As Emily Sim lays slices of avocado onto a bed of rice and seaweed, she counts each piece with her two-year-old son Henry. Youre doing well, arent you? she coos, snuggling the boisterous toddler, who asks for more dried mango as he watches his mum prepare the familys evening meal.

Henry has been raised as a vegan from birth he doesnt eat eggs, dairy products or meat. Sim avoids leather, silk and wool in his clothing, and constantly checks bottles to ensure baby lotions are cruelty-free and not tested on animals. There are some things you can never avoid, she says. But we do the best we can.

Sim, an Australian, runs the Facebook group Veg Parents Hong Kong, which she set up not long after moving to the city with her husband in 2015 just before Henry was born. She is one of a number of local parents proving that children can thrive as vegetarians or vegans, even in a city where meat- or dairy-free options arent easy to spot on menus.

The group is a source of information and tip-sharing for its 350 members, who swap recipes, ideas for meat substitution, and advice on the best places to buy food, and also organise meat-free social events. We have vegans, pescatarians [people who eat fish, but not other flesh], vegetarians ... and many are still eating meat but are trying to give their kids more veggies, Sim says.

Compared to an adult choosing to make the switch to a non-animal diet, raising a vegan baby comes with extra nutritional considerations, particularly during the nursing phase when the babys brain is developing. Mothers who cannot, or choose not to, breastfeed can use soya-based formulas, which, although nutritionally complete, can contain vitamins derived from animals.

The World Health Organisation recommends a plant-based diet rich in vegetables and warns against processed meat, while doctors say babies can be raised safely on a meat-free diet if parents make sure theyre getting enough nutrients.

Debate in the vegan community was stirred recently by the case of a Belgian couple convicted of the death of their severely malnourished infant son. The seven-month-old was fed a meat-, dairy- and gluten-free diet from birth, and, in the absence of breast milk, was given various milks made from different types of flour and grains, which lacked nutrients and protein.

In June, the judge ruled the babys death in 2014 was the result of the systematic offer of food that was not suitable. Instead of noting the parents failure to feed their son enough calories and take him to hospital before it was too late, headlines instead spotlighted their veganism and stirred up outrage towards the wider vegetarian community.

Coverage of the case was unfair, says Hongkonger Stevie Go, who runs Meat Free Hong Kong, a group that promotes vegetarian and vegan diets and organises events. He said the babys death was not caused by veganism, and caused a moral indignation that meat-eating parents wouldnt be subjected to.

Highlighting vegan parents in child-neglect cases has clickbait potential that doesnt seem to exist for omnivorous parents, he says. Go, who became vegetarian 27 years ago and vegan 10 years later, extols the benefits of raising children on an animal-free diet.

Diets without animal products dont just offer all the nutrition requirements for optimal human health, he says. They are also without nasties such as cholesterol that are impossible to avoid when eating animal products.

Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in the US, says to ensure their childs brain develops healthily, Parents need to pay particular attention to adding vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and high-quality protein to their childs diet to ensure optimal nutrition and growth. If some nutrients arent easy to source, parents can use supplements, she says.

Sim is used to questions about her sons health. Often, when people find out Henry is vegan, theyll be shocked. Theres a misconception that hes neglected and malnourished, she says. But I tell people that organisations around the world, like the American Association of Dieticians, state that a vegan diet is healthy for all stages of life.

The family sees a dietitian every six months and Sim says the check-ups are for peace of mind, as she is confident that her son is flourishing. I know more about nutrition than many other parents because Ive done so much reading. I wouldnt raise him vegan unless I was 100 per cent sure it was safe and healthy. And we know that it is.

Although her husband eats meat when the family visits restaurants, the food Sim prepares at home is vegan. But she suspects Henry will want to copy his father and try meat one day. I wouldnt be too concerned, but, personally, I wouldnt want to buy or cook meat for him, she says. My approach is to teach him about compassion. I want him to be aware of what that meat is and the cruelty involved. Hopefully hell stick with veganism and continue to be compassionate.

