Krissi Vandenberg is the executive director at the Vegan Awareness Foundation, an organization that offers certification for a range of vegan products. To receive certification, a manufacturer must prove that their product contains absolutely no animal-based ingredients and that it does not use animal products in processing. For example, sugar manufacturers often use cow bone char to remove impurities from raw sugar. While it may be sparkly white, and perfect for an omnivores cranberry sauce, such sugar cannot be considered vegan by the Vegan Awareness Foundation.

Even vegetarians can rejoice over these new types of meat hitting the market. Here's why. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Food for thought: Can going vegan help with weight loss?

Black Friday 2019 freebies: Here's what you can get for free starting Thanksgiving

According to Vandenberg, when the organization started certifying products in the year 2000, it was mostly approving snack foods for a strictly vegan audience. That trend has since changed rapidly.

If someone has spent most of their life looking for a piece of meat, its less of a sacrifice to eat something that looks and tastes kind of like meat.

Over the past five to seven years, the consumer base of many vegan products has expanded to include the vegan curious. Companies are noticing this shiftand have begun seeking certification for more savory and substantial foods, such as frozen entrees, soupsand pantry staples, the kinds that could help make a Thanksgiving meal, according to Vandenberg.

While Briones admits that her first vegan Thanksgiving wasnt exactly a hit, she said that later attempts have tasted much better, thanks in part to the introduction of new vegan productsand improvements in ingredients like vegan cream cheese, which Briones mixes into vegan mashed potatoes to make them more decadent.

Tofurky, made by Turtle Island Foods, is tofu "turkey."(Photo: Handout)

Since the Foundation began issuing certification, it has worked with over 1,000 different companies and approved several thousand products, according to Vandenberg. This growth is completely unprecedented.

Were seeing right now a lot of things we never envisioned, Vandenberg said. Things have really just taken off.

This trend has made vegan Thanksgiving foods more accessible for those looking to add more plant-based dishes to their holiday meals, and a number of companies have started in recent years to fill that need.

No Evil Foods is one of these companies. Though the company has been operating since 2014, theyve recently expanded production of their plant-based turkey roast made from wheat proteindue to overwhelming demand. No Evil Foods named it The Pardon after the presidential tradition of pardoning a turkey from slaughter every Thanksgiving, and a portion of sales is donated to Full Circle Farm Sanctuary in Warm Springs, Georgia, which takes care of rescued farm animals. So far, No Evil Foods has already an 1100% increase in sales on The Pardon from 2018.

The market is so right, said Sadrah Schadel, co-founder of No Evil Foods. Plant-based eating is clearly on the rise, and consumers are looking for more deliciously meaty ways to celebrate that align with their desire to eat healthier, be kinderand make positive environmental choices.

Weighing the options: How plant-based stacks up versus animal-based meats

First-time vegan holiday survival guide: Tips & tricks to sticking to your diet

Meal kit companies are getting in on vegan Thanksgiving as well. Purple Carrot, which exclusively sells vegan meal kits, launched its own Thanksgiving box this fall. The kit, which includes the ingredients and recipes for: Hasselback butternut squash, ciabatta bread stuffing, roasted brussels sprouts, cranberry citrus cakeand classic gravy, has already sold out. According to Ashley Hocking, head of marketing at Purple Carrot, the idea for a Thanksgiving box sprung directly from customer feedback.

There is a growing interest in plant-based foods overall, which is very encouraging for brands in this space, Hocking said. Sales of plant-based versions of traditional animal protein products have risen by double digits over the past year.

Tofurky with Mushroom Stuffing Gravy(Photo: Thanksgiving.com)

And then theres Tofurky, the largest independent producer of plant-based proteins in the U.S., which has been selling its plant-based turky roasts since 1995. According to company president and CEO Jaime Athos, Tofurky will sell about 400,000 of its trademark roasts this holiday season, while operating at full production capacity. Thats a steep jump from the 800 sold in 1995. Due to increasing demand over the years, Tofurky sold 5 million roasts from 1995 to 2018.

While vegan Thanksgiving foods have become more popular and more accessible in recent years, those who celebrated the first public vegan Thanksgiving in had to be a little more creative with their Thanksgiving menu. There was no version of The Pardon, no Thanksgiving meal kit, no Tofurky. But there were fruits and vegetables.

The vegan foods were always there, said Alex Hershaft, founder of the Farm Animal Rights Movement, or FARM. What youre seeing now in supermarkets is the result of greatly increased acceptance in plant-based eating.

