Raleigh Army National Guard police officer Darren Canfield is a finalist in PETAs sexiest vegan contest.

PETA is preparing to crown this years Sexiest Vegan Next Door and Canfield beat out hundreds of other entrants from across the country to advance to the final round of 10 men and 10 women contestants.

People can vote for the winners at PETA.org. Two winners one man and one woman will be selected and will each get a free vacation for two to Maui, Hawaii

Canfield, 30, said hes been in the national guard for 7 years, and commutes to an armory in Rocky Mount to work as an Army National Guard police officer.

The force trains like law enforcement and can be dispatched to domestic disasters, he said. Recently the force has been sent out after the Charlotte riots and to eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Matthew.

He said hes not the kind of guy who would put himself out there for a sexiest vegan contest, but was coaxed into it by a friend.

Im pretty humble, so its not something I would have done off the bat, he said.

He said he first got interested in becoming vegetarian after watching some videos on the internet, and decided to try it out for health reasons.

My family has a lot of cancer in it, and Im trying super hard to prevent it.

When he went vegetarian, he looked to social media groups to find others in the military that went vegetarian or vegan. He said hes not met any in person, but knows of quite a few online.

Being vegan in the military has proved to be hard, he said, because some of his fellow soldiers think not eating meat is less masculine and will sap athletic performance. However, he said hes still a top performer in athletic competitions and is very open to teaching others who are interested in his lifestyle.

I enjoy educating other people that are super interested, he said.

Darren proves that nourishing plant-based meals are all the fuel that our strong service members need to be in peak condition, and he uses his fit physique and creative cooking skills to inspire others to go cruelty-free, said PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman.

Each one of the finalists in PETAs contest is a testament to how sexy vegans areinside and out.

Living in Raleigh has been a great place to be a vegetarian, Canfield said, because there are several restaurants and grocery stores that cater to vegetarian and vegan diets.

Getting the nod from PETA is an honor because hes been mostly adhering to the diet on his own, and he said it was a big boost of support for him.

Its awesome to be a finalist because Ive been doing my own thing, he said. To be nominated by someone like PETA, this is a pretty big deal.

Voting for the finalists to help PETA determine who it should select as the winners ends at noon on June 21. Winners will be notified and announced on June 28.

For more information or to cast your votes, go to http://www.peta.org/features/sexiest-vegan-next-door-contest-2017/vote.

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National Guardsman finalist in PETA's sexiest vegan contest - AmeriForce Publishing, Inc.

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Philly's vegan scene keeps growing, with a couple more big-name openings right around the corner, and we can be both proud and grateful to have so many animal-free possibilities here in town. Meanwhile, though, the Western suburbs are also stepping up their game with new offerings and new venues that are definitely worth a quick trip or two.

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That's why I was out in Malvern at the Greyhound Cafe (Great Valley Shopping Center,81 Lancaster Ave, Malvern; 610-240-0222)recently, trying a few of the full slate of offerings in this crisp, casual joint focusing on easy-to-love comfort foods like nachos, pizza, burgers and chicken-and-waffle platters with fries.

Joseph Solar explained that after decades running restaurants in Texas and elsewhere he was ready to retire, but went vegan about a year and a half ago at the behest of his step-daughter and started working out vegan versions of some of his favorite foods. The more vegan food he ate, he told me, "the better I felt," and he soon endeavored to spread the word in the form of approachable vegan dishes, opening the cafe earlier this year.

"I didn't miss anything that I used to eat," he told me, then laughingly added, "except for smoked whitefish on a bagel. So I created a vegan version of that, and added it to our menu."

As I sampled the breaded cauliflower that stands in for chicken along with the waffles, Solar explained how the latter were enriched with black beans and other savory nutrients - "it's not the basic waffle you get at a lot of places." He observed that all the food components like the waffles in Greyhound's dishes are "made fresh right here."

Solar said he opened Greyhound not so much to serve vegans but mainly to raise awareness among meat-eaters, "make people see there's more to this lifestyle - it's not a diet, but a lifestyle," he underscored. To that end, Greyhound is doing a benefit night this Thursday, June 15, with a portion of all proceeds donated to The Humane League, and is in the final stages of planning a July event for Luv-N-Bunns Rabbit Rescue.

