Pinky Cole (right), founder of Slutty Vegan, poses for a selfie with a fan.

Last Tuesday, more than 2,000 people waited in a mile-long line along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in Atlantas West End. Nothing, not even the 90-degree weather, could deter them from the promise of a free burger, fries and drink (and mask, for those not wearing one) from Slutty Vegan, the plant-based burger joint thats been serving even the most dedicated carnivores since 2018.

The line during Slutty Vegan's free burger giveaway.

The on-the-house food was courtesy of a few of the restaurants celebrity stalwartsLala Anthony, Gabrielle Union, Chris Paul and Ludacriswho spent more than $15,000 to buy out the restaurant for a day after a slew of one-star ratings described the restaurant as being anti-police and called for it to shut down. The negative reviews were left in response to Slutty Vegans founder, Pinky Cole, announcing she would be partnering with Clark Atlanta University to provide the children of police brutality victim Rashard Brooks with $600,000 worth of scholarships to the historically black university, which happens to be Coles alma mater.

Cole tells Forbes that Slutty Vegans fans took it upon themselves to inundate review sites with more than 20,000 positive reviews to overshadow the poor ones. This weeks buyout was just the icing on the cake.

The bigger lesson here is when a business does a lot for the people, those people will make sure that the business is protected, Cole says. That's the definition of love and unity that we need to see more of.

Cole is no stranger to community philanthropy. Growing up, her Jamaican mother had an open-door policy at home and provided free meals to people in the neighborhood. At Clark Atlanta University, where Cole was crowned queen of her class, she spearheaded a program called Selfless to help promote community service at the school.

Shortly after founding Slutty Vegan in 2018, she launched the business philanthropic arm, the Pinky Cole Foundation. The foundation recently partnered with Impossible Foods and rapper Jermaine Dupri to launch Votenik, a nationwide campaign that uses pop up food trucks to encourage voter turnout at sites in communities where voting is traditionally low.

We are coming up with ways to make the whole voting system cool so that young people will want to be a part of it, says Cole.

Her latest project, which is slated to launch in August, involves working with Black-owned life insurance company Atlanta Life to help provide life insurance for Black male residents throughout the city in an effort to close the generational gap, says Cole.

Slutty Vegan will soon be feeding more mouths across Atlanta: Cole will be opening up two additional locations later this summer in Old Fourth Ward, the historic section best known as the neighborhood where Martin Luther King Jr. spent his childhood.

Shes still catching her breath about it all. What started as an idea formed in her two-bedroom apartment in July 2018 will soon blossom into a franchise with national philanthropic influence. But in many ways, Coles not surprised. Giving back has always been in her bloodand she intends to keep it part of Slutty Vegans identity as the concept continues to evolve.

Yes, the food is good, says Cole, but it's bigger than food. It's really about using our platform for good. We're doing the work. We're putting our money where our mouth is.

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Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Is Walking The Walk With Her Justice Efforts - Forbes

When everyones got their eyes on a recipe, you know it must have something special that you will want to try! Thats the case for these 10 vegan viral recipes that went viral last week. Theyre some of the best, and trust us when we say that you dont want to miss out on these incredible viral recipes creations from our bloggers!

We also highly recommend downloading theFood Monster App with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, dont forget to check out our Popular Trends Archives!

Source: Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa

Quinoa is really appealing because its a whole grain that cooks in just 15-20 minutes so you can make a quick + healthy meal in no time. Since you can make quinoa really quickly, this Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa by Megan Calipari comes together pretty fast!

Source: One Pot Tomato Basil Lentil Pasta

This One Pot Tomato Basil Lentil Pasta by Wholesome LLC is so good you, wont even realize its made from lentils! This dish comes together easily and beautifully and will have you coming back for seconds.

Source: Fluffy Protein Pancakes

These Fluffy Protein Pancakes by Hayley Canning are made without bananas, refined sugar, or flour! Full of protein to fuel you through your morning! This vegan pancake recipe is easy and quick. They always come out perfectly light and fluffy! With only 8 ingredients, they are so simple to make and are ready in about 15 minutes. This is a classic vegan pancake recipe that will win over all pancake lovers!

