Brand revitalization requires finding and satisfying a new, important customer need. Brand success requires being the best at something relevant and differentiated. It means never taking your eye off of changing customer needs.

As veganism and vegetarianism diets become more embedded into peoples lifestyles, anything plant-based is now perceived as good. Plant-based foods and beverages are seen as healthy and planet-friendly, an image that appears to override the idea that processing also takes place in their production.

Margarine is a non-dairy spread that was previously marginalized due to its hydrogenation, which turns polyunsaturates into saturates and trans-fatty acids. Because of hydrogenation, and its non-buttery texture and taste, margarine sales declined over the last decade. But, now margarine is morphing into the healthier fare, as margarine is naturally plant-based. And, hydrogenation is no longer used to make margarine firmer and texturally closer to dairy butter. Current alternative butter brands made from plants contain healthy unsaturated fats. Brands, such as Blue Band, that were derided as pale non-dairy substitutes are now desired as manufacturers update and revise ingredients. Margarine has now become a darling of the alternative dietary regime crowds.

Margarine has an interesting past. Frances first president (1848-1852), Napoleon III, the nephew Napoleon I, asked for an alternative to butter due to food shortages that affected feeding the French army. A chemist, Hippolte Mege-Mouries created oleomargarine and the rest is history.

Unilever built a global margarine and spread business that included over 100 brands including Flora, I Cant Believe Its Not Butter, Blue Band. In 2017, after a very high-priced bidding war, investment firm KKR walked away with the prize, offering Unilever approximately US$7.7 billion (6.8 billion). The acquired business was set up under a new corporate entity called Upfield.

Ordinarily, the terms brand revitalization and private equity are not commonly used in the same sentence, so kudos to KKR. Rather than starve the former Unilever brands, KKR saw an opportunity that could not be overlooked: the appeal and profitability of plant-based foods. With some recipe changes and new marketing, KKR could leverage its portfolio as a healthier and more sustainable way to eat.

Some products were jettisoned, but this was to be laser-focused on the brands that fit the overarching portfolios new positioning. This new positioning is clearly articulated on Upfields website We are the largest plant-based consumer products company in the world and we have embarked on a journey to deliver a Better Plant-Based Future to the benefit of our customers and consumers alike. Along with this statement is the commitment to sustainability including a policy paper titled, A Better Plant-Based Future.

According to the Financial Times, Upfield is determined to change the image of margarine. By focusing on the sustainability of margarine, Upfield is altering its ingredient lists by reducing each product to around five natural ingredients to create cleaner labels. Financial Times reports that originally KKR intended to strip out inefficiencies but decided on a new strategy after spotting consumer appetite for sexy plant-based foods.

Apparently, Upfield made the correct decision, as its net sales grew by 1.3 percent in 2019. And, The Good Food Institute reported sales of plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs rose 11 percent year on year in the U.S. to $5 billion in 2019.

In the U.S., Earth Balance is one of Upfields biggest competitors. Earth Balance is a two-decades-old enterprise that makes vegan alternative butter spreads, nut butter, and snacks. Its products are vegan, plant-based, and non-GMO. The products have been designed to create a conscious, rewarding way of living. As part of its philosophy is its original commitment to being ethically plant-based. The palm oil it uses is a non-GMO, non-hydrogenated oil. Earth Balance is involved in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), committed to environmentally and socially responsible palm oil production.

Upfield is also focused on sustainable palm oil. Upfield states that it, too, sources 100 percent of its palm oil from physically certified sustainable sources. Additionally, as part of its investment, Upfield is pouring 50 million into a new Food Science Centre in Wageningen, the Netherlands, that will focus on sustainability, health, and taste in plant-based food, according to foodnavigator.com.

The current eating scene is undergoing vast alterations. There are no clues as to which dining and cooking behaviors will last or fall away fast. What is clear is that the appeal of plant-based food alternatives is a growing customer desire. Revitalizing a brand by focusing on satisfying changing customer habits and attitudes keep brands relevant for enduring profitable growth.

By Larry Light, CEO Arcature Brand Consulting

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Blue Band and Margarine's Morph into Meaningfulness - Ventures Africa

Last month, the National Vegetarian Museum in Chicagochanged its name to The Vegan Museum to better reflect the organisations mission to promote vegan lifestyles for health, the environment and all animals. It represents the only institution of its kind, dedicated to documenting the deep and rich history of the vegetarian movement in the U.S. with travelling exhibitions and events displayed across the Chicago metropolitan area. Now, if youre wondering what you might learn strolling through the halls of the museum, here are 8 fun facts about the museum and things you should know about the history of vegans.

Paul Obis began selling his magazine The Vegetarian Times off his bike when he first founded it. After many years, it grew into a major publication providing the public with a news source for the vegan and vegetarian scene. And the first ever edition of the magazine is displayed at The Vegan Museum, containing many articles written by Obis himself!

While other museums may include vegetarianism or veganism as part of their exhibitions, The Vegan Museum is the only one dedicated to preserving specifically the history of the topic and educating visitors about the multitude of benefits that come with living a vegan lifestyle, from saving all animals from exploitation to our own health, and the planets too.

Kay Stepkin started the museum after realising that she did not open the first vegetarian eatery in Chicago. After learning that Bread Shop wasnt the first meatless business in the region (it holds the title of being the first modern vegetarian eatery), she found out that Chicago in fact possesses a rich history of vegetarianism that dated as far back as 1893. It inspired her to create the museum to educate more people about the vegan movement.

The National Vegetarian Museum changed its name to The Vegan Museum on September 2, what would have been Donald Watsons 110th birthday. Watson, founder of the Vegan Society, coined the term veganism and the museum decided it was the perfect timing to honour his work and more accurately reflect the organisations mission.

The interactive story map shows viewers Illinois history in vegetarianism and veganism, from an old advertisement for Chicagos first vegetarian restaurants to vegetarianism appearing at the famous fair, the Worlds Columbian Exposition in 1893. A companion story map is now being compiled to chronicle the development of the plant-based movement across the entire U.S.

Called Protose and known as vegetable meat, it was one of the first commercially available meat substitutes to appear in the U.S. and was developed in the Midwest by J. H. Kellogg. It primarily contained peanuts and wheat gluten, and the museum says that recipes are still available today!

Among the facts that youll learn at The Vegan Museum is that Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher famous for the Pythagorass theorem and other mathematical and musical developments, was a vegetarian. And it was known that anyone who wished to study with him had to adhere to his diet.

As a travelling museum, the organisation hosts different speaker events, documentary screenings, food demonstrations and more! Theyve even held a childrens book reading by international author Hlne Defossez. Among some of the speakers featured at the museum include author Victoria Moran, chef and educator Jill Keb, and Robert Grillo, an animal welfare activist and director of nonprofit Free From Harm.

Lead image courtesy of Markus Spiske / Unsplash.

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8 Fun Facts You Should Know About The Worlds First Vegan Museum - Green Queen Media

Words by Lucile Descamps

The history of the American presidential elections has been marked by several significant and ground-breaking episodes. Among them, is the story of the very first woman to run for the highest office in the country, even though only men were allowed to vote at the time.

The woman was Victoria Claflin Woodhull, and nothing could have foretold her role in this incredible story. She was born in 1838 to a swindler of a father and a mother who was a servant and fortune teller in her spare time. At the age of 15, Woodhull found herself married to a doctor who turned out to be an alcoholic.

To provide for her family, Woodhull worked as an actress for a time, before finally joining her sister, with whom she practised clairvoyance. She quickly developed an interest in feminist and abolitionist ideology, even holding conferences on the subject.

In the 1860s, thanks in part to some fortunate encounters, the two sisters became the first women stockbrokers on Wall Street. They even opened their own brokerage in 1870, according to an Ohio University article. In the same year, they also used some of the money they'd made to launch a weekly newspaper focused on women's issues, equality and topics that were taboo at the time, such as sex education and vegetarianism.

In 1870, Woodhull announced her intention to run in the 1872 presidential election. A few months before the election, she launched her party, the Equal Rights Party. But she faced great, if not insurmountable, obstacles: at that time, women were not allowed to vote, and you had to be at least 35 years of age to run. She was only 34 at the time of the election.

None of this prevented her from campaigning and holding successful meetings, in which she defended not only gender equality but also equality between black and white people. The astonishing campaign ended on election day itself, as Woodhull was arrested for "obscene comments" because of an article written in her newspaper about an act of adultery committed by a reverend. The ballots in her favour were not counted, and Ulysses S. Grant was re-elected.

After this failure, Woodhull moved to England, got divorced, remarried and converted to Catholicism. For some historians, she isn't considered the first real candidate, since she was unable to see her campaign through to the end, and her votes weren't counted.