Megha Chaddah is one of the mums who found Sims forum useful after moving to Hong Kong 18 months ago from India, where vegetarianism is just a way of life, she says. No one sees it as being out of the ordinary, or asks if our diets need to be supplemented.

A vegetarian since the age of 12 for ethical reasons, Chaddah has a two-year-old daughter Rhea, who eats eggs and some dairy foods, but not meat. Like Sim and her husband, Chaddahs partner is omnivorous, and the family has two cats that eat meat.

As Rhea starts linking the friendly fish she sees on TV with the tinned tuna the familys pets devour, the couple expects its just a matter of time before she starts asking questions. And like Sim, if Rhea wanted to try meat, Chaddah wouldnt be upset. Rhea is starting to get more aware and, one of these days, shes going to ask why is daddy eating different from us?

Id try to explain why mama wasnt eating that. Shes pretty smart its like if Im baking and say, dont touch the oven. She doesnt have to touch it to know its hot.

Being vegetarian in Hong Kong is easy and inexpensive, says Chaddah, who shops online for bulk foods, like lentils, a staple of Indian cooking and a favourite source of B-vitamins and protein among both vegans and vegetarians. She says she has never been in any doubt over whether Rhea is getting enough nutrients.

In Indian cooking, most of the food groups are covered: your plant-based proteins, your carbs, fats, dairy, and trace vitamins ... I feel that Western families thinking about going vegan have a lot more concerns in terms of nutrition whether theyre getting enough compared to meat eaters, she says.

Chaddah doesnt see herself becoming full vegan in the near future, but has cut down on milk due to her concerns about the dairy industry. Given Im a mum now, the thought of taking milk away from another baby is starting to throw me off ... Its a difficult habit to break but Hong Kong has lots of different choices, like soy and almond milk, she says.

In vegan restaurateur Grace Nguyens eyes, veganism neednt be a compromise when it comes to feeding her two daughters, aged nine and 12. The Vietnamese chef, who has been vegan since 2002, runs two vegan restaurants in her home country. Food education has always been important to Nguyen: while pregnant, she did a lot of research into what nutrients she should be consuming.

And rather than showing her children graphic documentaries about the farming industry, she simply took them for ice cream one day to illustrate why the family was vegan. She explained that the dessert they were enjoying came at a high cost to the environment, and the calves having been separated from their mothers.

Her own move to veganism was rooted in both scientific facts and spirituality. Being vegan is good for your health, the environment and animals, she says. Killing animals for our pleasure isnt right. Theyre intelligent, they have feelings, they feel pain and theyre scared to die. My daughters understand that very well.

As well as home-made vegan ice cream, Nguyen has also created versions of fried chicken, macaroni and non-dairy cheese, burgers and banh mi sandwiches to make sure her daughters dont feel like theyre missing out on treats or fast food their friends are eating.

All three mums agree that the meat-free movement is gaining momentum in Hong Kong, meaning that their children will grow up in a city that increasingly understands and caters to their diets.

Raising a vegan child takes some education, Sim says. But we really try to think of it as a lifestyle. In Hong Kong, there are more vegan restaurants and more vegan options in non-vegan restaurants. People are leaning towards veganism more now. Its on the up all over the world. Its becoming more normalised.

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Meet the meat-free Hong Kong parents on a vegan mission - South China Morning Post

Id been hearing about the Netflix documentary What the Healthfor weeks, and everyone I knew whod seen it warned me of the same thing: If I watched it, I might never be able to enjoy a burger again. Or pizza. Or ice cream. Or pretty much any animal-based product, for that matter.

But as much as I tried to heed their advice, the doc kept popping up in my Facebook feed, with everyone talking about how important it was to watch. And every time I loaded Netflix, there it was again: Staring at me from the You Might Also Like section.

In case youre unfamiliar, the film came out earlier this year and delves into the complex and oftentimes alarming ways that meat and dairy products affect the human body often leading to chronic illness and even death. The premise is fairly simple, following filmmaker Kip Andersen while he talks to medical professionals everywhere about the strong role that diet plays in preventing or promoting illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. And let me tell you, the doc throws around some pretty shocking statistics without batting an eye.