Going vegan?Seven strategies to put your diet on a plant-based path

Vegan oxtail?Twitter says the fake meat movement may have gone too far

Hershaft organized a Thanksgiving celebration in 1975, which he claims is the first of its kind, where about 40 to 50 vegans gathered at the Siddhartha vegetarian Indian restaurant in Washington, D.C. Hershaft, a vegetarian since 1961and a vegan since 1981, still prefers foods like lentils to plant-based meats, but he acknowledges that having the meat-like options is helpful in getting people to eat less meat or no meat at all.

If someone has spent most of their life looking for a piece of meat, its less of a sacrifice to eat something that looks and tastes kind of like meat, Hershaft said.

Despite the recent surge in popularity of vegan Thanksgiving foods, turkey still dominates the Ameican plate. According to the National Turkey Federation, 44 million turkeys were bought and served for Thanksgiving 2017, a number roughly equivalent to the population of Argentina. Hershaft said he still feels rewarded by having been able to inspire interest in veganism over the past 44 years.

Some people feel that were not making enough progress, Hershaft said. But this is not just about plant-based Thanksgiving, its about the increased acceptance of plant-based eating altogether, and for that Im grateful.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/11/27/vegan-thanksgivings-bigger-and-tasting-better-than-ever/4294423002/

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Tired of turkey? Here's why you'll want to try a vegan Thanksgiving this year - USA TODAY

A 9-year-old vegan challenged Trump to give up animal products for 30 days and ‘make America healthy again’ – INSIDER

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

President Donald Trump, known as a lover of fast food and processed meats, is one of the last people you'd expect to try a vegan diet, or one that eliminates animal products like meat, milk, and eggs.

But a 9-year-old activist known as Vegan Evan hopes to he does just that, and challenged Trump to go vegan for 30 days as part of a campaign to "Make America Healthy Again."

If Trump accepts and completes the challenge, a nonprofit called Million Dollar Vegan will donate a million dollars to a charity of Trump's choice. That money, according to a spokesperson for the nonprofit, comes from private donations from individuals and other activist groups.

So far, Trump has not responded to the challenge, but has until December 31 to do so, according to the organization.

Vegan Evan, who's from Melborne, Florida, wasn't always vegan. He told Insider he remembers deciding to make the change on the way to kindergarten one morning as his mom, already a vegetarian, announced she was going vegan. Evan, then 5, decided to join her.

Although Evan's mom cautioned him that being vegan would mean cutting foods that kids typically love, like pizza and cupcakes, his determination held firm.

"I told her, 'If the animals are being hurt and I don't need it, I don't want it,'" he said.

Since then,Evanhas been vegan, and he's been encouraging others to do the same for nearly as long through videos on his YouTube channel. He also travels the country with his family to promote a vegan diet.

Evan recently announced his challenge to the president in ads in the New York Times and elsewhere, as well as through a vigorous online campaign.

He hopes his message to Trump will raise awares of the benefits of being vegan, and encourage more people to try it for themselves.

"I think that veganism is a gift and it's great to give that gift to people so they can be healthier and feel better, not hurt animals, and not destroy the planet," he told Insider.

Vegan Evan tucks into dairy-free mac and cheese. Vegan Evan

Evan said he doesn't feel like he's missing out on anything. Contrary to popular belief, "anything that anyone else could eat, we can eat a vegan version," he said.

"Now I eat vegan cupcakes, and vegan pizza is one of our favorite foods," he said. He's also a big fan of quesadillas with cashew cheese, rice, vegan chicken, and spinach.

He said the biggest challenge most people face when going vegan is that they just don't know what to eat instead of animal products. Once they do, "it's not really that hard," he said. "You just have to look around your grocery store a little bit."

Evan added that the growing trend of plant-based meat substitutes has made it even easier and more accesible to eat vegan even if, like Trump, you're a big fan of burgers.

"The Impossible burger is delicious, of course. It's great because we don't have to eat animals but can still have the same taste," Evan said.

Vegan burgers are "delicious, of course," Evan said. Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock

Evan said he's wanted to challenge the president to go vegan for a while, and partnering with Million Dollar Vegan seemed like the perfect opportunity to raise some awareness. "He has a lot of reach to people; if they see him doing this, they might want to do it too," he said.

Evan added that he also hopes to run for president in 2048.

Until then, he plans to continue promoting veganism. "It's not only good for the planet and the animals," he said, "it's great for your health."

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The rest is here:

A 9-year-old vegan challenged Trump to give up animal products for 30 days and 'make America healthy again' - INSIDER

Futurist Transhuman News Blog

Category Archives: Veganism

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Tired of turkey? Here’s why you’ll want to try a vegan Thanksgiving this year – USA TODAY

A 9-year-old vegan challenged Trump to give up animal products for 30 days and ‘make America healthy again’ – INSIDER