Source: Sweet Potato and Lentil Patties

Another delicious veggie burger recipe is here. This Sweet Potato and Lentil Patties by Robin Browne has a tangier base thanks to the chives and great texture. This recipe also uses basic ingredients that you just might have sitting in your pantry waiting to be used.

Source: Peanut Butter Tofu

This Peanut Butter Tofu by Haley Gallerani is so easy to make, and it tastes delicious. You can also add it to many different types of dishes. It tastes delicious on a bed of rice and covered with lettuce, avocado, and sriracha. You can also put it in a salad or mix it with other vegetables.

Source: Quit-the-Cluck Nuggets with Mustard Chive Sauce

You probably guessed itQuit-the-Cluck Nuggets with Mustard Chive Sauce by Celine Steen were inspired by the typical fast-food nuggets. Thats as far as the similarity goes! This healthy version makes a wonderful light meal or snack. They are full of protein, terrific tasting, and compassionate, too.

Source: Chocolate Pie

This Chocolate Pie byJulie Zimmer is decadent in a light kind of way. Its chocolaty and creamy like pudding but not too sweet. It also holds perfectly, even without the coconut oil or cacao butter or Agar-Agar powder. Instead, it just needs 2 tablespoons of finely ground chia seeds. Mostly made with raw ingredients, this dessert hits all the high notes for nutrition. Its perfect for any occasion!

Source: Beer Battered Onion Rings

You can make these Beer Battered Onion Rings by Ashley Hankins a couple of days before so all you have to do is fry them up the day of the big party and theyll stay crispy for hours. Honestly, these vegan beer-battered onion rings are so delicious, you dont even need a sauce, but who doesnt want some ranch? These vegan beer-battered onion rings are paired with a vegan jalapeo ranch dressing that is perfectly spicy and tangy.

Source: Reuben Scramble Wiches

Whether you choose to make these Reuben Scramble Wiches by Celine Steen for a savory breakfast dish or a light dinner, youll love the way the spices in the tofu mingle with the sauerkraut to create this very satisfying open-faced sandwich.

Source: Smoky Sausages

Youll really start loving anything (vegan) that contains liquid smoke, and these Smoky Sausages by Celine Steen are no exception.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading theFood Monster App with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about theenvironmentalandhealth benefitsof aplant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please considersupporting usby donating!

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Pineapple Teriyaki Fried Quinoa to Sweet Potato and Lentil Patties: 10 Vegan Recipes that Went Viral Last Week! - One Green Planet

Lizzos new diet has her feeling, she says, very lit and full.

The 32-year-old singer, songwriter and flutist took to TikTok to share what she eats in a day as a new vegan, saying that shes enjoying exploring flavors from plants and plant-based proteins.

Every journey is personal & deserves to be celebrated," she captioned the video.

And from the looks of it, her meals and snacks are worthy of celebration, too. In the video, she shares clips of all the healthy and colorful food she ate during one day, adding a disclaimer that this isnt what every day looks like, but it's a pretty average one.

Trending stories,celebrity news and all the best of TODAY.

First up on her days menu is a refreshing green breakfast smoothie, adding that she typically makes her morning smoothies with coconut water, kale or spinach and frozen fruit.

For lunch, she whips up a salad that she says she loves to make. This one has kale, red cabbage, some broccoli and a slice of avocado, some white onions and some carrots, she explains over the video panning over the multi-hued dish.

And while her former go-to snack was Flamin' Hot Cheetos (Not good for my acid reflux, she says), shes since traded them in for a vegan Cheetos alternative.

I dip that in the hummus. Bada-boom, bada-snack! she says.

For dinner, she pairs a truffle-chickpea-mushroom ball with some quinoa and leftover salad from earlier in the day.

While she says shes not a fan of diet cola, she decided to drink one leftover from her parties, saying, I needed some sparkles in my throat." Understandable.

And for dessert, she makes a PB&J-inspired smoothie using peanut butter, frozen strawberries, oats, oat milk and a vanilla protein powder.