For instance, Anderson casually mentions how eating just one egg per day is as detrimental to your health as smoking five cigarettes a day (when it comes to your life expectancy). Say WHAT? Oh, and those processed turkey slices Ive been feeding my kids? Theyre apparently a class 1 carcinogen, which means they sit next to asbestos and plutonium (you know, that radioactive chemical they use to make nuclear weapons)!

Making it all the way through isnt exactly easy. Case in point: About 20 minutes into the doc, my 9-year-old decided to exit the room, loudly declaring, You cant ruin chicken for me, Mom! You just cant! I then watched the rest of the documentary by myself, as all other members of my family abandoned ship one by one. And as I did, I knew with a sinking feeling that I could never un-see what Id just witnessed.

By the films end, Id made up my mind: I was going vegan. Or, at least giving it a serious try. I mean, it couldnt be that hard, right? There are so many alternatives now that we may not even miss real cheese!

Let me just cut to the chase here: I was so, SO wrong about that one.

I began the week with a trip to Whole Foods, thinking that if I bought all the interesting meat substitutes I always ignore, maybe I could ease my family into an unnoticed transition of sorts. Ill be the first to admit I got full-blown carried away and bought a LOT of produce and meat alternatives, which meant my total at the end was well, not cheap.

My advice: If youre going to go this route, dont start on an empty stomach like I did, and dont do it with the idea that youll wander around the store and buy without a plan. I quickly learned that this way of living needs a little bit of research and practice before you get the hang of it. But if you want to jump in head-first, you can be like me and drop close to $300 on vegan groceries and hope for the best! (Not recommended.)

I started the week off optimistically enough, but my tyrant of a 4-year-old refused his oatmeal with almond milk, wouldnt eat the coconut milk yogurt, and wasnt having the avocado toast for lunch, either. So in lieu of letting my youngest kid to wallow away in starvation, I had to make the executive decision to kick him out of our vegan week. For the record, we all stared at him angrily the first night, as he ate his yummy meatballs with the appetite of a famished carnivore and the rest of us diligently ate our lentil soup and eggplant with feeble enthusiasm.

Days 2 and 3 got even tougher, as I quickly ran out of excitement for cooking new vegan dishes and my 9-year-old fell off the wagon while visiting Grandmas. (It involved a cheese pizza.) But it was right around the halfway mark that my eagerness to embrace the vegan lifestyle really took a nosedive. I started reasoning with myself that quality meat wasnt so bad and everything in moderation should work, right? Still, I wouldnt quit. Every time I found myself faltering, I reminded myself of the many staggering statistics Id heard inWhat the Health to muster up my motivation.

Things like

So with that, I toughened up and tried not to wince as I ate my Tofurky. I had already decided there was no way I was going to be able to transition to a vegan lifestyle quite so abruptly, but I at least had to stick it out for a week. I just wasnt ready yet for the long-term commitments of cooking every single meal, scouring every single menu, or giving up every single one of my beloved dishes. (It sounds way easier than it is, people!)

But once I allowed myself that little out, it was inevitable that I would fall off the wagon. And I promptly did, on the fifth day. Thats right I failed my 7-day experiment on Day 5. So little left to go, and yet the end felt so far

I will say, this though: I felt really proud for getting as far as I did. And I have every intention of working some of what Ive learned into our daily meals going forward. I may not have turned full-vegan in a week, butWhat the Healthremains a great eye-opener of a documentary, one that takes a much-needed look into what we consume and how it affects our body and the environment we live in.

Here are some of the biggest take-aways I had from my brief dalliance into veganism

If you dont believe me, I dare you to try some almond milk ice creamor coconut milk yogurt and tell me you arent in love.

I mean, it was shocking to realize that an egg for breakfast, turkey sandwich for lunch, and roasted chicken for dinner was the norm for my family on a daily basis and to consider just what that might be doing to our bodies as a result.

But then the energy surge will come (I promise). Along with lots of bowel movements.