Belva Ann Lockwood. (United States Library of Congress)

This pioneering role would therefore fall to Belva Ann Lockwood. She, too, ran for the Equal Rights Party in 1884. And she, too, did not come from a well-to-do family, as the US National Archives website shows us. After being widowed at an early age, with a three-year-old daughter to support, Lockwood decided to go into higher education. Her second husband was in poor health, so it was up to her to earn money for the family. This experience led her to become a strong advocate for the right of girls to receive an education.

In 1879, she was the first woman lawyer to come before the United States Supreme Court. This was not her only accomplishment; in 1884, she became the first woman to complete a presidential campaign. Even though she won less than 5,000 votes, she did it again in 1888.

Yet, at that time, women still did not have the right to vote, even though some American states had made progress on the issue. As early as 1780, for example, women in New Jersey had the right to vote as long as they owned property a condition that was also required for men. This was abolished in 1807, when legislation limited the right to vote to white men only.

In 1869, women began to organise, creating the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association. Both groups demanded the right to vote for women, but the former wanted to enact this through an amendment to the US Constitution, while the latter wished to reform the state constitutions.

The two groups finally merged in 1890 under the name of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. While some states gradually included this right in their constitutions, starting with Wyoming, it wasn't until 1919 that the amendment to the US Constitution on the subject was passed. It came into force in August 1920. However, for both men and women, the right to vote did not apply to people from minority groups, who would have to wait for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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The first woman to run for the US presidential election... when she couldn't even vote - Yahoo Entertainment

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The launches that have acquired the greatest fame for vegan entrepreneurship have historically originated, for the most part, from Anglo-Saxon countries such as the UK, Germany, the USA, and Australia. At least until now.

There is no doubt that many of the pioneers of plant-based foods have come from these parts of the world, such as Beyond Meat, The Vegetarian Butcher and V2 Food, among others. However, vegetarianism and veganism are gaining strength in other parts of the world as well, both in the area of consumption and in production and innovation.

About 8% of people in Latin America identify themselves as vegetarian or vegan, similar to the number in the United States. But one reality stands out that would surprise many people: in Mexico the figure is a staggering 20%, more than double the US and many of the countries mentioned above. Sixty to seventy percent of these are women seeking to improve their diet.

These figures are important because Mexico is a country with a population of about 130 million people and has a GDP of 1.2 trillion dollars. This means that the country south of the US border has immense potential.

To cultivate that potential, the Association of Vegan Entrepreneurs of Mexico (AEVM) was created this year, which, according to its website, is a business community that seeks to empower consumers to adopt conscious and healthy lifestyles. This community includes Mexican vegan companies such as Heartbest Foods, which uses 100% Mexican technology and innovation to create alternatives to dairy.

One of the most successful Mexican companies in the vegan field to date is not surprisingly in the food market, but in fashion. The Guadalajara-based company Desserto has won countless awards for its extravagant cactus leather.

Its no longer a secret that vegan entrepreneurship is on fire around the world, but Mexico may well end up being the best-kept secret in this area, and its a country worth keeping an eye on.

Related Articles

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Mexico: The Cradle of Vegan Entrepreneurship in Latin America? - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

The man on the phone was aggressively blas, as I suppose is wont for many millennials. But after hearing dozens of answering recordings, I began to feel like a machine myself, an automaton mechanically entering phone numbers and clicking buttons on a screen. I craved the sound of breathing; I was grateful even for hostility, because it meant a human was on the other side.

The man confirmed that he supported the candidate I was phone banking for, but his tone suggested he couldn't care less whether this person won. He hesitated before telling me, Just so you know, I think youre wasting your time. Work at a food bank, or a homeless shelter, or tutor some underprivileged kids or something. Then he hung up.

I didnt get a chance to respond, and I dont know what I would have said had he stayed on to hear my response.

Feeling unsettled, I played out the argument in my shower later that evening. (Dont lie youve done this at least once.) The careless way he listed the things I ostensibly should be doing suggested he himself hadnt done any of them. I thought it was peak American male arrogance to be completely politically disengaged but feel comfortable expressing derision at someone elses civic efforts.

Then for a while, I thought he might be right. At a food bank I could be completely confident that my efforts were fruitful: My labor would translate directly to more full bellies. If a candidate I spent hundreds of hours volunteering for lost, that time was arguably completely wasted.

Youth voter turnout or rather, the lack thereof is routinely attributed to young peoples indolence and apathy, not any specific ideology. But the man on the phone was the first of many young-ish people I spoke with this summer who expressed the belief that voting is not only ineffective but actively harmful, a charade that saps energy from radical and more material change. Cleaning steam from the mirror, I considered this argument.

From the well-intentioned pleas of the Harvard Votes Challenge to new features of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, over the past few months we have been bombarded with a deafening, one-note urge to vote. But in this final voting sprint, I want to take a step back and really address criticisms of electoral politics.

First, and most importantly, the anti-voting people I spoke with always assumed a zero-sum relationship between voting or campaigning and other forms of engagement. But this is a false trade-off: Personally, Ive found time to vote and campaign, protest and tutor; many of the folks I campaigned with are similarly engaged across the board.

More broadly, this view of electoral politics as a kind of political dead-end dismisses the way voting often acts as the gateway to deeper civic engagement. As my friends vote for the first time, I have also witnessed them realize a greater political attentiveness and a desire to get involved in demonstrations, local organizations, and campaigns.

Are there people whose only engagement with politics is the ballot they cast every four years in the presidential election? Absolutely. But we should encourage those people to participate more, not tell them that voting is pointless.

Another argument that I heard often, especially from leftists, was that voting upholds oppressive systems, namely carceral capitalism, settler-colonialism, and the patriarchy.

Those systems undeniably exist, and Im not so naive to think that voting could necessarily dismantle them. But voting in a system is not an endorsement of the system, especially if one is also active outside the system. I can call for prison abolition at a protest and vote for a candidate who at least opposes private prisons over one who doesnt.

Anti-capitalists still purchase food through a capitalist market system. Their solution is not to starve: It is to try to obtain food in the least harmful way be it vegetarianism, a co-op, sustainable farming while protesting capitalism through direct action. Even if there is no ethical consumption, we consume in the best way we can while pushing for a new, more ethical system.

The same should be true of voting. We can take to the streets, and create self-sufficient communities, but in the interim we have an obligation to make things just a little bit better by voting. The fact that so many are disenfranchised is even more reason to vote, to amplify a political voice that is unjustly muted. In other words, resistance shouldnt be limited to the ballot box, but it shouldnt have to reject the ballot box as an important mechanism of change either.

I want to be absolutely clear: This is not a call to vote for Joe Biden, or to vote blue no matter who, or to use harm reduction as a blanket political calculus. There are people for whom voting is personally traumatic; for example, some sexual assault survivors feel alienated in a presidential election where the two major candidates are accused of sexual misconduct. I am not suggesting that we create a political culture that shames people who choose not to vote.

But dogmatic condemnations of all electoral politics engender apathy in the privileged, and convince people that their passivity is radical. We cannot encourage people to stop voting or campaigning right now with the hope that they choose to engage in more nebulous forms of making change.

Instead, we should move towards a vision of political engagement that includes the ballot box and calls for revolution and abolition, a recognition of short term gains that does not abandon long term imagination.

Talia M. Blatt 23 is a resident of Currier House. Her column appears on alternate Tuesdays.

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Why You Can Have Your Vote and Protest it Too | Opinion - Harvard Crimson

OVER the past few years vegetarianism and especially veganism have been in the public eye and have been growing in popularity.

And in Cumbria, there are a number of great places which serve up a variety of delicious vegan dishes.

This week we asked readers to share their recommendations.

In no particular order, here are a number of the best places:

1 QUINCE & MEDLAR, CASTLEGATE. COCKERMOUTH

The restaurant is a big hit with readers Caroline Earle and Claire Macleod.

Marie Fowler said: "We've being going to Quince & Medlar for years now, never a bad meal always lovely, and we've introduced friends, who like us have carried on going there for meals."

Lynda Margaret said: "Quince & Medlar for both food and service excellent."

2 VEEVA! STATION ROAD, COCKERMOUTH

The coffee shop offers a number of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Rachel Tate said: VeeVa! in Cockermouth has a veggie selection but also then accommodate me in making any of their other offerings veggie too.

3 ALLONBY TEA ROOM, THE SQUARE, ALLONBY, MARYPORT

The tea room, and gift shop, located at The Square, was highly recommended by several readers for their vegan options.

Gary Sarah Mcarthur said: Allonby Tea Room is highly recommended, love this place.

4 KATS KITCHEN, MAIN STREET, KESWICK

The vegan restaurant, on Main Street, has a number of rave reviews from readers.

Rachael Rheinbach posted: Kats Kitchen of Keswick for pure dedication to the vegan menu thats always top class.