Just up Route 29 in Phoenixville, right in the middle of town across from the Colonial Theatre, Sand Castle Winery has opened a different kind of vegan venue, helmed byexecutive chef Theo Charitos.Overhaulingits retail wine-and-snacks shop, Sand Castle in May launchedTaste, (236 Bridge St, Phoenixville;484- 924-9530)an upscale vegan destination reminiscent of the former Horizons Cafe up in Willow Grove. Of course one key difference is that that venue was BYOB, whereas at Taste wine (yes, vegan!) is not only plentiful, but dominates the decor, with more than 200 bottles arrayed on one wall, and I dutifully sampled the menu accompanied by a smooth 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Seasonal Olives and Crispy Chickpeas with sweet Sriracha were great starters, and the Pickled and Marinated Veggies provided a nice contrast, though the pickles could maybe have had a more forceful tang. I enjoyed the Portugese Chicken & Sausage (both Taste and Greyhound use unmarked and unaltered animal-food names for menu items) with black bean kake and braised baby kale. The kale especially was excellent, retaining just enough of its hard-green flavor to complement the sweet, mellow sauce. Likewise the Alpine Spice Spiced Sundae had a nice cinnamon/wine balance with the vegan vanilla ice cream.

Taste is more audacious than most vegan places in its appropriation of animal dishes and their names, with such offerings as a "Blackened Ribeye" and "Char Grilled Filet / Tenderloin" which come close to their namesakes while carving out an identity as vegan entrees (of course this practice is a double-edged sword, raising more definite expectations - the ribeye could have been more dense and chewy, for instance, but I quibble).

This meat-based boasting ties in with Taste's sourcing from Herbivorous Butcher, a Minneapolis-based food firm that has rocketed to vegan stardom with "small batch, made fresh by hand" cuts of seitan, along with vegan cheeses, for just these purposes. They have a wide variety of vegan meats, some with more versimilitude than others, but it's a good bet the early adoption of this hot new source will help distinguish Taste's cuisine around the Delaware Valley and within the growing crowd of vegan eateries. (The owners foresee more Philly vegan TASTE locations by the end of this year.)

As it happened, upon arrival at Taste I almost literally ran into Char Nolan, who happened to be checking the place out as well if not better, and as she's already committed her thoughts to the internet, you can get another angle on the menu here.

Also in Phoenixville (6 Gay St; 610-616-0000)is the second location for Vincent "Vinny" DePaul's Gangster Vegan Organics (the OGV is in Norristown), appealing both to health-and-spirituality-focused raw foodies and fun-loving impudent kids, plus anyone in the area who's looking to expand their vegan palate. And West Chester foodies are already salivating over July's expected opening of Love Again Local, an all-vegan sandwich shop that looks very intriguing.

Also, let's not forget that in the same strip mall as Greyhound is the venerable Su Tao, (Great Valley Shopping Center, 981 Lancaster Ave, Malvern;610-651-8886)known and loved for pan-Asian vegan buffets and vegan celebrations for many years.

This is not, of course, to overlook the growing number of suburban non-vegan joints adding their own signature vegan items to menus, a trend noted in a 2013 V for Veg column. I mentioned some faves like Woodlyn's Frankie's on Fairview (604 Fairview Rd, Woodlyn;610) 543-2300)in my 2016 Eating Vegan in Philly guidebook, but I'm finding more all the time, such as the Nova Mediterranean Grill (815 Lancaster Ave, Villanova; 610-525-4745),which among other plant-based treats offers a Vegan Seitan Gyro with Roasted Eggplant Spread, Hummus, Piaz Beans & Tahini as well as the now expected traditional vegan cheesesteak (both with Michael's Seitan).

With the weather dramatically warming up it's a great time to explore beyond city limits, or maybe even your own limits, and sample some of the newest vegan-friendly creations out there. You'll get a sense of where cuisine is headed, a full belly of tasty food, and a chance to help Philly's legendary vegan scene grow even larger!

