More and more studies are showing thatindustrial animal agricultureis one of the largest drivers for some pretty seriousenvironmental issuestoday. Saying nothing about thecruelties of the industryand the disastrous effects these food items can wreak on ourpersonal health, consuming meat in the quantities that we do is impacting the environment on a global scale.

But there is good news. People are waking up to the disastrous effects of the animal agricultural industry. For the past few decades, meat consumption in the U.S. has seen a steady decline. According to recent studies,30 percent of Americans are not only leaving meat off their plates but also seeking out plant-based meat alternatives.

Whats more, according to some estimates, the plant-based meat market is set to reach$5.2 billion by 2020 and could make up one-third of the market by 2050.Not only is the popularity of plant-based meat on the rise, pea protein,a high source of clean, plant-based protein, is emerging as a new contender in the global protein market. And now we have yet another sign that the future of food is plant-based

In 2016, there was a 90 percent increase in the amount of Google searches for the word vegan, so the increase is people choosing to identify as such seems to be rising as well. Sounds like people are eager to learn more about theimpact of meat consumption on the environment,animals, and themselves and more importantly, theyre making a shift in their diets.

The Top Trends report identifiedsix key trends impacting innovation in prepared foods and abstaining from meat was ranked number one. According to the report, this is due to Rising veganism and awareness of the impact of meat consumption are driving demand for meat-free products substitutes. The report also teases that a tech team is promising that cruelty-free cultured chicken will be available by 2022. The fact is people want products that are better for them and better for the environmentand were ecstatically clapping our hands in support!

As the leading organization at the forefront of the conscious consumerism movement, it is One Green Planets view that our food choices have the power to heal our broken food system, give species a fighting chance for survival, and pave the way for a truly sustainable future.

You can start eating for the planet by doing nothing more than choosing a delicious plant-based meal over one laden with animal products. If you look at it from a personal perspective, you can cut your own carbon footprint in half just by leaving meat off your plate for one year. (Plus save a lot of water, redirect grain for people to eat, and help protect endangered species)

1.Moderate: Limit consumption of your favorite meats like beef, lamb, pork, etc.

2.Replace: Try to swap animal-based products in your daily diet with vegan alternatives (milk, butter, mayo, cheese, grilled chicken, beef crumbles, sausages, cold cuts, etc.)

3.Embrace: Add plant-based whole foods (local and organic when possible) to your diet like greens, fresh fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, plant proteins like lentils, nuts/seeds, beans, tofu, etc.

As Nil Zacharias, the co-founder of One Green Planet says, Eat in a way that nourishes you without starving the planet.

We all have the power to create a better future for our children, and the countless animals we share the planet with, by making one easy swap. If youre ready to start doing this in your own life, check out One Green Planets #EatForThePlanet campaign.

Lead image source: jill111/Pixabay

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6 Percent of Americans Now Identify as Vegan Why This Is a Huge Deal for the Planet - One Green Planet

By Alastair Cairns

If youre of the mindset that vegan ice cream is a contradiction in terms, I suppose youve never seen a rainbow-maned unicorn eating ice cream either. Youll meet both on Ives Street at Karen Krinskys Like No Udder. Karen settled down to her brick-and-mortar location just a year ago, leaving her purple truck days behind her and slotting right into the burgeoning food scene in Fox Point. Karens store aims to be an ice cream store for everyone, bringing in omnivores and vegans alike, as well as a fun neighborhood ice cream shop for those who can only look longingly at lactose. We talked community building, Cherry Seinfeld and framed cat portraits. How do you pick the flavors? We do a couple I wouldnt say exotic flavors, but we have Thai Ice Tea and Almond Joyful, which is almond-flavored ice cream with toasted almonds and toasted coconut, but most of our flavors are closer to the mainstream rather than out-there, like Cookies and Cream or Mint Chip. Youve got to have coffee in Rhode Island and always something with chocolate. Sometimes you go to a place that offers just one or two things and they give you strange flavors, like Rosewater Basil. Some people feel excluded by that. It doesnt have to be exotic and vegan; it can be vegan and traditional.

Do you take requests? I make things that I want to try, or that people have suggested. I did a Lemon Ginger that was very summery and light with a coconut base, and I color it with turmeric so its this bright yellow, and its just delicious. I made a Chocolate Orange and added marshmallows it tastes just like one of those balls that you used to crack and that has almost sold out in two days. Customers have been asking for cherry stuff, so we just added a new flavor called Cherry Seinfeld thats a coconut base with cherry and chocolate bits.