At the end of the video, she tells viewers that "We still need justice for Breonna Taylor," adding a number to text to "demand that the officers who murdered her are arrested and charged." Taylor, 26, an African American emergency-room technician, was killed by police in March during a raid at her home in Louisville, Kentucky. One of three Kentucky police officers involved in her killing, Brett Hankison, was fired on June 23.

Lizzo has been pairing her protein-packed meals with a consistent workout routine which includes cycling, jumping rope and strengthening exercises, according to an earlier TikTok video she shared that addresses body-shamers.

It may come as a surprise to some of yall that Im not working out to have your ideal body type. Im working out to have my ideal body type, she says in the video. And you know what type that is? None of your (expletive) business. Because I am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job and I stay on my job.

She adds, Health is not just determined on what you look like on the outside. Health is also what happens on the inside.

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Lizzo shares what she eats in a day 'as a new vegan' - TODAY

A new restaurant specializing in fresh-pressed juices and vegan and vegetarian fare is now open at Westside Provisions District. Cafe West, owned by Atlanta-based entrepreneur Tammy Stokes, opened Wednesday across from Lululemon at the Howell Mill Road retail and restaurant development.

Stokes also owns grab-and-go cafe and juice bar Cafe West Express on Roswell Road in Buckhead. The cafe features an online shop offering its juices, smoothies, and soup cleanses for sale.

Described as a California-inspired restaurant, the 1,500-square-foot Cafe West offers seating inside and a similar menu to its Buckhead counterpart. Think vegan burgers, vegan and non-vegan soups like lentil or spicy chicken, wraps, salads, brown rice bowls, fresh-pressed juices, and vitamin-packed smoothies. The menu also includes skinny fries, which can be made with either sweet potatoes or russet potatoes.

Cafe West will soon be joined by another health food-focused restaurant when a third location of Flower Child eventually opens in the former J. Crew space at the development. Superfood-heavy Upbeet, owned by the team behind Yeah Burger, is located across the street at the Ironworks complex.

The recently reinvigorated dining scene at Westside Provisions District now features four new, full-service restaurants: restaurateur Tal Baums Falafel Nation and modern Israeli restaurant Aziza, chef Zeb Stevensons Redbird, and Roman Italian restaurant Forza Storico from the owners of Storico Fresco in Buckhead.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1100 Howell Mill Road, Suite A05, Atlanta. cafewestexpress.com.

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Cafe West Specializing in Fresh-Pressed Juices and Vegan and Vegetarian Fare Opens at Westside Provisions Dis - Eater Atlanta

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Lizzo is a singer, rapper, songwriter, flutist, and body positivity advocate. This last week she added vegan to that long list, and she's just as outspoken about her plant-based creations as calling out the fat-shamers.

The Grammy and BET award winner posted a series of TikTok videos all about her new vegan eating plan. Lizzo captioned one recent video: "As a new vegan, I'm enjoying exploring flavors from plants & plant-based proteins! Every journey is personal & deserves to be celebrated."

The "Truth Hurts" singer's "pretty average" day of eating starts with a green smoothie filled with coconut water, kale or spinach (whatever she has on hand), and some frozen fruit. For lunch, Lizzo loves a colorful salad piled high with kale, red cabbage, broccoli, avocado, white onions, and carrots.

When it's snack time, she discovered Lesser Evil Paleo Puffs as a Cheeto-alternative. "I used to eat a lot of hot Cheetos, but that wasn't good for my acid-reflux," said the body-positivity advocate. "These are Cheeto-alternative I love that's vegan and I dip them in hummus. Badda-boom badda-snack!"

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For dinner, the "Good As Hell" songstress makes meat-alternative balls with truffle, chickpeas, and mushrooms plus quinoa and leftover colorful salad. Last but not least, Lizzo's day ends much like it started, with a peanut butter jelly smoothie. She blended together peanut butter, frozen strawberries, oats, oat milk, vanilla protein powder, and "love from Jesus."

Lizzo added, "I feel very lit and full." Worth noting: she served her dessert smoothie with a side of racial justice advocacy. She wrote, "We still need justice for Breonna Taylor," alongside texting instructions.