Listen, its a big deal to go vegan if Ive learned nothing else, its that. This isnt the same as vegetarianism, which is SO much easier to follow (because: CHEESE!). For every vegan option I could find at the grocery store, there were 10 vegetarian ones. The decision to go vegan has to be a very deliberate and well-planned one.

But most of all, one of the things that stuck with me the most came in the opening scene, when a quote from Hippocrates flashed across the screen: Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

If thats not a gentle reminder to pause and reflect before eating and truly know that it is were putting into our mouths then Im not sure what is.

Article Posted 11 hours Ago

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My Family Tried Going Vegan After Watching 'What the Health' and We All Failed Miserably - Babble (blog)

Say cheese! Vegan cheese, that is.

While the notion of a specialty cheese shop is nothing new, not many people even those who follow plant-based diets, or who seek out lactose-free dairy products on the regular can claim to have ever visited a 100-percent vegan artisanal cheese shop before. However, with dairy-free alternatives skyrocketing in popularity, not only are there more delectable vegan cheeses on the market than everbut now there are actual, brick and mortar plant-based cheese shops that exist that specialize in vegan cheeses galore.

Even though there are numerous companies that offer vegan cheeses, we decided we wanted to spotlight the few that you can actually visit in person. Hopefully, several years from now there will be an abundance of shops just like the ones we spotlighted below!

From soft and spreadable cream cheeses to hard, sliceable blocks of cheese that would make any dairy-lover swoon, these artisan vegan cheese shops have it all. Let us know if youve ever visited one of these shops before, and if you have a favorite one we didnt feature this time around!

Vromage/Facebook

For the vegan and lactose-intolerant folk out in Los Angeles who still want to enjoy a nice grilled cheese, Vromageis the answer to all of their wildest, cheesiest prayers. Vromage was actually the first LA-based vegan cheese specialist, and they stock dairy-free varieties, many of which are made on site. Bonus: they also serve sandwiches and salads. With flavors like Veganzola, Macon Brie and Vromage Blanc, you definitely want to give this shop a try.

Check them out at7988 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Three Girls Vegan Creamery/Facebook

Connecticut has quite a gem in Three Girls Vegan Creamery. The shop, named after the three women of the Italian-vegan family who run the shop, serve Vegan Artisanal Cheeses that are 100 percent vegan, fermented, and aged naturally using only the finest organic and sustainable ingredients. Were in love with their Pistachio, Cranberry, Fresh Thyme, Pumpkin Seed aged cheese wheels and their fresh Mozzarella di Bufala which would pair well in a Caprese salad. The shop also specializes in making traditional Italian dishes, only vegan!

Go visit them at350 Stepstone Hill Road,Guilford, CT 06437.

Riverdel

For the most amazing one-stop vegan neighborhood cheese shop, New Yorkers need look no further thanRiverdel. Situated in Brooklyns Prospect Heights,Riverdelcarries thelargest selection of vegan cheesesimaginable, alongsidespecialty foods, fresh bread, pastries, and a whole host of gourmet vegan goodies. Looking for the perfect plant-based caviar to pair with champagne? Riverdel has your back. From their creamy and light Billy cashew cheese, to their aged beer cashew cheese called Heinrich, Riverdel has a plant-based cheese for everyone to enjoy.

Visit them at 820 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11238.

Dr-Cow Tree Nut Cheese/Facebook

DrCowis a Brooklyn-based raw foods shop for cheeses, butters and milks made on-site from nuts, plus vegan pastries and granola. From flavored, creamy cheese spreads like their Cream Cashew Nut Cheese with Chives, to their Sprouted Hazelnut Chocolate Butter, theres a vegan product for anyone, be their palates adventurous or simple. Weve been eyeing theirReishi Mushroom Aged Cashew Cheese for some time now; what flavor calls out to you?

Visit DrCow at93 S 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249.