Lauren Beaty said: Ran by the most lovely lady ever!

Brilliant smoothies and great food as well.

5 THE SCREES INN, NETHER WASDALE. SEASCALE

Vicky Johnston is a big fan of the inn.

She said: The Screes in Nether Wasdale.

A really extensive veggie and vegan menu, innovative and beautifully cooked and presented. Delicious.

6 THE PLOUGH INN, WREAY GARDENS, WREAY

The restaurant, located near the M6 just south of Carlisle, was recommended by Jane Kirby.

She said: The Plough Inn, Wreay, do veggie burgers, fajitas, starters and mains on their special boards and have vegan options too.

For bigger parties over 10 and pre-ordered they have a full vegan menu available on request.

7 FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD, CROSBY STREET, CARLISLE

The gourmet grocery shop, on Crosby Street, Carlisle, has gained a reputation as the go to places for vegan goodies.

It serves a range of vegan products, from cupboard essentials to chocolates.

Rachael Rheinback said: They even order in what you need if they dont have it.

Dawn Thompson-Howard said: Food, Glorious Food for chocolate, treats and dairy-free cheese.

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Readers' choice: The best veggie and vegan eats - Times & Star

It's a new month and netizens hope it comes with goodness. As October as arrived, people have taken to social media platforms with their hopes and wishes for the tenth month of the year. Netizens are hoping that October does not act like the rest of the years of the month, but stays a little easy on everyone. Meanwhile, people are sending Good Morning wishes to each other. They are also sharing viral videos, funny memes and trending topics on social media platforms. And others are sending inspirational quotes and motivational thoughts on the internet using the hashtags #ThursdayMotivation and #ThursdayThoughts. As the day progresses, we promise to keep you updated with everything happening on the internet.

Also Read | International Coffee Day 2020 Quotes & HD Images: Quirky Thoughts And Instagram Captions to Share With Photos of a Hot Cup of Coffee!

It marks International Day for Older Persons which creates awareness on elder issues and celebrates it.The theme of International Day of Older Persons 2020 aims to Leave no one behind.The objective of the observance is to highlight the role of the health care workforce in contributing to the health of older persons, with recognition to nurses. It also marks World Vegetarian Day that promotes a vegetarian lifestyle. It also marks International Coffee Day to promote coffee as a beverage and highlights issues pertaining to the coffee trade.

It also marks National Voluntary Blood Donation Dayto highlight the need and importance of safe blood in the life of an individual. It also marks National Poetry Day in the United Kingdom. International Music Day is observed on the day to promote global peace and harmony through music. We wish you all a Happy Thursday and a great week ahead!

Also Read | World Vegetarian Day 2020: Planning to Turn Vegetarian? Types, Pros and Cons & Tips to Switch to Vegetarianism in a Healthy Way

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#ThursdayThoughts and #ThursdayMotivation Trend on Twitter: Trending Topics, Viral Videos & Funny Memes of The Day - Yahoo India News

September22, 20205 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Frozen foodholdsan interesting position in modern food history. Flash freezing has been hailed as a technological marvel that made nutritious vegetables accessible to urban and suburban Americans virtually anywhere, at any time of year. But TV dinners have also been pinned as a symbol of the domination of processed foods over the American diet a move away from natural, wholesome foods from the earth and instead toward laboratory-made sugar and salt bombs that are shortening our lifespans.

Like with any complicated subject, the conclusion to be drawn isnt as simple as frozen food is good or frozen food is bad. Its true that flash-frozen fruits and vegetables were and continue to be a helpful innovation that allowspeople to get vitamin and nutrient-dense foods into their diets. Its also true that some frozen food brands sell meals that are incredibly high in calories, sugar, and cholesterol, with very few necessary vitamins and minerals to balance it out.

Related:The Best Way to Brand Your Plant-Based Business

But people today are busy, and with the continuing effects of the global health crisis on supply chains, access to fresh food is challenging in a way many of us have never experienced before. The frozen food market, globally, was valued at $291.3 billion in 2019, and was expected to continue growing even before the pandemic. Frozen, ready-to-eat meals make up a significant portion of that figure. The time-saving, long-lasting, satisfying and potentially nutritious properties of frozen foods are just too tempting to pass up right now.

Fortunately, there are lots of producers branching out beyond trays of chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes, to offer more diverse flavors and healthier options in the frozen food aisle.

Amys Kitchen, the well-established vegetarian food brand, has been on this beat for some time. They have a hefty array of frozen, prepared foods, including veggie burger patties, pizzas, and microwaveable breakfast burritos. Lots of their products are vegan, as well as organic and non-GMO, making them great snacks or no-effort dinners for busy people looking for healthier options in a pinch. And some popular plant-based brands didnt start off in the frozen food aisle but have since expanded there. Daiya, best known for their vegan cheese shreds and slices, now sells ready-to-cook pizzas and microwavable burritos.

Kashi, the health food brand you might know better for their cereals and granolas, also offers a line of frozen prepared meals all of which are vegan and non-GMO, and come in globally-inspired recipes like chimichurri quinoa bowls and mayan harvest bake.

Related: Make the Most of Your Frozen Fruit and Vegetable Supply With a Nutribullet

Even brands that do sell meat and other animal products seem to be making a concentrated effort to keep up with consumers growing interest in plant-based eating by offering clearly labeled, vegan-friendly meals. Frontera, which sells a variety of Mexican-inspired snacks and meal starters, has a full line of frozen meals and skillet kits in traditional, meaty varieties, but also plant-based ones that center beans and veggies, like their threebean taco bowl that includes lively ingredients like plantains, chard, fire-roasted peppers, and kale. Similarly, Saffron Road is a brand that sells snacks, meals, and accouterments mostly inspired by Indian cuisine. Their frozen selection, like Frontera, includes meat-centric options as well as totally vegan ones, like their pre-made vegetable biryani.

Frozen prepared meals offer the convenience of TV dinners to consumers with special dietary needs and interests, like vegetarianism or veganism, and in many cases offer gluten-free, soy-free, or otherwise allergen-free options as well. But well-established, as well as up-and-coming plant-based food brands, also offer sides and dinner helpers, in addition to full, TV dinner-style meals.

Since, as research shows, much of the frozen food market is still dominated by meat, it only makes sense that plant-based companies in the freezer aisle would offer mains and sides to help complete a vegan dinner, too. When you have time to do a little cooking, but going from scratch just isnt going to happen, plant-based and environmentally conscious consumers can throw on something like frozen cauliflower wings or spinach bites to have on the table quickly.

One such brand offering meal accouterments would be Strong Roots, offering delectablecauliflower hash browns. Their line of sides/snacks and burger patties are very veggie-centric and made from unique ingredient combinations, like their beetroot and bean burger or broccoli and purple carrot bites. With their simple, easily-pronounceable ingredient lists, theyre proving that not all frozen food is laden with heaps of salt, sugar, and mystery ingredients.

Related:'One Email From Whole Foods Launched My Entire Business,' Says the Co-Founder of a Gluten Free Frozen Food Brand

Similarly, RollinGreens offers slightly elevated, healthier alternatives to kid favorites like tater tots and wings. Instead of potato, their tots are made of millet, vegetables, and spices, making for a snack or side that boasts a simple ingredient list and low glycemic index. The simplicity factor goes for their cauliflower wings as well, which come in teriyaki, sweet mustard, and spicy green buffalo varieties.

Plant-based startups and old standbys alike are putting options onto the fast-growing frozen food market that are changing the character of the category. No longer is frozen food confined to its reputation as a convenient but overall unhealthy and unnatural product. Shelves are now stocked with meals, sides, and snacks that balance the health and environmental concerns of modern consumers with their busy schedules and need for quick, easy options. At a time when were all overworked and stressed, a quick and wholesome dinner might be exactly what we need.

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Plant-Based in a Pinch: The Frozen Food Aisle Is Turning Vegan, Organic, and Nutritious - Entrepreneur

OVER the past few years vegetarianism and especially veganism have a surge in popularity with the general public.

In Cumbria, there are a number of great places which serve up a variety of delicious vegan and veggie dishes.

In no particular order, here are a number of the best places, as recommended by you, our readers:

1 TIMMY'S BAR & KITCHEN, CARLISLE

The Botchergate eatery has an army of fans that rave about its tasty dishes.

Caitlin O'Neill said: "Timmy's Bar & Kitchen obviously is a winner."

Lee McDermott posted: "Timmy's Bar & Kitchen I'm not vegan or vegetarian but regardless, the food is lush."

Bethany Michelle Ronson said: "Unreal food, especially the bhaji burger."

Amy Prescott said: "Timmy's Bar & Kitchen hands down number one, so so delicious."

Anne-Marie Lewis-Skipper said: "I'm not even vegan but we go there because the food is amazing."