While Lizzo may be a newbie at plant-based eating, she's making it look easy. "Being plant-based and vegan has been pretty easy except when I am hungover," Lizzo explains in another video. That's when her cheesy eggs craving strikes, but she has a simple solution. Lizzo shows how she whips up an omelette with Just Egg and vegan carne asada leftovers.

This content is imported from TikTok. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Throughout her videos, Lizzo serves up hot tips for spicing up plant-based picks. For example, she cooks her vegan bacon in maple syrup. "It gets nice and crunchy and candied," she explains in the voiceover. "Ugly but delicious scramble."

JUST Egg 100% Plant-Based

Shroomeats Mushroom Balls

$12.00

Paleo Puffs Himalayan Salt + Apple Cider Vinegar

$3.99

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Lizzo Just Announced She's Vegan And Shared Exactly What She Eats In A Day In New TikTok Videos - Women's Health

The massive menu has options for both the adventurous and pickiest of eaters.

TOLEDO, Ohio Looking for some tacos, a hot dog or a fresh cup of coffee? Maybe all three? Lowrider Cafe in downtown Toledo has everything you're craving - and probably more.

The quaint building on N. Michigan houses one of the most inviting stops in the 419.

As soon as you walk in, you're greeted with familiarity, whether it's your first time in or not.

The dining area has a few cafe-style tables for those who want to be a served from a distance, but there's no loss in quality or optics by taking out.

The portions are almost as large as the menu (seriously, I'm not sure how the chef's do it) serving a variety of nostalgic fare, from walking tacos to hot dogs and some of their very own comforting creations.

Keeping up with its welcoming charm, the Lowrider Cafe menu makes accommodations for almost any dietary restriction. There's a vegan menu (try the ABC taco, you won't be sorry) and almost any dish can be made with a corn tortilla for those who are gluten intolerant.

Not only do they have a massive food menu, but their creativity shines with the full list of coffee-inspired drinks. If you love peanut butter, the Buckeye blended latte should be on the top of your list to try.

Cherry Cream Cheese Pastry, Breakfast Burrito, & Coffee. Beautiful W... ay To Start The Day Or Great Anytime Of The Day. TACOBOUT IT THURSDAY Today. Buy Two Tacos Get One Free & 1.95 Crunchy Loaded Tacos. Buy 5 Crunchy Tacos Get 1 Free.

Even when busy, which they often are, they seem to make every customer a priority. Many stuffy corporate places claim their customers are family, but Lowrider seems to truly mean it.

You can find Lowrider Cafe at 316 N. Michigan St. in Toledo. It's open from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturday.

To learn more about Lowrider Cafe and check out the menu, you can find its website by clicking here.

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Vegan options in Toledo, Ohio - WTOL

Today, all orders at popular Atlanta restaurant Slutty Vegan will be free of charge from open until close, 12pm to 7:30pm, thanks to a partnership with a group of celebrities. Actress La La Anthony (wife of NBA star Carmelo Anthony), musician Ludacris, actress Gabrielle Union-Wade, and NBA star Chris Paul bought out the restaurant for the day in an effort to support Slutty Vegans positive contributions to the local community.

Earlier this month, Slutty Vegan owner Pinky Cole announced a partnership with HBCU Clark Atlanta University (her alma mater) that will send the four children of Rayshard Brooksa Black man killed by police in a Wendys parking lot on June 12to college when they are ready. Cole is also providing the Brooks family with life insurance and a new car. The announcement sparked a negative online campaign against Slutty Vegan, which resulted in false reviews and one-star ratings on the restaurants Yelp and Google pages. Slutty Vegan fans responded by flooding those pages with accurate reviews, resulting in 18,000 positive Google reviews within a 72-hour period.

In 2018, Cole initially launched Slutty Vegan as a food truck and quickly attracted a large following, with customers waiting up to five hours in line to be sluttified by sampling Coles innovative Impossible Burger-based, Caribbean-inspired creations such as the Fussy Hussy, Dancehall Queen, and One Night Stand. In January 2019, Cole opened the first brick-and-mortar location of Slutty Vegan and shortly thereafter purchased two more properties in Jonesboro and Old Fourth Ward to open the second and third outposts of the vegan restaurant. To date, Slutty Vegan has attracted a number of celebrity customers, including producer and actress Lena Waithe, rapper Snoop Dogg, musician Usher, comedian Tyler Perry, and many more.

