I want my babyback, babyback, babyback Can you name the jingle? Chilis seared the tune into our heads for years while promoting its famed baby back ribs. So whats a vegan to eat at a restaurant known for barbecue-slathered rib cages? Actually, plenty.

The next time youre seated in a plush red booth or hightop with a giant chili anchored on the wall in front of you, pull up this guide to order the best vegan food at Chilis.

Jump to the Guide

Before diving into the specifics of the Chilis restaurant menu, it helps to know what to look for when seeking out vegan options at non-vegan eateries.

The first tier is to look for a vegan menusome chains and quite a few independent establishments offer a dedicated menu for plant-based patrons. The second tier is dedicated vegan items. Each company signifies these animal-free options differentlyV, VG, Vegan, or a carrot or leaf icon are the most common. Scan the bottom of the menu to look for the key and ensure the icon stands for vegan, not vegetarian.

Jessie McCall

Chilis doesnt offer a dedicated vegan menu, but it does offer a vegan/vegetarian/allergen menu online that indicates vegan-as-is items and denotes common allergens.

When a restaurant does not label its vegan-friendly items, thats when you need to get creative and ask for help. First, look at the sides. These are often vegetable or grain-based and are naturally vegan or can be modified as such. Steamed or roasted vegetables, fries, side salads, beans, and more are usually fair game. All of these options are available at Chilis, making it easy to cobble together a filling meal if you cant find a satisfying entre option.

After scanning the sides, look at the salads, but dont get your hopes up. Many colossal chain restaurants (like Chilis) go heavy on the meat and cheese for their entre salads, and putting a plant-based spin on them may reduce a $20 salad down to sad lettuce. Modify to the best of your ability by removing any animal products, choosing a vegan dressing, and omitting croutons (they often contain dairy).

Priscilla Du Preez

The best strategy when assessing an omnivore menu is to go back to your food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein in the form of beans, tofu, or plant-based meats. Find these items, ensure theyre not paired with animal ingredients, and you can hack your way through any menu.

A note of importance: once you decide on your order and modifications, tell your server you are vegan and double-check that your request is free from animal products.

Looking at the menu and not seeing a single vegan thing? Ask the chef. Some chefs are more than happy to accommodate a vegan diet. Youre more likely to encounter a flexible chef in an independently owned, table service restaurant as opposed to a fast-casual or a large chain, but it never hurts to ask. Some people may pleasantly surprise you.

The next time you find yourself at Chilis, check out these options for a vegan-friendly meal.

Chilis

The Chilis menu is a bit of a chain restaurant smorgasbord. The eclectic selection brings to mind a taste of Outback Steakhouse, On the Border, and TGI Fridays. As such, youll find Tex-Mex staples such as guacamole and chips and salsaall of which are vegan.

Chilis

Every salad at Chilis comes with meat, cheese, or a combination of the two, but that doesnt mean you cant find a vegan green here. For a salad that has a little more to it than just chopped lettuce, opt for the Santa Fe Salad (no cheese, chicken, ranch, or Santa Fe sauce). Request a side of the Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette and avocado to add even more substance to your bowl of greens.

If youre looking for something basic to accompany a larger main, the House Salad made with romaine, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers is vegan when ordered with no croutons or cheese.

Chilis has some work to do in the burger department. But it does now offer a vegan burger bun and one vegan black bean patty, which is great progress. You can also order the Mushroom Swiss Burger, which comes with sauted onions, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato, without the mayo and the Swiss cheese.

Chilis

Chilis used to offer a Black Bean & Veggie Fajita, but this has been removed from the menu. However, for a completely plant-based sizzling skillet, ask to modify the Chicken Fajitas, instead. You can swap the chicken for one of the chains vegan black bean patties, and dont forget to take off the dairy-based sauces and cheese, too.