Vicky Riot said: "Amazing food and a lovely chilled atmosphere."

Rachael Blaylock said: "Easily the best."

2 ALLONBY TEAROOMS, ALLONBY, MARYPORT

Another very popular choice among readers.

Val Gilmour said: "Allonby tearooms has amazing food and caters very well for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike."

Christine Dee posted: "Amazing fresh cooked meals."

Danielle Holyoake, said: "The tearooms have a vegan menu along with a choice of vegan cakes and a vegan afternoon tea."

3 KAT'S KITCHEN, KESWICK

The eatery on Main Street has been recommended by readers Shi Leigh and Kathleen Stobbart.

Shi said: "Kats Kitchen in Keswick and Upfront Gallery both have great options."

Kathleen said: "Just go , food amazing."

4 IN THE MEANTIME, CARLISLE

The bar and eatery on English Stret comes with a recommendation from readers Louise Waugh and Rachael Cross.

5 BAR Es, KESWICK

Nicole Lorraine Benson recommends the bar on New Street

She said: "Bar Es in Keswick has a complete vegan menu which entirely translates the options from the normal menu and the food is absolutely delicious."

6 CASA ROMANA, CARLISLE

The restaurant on Warwick Road is recommended by Vicki LW for its vegan menu.

She said: "Casa Romana do a great vegan menu and a great gluten free one too.

"In fact, all their menus are great.

"They even have a lighter options menu for those who want to have a lovely meal out but reduce the calories"

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Readers' choice: The best veggie and vegan eats in north and west Cumbria - News & Star

Late last year, Research Co. and Glacier Media took an initial look at the relationship between Canadians and animals.

At the time, the countrys residents appeared to express outright dismay at practices like trophy hunting and killing animals for their fur, but sizable majorities had no problems with eating animals or hunting them for meat.

In 2020, we wanted to once again review the feelings of Canadians but adding the perspectives of our southern neighbours. The two-country survey shows that the views of Canadians and Americans are common on some crucial topics, even if the prevalence of certain attitudes related to animals is not as significant in some parts of the United States.

Across the two countries, about three in four residents (76% in Canada and 75% in the United States) are in favour of eating animals. Opposition to this custom is highest among women (24% in each country) and residents aged 18 to 34 (27% in Canada and 25% in the U.S.). Quebec (23%) and the Northeast (26%) are the North American regions with the largest appetite for vegetarianism or veganism.

The numbers are also consistent when it comes to hunting animals for meat, with 65% of Canadians and 67% of Americans having no qualms about this practice. In both countries, men are more likely to endorse hunting animals for meat than women.

One of the biggest differences between Canadians and Americans is observed in their opinions on zoos and aquariums. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the activities of these venues, some of which are bringing in fewer visitors in an attempt to abide by social distancing guidelines. Others have temporarily closed their doors.

In Canada, half of residents (51%) are opposed to keeping animals in zoos or aquariums, while 39% are in favour of this custom. Support varies across the country, from a low of 35% in Ontario to a high of 46% in Alberta. Almost half of Canadian men (47%) do not have a problem with animals in captivity, compared to just one third of women (33%).

There are some sizable differences on political allegiance, with support for keeping animals in zoos or aquariums climbing from 35% among Liberal Party voters in the 2019 federal election, to 40% among New Democratic Party (NDP) supporters, to 50% for Conservative Party voters.

The findings change in the United States, where there are no major regional fluctuations. Almost two-thirds of Americans (64%) are in favour of keeping animals in zoos or aquariums, and just over three in 10 (31%) are opposed.

The issue of using animals in rodeos is decidedly more contentious in the United States. Americans are evenly divided on this practice, with 46% saying they are in favour of it and 46% opposing it. The gender gap is large, with 58% of men supporting the use of animals in rodeos compared to only 34% of women. Republican Party sympathizers are also significantly more likely to be in favour of rodeos (65%) than Independents (37%) and Democrats (36%).

In Canada, as was the case last year, opponents of the use of animals in rodeos outnumber enthusiasts by a two-to-one margin (62% to 32%). In Alberta, 49% of residents are in favour of using animals in rodeos. Support is significantly lower in British Columbia (33%), Quebec (27%) and Ontario (25%).

Two other customs are unquestionably less popular in North America. Only 25% of Americans and 19% of Canadians are in favour of killing animals for their fur. Aversion to the practice is highest among women (85% in the United States and 83% in Canada).

On the issue of hunting animals for sport, positive perceptions in Canada have fallen to single digits, with just 8% of Canadians favouring this practice. Support for trophy hunting plummets to just 5% among Canadians aged 55 and over.

In the United States, 25% of Americans are in favour of hunting animals for sport. The expected gender gap persists (39% among men, 11% among women). Also, while only 16% of Democrats favour trophy hunting, support climbs to 44% among Republicans.

There are several disparities in the way Canadians and Americans relate to animals. On the convoluted issue of entertainment, the views of Canadians have evolved at a faster pace. Both countries hold roughly the same opinions on food and are developing a greater disgust for the use of animals as garments and trophies.

Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.

Results are based on online studies conducted from September 4 to September 6, 2020, among representative samples of 1,000 adults in Canada and 1,200 adults in the United States. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian and U.S. census figures for age, gender and region in each country. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for Canada and plus or minus 2.8 percentage points for the United States.

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Canadians, Americans divided on issue of zoos and aquariums: poll - Business in Vancouver

Once upon a time, I ate meat. Even though Im an atheist Five Guys cheeseburgers answered my prayers. Tasty Burger was my church. Kentucky Fried Chicken my Messiah.

Those days are behind me.

I have decided to be a vegetarian. Its been something I was thinking about for a few months. And Id like to say I made two columns and wrote out the pros and cons of never eating meat again. However, that was not the case. You see, my decision is based on my heart and not my head.

It boils down to the ethics of meat-eating. I came to realize I couldnt be complicit with the infliction of misery on my fellow animals.

The famous evolutionary biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins shaped my opinion and helped to make the move to vegetarianism.

He discussed the matter with philosopher Peter Singer and this is what Professor Dawkins had to say:

It implies that all of us who are eating meat, including me, are in a very difficult moral position. What I am doing is going along with the fact that I live in a society where meat eating is accepted as the norm and it requires a level of social courage, which I havent yet produced, to break out of that. Its a little bit like the position which anybody, not everybody but many people, would have been in a couple of hundreds of years ago over slavery, where lots of people felt kind of morally uneasy about slavery but went along with it, because the whole economy of the south depended upon slavery. Of course none of us like the idea of slavery but you cant seriously consider doing away with it because the whole economy would collapse I find myself in something like that situation. I think what Id really like to see would be a mass consciousness raising movement so that we all become vegetarian and then it would be so much easier for those of us who find it difficult to go along with it. And quite apart from that youd then have brilliant chefs making wonderful recipes.

And here is a bit from Professor Dawkins video from Big Think video No Civilized Person Accepts Slavery So Why Do We Accept Animal Cruelty?

Were certainly getting better, as Steven Pinker has said in his book The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Michael Shermer in his book on The Moral Arc, so were changing a lot and its sort of a fairly obvious thing to do to look in the future and say What will our future descendants think when they look back at us the way we look back at our slave-owning ancestors with horror? What will our descendants look back in our time?

And I think the obvious candidate would be the way we treat nonhuman animals. My view would be that we want to avoid suffering; therefore the criteria would be Can this creature suffer? This is the criteria that Jeremy Bentham the great moral philosopher laid out: Can they suffer? Theres every reason to think that mammals, at least and probably many more, can suffer perhaps as much as we can pain.

Ive considered the possibility of eating free-range meat. Those animals supposedly are living full lives up until the time theyre slaughtered. And its obvious the moral issues of eating factory-farmed animals and free-range ones are quite different. The former is simple torture while the latter isnt.

As I mentioned earlier this is a case of this atheist listening to his heart. And it is telling me I dont feel comfortable with being responsible for the death of an animal just because I want a burger.

My girlfriend was a vegetarian for a number of years. Shes also joining me on my meatless diet. Im fortunate and thankful for that. Any major behavioral change is difficult and getting support can be the difference between being successful and failing.

I know Im not changing the world by abstaining from meat. This is just a way for me to light a candle while screaming at the darkness.

*Heres the video I mentionedNo Civilized Person Accepts Slavery So Why Do We Accept Animal Cruelty?

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This Atheist Is Going Vegetarian | Andrew Hall - Patheos

Frank on Jen

What were you hoping for?To meet someone with the potential for something long-term.

First impressions?Confident. Shes got her life where she wants it to be.

What did you talk about?Animals, crime, university, family, living abroad in hot countries, being European or not, being vegetarian or not (were not, but we should be), food, wine, sport.

Any awkward moments?None for me.

Good table manners?I dont worry too much about those.