In addition to assisting the Brooks family, Cole has given back to her community in myriad ways through her nonprofit The Pinky Cole Foundation, including helping pay the tuition balances of 30 Clark Atlanta University students last year in an effort to help them stay in school; paying the rent for other small businesses in the Metro-Atlanta area during the COVID-19 pandemic; and providing meals to Atlantas essential workers working on the frontlines of the pandemic. Earlier this month, Cole partnered with musician Jermaine Dupri and Impossible Foods to kick off the year-long Votenik campaign, which helps keep people fed as they go out to vote.

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Slutty Vegan's Food Will Be Free for One Day Thanks to Ludacris, La La Anthony, Chris Paul, and Gabrielle Union-Wade - VegNews

Vegans and plant-based eaters inspire one another, by sharing their lifestyle on social channels. We want to celebrate vegans in the LGBTQ+ community who inspire us during pride month and every month. Pride was sparked back in June of 1969 when a raid by police on the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village challenged the rights of gay people to congregate and openly express their identities.

To show our support for Pride and the LGBTQ+ community every day, week, month and year, andcelebratethose who identify as lesbian,gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, demisexual, pansexual, demi-gender, non-binary, we aretaking thisopportunity to highlight six influential vegansand their achievements in the plant-based space.In no particular order, here is who to follow for vegan pride inspiration.

Milo Runkle wants the world to stop abusing animals. He is the founder ofMercy For Animals, the world's largest farm animal protection andveganadvocacy organization.When asked the question: "Why is being Vegan important to you?" Milo responded, "Because I dont want to pay others to abuse animals on my behalf."

Milo has been vegan for 21 years now and advocates for an animal-cruelty free life through his organization, the MFA non-profitwhich was founded when he was 15 years ago after he witnessed animal abuse in his hometown of Ohio. In aninterview,he described theevent that impacted him: "The incident took place in 1999 when I was 15 years old. A teacher at a local high school, who was also a pig farmer, brought a bucket of day-old piglets from his farm for the students of his agricultural class to study and dissect. He had attempted to kill the piglets on his farm that morning, but one was still alive. In an effort to finish her off, a student who had worked on the teachers farm grabbed the piglet by her hind legs and hurled her headfirst into the ground." He adds, "his attempt failed; the piglet did not die, though her skull was broken and blood streamed out of her mouth. Horrified, a few students grabbed the dying piglet and took her to another teacher, who transported the piglet to a vet to be euthanized."

Milo's mission is to end factory farming andthe exploitation of animals for food. He wants to help others make plant-forward decisions and says, "We must be inclusive. We must lead by example as joyful vegans. We must focus on effective advocacy that informs, moves, and inspires." Milo is the author of the best-selling book Mercy For Animals.

Alan Cumming is an English actor, comedian, writer, and vegan for 12 years. "I was so bored of everything drenched in cheese, my skin cleared up, and my voice too, I have more energy, I feel younger, I don't ask my body to cope with unhealthy things." He goes on to explain that "one of the biggest causes of global warming is because of the meat industry. [It's so easy to be vegan] there are always vegan options on menus [at restaurants], it's not earth crunchy people, it's people who care about the environment and want to be healthy," said Cumming in an interview with PETA.

Cumming is recognized as "Not a Dairy Queen," the title of thePETA campaign he posed forfour years ago. Dairy Queenheardhis message anddecided to send Cumming a box of their new vegan ice creamto try and convince him otherwise.

ComedianEllen DeGeneresand her wife, actress Portia de Rossi,invested in plant-basedcompany Miyoko's Creamery, a popular brand for plant-based butter and cream cheese. Their investment will help with the development of new products. The power couple focused on reducing their intake of meat for many years and now maintain a plant-based diet. Although Ellen admitted she will eat eggs from time to time, any step towards a plant-based future is an achievement. Speaking about her diet, Ellen says,Its a great idea for the planet. Its a great idea for your health. Its a great idea for the animals health,

Talented singer and actress Miley Cyrus openly speaks about LGBTQ+ rights and identifies as pansexual. The star recently told Hailey Bieber on an episode of "Bright Minded," an Instagram show, that the reason she left her church was "that [her gay friends] werent being accepted." She adds, "they were being sent to conversion therapies. Miley is a powerful advocate in the vegan community for speaking up about the cruel treatment of animals.The animal-loving celeb wrote on Instagram, if you choose to eat meat you love pets, not animals."She recently adopted a dog from an animal shelter with her boyfriend Cody Simpson.