Is selling vegan ice cream an uphill battle? In this day and age, theres no reason to be scared of trying vegan products. Times have definitely changed and our goal is to make delicious treats that just happen to be vegan. Its only happened on a couple of occasions, but weve had adults come to the shop that have this fear in their eyes, and they dont even want to try it. I dont really get that. My hope is that people will give it a chance, because pretty much everyone who tries it loves it. I want people to see that [eating vegan food is] not sacrificing anything; it can be delicious.

Also, a lot of our clientele arent vegan. Some are lactose intolerant and they have either found out as adults that they can no longer experience their local ice cream shop, or they have kids that have never been to an ice cream shop because they worry about cross contamination. Theres no one type of person coming in; its fascinating.

Whats with the cats? Our window tells you what we have: hot and cold drinks, dairy-free and gluten-free options and cat videos. When you come in, you find that its true: We play loops of cat videos, or live streams of cats in other countries or other parts of the country. Really, it just comes down to the fact that my husband and I love cats. We have pictures of our cats on our napkin dispensers, and we have an animatronic cat that the kids love.

Is the framed portrait one of your cats? No, I got that for five dollars on a road trip in St. Louis, and I trucked that back. Its a treasure. Really, though, my and my husbands number-one priority is doing things to benefit animals and people who help animals.

What are you looking forward to this summer? We plan on bringing back our series of charity nights, as well as some social nights where like-minded people (vegans, for example) can meet and we can start building the community more. We definitely see the business as a vessel for fostering that aspect of the community; weve always wanted to be part of its growth in Rhode Island.

Like No Udder 170 Ives Street 288-3880

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We All Scream for (Vegan) Ice Cream - Providence Media

Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous materials of our time. From to-go cups for iced coffee, prepackaged meals, frozen food, packaged grains and more, it seems like plastic is everywhere. While plastic has made our lives convenient, it has had an adverse effect on our planet. Globally, weproduce 300 million tons of plastic each year, but78 percentis never recycled or reclaimed. Instead, the plastic trash that we chuck in the garbage bin ends up in landfills. There, it can leach harmful chemicals that eventually spread into groundwater, but thats not all the bad news. Every year, around 8.8 million tons of plastic is dumped in our oceans, where itwreaks havoc on marine life.Unfortunately, once plastic is made, its here forever. Lets put it this way there is so much plastic in the ocean that in a few years time, there will literally be more of this trash than fish in our waters.

While we can always reduce the amount of plastic we let into our lives by purchasing reusable options for coffee cups, water bottles, and more, cutting all ties with plastic is a feat that not many can accomplish. Thats why its so important for the companies who rely on plastic packaging to take make a commitment to recycle their materials and reduce their waste. Recently, one company, Earth Island (themanufacturer of Follow Your Heart products), achieved something that no other vegan food manufacturing facility in the United States has done: they were awarded the Gold Level Zero Waste certification from Green Business Certification Incorporated.

According to The Vegetarian Resource Group, Earth Islands Gold Level Zero Waste certification means that the manufacturing facility for Follow Your Heart products now diverts 97 percent of its waste from landfills. They do so through strategic purchasing, material reuse, composting, increased recycling, and employee education. Over the past 12 months, the company has diverted nearly 100 tons to recycling, composted 136 tons, and re-purposed 228 tons of materials. How awesome!

We certainly hope that more companies will see this trend and start to incorporate more waste-reduction programs into their own facilities! As individuals, we dont have to wait for this to happen, however, each one of us has the power to stop plastic at the source by choosing to DIY meals or beauty products, using low-cost recycled glass or tin containers to store our goods. For more tips on how you can lead a plastic-free lifestyle from someone who does it themselves, click here.If youre looking for more ideas to get plastic out of the picture, check out One Green Planets #CrushPlastic campaign.

Lead image source: Follow Your Heart

Link:

This Vegan Food Company Has Found a Way to Keep 97 Percent of Its Waste Out of Landfills - One Green Planet

In the U.S., were a little spoiled when it comes to vegan cheese especially if you live near, say, a Whole Foods or alternative supermarket that specializes in a lot of health products. Looking for some vegan mozzarella for your next homemade pizza? Do you want Daiya, Follow Your Heart, Miyokos Creamery, MozzaRisella, or Cheezehound with that? You get it. Were a nation who unabashedly loves their cheese but were not the only country. France, for example, is famous for its love of cheese, from creamyCamembert, soft, spreadable brie, comt, and more. And like Miyoko Schinner and others have pioneered the artisanal cheese movement in the United States, one woman in France is introducing Paris to the world of fancy vegan cheese.