Best thing about Jen?She seemed very down-to-earth and natural. It felt like there were no barriers to me seeing who she is.

Would you introduce her to your friends?Yes.

Describe Jen in three words??Conscientious, friendly, relaxed. Those dont do her justice, though.

What do you think she made of you?Ooh, tough question. Ive got a feeling she may have found herself dumbing down to my level a little more than shed have liked, but she messaged back after I gave her my number. Hopefully she enjoyed my company, as I enjoyed hers.

Did you go on somewhere?We didnt, as she was staying at a friends overnight. But we stayed the course in the restaurant.

If it werent for social distancing, would you have kissed?Im not sure. I think the physical chemistry might be a slow burner between us, but not out of the question if we go on future dates.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?She was facing a mirror that must have been off-putting for her.

Marks out of 10?The date was an 8.

Would you meet again?Yes.

What were you hoping for?Ideally, the man of my dreams. More realistically, I was looking for a new experience, with good company and good food.

First impressions?Frank came across as kind and polite.

What did you talk about?All sorts of things, ranging from meteorology to vegetarianism to the partition of India.

Any awkward moments?No.

Good table manners?Absolutely.

Best thing about Frank?He was very good at asking me questions, listening, and remembering what Id said.

Would you introduce him to your friends?Yes, I think so.

Describe Frank in three words?Attentive, kind, interesting.

What do you think he made of you?Probably that Im a bit of a mix of many things?

Did you go on somewhere?No, but it was gone 11pm when we left.

If it werent for social distancing, would you have kissed?Not on a first date.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?I felt I didnt get to ask as many questions about him as I would normally, so I hope that didnt come across as self-absorbed.

Marks out of 10?A solid 8.

Would you meet again?Probably.

Frank and Jen ate at Barrafina, Adelaide Street, London WC2. They were photographed separately for this image. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com.

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Blind date: I think she was dumbing down to my level - The Guardian

FARGO The big question each Thanksgiving has typically been simple: white or dark meat? But what do you do if you have guests whose answer is, simply, no meat?

The rise of vegetarianism over the past decade means that its likely your guest list will include at least one or more folks who prefer a meatless Thanksgiving. While many vegetarian guests will tell you not to go to any extra trouble, and that theyre happy to graze from the standard variety of vegetable side dishes, we worry that the lack of protein means that they will leave our table still hungry. This simply is not allowed in our food-friendly home, especially on Thanksgiving.

It doesnt take much extra effort to provide a plant-based protein alternative for your veggie-loving guests, and these Caprese-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms are hearty, delicious and easy to prepare, even in the midst of pre-feast kitchen chaos.

Low in fat, calories and sodium, nutrient-dense portobello mushrooms are a good source of protein, fiber and folate to ensure a full belly, as well as a host of vitamins and minerals believed to help fight cancer, boost the immune system and decrease inflammation. Portobello mushrooms have a wonderful meaty quality in both texture and taste, which makes them popular with vegetarians and carnivores alike.

For this simple dish, youll need four large portobello mushrooms, which are commonly sold in packs of two in most supermarkets. To prepare the mushrooms, remove any remaining stems as well as the dark brown gills to clear space for the caprese stuffing. The gills can be easily removed by gently scraping them with the edge of a spoon.

Once the inside is prepped, use a damp paper towel to wipe away any dirt from the top and inside of each mushroom. Next, brush each mushroom with a mixture of extra-virgin olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper and bake at 400 degrees until soft, about 10 minutes.

Once theyre soft, remove them from the oven and use a paper towel to absorb the excess moisture released in each mushroom. If your available oven time is limited on turkey day, you can refrigerate the mushrooms at this stage for up to one day.

The caprese stuffing is inspired by our wonderful time in Sicily this past summer, which was filled with a bounty of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. I use fresh mozzarella balls, either pre-marinated or plain, and my favorite variety of flavor bomb cherry tomatoes.

To flavor the caprese mixture, I use extra-virgin olive oil, a splash of red wine vinegar, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and a dash of Sicilian herb seasoning blend (any blend of dried oregano, basil and parsley will do). Each mushroom cap is stuffed with the caprese mixture and baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the tomatoes just begin to blister, about 12 to 15 minutes.

For extra Italian flavor and a pop of color, garnish the mushrooms with thin strips of fresh basil and a drizzle of either balsamic reduction or basil pesto.

With their big flavor, bold colors and high nutrition, these Caprese-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms are the perfect vegetarian dish for the upcoming holiday season. But, be warned: theyre so attractive and delicious that your turkey-loving guests will probably want a taste, too.

Caprese-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

4 portobello mushrooms caps, washed and thoroughly dried with paper towel (if purchasing whole, remove the stems and gills)

cup extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil, divided

teaspoon red wine vinegar

teaspoon Sicilian or Italian herb seasoning (blend of dried herbs like oregano, parsley and basil)

Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

cup fresh mozzarella balls, halved (if using a log of mozzarella, cut into -inch pieces)

2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced into thin strips (chiffonade), about 4 large leaves

Balsamic reduction or basil pesto (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of oil with the minced garlic, salt and black pepper. Brush each mushroom all over with the oil mixture, then place on the prepared baking sheet, top side down.

Bake until the mushrooms are soft to the touch, about 9 to 10 minutes. Use a paper towel to soak up the excess moisture inside the mushrooms. The mushrooms can be used immediately or refrigerated at this stage for up to 1 day until ready to finish baking. Bring to room temperature before baking.

As the mushrooms bake: In a medium bowl, use a whisk to combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil with the vinegar, herb seasoning and red pepper flakes. Add the tomatoes and mozzarella and gently toss to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired (I use teaspoon of each).

Once the mushrooms are baked until softened, and wiped free of excess moisture, fill the inside of each with the caprese mixture. Return mushrooms to the baking sheet and bake until the tomatoes begin to blister and the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and transfer mushrooms to serving plates or a platter. Generously sprinkle each mushroom with the chopped basil and garnish with a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar or basil pesto.

Home with the Lost Italian is a weekly column written by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. The couple owned Sarellos in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail.com.

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Meatless meal: Mushroom dish is tasty for vegetarians and turkey-lovers alike - Williston Daily Herald

Image: Shutterstock

The WHO estimates that 75 percent of new diseases discovered in the last decade have originated in animals (zoonosis). This is primarily because more than 90 percent of the meat we consume is sourced from a vast industry of factory farms that house farm animals in unhygienic conditions. This presents a perfect breeding ground for viruses. To prevent future virus outbreaks, a part of the solution may lie in moving towards a more plant-based diet. In this regard, India might be sitting on a gold mine of opportunity.

The vegan movement advocates for a shift to a 100 percent plant-based diet with the objective of ending animal cruelty. While India is still a milk-loving nation, it is well placed to anchor the movement away from meat consumption. The hostility against the slaughter of animals, immense regulation of abattoirs, and prevalence for meat and egg-free apartments and localities are all proof of Indias natural inclination towards this cause.

The WHO estimates that the herbal and ayurvedic market will reach $5 trillion by 2050 from the existing $62 billion, with China and India having 13% and 2.5% shares, respectively. In 2019, Barclays Plc estimated the meat substitute industry would grow to $140 billion in the next decade; this is likely to be higher owing to the present crisis. The time couldnt have been riper for India to capitalise on this huge opportunity to promote its vegetarian philosophy, products and beliefs.

India should leverage its natural strengths by strategic actions

The image that India is one of the only major vegetarian-friendly economies in the world can work to its advantage in the global marketplace if we work hard. India has mastered the vegetarian supply chain for snacks and other packaged food items, which are not the case in animal oil-rich global packaged-snack supply chains.

In recent years, the Indian state of Kerala has immensely profited from the export of jackfruit for the global vegan market as a substitute for meat. The otherwise nuisance crop in the state is now being exported to the tune of more than 500 tonnes yearly.

The global market already has a huge demand for Indian organic supplements and medicines. Organic products include original harvested honey, juice of fruits and vegetables, herbs, etc. Ayurvedic products alone are exported from India at close to $500 million yearly. As the popularity of Yoga, Spiritualism, Ayurveda, etc. has spread like wildfire in the West, India has claimed the spot as the original source of herbal and organic goods for a healthy life. Having strong demand, these products are already sold at great prices abroad.

The 'Vegan India' campaign, with respect to food products, can be constructed as a symbol of the global fight against Covid-19. The brand construction promoting cleanliness, nutrition and safety should be complemented by on-ground institutional mechanisms. Though vegan conferences are not a novel idea, India should strive to create a Kumbh Mela of sorts for vegans to flock to the Indian shores to indulge in Indian vegan delights.