You wont find a menu subsection with this title, but if you look under the Chicken & Seafood section, youll find the Chipotle Bowl. Its layered with field greens, Mexican rice, pico de gallo, corn salsa, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla stripsall of which are vegan-friendly. Just request no meat, pesto, cheese, or ranch, and youve got yourself a flavorful rice bowl. Add Mango Habanero Sauce for a fruity accent.

Chilis

Chilis isnt a steakhouse, but it does offer steakhouse-adjacent sides. Vegan options include steamed broccoli, plain corn on the cob, roasted asparagus, and fries. Ask for a side of the House BBQ Sauce (which is vegan) for dipping. On the Tex-Mex side, the corn and flour tortillas, Mexican rice, black beans, grilled avocado, guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo are vegan as well. You could easily build your own tacos from that hearty spread.

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.

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The VegNews Guide to Chili's - VegNews

Conjured from desert sands through nothing but willpower and well-located real estate, Dubai is a city unlike any other. Three and a half million people live a glimmering fever dream of reflective glass, stainless steel, and stone taken to wild extremes: the tallest building, the biggest mall, the deepest pool, the largest picture frame, the most expansive performing fountain, the most audacious artificial islands.

Add to this mix nearly 17 million annual visitors (pre-COVID), and you have a playground where anything seems possible. The flash in Dubai is unparalleled, as hypercars speed down 14-lane highways lit with glowing LEDs while helicopters twirl overhead like dragonflies among massive, fantastical skyscrapers.

All of this might seem inimical to a down-to-earth and sustainable movement like veganism, but if you know where to look, there are some beautiful plant oases here, too.

Pixabay

I began my exploration not far from the Dubai Marinaa fantasyland of ostentatious blue glass and steel towering over a harbor full of luxury yachts (its the backdrop for millions of Instagram posts). In a relatively quiet neighborhood of artificial lakes and manicured greenery, I found Planet Terra, a cleanly stylish vegan restaurant.

Co-founder George Kinj only opened Planet Terra at the start of 2022, but his dedication to freshness and quality quickly attracted a legion of dedicated fans. Every time people eat here, they become regulars, he says.

I came for brunch and fell in love with Planet Terras chickpea omelette. Its a warm and fluffy chickpea round nestled beneath a veritable food forest of delicate sprouts, roasted cherry tomatoes, crispy kale, and tangy dollops of cashew cheese drizzled with balsamic glaze. Sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and a few pine nuts, it all comes together for a savory, satisfying bite with varied textures and flavors playing off one another.

Planet Terra/Facebook

In a region nearly devoid of farmland, Planet Terra manages to be completely organic, with astonishingly fresh produce. The menu is well-rounded, and includes everything from matcha pancakes loaded with a mound of whipped coconut cream for breakfast, to papaya-carrot-avocado salad with housemade black seaweed caviar for lunch, to Levantine Aubergine Fatteh with roasted eggplant on crispy Middle Eastern bread finished with vegan ghee-glazed almonds and pomegranate for dinner.

I ended my visit with some of the restaurants exceptional cakes. The passion fruit cheesecake featured creamy, tangy cashew-coconut filling topped with a shimmering passion fruit gel studded with pretty black seeds. It was lightly sweet and fragrant with a deep creaminess.

Planet Terra/Instagram

Kinj explained to me that his goal is for Planet Terra to earn a Michelin star, before adding (with classic Dubai audacity) within five yearsthings move fast in Dubai.

Hes got competition. Folia, celebrity vegan chef Matthew Kenneys restaurant at Dubais sedately swanky Four Seasons hotel, serves luxurious and inventive dishes in a lush garden of tropical greenery (things move indoors during the summer, when temperatures can exceed 122 degrees).

Like Planet Terra, Folia eschews processed ingredients like fake meats and makes everything from milks and cheeses to burger buns in house from local, organic produce.

A starter of watermelon poke featured meaty chunks of glistening red fruit atop a bed of shredded kale in a light, gingery tamari vinaigrette that countered the melons sweetness. Mint leaves and micro greens sat delicately on top, highlighting the juicy flesh both visually and on the tongue.