Situated in the XItharrondissement of Paris is Jay&Joy, Frances first all-vegan cheese shop. Although the shops founder, Venezuelan-born Mary Iriarte Jhnke, has been making vegan cheese for years with her husband, the shop was originally unplanned.

According to Jhnke, tourists make up a large portion of her customer base as well: The products are made in France and tourists appreciate this very much. They are happy to find small shops in Paris. Although shes made her mark in Paris, Jhnke does not plan to stay there. She plans on moving elsewhere in order to continue to grow her business and eventually, export her product well be waiting for that day.

Love vegan cheese? Us, too and its amazing that we live at a time when we have so much choice when it comes to finding vegan cheese in stores. But did you know that its easy to make vegan cheese at home, too? We highly recommend checking out the Food Monster app, a food and recipe app available for both Android and iPhone. Not only will you find plant-based versions of artisanal cheeses such as Gouda, Bleucheese, and gorgonzola, youll also find American cheese, cream cheese, and more. Not to mention, the app has 8,000+ vegan recipes with 10+ recipes added daily, vegan cooking tips, how-tos, a meal plan feature, and more! What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

All image source: Unbound Project/Facebook

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This Amazing Woman is Bringing Vegan Cheese to France - One Green Planet

Made These Beyond Meat Burgers For My Meat-Loving In-Laws

Its summertime! Cue the vegan BBQ foods: burgers, hot dogs, chips, potato salad, watermelon; the works!

Rest assured, theres no shortage of vegan food for outdoor cookin thats filling, easy and tasty!

Vegan burgers have come a long way, baybee! Especially when it comes to taste, texture and easy access.

This month I found Beyond Meats Beyond Burger smack dab in the middle of the meat section! Or as I call it, the grocerys morgue.

Perusing that section is mighty gruesome for us vegans; we dont see food there, but rather random blood-drenched body parts.

It was worth a quick trip to grab a few packs of Beyond Burgers, and snap a few quick photos, though. After all, for those who have been vegan for decades, you know, this is a HUGE turning point for plant-based foods.

No longer are new vegan items banished to a little bitty corner of the supermarket, or trapped in a pricey specialty store. Theyre in mainstream markets, right where everyonecan see em!

We picked up Beyond Meats Burgers at Safeway, in Northern California. I assume theyre testing them out here, along with Northern Nevada and Hawaii, and if they sell well, theyll spread across the nation.

Were definitely doing our part to make sure it happens; weve bought a lot!

We even grabbed some on our way home from the Grass Valley Vegan Food + Wine Festival where I spoke about my new book, The Vegan Way, and how to make the transition to a healthy vegan lifestyle.

We whipped them up in the kitchen for my meat-eating in-laws and they loved them!

Theyre almost too real for me, but thats OK; Im happy about that because I know its so helpful to emmulate the taste and texture for those who are trying to kick the pesky meat habit.

Yep. So when you ditch that cholesterol laden, saturated fatty fat FAT meat patty, and enjoy a plant-based burger instead, youre not just helping your own health, and the animals, but the entire worlds health, too!

Heres the link to see if theres a store with Beyond Meat Beyond Burgers near you! (but dont forget to like or share this post before you go! *wink*)

And if you cant find them, enjoy another tasty vegan burger. There are a bajillion to choose from made by: Amys, Gardein, Wildwood, Hilarys, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, etc.

Seriously, the variety out there is amazing!

Its SO easy to be vegan!

Jackie Day, Author of the new bookThe Vegan Way: 21 Days to a Happier, Healthier Plant-Based Lifestyle That Will Transform Your Home, Your Diet, and You(St. Martins Press / Macmillan)

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A Vegan Burger To Satisfy The Meat Eaters In Your Life - My Vegan Journal

Salad days: many people think that to eat less meat means nothing unless you eat no meat. Photograph: Rex Features

Unlike drinking, exercise and home cooking, being vegetarian is seen as a black-and-white deal. You either are or you arent. Go meat free all year and youre a vegetarian; eat one chicken burger on New Years Eve and youve failed.