It is interesting to note, many vegans abroad choose Indian vegetarian restaurants over others as they guarantee a cuisine closer to their dietary preferences. In this regard, India has the potential to export its diverse culinary arts in addition to limited Indian cuisines available abroad and promote them in the line of plant-based, healthy, tasty and nutritious food for good health.

Not too long ago, Indian products such as ghee were rendered unhealthy for the body by western media. However, these views have presently been overturned upon latest research and, along with ghee; other products such as cold-pressed oils of mustard and coconut have also gained traction.

With Indias image as a vegetarian powerhouse and the variety of climatic zones and soil conditions it has, there is ample scope in gaining a foothold in the global vegan economy. India has 45,000 diverse plant species spread over 16 different agro-climatic zones. Its rich history of Ayurveda and herbal medicine is recorded since Vedic times.

India, however, despite its potential, unfortunately focuses more on the export of crude substance or primary extracts. Alternatively, the market for branded finished products should be tapped. Imagine a scenario where Indian brands like Haldiram's filling the aisles of global supermarkets and Indian fast-food restaurants delivering a healthy alternative to the ubiquitous western fast-food chains. The time to act is now as global crises have a history of creating new global champions.

The government has already given incentives to drug manufacturers, entrepreneurs, AYUSH institutions etc. for registration of their products for exports to targeted countries. A further push with the help of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), to identify the strengths of Indian agricultural products with respect to vegan requirements, is the need of the hour.

For India to be able to tap into the global vegan market, it has to improve (1) efficiency in agricultural practices and knowledge, (2) R&D of food supply-chain, (3) quality of supply chains linking the producers with the global demands and regulations, and (4) standards and labelling of vegan products.

India has a potential for moral leadership in a number of areas; anchoring global vegetarianism/veganism is one of them. Its up to the foresight of decision-makers and entrepreneurs to find these opportunities and take advantage of them, and push Indias image as a global vegan economic powerhouse.

Ankush Das is a Policy Analyst at ETTMA and Kowthamraj VS is a Young Professional at NITI Aayog

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Can India Lead The 'vegan Economy' Against Future Pandemics? - Forbes India

The vegetarian diet is not a new concept but it has been made into one. Since the time immemorial, the cry that the human beings must return to the vegan lifestyle has been echoing in all the places around the world. But some hypocrites have remodeled the claims into something that is very new. It has been said that the vegetarian diet is the most preferred diet all over the world. The vegetarian form of the diet is the most preferred and the most trusted form of the diet in the world. But the parents have expressed duel of the nutritional intake in the vegetarian foods. But the dietary experts have consoled the parents that the well planned and the careful selection of the foods will provide the same amount of the nutrients that the meat based foods provide. But extra care must be provided to the children if the children do not consume enough of meat and dairy products. The nutritional needs of the children differs as they advance in years.

There are the number of reasons for a person to become a vegetarian. Some people adapt the vegetarian lifestyle for health reasons while others adopt it because they have been born or brought up in a vegan family. Even cultural issues also plays a role in making a man to adopt the vegetarian lifestyle. The concern and love for the animals also has a lot to do for the community or a family to become vegans.

Most people are of the opinion that the vegetarian diets are devoid of the proteins and the fats that the animal meat possess. But it is not true. The vegetarian diet also possess these kinds of the nutrients and the people need to carefully select the foods that are rich in them. The meat contains unsaturated fats and cholesterol and these harm the body.

The vegetarianism has been said to be the act of abstaining from all kinds of meat that is obtained from animal slaughter and living exquisitely only on the foods prepared by the dairy products, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses, fruits and grains. Some vegetarians include the eggs as a part of their daily diet while others do not. Various pros and cons of Vegetarianism are listed here.,

There are many benefits as opposed to the disadvantages of being a vegetarian. But the scientists have forestalled the people by telling them that they have also found that the intake of the vegetarian foods also increases the risks of developing calories. But not that alone, an estimated amount of the diseases like the cancers and other chronic diseases all owe their allegiance to the bad diets. So this has to be addressed and proper eating habits must be enforced. The advantages of vegetarianism are,

Though the advantages of being a vegan is very obvious, there are also some or the other complications that needs to be addressed in order to obtain a clear picture of the mode of the foods that may be eaten. Some people shriek from the idea of the meat free diet. So there are some demerits/cons of vegetarianism also listed here.

The term vegetarianism is a broad one and it does not confine one to a single aspect. The vegetarian people and the others need to understand the various categories that exists between the vegans. The types of the vegetarian foods depend on the selection of the foods and the types get classified according to it. As of now, it has said that there are four types of the vegetarian people. They are as follows :

The people who follow this type of the vegetarianism will live only on the food items like the dairy products, eggs and the usual plants for food. This is the most common form of the vegetarianism. They do not consume any animal products nor use them.

The people who follow this type of the vegan style will only include eggs and the plant based foods into their daily food regime. These people too do not consume meat products. They do not eat dairy products too.

These people eat the plant based foods as the above said groups of the people and they also consume the dairy products. These people are said to be the perfect types of the vegetarians.

These kind of the people eat only plant based foods and they neither include meat and dairy foods.

There is another category of the people who do not consume the red meat but eat the fish along with the plant based foods.

Read the original here:
Proven Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vegetarianism

With a 600% increase within the last three years, veganism just got trendy. Gone are the days when vegans were sandal-wearing-weed-smoking hippies. Now, vegans are students, dieticians and environmentalists. I even saw a bodybuilder sporting an eat fruit, not friends muscle tee last Tuesday.

So, why are these people going vegan?

Maybe its linked to the benefits associated with plant-based diets. Dieticians and environmentalists tout vegetarian diets as healthier and more sustainable than meat-based diets. Given the advantages of vegetarianism, some have even called for government-mandated vegetarianism. Instead of supporting such an extreme order, the government should focus on subsidizing fruits and vegetables and promoting plant-based eating.

The Environment

Although most recognize that driving cars and traveling on planes contribute to climate change, few consider the impact of cheeseburgers or steak. Yet, science indicates that people should be more worried about their diets than their cars.

Raising animals for human consumption accounts for between 14.5% and 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than the emissions from all forms of transportation combined. Perhaps more concerning, however, is that livestock are a large producer of methane gas, which is up to 100 times more destructive than CO in raising our planets temperature.

It is thus illogical for our country to combat climate change without addressing the impact of our diets. The environment is a developed policy field, so the government should be creating policies and education programs to decrease meat and dairy consumption. But, it is doing the opposite.

Each year, our government spends $38 billion to subsidize meat and dairy. Fruit and vegetables receive only $14 million. These subsidies allow producers to make successful profits off meat and dairy without accounting for the products environmental impact. They also oppose our countrys goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Stopping subsidies for meat and dairy and favoring more sustainable areas like fruit and vegetable production would effectively reduce greenhouse gases. Since environmental concerns are used to justify certain policies such as promoting public transportation, why cant they be used to alter our food industry?

Health

The government should also subsidize plant-based foods for the health of its citizens. New studies have revealed that plant-based diets reduce ones risks of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Also, vegetarians and vegans have lower rates of obesity than meat-eaters.

A few years ago, the World Health Organization classified processed meat as a class one carcinogen, the same category that cigarettes are placed in. Other types of meat were considered probable causes of cancer.

If youre like me, youre probably wondering what the government has done in response to these findings. Surely the government did something, right? Wrong. The government has not launched any significant educational programs or campaigns to decrease meat consumption.

Looking forward, the government should make fruits and vegetables cheaper to promote their consumption. Many people cannot eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables because they are so expensive. Thus, if the government decreased subsidies on animal products and increased them for plant foods, it could promote healthier eating. In the long-term, this would be more cost effective to the government because it would reduce the cost spent treating dietary-related diseases.

The government should also support campaigns such as meatless Mondays, which call for people to abstain from meat once a week. This effort would spread awareness about the environmental and health concerns of our dietary choices.

As individuals, we have the power to make dietary choices that will benefit our planet and our health. However, most of us will need a little push from the government to make these changes.

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Should The Government Subsidize Vegetarianism? - Old Gold & Black

A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science on Dec 9, 2020, has revealed the food habits of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. Traces of the meat of animals like sheep, cattle, pigs, goat and buffalo along with dairy products were found on ancient ceramic vessels at Indus Valley sites in the present-day states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in India.

The Indus Valley Civilization was South Asias first urban civilization with archeological sites spread across Pakistan, and northwest and west India. Though much is known about its modern architecture and drainage system, not many are aware of the food habits of its people.

The study was led by Dr Akshyeta Suryanarayan, a post-doctoral researcher at CEPAM (Cultures et Environnements. Prhistoire, Antiquit, Moyen ge), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherch Scientifique), Nice, France. It specifically looked at vessels that dated to the urban Mature Harappan period (c. 2600/2500-1900 BC) and the post-urban Late Harappan period (c.1900-1300 BC).