Folia

Folia takes seemingly ordinary ingredients and creates transcendence. The Summer Roll is composed of a convincing crab made from celeriac with rich peanut chili sauce in a delicate rice noodle wrapper.

Folias unambiguously named Taco is a properly messy mound of barbacoa-style mushrooms topped with sumptuous cashew cheese. The pizzas at Folia are a delightchoose from pies topped with everything from truffle cream to rosa sauce, roasted wild mushrooms to juicy heirloom tomatoes, and nutty basil pesto to fluffy almond ricotta.

I finished it all off with a panna cotta that was smooth and delicately sweetened by bursts of maraschino set off with crunchy almonds. Then I walked the leafy landscaping to the Four Seasons sandy Persian Gulf beach before heading out past all the Lamborghinis, Paginis, and Ferraris.

The Dubai Mall isnt your mothers mallits the biggest mall ever. It sprawls over five levels at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure on the planet. Besides more than 1,200 shops and restaurants, it includes a giant Diplodocus skeleton, huge fountains, a souk, and a skating rink.

Neat Burger

Neat Burger, the UK-born fast-food chain co-founded by world champion Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, overlooks this rink. I watched happy families swan about the ice three stories below as I tucked into a feast of perfect fast-food indulgence at this UAE outpost of a chain with locations in New York and London.

The Crispy Chikn sandwich was thick, toothsome, and dripping in tangy vegan mayo, while the spicy fish burger sported a crunchy exterior, a tender and flaky interior, and just the right amount of marine flavor. Both came in a shiny, soft-and-yielding bun and cool iceberg lettuce straight out of the roadside burger chain cookbook. For an indulgent break from tradition, order a pot of melted cheese sauce to give any menu item a dunk into pure fondue decadence.

Neat Burger

The double helping of Smash Daddy burger patties, made of pea protein and griddled directly onto a pile of thinly slivered onions, were as savory and smoky as they were thin and caramelizedthe perfect pairing with a mound of piping-hot, salty tater tots. They were crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside, counterpoint to a thick chocolate milkshake that was cooling and not too sweet. I felt transported from this capitalist temple in the desert to a soft-focus vignette of childhood Americana complete with sandlot baseball, red flyers, and eager pups frolicking in slow motion.

This ability to evoke other times and places is Dubais strengthmaybe its entire point.

Modeled on the Balinese aesthetic, Seva Table is a serene escape from the searing heat of concrete and glass. Dappled light dances in the leafy open space, and incense-infused air is alive with the mellow tune of hand-beaten tabla.

Seva Table

Co-founder Shadi Enbashi founded Seva Experience Wellness in 2014 with a comprehensive program of yoga, sound healing, bodywork, and training programs in different healing modalities. The caf there was the first plant-based restaurant in the region, representing with beautiful and carefully considered organic dishes free of both gluten and cane sugar. The space is even free of wifi, inviting real presence.

The surprisingly fluffy almond flour omelette I tried came folded over a rich and tangy housemade cashew cream with perfectly cooked spinach and mushroom confit, along with avocado and a smooth, slightly piquant roasted tomato salsa.

Seva Table

The tofu wrap combined savory, smoky tofu scramble with coconut yogurt, queso sauce, and a bright, herby, citrus-spiked avocado sauce. The side salad of local greens and cherry tomatoes popped with freshness. You can tell they werent in a plane, says Enbashi.

Seva treats all their dishes with exuberant attention, infusing frequencies into the food with crystals, sound vibrations, and conscious intentions as it is prepared. But we dont want to make it too woo-woo, says Enbashi. We emphasize that everything we do comes from whole ingredients.

Enbashi says dessert is the smoothest entry point for the vegan message in Dubai: Nobody cares if its vegan or not; all you have to do is create delicious cakes. Sevas Snickers Pie combines layers of different textures (rich chocolate, crunchy nuts, soft caramel, and a date-nut base, all draped with a rich cacao sauce) achieving a well balanced, even thoughtful evocation. It was, simply put, really good.