According to the Vegan Society, there were three and a half times as many vegans in 2016 as 10 years earlier. The NHS states that more than 1.2 million people in the UK are vegetarian. And a YouGov survey found that 25% of people in Britain have cut back how much meat they eat. Despite this, too many of us still hold on to the idea that to eat less meat means nothing unless you can manage to eat no meat at all.

The Vegan Societys formal definition may be that veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose, but what we hear is veganism is a way of life that ruthlessly excludes anyone who enjoys milk in their tea and will joylessly judge every element of your life until you give in and start wearing hemp.

The reason people eat less meat isnt for some public status, its because it has a meaningful impact on the world

But we know thats not true, says Brian Kateman, the co-founder of the Reducetarian movement, a group committed simply to eating less meat. We know we make choices about food every day. When a friend gave me a copy of The Ethics of What We Eat [by Peter Singer and Jim Mason], I was eating a hamburger at the time. But I read the book and I just couldnt believe that factory farming was responsible for climate change and biodiversity loss, the poor treatment of 70m land animals worldwide, as well as the increase in heart disease, cancer, heart disease and obesity. If people were to cut back by just 10% that would be a huge win in terms of all these issues.

Kateman is a self-described pragmatist. He grew up eating steaks and buffalo wings, but as a student decided to go vegetarian. When his sister called him out for eating a small piece of turkey at Thanksgiving, he explained his decision wasnt about being perfect; it was just about trying to eat as many foods as possible that were good for his body and good for the planet.

Im a utilitarian, he says. Im more interested in outcomes than processes. The reason people eat less meat isnt for some badge, some public status, its because it has a meaningful impact on the world.

Katemans philosophy certainly seems appealing. But can you really consider yourself a principled, ethical eater and still eat a piece of pork pie? The central premise of reducetarians is that vegans and vegetarians who have reduced their animal intake so successfully that theyre not eating any at all are part of the same spectrum as people who are dissatisfied with factory farming and so have decided to, say, only eat meat once in a while, says Kateman. Its about moderation for everyday omnivores. Every time we sit down to eat, we make a vote for the issues we care about.

As well as publishing a book, The Reducetarian Solution, the Reducetarian Foundation has hosted its own summit in New York. The website is full of videos, recipes and a place where fans can pledge to reduce how much meat they eat. Kateman has held his own Ted talk on the subject and they even have their own Reducetarian Lab where they conduct behavioural studies into how best to reduce meat consumption.

Since the rise in neo hippies with their Instagram-friendly vegan breakfast bowls, being vegetarian or vegan has become fashionable, rather than simply well-meaning. Theres a very small percentage of people who are loud and annoying, says Kateman. But most vegans and vegetarians are wonderful people who understand we should be pragmatic about this. Making meaningful changes to our diet seems to be the way to go. Part of what we do is explain that plant-based foods can be delicious, affordable and easy to find. We celebrate anyone who decides to reduce the number of animal products they eat and the motivation doesnt matter.

According to the reducetarians, to eat less meat is an accomplishment; but to eat meat occasionally isnt a failure. You cannot fail at trying to eat better; and youre not a hypocrite if you do your best. Are reducetarians just vegans without the willpower? Or, are they simply doing what they can do without the resolution-snapping burden of guilt? Let they who hath not buttered a crumpet cast the first stone.

For more information, go to reducetarian.org

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Vegans, vegetarians and now reducetarians - The Guardian

Pamela Anderson, who has been a longtime animal rights activist is opening a vegan restaurant in France, her new home and has invited France's new President Emmanuel Macron to dine there.

The announcement was buried in a letter about her rumored beau, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is residing inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The former "Baywatch" actress has been trying to convince political leades to help free Assange.

"I am reaching out to Emmanuel Macron, and to his wife Brigitte Trogneux," she wrote. "As a resident of France, my adopted home, I would like to meet with you and discuss Julian's situation. I am opening a new vegan restaurant in France in July, and I would like to extend my invitation to the new President and his First Lady. Join me on the day I open the doors, and we will sit and eat good food and discuss what can be done for Julian. France could display its strength, and so could you, if you give Julian asylum."

Anderson is partnering with chef Christophe Leroy on the new restaruant which is dubbedLa Table du March, and is part of the country inn called Les Moulins de Ramatuelle, which is owned and operated by Leroy.

According to her website, La Table du March will open on July 4 for 50 nights only.