Vtopian Artisan Cheeses

Vtopian Artisan Cheesesis an exciting line of cultured cashew cheeses that are hand-crafted in Portland, Oregon. The quickly-growing company offers a wide range of vegan cheeses including: Peppercorn Brie, Port Cheddar and Aged White Cheddar blocks plus wedges of Caramelized Onion Camembert, Macadamia and Cashew Camembert, Reserve Sharp Cheddar, and Chive and Dill. Holy moly!

If youre in Portland, make sure to visit them at 1628 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97201.

Ste Martaen

There are many artisanal vegan cheese shops that dont have a brick and mortar location, but do sell widely online, such as Ste Martaen, a vegan catering and small batch vegan cheese making service that often vends and does pop ups; while they used to have a food truck route, now their truck is available for private bookings. All of Ste Martaens cheeses are vegan and 100 percent dairy, soy and gluten-free. You can purchase vegan colby, muenster, pepper jack, and olive cheese flavors from them: they truly pride themselves on doing plant-based food with incredible flavor. If youd like to book their truck, visit them here.

Companies such as Miyokos Kitchen, Parmelas Creamery, Punk Rawk Labs, Treeline, and more specialize in vegan cheese products and allow you to either buy their food items online, or else locate local stores where you can purchase their fare.

Even if youre in one of the above states or have access to artisanal vegan cheese at your local grocery store, sometimes its fun to get creative in the kitchen and whip up your own special plant-based cheese products. Believe us, youre only limited by your own imagination and taste preferences when youre cooking!

From the gluten-free Sliceable Potato Cheese byAlicja Rokickaabove toSimona Malerbas gluten-freeHerb and Pepper Labneh: Middle Eastern Cheese, there truly a stunning variety of different plant-based cheeses you could make if you so desired! Throwing a party? Why not whip upHailee Repkos gluten-freeCashew Brie? Making a sandwich? This Easy Sliceable Cashew Cheese byPhilipp Ertlshould do the trick. You get the idea.

If you are looking for even more vegan cheese recipes to add to your repertoire, we highly recommend checking outour Food Monster App, which is available for bothAndroidandiPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. Check it out!

Lead image source:Three Girls Vegan Creamery/Facebook

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Vegan Cheese is Taking Over! Artisan Vegan Cheese Shops That ... - One Green Planet

Brit + Co

14 Vegan Rice and Noodle Bowls for Meatless Monday Brit + Co Bowl meals are *still* in vogue in the food world, and it's no wonder. Not only are they tasty, but they're filled with heaps of vegetables, making them a smart lunch or dinner choice. You can get creative and throw a mix of anything in these bowls ...

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14 Vegan Rice and Noodle Bowls for Meatless Monday - Brit + Co

If you enjoy recipes like this, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App, it's available for both Android and iPhone and has free and paid versions. The app is loaded with thousands of allergy-friendly & vegan recipes/cooking tips, has hundreds of search filters and features like bookmarking, meal plans and more! The app shows you how having diet/health/food preferences can be full of delicious abundance rather than restrictions!

These are a hit, every time. Best thing about cauliflower wings, is that you can coat them in whatever sauce you want, so they can be different all the time. Fun, right? You can use a sweet thai chili sauce, BBQ sauce, some vegan butter, whatever floats your boat! If you dont have time to make your own sauce, just use a ready-made one. Whatever you do, just be sure you make these bad boys.

Battered Cauliflower Wings [Vegan]

Calories252

Serves2

Cook Time60

Per Serving: Calories: 252 | Carbs: 50 g | Fat: 2 g | Protein: 11 g | Sodium: 437 mg | Sugar: 7 g

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Battered Cauliflower Wings [Vegan] - One Green Planet

The 4th annual Vegan SoulFest,the citys largest festival centered around vegan food, is slated to take place on Saturday, August 26th in Baltimore, Maryland. Foundedby health and foodie mavens Brenda Sanders andNaijha Wright, Vegan SoulFest is a celebration of vegan living and culture with a focus on you guessed it soul food. It is sponsored by A Well-Fed World, a non-profit organization that promotes hunger relief and animal protection.