This is the first systematic study that looks at what was cooked or stored in ancient vessels from multiple sites in the Indus Civilization, said Suryanarayan. The study provides chemical evidence of milk products, meat, and possible mixtures of products and/or plant consumption in pottery vessels, Suryanarayan told Zenger News.

This study used a technique known as ceramic lipid analysis to extract and identify fats, waxes and resins absorbed in ancient pottery vessels, she said talking about the process behind the findings. Another complementary technique called GC-C-IRMS enabled the identification of carcass (meat) and milk fat (products like cheese, butter, ghee, yogurt).

Suryanarayan mentioned that the technique of ceramic lipid analysis has been used for over 20 years in different archeological contexts of the world, but had seen limited application in South Asian archeology.

This is partly because of the challenges related to the poor preservation of organic remains in the region. However, because of the developments in the field, it is now possible to extract lipids from pottery found in regions even with poor organic preservation.

I think this study opens up a new way to examine the eating habits and culinary practices of the Indus civilization as it focuses on vessel usage and highlights that pottery can be used to explore questions about everyday life and not just used as a cultural and chronological marker, as is often done in South Asian archeology.

The findings question the perception of India being a historically vegetarian society, which the BJP and the RSS (both right-wing Hindu nationalist organizations) advocate repeatedly.

Ever since it came to power, there have been several attempts by the BJP to vilify meat-eating. In April 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare tweeted a photo about choosing a healthier diet. It contained caricatures of two women, one overweight, and the other slim. It advocated that the thin one ate only fruits and vegetables while the fat one consumed meat, eggs, sausages, and fries. Facing criticism, the Ministry soon removed the picture from its Twitter feed.

Many archeologists specializing in animal bones have reported the presence of different types of animal bones at Indus sites, which include cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, wild deer and fish. Many of these bones have butchery marks on them which indicate they were used for meat, said Suryanarayan.

Dr Vasant Shinde, fellow researcher and archeologist from Deccan College, Pune, corroborated the claim.

Excavations did yield animal bones with cut marks which led to us guess that meat was a part of the diet. This was later verified by scientific methodologies, he said. However, it is wrong to say the Harappans (the people of the Indus Valley Civilization) were predominantly meat-eaters. Their staple diet also included wheat, barley, rice and vegetables. Also, it is not clear whether all people consumed animal food or only a certain section of the population did.

The idea that vegetarianism was the predominant dietary practice in India is popular in the west as well. While public government surveys claim that 23-37 percent of Indians are vegetarian, research by US-based anthropologist Balmurli Natrajan and India-based economist Suraj Jacob indicates that these are miscalculated estimations.

Due to the existing political and cultural milieu, people under-report eating meat (particularly beef) and over-report eating vegetarian food. They conclude that in reality, approximately 15 percent of Indians (about 180 million people) eat beef, which questions the government surveys claim of 7 percent.

Dr Ravindra Nath Singh, a fellow researcher in Suryanarayans study and a professor of archaeology at Banaras Hindu University contends that the abundance of grains encountered in the excavations clearly suggest and confirm that the Harappans were predominantly a vegetarian society. According to him, the consumption of non-vegetarian food was certainly there but to a limited extent.

Many bone tools have also been reported from our excavations. Bones were first boiled in order to make tools that could function better. Hence, evidence of lipid (fat) in the vessels may not be an indicator that bones were cooked for eating purposes only, claims Dr Singh.

(Edited by Anindita Ghosh and Uttaran Dasgupta)

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Study Reveals What Ancient Indians Ate Free Press of Jacksonville - Jacksonville Free Press

Vegetarian diet that includes dairy products

A lacto-vegetarian (sometimes referred to as a lactarian; from the Latin root lact-, milk) diet is a diet that abstains from the consumption of meat as well as eggs, while still consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee, cream, and kefir. [1]

The concept and practice of lacto-vegetarianism among a significant number of people comes from ancient India.[2]

An early advocate of lacto-vegetarianism was the Scottish physician George Cheyne who promoted a milk and vegetable-based diet to treat obesity and other health problems in the early 18th century.[3][4]

During the 19th century, the diet became associated with naturopathy. German naturopaths Heinrich Lahmann and Theodor Hahn promoted lacto-vegetarian diets of raw vegetables, whole wheat bread, and dairy products such as milk.[5][6][7]

In the 20th century, lacto-vegetarianism was promoted by the American biochemist Elmer McCollum and the Danish physician and nutritionist Mikkel Hindhede.[7][8] In 1918, McCollum commented that "lacto-vegetarianism should not be confused with strict vegetarianism. The former is, when the diet is properly planned, the most highly satisfactory plan which can be adopted in the nutrition of man."[9]

Hindhede became a food advisor to the Danish government during World War I and was influential in introducing a lacto-vegetarian diet to the public.[7][8][10] The system of rationing restricted meat and alcohol so the Danish population were mostly living on a diet of milk and vegetables.[10] During the years of food restriction from 1917 to 1918, both mortality and morbidity decreased;[10] the mortality rate dropped by 34%, the lowest death rate ever reported for Denmark.[8] Hindhede's dieting ideas expressed in his scientific publications, along with those written by other Scandinavian scientists, were translated in German and well received amongst the right-wing political spectrum in post-war Germany.[10] Subsequently, lacto-vegetarianism was strongly supported by German life reformers (Lebensreform) and became influential on some of the leading exponents of the National Socialist movement.[10]

The uric-acid free diet of Alexander Haig was lacto-vegetarian. On this diet only cheese, milk, nuts, certain vegetables, and white bread could be eaten.[11][12][13]

Mahatma Gandhi was a notable lacto-vegetarian, who drank milk daily.[14] In 1931, Gandhi commented that:

I know we must all err. I would give up milk if I could, but I cannot. I have made that experiment times without number. I could not, after a serious illness, regain my strength, unless I went back to milk. That has been the tragedy of my life.[14][15]

In 1936, Narasinh Narayan Godbole authored Milk: The Most Perfect Food, a book defending lacto-vegetarianism and promoting the consumption of dairy products in opposition to meat.[16][17]

Lacto-vegetarian diets are popular with certain followers of the Eastern religious traditions such as Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The core of their beliefs behind a lacto-vegetarian diet is the law of ahimsa, or non-violence.[citation needed]

According to the Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures), all living beings are equally valued.[18][19] Also, Hindus believe that one's personality is affected by the kind of food one consumes, and eating flesh is considered bad for one's spiritual/mental well-being.[citation needed] It takes many more vegetables or plants to produce an equal amount of meat,[20] many more lives are destroyed, and in this way more suffering is caused when meat is consumed.[21] Although some suffering and pain is inevitably caused to other living beings to satisfy the human need for food, according to ahimsa, every effort should be made to minimize suffering.[21] This is to avoid karmic consequences and show respect for living things, because all living beings are equally valued in these traditions,[19] a vegetarian diet rooted in ahimsa is only one aspect of environmentally conscious living, relating to those beings affected by our need for food.[21] However, this does not apply to all Hindus; some do consume meat, though usually not any form of beef.

In India, lacto vegetarian is considered synonymous to vegetarian, while eating eggs is considered a form of non-vegetarian diet.[citation needed] However, in other parts of the world, vegetarianism generally refers to ovo lacto vegetarianism instead, allowing eggs into the diet.[22]

ISKCON encourages devotees to adopt a lacto-vegetarian diet and gives agriculture as the ideal economic basis of society.

In the case of Jainism, the vegetarian standard is strict. It allows the consumption of only fruit and leaves that can be taken from plants without causing their death. This further excludes from the diet root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, onions, and garlic.[23]

Devout Lingayats do not consume flesh of of any kind including that from fish.

The primary difference between a vegan and a lacto-vegetarian diet is the avoidance of dairy products. Vegans do not consume dairy products, believing that their production causes the animal suffering or a premature death,[25] or otherwise abridges animal rights.

Link:
Lacto vegetarianism - Wikipedia

Indian food is a great cuisine to try if a vegan lifestyle is what you're after, and these dishes are robust in flavor after every delicious bite.

There are times where dinner is just so mouth-watering, its impossible to make the leftovers last until the next morning. For some, thats using some of the best hearty beef tacos from L.A's restaurants, and for others, its a light vegan homemade staple dish. Indian food has such a rich and historical story behind each dish and ingredient. In fact, Indian cuisine dates back eight thousand years and introduced diverse flavors into many parts of the world. The traditional Indian food is none other than rice, whole wheat flour, various types of lentils, and pearl millet. However, many spices also originated from Indian territories.

Vegetarianism is a very common dietary lifestyle in India. Many practice vegetarianism as part of their Hinduism practice, although Hinduism does not require their practitioners to be vegetarians. However, it is said that both, Indians practicing Hinduism or other forms of religion follow a vegetarian and vegan diet as it purifies the body, mind, and environment, also known as their Dosha. Though fast-food restaurants can be found in India, many choose to live a healthier and cleaner lifestyle.