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Pamela Anderson is opening a vegan restaurant in the South of France - Fox News

This one is a doozy, and kind of reads like Mad Libs: 2017 Edition, so let me break it down for you:

Got all that? Anderson made the appeal in an announcement on her blog this week, along with multiple photos of her posing with her golden retriever. Yes, all of this is true.

If youve ever wanted to sip a whisky shot with a salt-cured human toe floating in it, the Downtown Hotel in Canadas Dawson City is a destination to mark on your map.

The bar made headlines this week when the toe it serves (which is reused from shot to shot, presumably because sourcing new toes for each drink sold would be a Sweeney-Todd-esque logistical nightmare) was stolen. This story has a happy ending, though the anonymous thief returned the appendage a few days later, with apologies.

Way back in 2013, ER heartthrob and casino-heist-savant George Clooney made the announcement that he and his buddies had created their own brand of tequila. The response from many (this author included) was who the hell wants to buy tequila from George Clooney?. This week we got the answer, which was a lot of people like $1 billion worth of them. Business is hard.

Before Mario Batali was a household name, he was just another kid behind the counter of a New Jersey sandwich shop. This week on The Tonight Show, the mega-chef revealed that he still goes back to Stuff Yer Face in New Brunswick, NJ, at least once a year for a stromboli sandwich. Its good to remember where you started.

How are you going to make a Sno Ball thats not ball-shaped? Its madness.

Read the rest here:

Pamela Anderson Is Using Vegan Food to Help Free Boyfriend - Eater - Eater

Cake Thieves' vegan creations can be found at some San Antonio coffee shops. The owners hope to eventually open a vegan diner.

Stacey Welsh, KENS 7:04 PM. CDT June 23, 2017

The owners of Cake Thieves start working at around 3 a.m. to make doughnuts fresh that morning. (Photo: KENS)

SAN ANTONIO - Doughnuts don't have to be made with eggs, milk or traditional butter to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Cake Thieves bakery is working to bring the vegan lifestyle into the mainstream. Those who eat a vegan diet don't consume food made with animal products.

Our slogan is 'we make vegan things that dont taste vegan, because that would be gross.' Its a sarcastic, yet playful, jab at the thought that vegan stuff doesnt taste good," Cake Thieves founder Lauren O'Connor said.

O'Connor first started the business six years ago when she was living in Brooklyn, New York. When she moved to San Antonio about a year and a half ago, she continued Cake Thieves.

"About eight years ago, I became vegan after watching a couple of documentaries on the meat industry and the dairy industry," she said.

Along with Cake Thieves co-owner Kia Geronimo, the two make dozens of vegan doughnuts and other pies and pastries daily.

All it really is that we replaced the eggs, the butter and the dairy in it. There are vegan versions of all of those. Theres vegan butter, theres almond milk and there's egg replacements. We just use all of that in our baking," O'Connor said.

Cake Thieves also makes custom orders for cakes, doughnuts and other baked goods. (Photo: KENS)

Cake Thieves' products are available at local coffee shops, including Mila Coffee on Broadway Street Monday-Sunday, White Elephant Coffee Company Monday-Sunday and Larder at the Hotel Emma on the weekends.

They expect to start selling at Rise Up Beverages on Broadway in the near future, and you can also place orders with Cake Thieves.

"Its just word of mouth, basically. People follow us on Instagram. I think people have a misconception that a lot of vegan things taste bland, like they dont have any flavoring, but you would be surprised," Geronimo said.

Cake Thieves hopes to eventually open a vegan diner, complete with other traditional diner food like pancakes and burgers.

"I would encourage people to try it, because it tastes just like the alternative product. Theres less guilt involved, and its delicious," O'Connor said.

2017 KENS-TV

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Cake Thieves bakery adds sweets to the vegan lifestyle | kens5.com - KENS 5 TV

Here is what you'll need!

Ramen Any Vegan Or Vegetarian Will Love

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced

Peppers, sliced and sauted

Rainbow carrots, diced and sauted

Onions, sliced and sauted

Jalapeos, sliced and sauted

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and onions and saut until onions become translucent.

Add vegetable stock, water, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce. Stir and simmer for at least 45 minutes, up to 3 hours. The longer you simmer, the more flavorful the broth will become.

Uncover the pot, add the miso paste, and stir.

Ladle the broth into a bowl and add noodles and toppings of your choice.

Licensed via Audio Network

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Ramen Any Vegan Or Vegetarian Will Love | Food and Cooking ... - Lincoln Journal Star