The one-day festival will have free admission and feature plant-based versions of soul food classics as well as keynote speakers such as David The 300-Pound Vegan Carter, TracyeMcQuirter, author of By Any Greens Necessary,and Monique Koch, creator of the lifestyle and recipe blog The Brown Vegan. The festival will also feature musical guests Mova Kween, Ama Chandra, and more.

Now, lets talk about the food. At this time, the list of vendors has yet to be released, but as the name of the festival implies, it will be centered around soul food think mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, vegan fried chicken, and more.

If you arent close to Baltimore but find yourself feeling jealous of all the festival attendees and the amazing food theyll get to eat, dont worry. Weve put together a few recipes from ourFood Monster Appthat will help you make soul food from the comfort of your own kitchen!

These Hushpuppies With Remoulade by Hailee Repko are the perfect recreation of the classic fritter. While the cornmeal in the original recipe utilizes eggs as a binder, this recipe uses flax eggs, or a tablespoonof ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. They are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and finished with a creamy, dairy-free remoulade quickly.

How do you replace fried chicken? Try these Crispy TofuNuggets by Attila Hildmann. For this dish, tofu is dredged in flour and then dipped in smashed corn flakes, then deep-fried until crisp and golden. But for thosewho are avoiding oil, there is the option to fry them in a skillet. The curry ketchup is a unique dipping sauce that packs a punch and perfectly complements the dish. Yum!

No soul food platter is complete without a side of mac and cheese. So, get on this Extra Creamy Mac and Cheese by Molly Patrick. The dairy-free sauce is made by combining steamed Russet potatoes and carrots with sauted onion, nutritional yeast (also known as the secret to making vegan cheese), vegan butter, and a pinch of turmeric for color. Definitely a necessary side to those crispy tofu nuggets.

Dont forget the collards! These Coconut Milk-Braised Collard Greens by Courtney West are a new take on a classic Southern side. Garlic, pepper, cumin, and mustard seeds give this recipe a great spice, while coconut balances it out with a delicious creaminess.

These Barbecue Seitan Ribs from the Veganize It! Cookbook are the mother of all vegan barbecue recipes.Tender, meaty homemade seitan is slathered in sticky homemade barbecue sauce, seared, and then baked until slightly crisp and caramelized around the edges.

Looking for more? OurFood Monster Apphas all the tools youll need to create even more vegan soul food festival-worthy dishes right in your own kitchen! Youll findwill find plenty of Southern classics and then some on the app, which is available on bothAndroidandiPhone.You can also find us onInstagramandFacebook. The App features 8000+ vegan, allergy-friendly recipes with at least 10 new recipes added daily! Check it out!

Lead image source: Vegan SoulFest

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Vegan Soulfest is Returning to Baltimore This August! | One Green ... - One Green Planet

Twinkle, twinkle, little star; or stars; or hundreds of shooting stars! For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere who are interested in witnessing a series of real-life shooting stars, youre in luck Perseid is the annual August meteor shower, and this year, it will peak on August 11, August 12, and August 13.

Typical rates for Perseid range between 80 to 100 meteors an hour, which means with a little preparation, you can enjoy watching the brightest segment of the meteor shower at around 11 p.m. on August 12. All you need to do to have a successful viewing night is remember to scout out a nice, dark location (no street lamps allowed!), and pack some galaxy themed plant-based snacks!

Weve been keeping tabs on ourFood Monster Appdatabase the past few weeks in preparation, and have gathered together a collection of vegan treats made by some of our bloggers that are sure to make watching the meteor shower an otherworldly experience. Check some of these ideas out!

These Galaxy Doughnuts arestellar (get it?). The doughnut itself is dense and chocolatey with hidden, good-for-you ingredients like zucchini and carrot, which makes staying up past your bedtime an almost healthy activity! The icing is sweet and sugary and you can get as creative as you want when it comes to decorating each doughnut with your own edible universe. Not only that, if you dont have a doughnut pan, you can make cakes, so its super-versatile.