While Indian cuisine is not for everyone due to their strong spice flavors like curry and ginger, Indian recipes are a major hit around the world and many dishes can be found on the trendy list. Its predicted that cauliflower will be another huge hit in 2020, thus allowing Indian restaurateurs and households to produce vegan alternatives to their dishes and replacing chicken, beef, and lamb as their main ingredient. Restaurants in Vancouver are mainly using cauliflower due to its ability to soak up any flavor you choose to cook with it, while remaining firm, crunchy with a soft interior.

In many Indian restaurants and for locals who cook at home, a Vindaloo Curry is the spiciest thing on the menu. It originates from a traditional Portuguese dish thats simmered with garlic and wine. However, the Indian version commonly churned with fresh ginger, a ton of flavourful spices, and vinegar to replace the Portuguese wine.

This vegan vegetable-based curry can range in heat according to preference. A Vindaloo Curry can be cooked with chicken cubes or lamb, but this dish is preferred using cauliflowers and chickpeas and topped with orange slices, and colorful vegetables to create an indescribable combination of flavors. It is often served with fresh exotic fruits that are locally grown and sourced, and travelers can often find them at the open markets.

This flaming dish is an excellent dinner recipe on a cold and rainy evening. Curl up with a knitted blanket and a giant bowl of steamed basmati rice with a generous, heaping scoop of some veggie Vindaloo Curry and toasted garlic flatbread to get every inch of sauce.

Related: Vancouver, New York, And Other Major Cities With The Best Indian Restaurants (According To Stars)

Often mistaken for butter chicken, tikka masala offers a unique blend of ingredients. Tikka Masala is made with a tomato and cream sauce spiced with an incredible mix of Indian spices. Using chickpea as its main ingredient, a vegan Tikka Masala has an earthy taste.

Tikka Masala was created by a Bangladeshi chef in the 1970s. However, unlike what many believe, Tikka Masala originates from Glasgow, Scotland,and not India or Bangladesh. The words Tikka Masala translates to a yogurt-based marinade. Whether youre eating a giant bowl for comfort as a midnight snack, rest assured a tikka masala is extremely good for your health, regardless of whether it contains chicken or chickpeas. Putting aside the brownish-orange color of this dish, the spices that make this delicious dish will also help you prevent a variety of diseases including cancerous diseases. Luckily this dish can also be prepared in advance and stored or slow-cooked to perfection for a perfectly home-cooked meal.

Related: These Indian Dishes Aren't Curry But Are Still Delicious

If there are two culinary words that make me feel at home its potatoes and dumplings. The kofta is a Middle Eastern dish that was introduced into Balkan and Central Asian dishes. Potato Malai Kofta can also be found relaxing in a bowl of homemade tomato-cream chutney and topped with sauteed spinach, drizzled with coconut milk for additional color. Cashews are also blended to make a thick rich cream base and also add a great amount of protein.

Traditionally, this savory dish is made of cheese meatball dumplings and served with basmati rice or Naan bread. However, to create a vegan delicacy, the dumplings are replaced with fried Yukon Gold potatoes. Best of all, for all those obsessed with meal prepping, these fried balls of goodness can be made ahead and stored, with the sauce safely in a sealed jar on the side.

Related: 10 Of The Best Indian Foods You Need To Try

The best way to detox your body is to do it the proper way with the right ingredients. Kitcharis are made of a mixture of two grains which allows this dish to be nourishing to the body and easy to digest. It is also said that this dish can cleanse the body and activate the de-aging cells in the body. It is composed of mung dal and basmati rice. Most importantly, this dish is made using only one pot which is great for a quick recipe. Adding vegetables, spices, and techniques, its very easy to create a traditional meal.

Kitchari is also known as The Chicken Soup of Ayurveda, this yellow dish is a mouth-watering stew to feed your soul. The ingredients also act as a total body repair, attacking each part of the body to fuse, cleanse, and calm.

This recipe also changes based on your dosha. There are three different doshas which come from your five different elements or also known as mind, body, and environment. Your dosha is a reflection on your past and present, always asking how you slept, how you ate, how you digested, and most importantly, how you deal under stress.

The lentil doughnut, also known as the Medu Vada, has a long and historical background, however, its always kept its identity as a South Indian fritter made with black lentils then deep-fried. The exterior should be crispy and crunchy, while the interior is soft and light. Served as a breakfast or heavier snack, the Medu Vada is a household staple but most of all, family favorite. Traced back to its originating town of Maddur which is now known as Karnataka, it is now a restaurateurs favorite in Mumbai.

Luckily, this donut-shaped doughnut is easy to make. For starters, black lentils are soaked for many hours. Using a grounder, it is then turned into a thick black paste and seasoned with many local favorites like fenugreek, cumin, black pepper, ginger, curry leaves, hot chilies, and coconut chunks. After it is patted into cute donut shapes, its fried until its golden brown. Once ready, it is then served hot with coconut chutney or yogurt.

Next:10 Fast Food Restaurants With Great Vegan Options

These Are The Worlds Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cuisines

Hi, I'm Vanessa!Real estate agent by day, travel writer by night, traveller by weekend.Marine life and coral reef obsessed, so much so, I tattooed an entire ecosystem!Happy reading

Link:
Vegan? Want To Try Indian Food? Here Are Your Choices | TheTravel - TheTravel

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, rioting can be fun and profitable. Aside from that, what is the end game? I think we can agree that the chief organizers of riots, Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA are the militant wings of the far left in this country, so what is it they want?

BLM was founded by self-proclaimed Marxists whose goal has been, ever since Karl Marx wrote his manifesto, to seize power in the name of some aggrieved group (or groups - originally it was the workers of the world, now it is a grab-bag of intersectionally oppressed). All Marxists want to seize power first, then remake society in their image, an image that nowhere includes God.

Depending on the country and the times, that image varies. Marxism as practiced by Bolsheviks in Russia was different from that practiced by Maoists in China, or Castroites in Cuba. It also must be borne in mind that Marxism is a subset of socialism, thus what Bernie Sanders has in mind is going to differ in some respects from BLM. All socialists, of whatever flavor, believe in an authoritarian state which will deal out justice (and punish wickedness) by whatever means necessary. Those 15% of you who are, according to Biden, "not very good people," or Hillarys "basket of deplorables" might be a touch nervous. Marxists everywhere have known how to deal with the likes of you.

Consider some of the goals being espoused here and now. One of BLMs explicit goals is to destroy the nuclear family. How that helps Black lives is not entirely clear to me, since Black nuclear families are largely gone already. So I guess that leaves white, Asian, and other non-Black families to be destroyed, although the past half century has done a good job of gradually destroying ALL nuclear families.

BLM just needs to be patient. Patience is not, however, a conspicuous virtue of rioters, so how exactly is this destruction to take place? The "why," however, has always been clear to Marxists. The nuclear family is a little state within a state, and as such is a competing power structure with the state. No competition can be allowed.

Your guns will be confiscated, since an armed citizenry is dangerous to an all powerful state. Our Founding Fathers made clear why the Second Amendment was in the Constitution. It must be removed. Likewise the First Amendment. Speech must be controlled, as many colleges and universities now put into practice. Business and industry is now following suit. Nice little job you got there, until you say the wrong thing. Then you get canceled.

Contemporary American Marxists are also green - a practice they picked up from the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party and its founder. Wind power, vegetarianism and public transport over private cars were among those principals being advocated. Traditionally Marxists only cared about production and redistribution of wealth, which is no longer a viable political platform.

So what's ANTIFA up to? It is not an explicitly Marxist group, or indeed explicitly anything, or even an organized group. They are more than anything else anarchists. Anarchists historically (the term dates back to 1539, to mean an absence of government) have been a loosely affiliated assortment of folks very, very angry about just about everything in the society in which they find themselves. Mindless, inchoate rage seems to fit the pattern. As a result of being a movement having no goals, it has nowhere seized power.

This does not mean that anarchists are harmless as, say, anarcho-capitalists are. Anarchists like to break things and kill people, very like grownup children throwing a tantrum. This is often justified as "propaganda of the deed."

Since actions speak louder than words, assassinating prominent figures, or burning down cities, sends a clear message that defying anarchists is an extremely unwise action. President McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist, as were many members of European royalty either shot, stabbed or blown up.

Yet, it is hard for me to see clearly the specific goals of the militant wing of the left, but I am sure I'm not going to like them.

Charles Milliken is a Professor Emeritus after 22 years of teaching economics and related subjects at Siena Heights University. He can be reached at milliken.charles@gmail.com.

See the rest here:
After the riots, what then? - The Hillsdale Daily News