Kate Flowers is an influencer and vegan activist. She expresses her passion for the LGBTQ+ community on social media and sellsapparel with the message: "love is love" on her website.Kate mentions that she grew up with a gay father and was taught at a young age to accept and love everybody.

Kate makes YouTube videos with her ex-girlfriend, Mae Flowers, who is also a vegan influencer,about their favorite plant-based recipes and their vegan journeys. Sheis also the author of the E-Book, Freedom Food, which is a 21-Day vegan meal plan that will help you eat a mostly whole food diet.

Jenna Talackova is aCanadian reality starwho won global acclaim for being the first transgender woman to compete for the Miss Universe title. Jenna decided to eat vegan after studying nutrition and recognizing her love for animals. Jenna collaborated on a campaign withPETAthat says her healthiest transformation was going vegan and suggests viewers to "try a vegan makeover, and see how well it suits you." In the photo of the ad, Jenna is swearing a tiara and outfit made out of veggies.

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LGBTQ+ Influential Vegans to Follow in Honor of Pride Month - The Beet

When you're vegan and looking for a sweet treat, it can be hard to come by storebought candy or desserts containing no animal ingredients. Gelatin, collagen, whey, milk solids, and more tend to sneak their way into candies and confections, even ones we consider to be healthy-ish.

Below, youll find seven better-for-you treats that will satisfy your sugar cravings without compromising your plant-based diet. Just know that these still pack on the calories so while you are enjoying a sweet treat, don't go crazy.

Smart Sweets pay homage to the candy of our youth without excessive added sugar. By using stevia, monk fruit extract, and a lot of plant fiber, Smart Sweets has managed to create believable, plant-based versions of Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, Peach Rings, and, most recently, Starburst. Their texture is surprisingly similar (and dare I say, better?) than the original versions, and you can sleep soundly knowing you didnt ingest corn syrup today. With less than 130 calories per bag (most are in the 80 to 100 range), half your daily fiber intake, and only a few grams of actual sugar, Smart Sweets are a blessing for fruity and sour candy lovers alike. Just watch out for the gummy bearsthose have gelatin.

Simple Mills has released quite a few SKUs over the past couple of years, but in my opinion, none shine brighter than their baking mixesspecifically their brownies. Their brownie mix is the only gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free one on the market that actually tastes like something you want to eat. The recipe calls for three eggs, which you can replace with chia eggs, avocado, mashed banana, applesauce, or your favorite egg replacement to keep them vegan. The same goes for the oil or butterIve had success with coconut oil, but vegan butter should work, too. Also, the box says to use an 8x8 pan, but I insist that you use a muffin tin so every brownie gets those crispy, tasty edges. We all live for crispy edges, and frankly, we deserve them.

Its commonplace for plant-based eaters to be poked and prodded about proteinwhether or not theyre getting enough of it, and where exactly theyre getting it from. If youve been a plant-based eater for years, you might be used to it, but what if I told you there was a sweet protein-packed treat that would send naysayers running? (It wont actually do that, but it might stop the questions.)

To you, I present ALOHA protein bars, specifically the Chocolate Mint bar. Its the closest youll get to eating a Thin Mint without eating a Thin Mint. Each bar earns you 14 grams of plant-based protein and 12 grams of fiber, making it a marvelous on-the-go breakfast, mid-afternoon hold-me-over, pre or post-workout snack, or healthy take on dessert.

Too often companies are so focused on churning out gluten-free or vegan products that they skimp on taste. Thats why Healing Home Foods is one of my favorite health food brands of all time. This family-run company makes organic gluten-free, vegan treats like graham crackers, biscotti, granola, and nut butters that have divine flavor, texture, and a shortlist of stellar ingredients. Their Graham Bites are my go-to when I want a light afternoon snack, sans sugar rush. They come in Classic (think traditional graham cracker), Maple Cinnamon, and Lemon Chia, and theyre all fantastic. So are all the savory crackers, but were talking about sweets here.