Published: June 13, 2017 7:00 AM EDT | Updated: June 13, 2017 2:17 PM EDT

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Go West, young vegan! - Philly.com (blog)

Austin Aries realizes that when you think vegan, you dont think professional wrestler. But he also understands that when he announced in 2011 that he ate only a plant-based diet, being a vegan pro wrestler became a big part of his identity.

He often got variations of the same questions such as: Where do you get your protein? Is it hard? Is it expensive? How do you live without bacon? What do you eat? Where do you find it? How do you get it on the road?

That provided the genesis for a book that he started working on two years ago and begins shipping Friday. Food Fight: My Plant Powered Journey from the Bingo Halls to the Big Time is not a wrestling book, although Aries touches on his early training and rise to becoming TNA world champion, six-time X-Division champion, Ring of Honor world champion and now in WWEs cruiserweight division. Aries wrote the book with Los Angeles-based author Mike Tully.

The book provides advice and guidance for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, but also provides Aries views on the merits of the food we eat and challenges the reader to consider the choices they have when eating.

The book is about food awareness and digging a little deeper into whats in front of us, Aries told For the Win. Its not about any certain type of a diet or necessarily becoming a vegan. Its about taking another look at food, where its coming from and what its doing to us and realize we all have a choice in that.

Aries writes extensively about the need to read labels, check ingredients and seek alternative food solutions and chronicles the moments in his own food journey he cites driving past a massive chicken slaughterhouse among them that led him to move away from what he thought was the All-American way to eat growing up in the Midwest.

Grey Publishing

For most people growing up, the criteria is, does it taste good, how fast can I get it and how cheap is it? he said. What that shifted to, is it good for me, how much nutritional value am I getting from my dollar and where did it come from? With that, you look at food a whole different way.

By changing things, it forced me to pay attention to my diet understanding what these numbers meant or what these ingredients are looking down the list on the package. When I started figuring it out, it blew my mind how bad the easiest choices put in front of us are for us, how misinformed we are, how much propaganda there is and how what I call the corporate food system has really grabbed hold in taking over our lives.

As for his career in the ring, Aries is coming off a loss in a submission match to WWE cruiserweight champion Neville at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view last Sunday to cap off a feud that lasted more than four months. He followed the match with a cryptic tweet:

As far as whats next for me from a creative standpoint or what my next move is, thats to be determined, he said. I need to regroup and take a look at the landscape and see where I fit in. You just have to keep tuned in and find out whats going to happen.

After an interview earlier this week on Busted Open on SiriusXM, reports indicated that Aries might be taking some time off to deal with injuries. He said that is not the case as far as appearances: Im flying out Friday morning and Ill be working the live events this weekend. He also was at 205 Live this week but was not used.

If you look at the full quote and what I said was, Everyone is dealing with various stuff, he said. I dont think there is anyone in the locker room is 100%. Were all nicked and banged up to various degrees. Like anything else, you pick and choose the times you need address when it needs to be addressed and some times are better than others.

I figure no matter what interview I do, the real good journalists are going to find the completely irrelevant quotes that will drum up some controversy and stick it on their page to get some clicks and completely miss the real context of what the interview is about. Thats what we do nowadays and call it journalism.'

Aries spoke to For The Win about his food journey, the cruiserweight division and more.

The book is about food awareness and digging a little deeper into whats in front of us. Its not about any certain type of a diet or necessarily becoming a vegan. Its about taking another look at food, where its coming from and what its doing to us and realize we all have a choice in that.

This is a mindset and a lifestyle choice. Its what you prioritize with your resources your time, your money and your energy and where we are going to spend those. We spend them on what we deem most important. For whatever reason, a lot of people have decided food is not that important to dedicate our resources to it. One of the things people always ask me is, isnt it expensive to heat healthy or vegan? It can be, but isnt it expensive to live in a nice house or drive a nice car or wear nice clothes? The people lined up for the newest i-whatever because they need the new one when they just got one a year ago and are willing to drop $200 for it are the same people who are trying to find the easiest, most convenient, cheapest food to eat. I feel like were missing the boat on this.