TheseNo-Bake Galaxy Berry Cheesecake Barsmade byAJ, the creator of food blogThe Indigo Kitchen, have a stunning color that looks like a galaxy! Theyre quite simple to make; the only time-consuming thing is soaking the cashews and letting it all solidify in the freezer, but all of this wont cost you any effort. Making recipe though takes about 10-20 minutes total, depending on how fast you work. Minimum effort and maximum reward gotta love it.

If youre pressed for time, never fear. These gluten-freeGalaxy Dark Chocolate With Raspberriescome together in a few minutes, so you can prepare them right before you set off to find your perfect meteor shower-viewing spot. Theyrespeckled with puffed quinoa and bits of freeze-dried raspberries. Its taste is minimal but its smell is heavenly with a cozy, warming sensation a nostalgic longing for just a good piece of chocolate. The butter offers a chocolaty note while the cacao powder layers in richness. Let the maple syrup. sweeten the batter and within a few minutes, youve got yourself homemade galactic chocolate bars. Easy ones at that.

While these arenttechnicallygalaxy-colored, we think the deep purple and pink hues of these gluten-free Unicorn Noodles are reminiscent of the galaxy in all the best ways.All you need to make these are noodles, purple cabbage, and lemon juice! Its like magic, but really: its science. Purple cabbage has a pigment called anthocyanin, which changes color when it makes contact with something acidic. When you cook purple cabbage for a short time in some water, youll get a nice blue shade, cook it for a bit longer with a bit more purple cabbage will give you a nice purple shade. Now when you add something acidic (lemon or lime juice) to the blue colored noodles, the pigment from the purple cabbage will react and takes on a bright pink color.

These Raw Sweet Star Cookiesare simple treats that will remind you of classic sugar cookies but without any of the usual butter, flour, and sugar. You can slather them with a layer of luscious lemony icing or keep them au natural. Enjoy eating some stars under the stars!

Excited about the Perseid meteor shower, but still hungry for more plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes? We highly recommend you check outour Food Monster App, which is available for bothAndroidandiPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. Its full of over 8,000 plant-based recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten brand new recipes perday. Youre bound to find a recipe on there thats out of this world. Check it out!

Lead image source:Galaxy Doughnuts

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Prepare for Perseid Meteor Shower 2017 With These Galaxy-Themed Vegan Treats - One Green Planet

The thing that makes the Impossible Burger oh so tasty -- and, well, burger-y -- might not be good for you. Soy leghemoglobin, or "heme," is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration as a potential allergen, the New York Times reports.

The meat-free Impossible Burger, made by startup Impossible Foods, has earned high marks from carnivores and vegans alike. It's sold as a high-end foodie curiosity at restaurants in New York (Momofuku Nishi), LA (Crossroads Kitchen), Las Vegas (Andrea's), various cities in Texas (Hopdoddy) and San Francisco (Jardiniere and Cockscomb). It supposedly has a similar look and taste to the real deal.

One of the main things that contributes to this is that it "bleeds" like a regular burger. CNET's very own Dara Kerr got to try one for herselfat Impossible Foods' lab in Redwood City, California last year. "Heme is identical inside a plant and in the muscle tissue of an animal. It is the taste of blood," Celeste Holz-Schietinger, Impossible Foods' principal scientist told Kerr during her visit.

But is heme safe to eat? Impossible Foods provides a full ingredient list for the Impossible Burger on its FAQ page. It even dedicates a complete section to the question, "What is the ingredient leghemoglobin (soy)?"

"FDA believes the arguments presented, individually and collectively, do not establish the safety of soy leghemoglobin for consumption," FDA officials wrote in a memo obtained by the Times, "nor do they point to a general recognition of safety."

Impossible Foods said in a statementTuesday that the Impossible Burger's "key ingredient" is safe to eat, citing "a panel of food safety and allergy experts at three universities."

In a followup comment, Impossible Foods said it has asked for corrections and clarification from The New York Times over issues it has with the story. "We are awaiting a response."

The FDA didn't respond to CNET's request for comment.

First published Aug. 8, 8:21 a.m. PT.Update, 10:25 a.m.:Adds comment from Impossible Foods.