Real talk: I dislike 99 percent of healthy chocolate bars. And Ive tried many, many bars. I cant get behind raw chocolate, coconut sugar-sweetened chocolate, any of itand thats because I dont eat chocolate for the benefits of cacao. I eat it because I want to indulge a little. Fortunately for me (and now you), Theo Chocolate has created a dark chocolate bar that is luxurious, but not tooth-achingly sweet. Its the only dark chocolate I genuinely enjoy. Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and organic are a few of the labels this bar touts, but my favorite label has to be its price tag. $4 a bar for premium, organic, vegan chocolate? Some might turn up their noses, but Ill take one, or ten.

Cards on the tableenergy balls typically arent very good. Theyre cute and convenient, but theyre usually dry, thanks to protein or superfood powders, or flavorless. These Raw Bliss Balls, though, are a rare exception to my rule. The combination of cashews, coconut, tart cherries, raspberries, and goji berries make these a fruity and delectable treat that doesnt just taste like dates (as energy balls do). They also contain no added sweetenerswhole fruits and nuts are the only ingredients. Grab a bag before your next flight (theyre TSA-friendly!) or stash them in your bag for a quick energy boost. And if youre not into berries, dont fretthey have cacao, lemon, and salty caramel flavors, too.

Cocomels are downright delicioustheres no denying that. A solution for the caramel lovers among us who dont eat dairy, Cocomels coconut milk caramels have the same pull, chew, and melt-in-your-mouth characteristics as their cream-based ancestor. They also happen to be gluten-free, vegan, and organic. Its a wonderful world, I know. Tied up like tiny pieces of taffy, you only need a few Cocomels to curb your sugar lust (and Im not saying that to be healthy, Im saying that because theyre so rich and luscious that you get the satisfaction you were craving). And hey, it doesnt hurt to save some for later. Trust me, youll want them later.

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7 Healthier Vegan Treats That Will Curb Any Sweet Craving - The Beet

It's great when you discover your passion early in life!

12-year-old British vegan chef, Omari McQueen, is releasing his first cookbook next year, Shoppe Black reports.

Omari became vegan at age 7, eventually creating his own brand Dipalicious at just 8-years-old. The young chef ran a YouTube channel that focused on showcasing his skills and innovative recipes like vegan pizza with a Caribbean Kick dip. He continued to expand his brand and media presence, selling a line ofdips including the original Caribbean Kick flavor and adding a curry and sweet flavor, along with Vegan Pizza Fingers and juices.

Last year, the budding cook hosted a pop up restaurant in Croydon, United Kingdom where he served a variety of Caribbean inspired food. He also released a mini-documentary about his journey, highlighting his YouTube channel, business ventures and experience cooking for celebrities. Now, the pre-teen is releasing his first book, Omari McQueens Best Bites Cookbook, showcasing 30 plant based recipes from Omari.

I dont want animals to die or be eaten so I teach people my age to be vegan Omari said in the documentary. Taking to Instagram to announce his new book, he shared his enthusiasm, saying, I am so excited to announce that my first published book will be out in January. I would like to thank everyone for all your love, support and encouragement.

The book will be published by Scholastic UK. Leah James, Publishing Manager for the company, spoke about Omari, calling him the leader of a new generation. His passion for food and cooking is irresistible. Children everywhere have been busy learning to cook during lockdown; we cant wait for Omari to share his recipes, tips, and enthusiasm with a generation of children and their families. Omari is leading a new generation of ethical minded foodies into a more sustainable future, James said.

Omari also thanked his family, saying, Mummy & Daddy [you're] the best a boy like me could have. Thank you to my siblings and family for being you perfect, he said.

The book is set to release January 2021. For more information, visit the website here.

Congratulations Omari!

Photo Courtesy of @dipaliciousltd/Instagram

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12-Year-Old Vegan Chef Set To Publish First Cookbook - Because of Them We Can