Whatever diet switch youre thinking of doing go seek out information from people who are actively doing it. Give yourself the information and the tools. Just start slow. No one is going to sustain big, dramatic changes overnight unless you have strong conviction or that a-ha moment. I kinda did. There was one day where I just stopped eating meat, but then the transition to get rid of the dairy and eggs took 12 years. Maybe pick a meal, some people do Meatless Mondays. There is material on social media and a website for that. Maybe you cant do the whole day. Pick one meal on one day.

Everyone gets into a routine or comfort zone and you eat the same six things you know you like it, you know you can make it and you know what it costs. When you start taking things away, you have to replace it. For me, that opened up new foods that I didnt grow up eating in Wisconsin all these different foods from these different cultures. Everyone wants to enjoy eating food. I love food and dont want to sacrifice my enjoyment to be healthy. You can enjoy food and can e mindful and healthy while you do it but it just takes a little time and effort.

I preach to everybody whatever their opinion is that patience is the key. I know thats now how people nowadays digest entertainment. When youre trying to build a new brand and introduce new characters and help them find themselves and connect with the audience, it takes time. I feel like if people dont place their own expectations on what they think it should be and enjoy it for what it is and watch it as it evolves and what it will become, the process would be more enjoyable for everybody.

Neville is a highly accomplished guy who is as talented as any guy in the company and my accolades speak for themselves and I have some name notoriety from being in the game a while. If were able to stabilize it and that includes Brian Kendrick and bringing in Tajiri for a short time to allow time for some of those guys who will make their names over the next 10 years, thats a winning formula.

WWE performers know about the Hometown Curse when you come to your hometown, you generally lose your match but maybe the tide is turning.

Rich Swann Sasha Banks won a mixed tag team match at Extreme Rules in Swanns hometown Sunday. On Tuesday, Luke Harper scored the pin in an eight-man tag team match before SmackDown Live in Rochester, N.Y. During the match, he blew a kiss to his wife and 5-year-old in the front row. Harper had been 0-3 at home.

Luke Harper (Photo: WWE)

Now on his own after a brief reunion with the Wyatt Family in the winter, Harper is looking to find his place.

Its almost like a career is restarting or for lack of a better term reborn, Harper said in a lengthy interview for USA TODAY Network partner The (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle. Its a blank canvas right now and Im looking forward to whatevers going to come. I hope somethings going to come fairly soon. Ive been working every weekend (at live events), but nothing on TV as of right now and thats the goal to get back on there and make some major strides. I always have goals set and its hard when youre not being utilized right now.

Great moment after SmackDown Live went off the air Tuesday night in the arena. Two older women in the front row were wearing red, white and blue sweaters and Uncle Sam-style hats. One held up a poster that said, My heart belongs to RKO.

Randy Orton, scheduled for a dark match with WWE champion Jinder Mahal, saw the sign and got out of the ring. He embraced one of the women, who produced a pen and wanted him to sign the poster. He signed, as the referee implored him to get back in the ring. Orton held up a finger to tell the referee to wait one moment while he finished. The crowd responded with cheers.

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Yes, Austin Aries is a vegan wrestler. His new book seeks to answer ... - For The Win

Kyoko Faison is making it easy to grab vegan-friendly foodin South Tampa with her new concept, Pure Kitchen Organic Vegan.

"I used to be a chef at Grass Roots, a vegan restaurant, but they closed about three years ago," Faison said. "After working at SoHo Sushi, the owner, Jeffrey, encouraged me to open a restaurant because he believes in what I do. There aren't many vegan places in Tampa; Tampa is behind. I was excited Farmacy Vegan Kitchen +Bakery opened downtown, but we should have more places."

So Faison rented a space next to SoHo Sushi at 3214 W Kennedy Boulevard and filled it with pre-packaged, ready-to-go vegan meals.

"It's good for busy people. There's no stress and you don't have to wait," Faison said. "It's also good for the vegan people, because they used to have to go to St. Petersburg all the time for vegan options. They're so happy we opened."