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Is the vegan Impossible Burger actually safe to eat? - CNET

A British holidaymaker has become embroiled in a row after she was pictured mocking a Spanish restaurants vegan offering.

Georgina Jarvis and her family dined at Restaurant Bahai in the resort town of Fuengirola at the weekend during a family holiday to the Costa del Sol.

Jarvis was reportedly served a plate of raw tomatoes and red onions after telling waiting staff she was vegan. A picture of the dish was posted on Twitter by her 17-year-old sister Gabbie.

Out for tea and the restaurant claimed they catered for vegans, this was my sisters amazing vegan meal, posted Gabbie, with a picture of the dish. Ms Jarvis claims the dish cost between 6 and 9; the restaurants menu states a price of 6.50.

Telegraph Travel contacted Restaurant Bahai, a family run eatery with a five-star rating on TripAdvisor.

We are not a vegan restaurant, we are a barbecue restaurant, said co-owner, Ruben Gomez. We remember the customer and she ordered the dish from the menu we thought it was funny because usually people order that as a side dish.

Gomez suggested Ms Jarviss sister had posted the photo to boost her status on Twitter where she has 10.7k followers. So far the Tweet has been liked more than 61k times.

In an interview with the MailOnline, Ms Jarvis seemed to soften her stance.

The food was disappointing compared to the options in England, but I was very happy that they accommodated me, she said. The tweet posted may make veganism look inaccessible, but in reality I normally have no issues eating out in restaurants, and normally have many options.

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Is this the worst vegan meal ever served or just a shameless publicity stunt? - Telegraph.co.uk

No matter where you grew up, chances are that one of Disneys animated classics was so near and dear to your heart that to this day, you can still recite the lines, word-for-word. In light of our childhood (and sometimes adulthood) Disney obsessions, its not surprising that Disney theme parks dominate the list of the most popular theme parks by attendance.

Did you know that Disney World also happens to be incredibly vegan-friendly? Vacationing with dietary restrictions can be stressful, but Disney makes sure that no matter what your diet, you can have a full day of fun without having to worry about where or what youre going to be able to eat.Not only does Disney World feature two locations of Erin McKennas Bakery, an all-vegan and gluten-free bakery, but vacationers looking for some plant-based eats will find plenty of options across Disneys multiple parks.

When we learned how vegan-friendly The Magic Kingdom is, we knew that we had to find out what kind of options they offer. Here are five of our favorites:

If you cant make it to the Magic Kingdom, we recommend tracking down a mouse-shaped waffle iron and trying your hand at one of these10 Vegan Waffle Recipes That Left Us Awestruck. Or try our some of our other personal favorites, like these Cornbread Waffles With Pulled Jackfruitand these Sourdough SpeltWaffles.

Make your own at home with this Jollof Rice, a classic one-pot African dish thats made by cooking rice with tomatoes, onions, and spices like ginger, nutmeg, and Scotch bonnet peppers. This pairs perfectly with these Fried Plantains, this Piri Piri Tofu, and these Akara, a Nigerian fritter made from mashed black-eyed peas.

If you love umami flavor, then we recommend trying out thisTeriyakiTofu Bowl or this Miso-Glazed Eggplant.Or, try something completely different with this Miso Eggplant Dip.

You can make your own beignets at home, like these gluten-free Banana Beignets. If you feel your culinary skills are up to the test, you might even want to try deep-frying this vegan Choux Pastry.

Dont despair if you cant make it to Disney! You have the next best thing when you make recipes like this Pia Colada Sorbet, these PineappleIce Lollies, and this Mango Sorbet With Banana and Pineapple.

Follow vegandisneyworld on Instagram for more options, including tips on which non-vegan dishes at Disney can be made vegan upon request!

Going on vacation without having to worry about what youre going to eat is great, but it also never hurts to be prepared while traveling. For all your travel snack needs,we highly recommend you downloadourFood Monster App,which is available for bothAndroidandiPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to more than ten new recipes per day. Check it out!

Lead image source:vegandisneyworld/Instagram

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5 Vegan Options You Need to Try at Disney World This Summer - One Green Planet