Originally from Japan, where she also worked at a restaurant, Faison has lived in Tampa for 20 years. But she still includes Japanese recipes on the menu like the popular Bento.

"We can't offer it every day because it's so complicated," Faison said. "It uses 15 to 20 ingredients in just one small box so it takes a long time, but every time we put it on the menu it sells really quickly."

Aside from grab 'n' go, Pure Kitchen also offers weekly meal deliveries for the South Tampa area.

"Put your e-mail address on a mailing list and we send out weekly menus and you can pick whatever you like and we'll deliver it on Monday and Thursday," Faison said.

In the future, Faison plans to utilize the restaurant's spacious counter and open kitchen to host cooking classes. Saturday sit-down brunches are also in the works.

"People will be able to bring their own bubbles, then we have great organic juices they can add to make mimosas," Faison said.

Pure Kitchen has been operating in soft-opening stages for the last few weeks but a grand opening will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (the restaurant will also be open for normal hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on Saturday with free samples, drinks and food for purchase.

For more information, visit facebook.com/Pure-Kitchen-1886453528296292.

SHARE YOUR NEWS: If you have an item for Everybody's Business, contact Arielle Waldman at Awaldman@tampabay.com.

Grab 'n' go vegan option opens in South Tampa 06/09/17 [Last modified: Friday, June 9, 2017 12:33pm] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Cant get enough Detroit restaurant intel? The EaterWire is your guide to all the food industry news hits you may have missed.

COMING ATTRACTIONS Three new restaurants are heading to Northwest Detroit and Hamtramck. Clock Fine Food in Hamtramck is in the process of being renovated for an as-of-yet unnamed Yemeni restaurant. The city will also gain a California-style burger spot near Conant and Commor Street. Meanwhile, a Caribbean-influenced vegan restaurant, Paradise Cafe & Juice Bar, is popping up 18 Church St. in Highland Park in preparation for a summer opening. The brick-and-mortar location will be located near Seven Mile and Livernois around the University District. Founder Nezaa Bandeles menu features dishes like Jamaican jerk barbecue burgers, yam fries, roasted veggie lasagna, and more. [Metro Times]

MEALS ON WHEELS Downtown Street Eats, the organizers of Cadillac Squares summer food truck rallies, is on the hunt for more rolling restaurant vendors to park in Grand Circus Park, the Woodward Esplanade, Capitol Park, and the DTE Energy Park. Applications are available at the Campus Martius website. [EaterWire]

EVENTWIRE Cellarmens in Hazel Park is hosting another fundraiser for bartender Marisa Rahdar who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The event will run from 7 p.m. to midnight on June 12 and feature an inflatable boxing ring with $1 from each drink going towards Rahdars recovery. [EaterWire]

RUMORMONGERING Is there a new burger restaurant headed to Capitol Park? It appears so. Ferndale-based architecture firm Five/Eighths (the folks who designed Voyager) previewed a layout for an unnamed Detroit burger restaurant on Facebook this week. Hashtags suggest that the building may be a Bedrock property and that its slated for the fast-developing Capitol Park area. Representatives for Bedrock were unable to confirm whether the project was in the works. Have details about what this might be? Whisper in our ear at the tipline. [Facebook]

VITAL UPDATES Mark your calendars. The legendary lobster rolls at Mudgies Deli in Corktown will be up for grabs July 24 through July 29. For those who arent familiar, these lobster rolls inspire mania and round-the-block lines. [Facebook]

State St. & Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226

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Paradise Cafe Is Bringing Vegan Food With Caribbean Flavors to Livernois - Eater Detroit (blog)

The Morris does lunch

The Morris, opened by sommelier Paul Einbund and chef/partner Gavin Schmidt last fall in the Missions former Slow Club space, is now expanding to weekday lunch. From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., grab fare like smoked trout salad or the restaurants aged beef burger (with a Chartreuse slushy, if its that sort of day). [EaterWire]

Model Bakery spawns Mini Model Yountville

The Model Bakery, a St. Helena staple with a second outpost at Napas Oxbow Public Market, is taking over the former Coffee Caboose at 6523 Washington Street in Yountville. There, Mini Model as its dubbed, will open on June 10 with free English muffins to the first 200 customers. [EaterWire]

Jai Yun goes pop-up

Chef Chia Ji Nei, whose Chinatown mainstay on Clay Street closed this spring, isnt done cooking. Hell be popping up in the New Sun Hong Kong space (Broadway and Grant) starting on June 14. [SFGate]

Oakland is hella vegan

Invoking restaurants like Millennium, Souley Vegan, and Timeless Coffee, VegNews declared Oakland, California the number 5 best Vegan City in the country. Speaking of which, those three destinatinos and more are on Eaters 18 Essential East Bay Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants map. Missing from the VegNews top 10, which was dominated by Los Angeles in the top spot? San Francisco. Also: Animal byproducts. [VegNews]

301 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 510-393-9186

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Oakland Named a Top City for Vegan Dining and More AM Intel - Eater SF

Fresno Bee

Fresno grows a lot of food, but will we ever make the list of vegan-friendly cities? Fresno Bee Fresno may be smack dab in the middle of the most productive food growing region in the world, but we are no where near the Top 10 Vegan Cities list recently compiled by Veg News. Truth is, we probably wouldn't even make the top 50. On the list are ...

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Fresno grows a lot of food, but will we ever make the list of vegan-friendly cities? - Fresno Bee

Photo: Nasoya

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Chloe Coscarelli may have built her reputationon cupcakes, tempeh burgers, and sweet potato fries(theres not a line out the door of By Chloethe vegan chain she co-founded, before recently exitingfor nothing),but theres another food staple shes just as obsessed with: tacos. Theyre definitely one of my go-to lunches, admits the plant-based chef.

As a vegan, Coscarelli isnt about to fill her tacowith chicken or steakshe has another go-to on hand for protein: One of her favoriteingredientsistofu, the OG vegan staple. Not only is it often her tortilla filling of choice, but she also turns to it when shes looking to punch up her dishes with something other than guac. (Because not everyone can stomach avocados all the time.)

I useitto make creamy sauces by throwing it in the blender. Some people get intimidated by making cream sauces with nuts, but tofu is really easy to work with, she says.

Here, Coscarelliputs the soy-based specialty to workas a spicycrema.Paired with mango salsa, it all adds up toa summer mealthats sweet with a kick. Chipotle, are you taking notes?

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Yields4 servings

IngredientsSpicy tofu2 Tbspolive oil 1 package Nasoya extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled 1 1/2 Tbsppure maple syrup 1 1/2 Tbsp Sriracha 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/4 tsp chipotle powder 3/4 tsp sea salt

Mango salsa1 mango, finely diced 2 Tbspfinely diced red onion 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro 2 tsp fresh lime juice

Chipotle crema1 cup Nasoya silken tofu 2 Tbsp Sriracha 1 Tbsp agave 1 Tbsp lime juice 1 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp chipotle powder 8 small corn tortillas

Toppings Sliced avocado or guacamole, fresh cilantro, lime wedges

1. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Add crumbled tofu and cook until lightly browned.

2. Add maple syrup, Sriracha, smoked paprika, chipotle, and salt, and stir until tofu is coated. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. To assemble the tacos, heat a tortilla in a pan over medium-high heat or by placing it directly on the burner for about a minute, using tongs to flip. Plate. Layer on the tofu, mango salsa, and a drizzle of chipotle crema. Garnish with guacamole, cilantro, and a lime wedge.

For the mango salsa 1. Stir all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

For thechipotle crema 1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Each week we spotlight a healthy-delish recipe thats truly genius (and easy to make) from someone whos wowed us in the food world. Were talking buzzy cookbook authors and Instagram foodies to brilliant chefs. You can find more mouthwatering must-try ideas from the Recipe of the Week archive.

Complete your health fiesta with someavocado margaritas and vegan nachos.

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Up your protein game with this 10-minute spicy vegan taco recipe - Well+Good

Photo Courtesy of Lee South

Austin Aries is one of the most talented all-around performers in the wrestling industry, and since joining WWE in 2016, a whole new audience has now had the pleasure of seeing the Greatest Man That Ever Lived operating at the highest level.

At 39 years old, Aries has been wrestling for 17 years and has earned a reputation as one of the best in-ring workers in the business. Add in the fact that there are only a few wrestlers who can stand toe-to-toe with him in a promo, and Aries is one of the most gifted talents in the world.

In a recent interview promoting his new book, Food Fight: My Plant-Powered Journey from the Bingo Halls to the Big Time, Aries spoke to Ring Rust Radio about his place in WWEs cruiserweight division following another loss to Neville at Extreme Rules, his interest in becoming a commentator following his in-ring career and the challenges of living a vegan lifestyle.

At the 2017 edition of the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Aries tried unsuccessfully for the third time to capture the Cruiserweight Championship from Neville. Following another hard-fought defeat, there are questions about whats next for Aries.

While staying in the cruiserweight division and climbing the ranks once again could be a viable option, Aries proved in Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling that he doesnt need to be pigeonholed. He could easily make the jump to the heavyweight division and instantly be one of the top stars on the Raw brand as he chases the Universal Championship.

When asked what he has planned moving forward, Aries was uncertain about his future.

Right now, I feel like Im at a point where I am reflecting and just trying to figure out what my next move is. I have put a lot of energy and focus into capturing the Cruiserweight Championship, but obviously I didnt get the job done, Aries said. So, I am not really sure what my next move is. I think right now I am going to take a step back, see what the landscape in front of me and see where I fit in best moving forward.

Regardless of whether Aries stays in the cruiserweight division or makes the leap into the heavyweight division, his skill in the ring and on the mic will result in marquee matchups and feuds that would bolster any card.

Not only has Aries proved to be one of the best all-around talents in wrestling today, but while he was out with an eye injury, he also showed that he'll have a bright future at the commentary table when his in-ring career is over.

After working with Michael Cole and Corey Graves, Aries has a newfound respect for commentators and a new career path if he eventually wants to follow through and become the Greatest Commentator That Ever Lived.

I had a lot of fun doing that and it was a new opportunity for me. I learned a lot and I got to work with some cool people that I would never have had the chance to work with as an in-ring competitor, Aries said. A lot of respect for what those guys do. Theres a lot going on that people dont know about in those headsets while those guys are trying to manage while they are also trying to narrate a story. I think at a certain point when the time is right, if that opportunity is there for me, its something I would like to pursue.

Aries has been a staple of the wrestling industry for almost two decades, but he still has so much left in the tank. One of the reasons for his success thus far has been his commitment to a vegan lifestyle.

Finding the proper foods and meals for a vegan is difficult at times, but its even more complicated when WWE Superstars are on the road constantly traveling from city to city without ample options.

Aries spoke about the difficulties of being a vegan who travels constantly and how his commitment to the lifestyle has helped him stay true to veganism.

I think if youre trying to be mindful of eating well on the road, it can be difficult no matter what, Aries said. Your choices at midnight or one oclock in some of the smaller towns when we are getting out of shows arent going to be the best choices for eating healthy no matter what your dietary choices or restrictions are.

So, I think the important part is to always be prepared. I always try to carry some stuff with me so if cant find some food around me, Im not stuck in that position of having to make a bad choice, Aries continued. I think the hardest part is just the dedication to it. Once you decide its important to you, it becomes easier to do because you are invested in it.

While most wrestling fans look at a Superstar who is 39 years old as someone who is on the downside of a career, Aries has bucked that trend and only appears to be getting better with age.

With so much left to prove inside a WWE ring beyond being stuck in the cruiserweight division, the best is yet to come for Aries. Hopefully, WWE officials dont squander the opportunity to add a bona fide championship level heel to Raws heavyweight division.

No matter where the future takes him, Aries has demonstrated time and time again that he has the talent and the smarts to be one of the most entertaining aspects of any show he graces.

For more wrestling talk, listen toRing Rust Radiofor all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).

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Austin Aries Talks WWE Cruiserweight Division, Being Vegan and More - Bleacher Report