Seva Table

Food is not about stuffing your face, or even about calories, concludes Enbashi. Its the basis for a truly beautiful, eclectic community that is colorful and very diverse.

Amid all the gleaming glass and steel, one discovers a fascinating paradox. In this realm where everything feels revved up, maxed out, and always extravagant, a few vegan oases share a commitment to the natural, simple, and sustainable. They help travelers realize that the citys audacious ambition extends beyond architectural triumphs.

ZQ Lee/Unsplash

Dubai, with its ability to transport us through time and space, dares visitors to reimagine the possibilities of a harmonious coexistence between human innovation and the natural worlda future where opulence coexists with a budding plant-based scene flourishing amid a landscape of dreams.

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I Found Some of the Best Vegan Food of My Life in Dubai - VegNews

The new year ahead is filled with possibilities and to welcome it properly, a number of chefs have prepared meals that you will be hard-pressed to forget even after the clock strikes midnight.

And just one look at their menus will prove that were officially done with sides as mains for holiday meals because these days, vegan restaurants are focusing their New Years Eve menus on some of the most indulgent foods out there.

Its out with the old and in with the new at these five vegan restaurants, where you can ring in the new year with plant-based steak, short ribs, sushi, and caviar.

New Years Eve at DC Vegana full-service caterer, cheese shop, and Botanical Bar in Washington, DCis all about plant-based steak courtesy of new partner Chunk Foods.

The companys plant-based steak, which is a favorite of celebs such as Robert Downey Jr., will be featured in a 4-ounce serving, braised with vegetables, white wine, and a housemade broth.

Chunk Foods

DC Vegan recently welcomed Chef David Aaron Gravenmier to its kitchen, who brings a decade of experience in vegan cuisine from previous roles at Philadelphias Vedge and as Executive Chef at Fancy Radish.

I have been working in the restaurant business for close to 20 years, and started dabbling in vegan food back in 2009, Gravenmier said in a statement. I love creating vegetable-centric dishes for even the most skeptical omnivores.

Alongside Chunks vegan steak, Gravenmier and team have prepared a four-course prix fixe menu ($85 per person) featuring dishes such as Garlic Knots, Fennel & Orange Salad, and Homemade Gnocchi. For dessert, guests will be offered a choice of pizzelle with peppercorn vanilla ice cream or candied orange peel with chocolate drizzle.

Filet mignon, made by Colorado company Meati Foods, is the main NYE attraction at Chicagos Spirit Elephant. Raspberry Champagne Salad will open the meal followed by a Sesame Crusted Tofu starter before showcasing the main: a succulent centerpiece made from mycelium (or mushroom root).

Spirit Elephant

The restaurants executive chef, Jorge Esparza, wanted to showcase Meatis innovation in a traditional dish. The filet is seasoned and seared with a sauce Diane (made with cognac, shallots, vegan cream, and mushrooms) and served with twice-baked potatoes loaded with all of the fixins (think cheese, bacon, sour cream, and horseradish). The dish is finished off with asparagus served with Hollandaise sauce.

To end this memorable meal, Spirit Elephant will serve a Chocolate Mousse in a crispy pastry shell for dessert.

Eating is about pleasure, culture, and connection, and with menu items like this, its easier than ever before to eat like we are used to, while at the same time doing something good for our health, the planet, and all its inhabitants, Young says.

The Planta restaurant groupwhich encompasses Planta, Planta Cocina, and Planta Queenis celebrating NYE with plenty of plants prepared in different styles.

Planta

Plantas NYE menu blends global flavors with a vegan twist. Highlights include Chickn Fried Mushrooms, a House Burger served with fries or Caesar salad, and a selection of pizzas such as the Vodka Pizza and Leek Bianca Pizza. Pasta lovers can enjoy the Spicy Lumaconi Pasta and Udon Noodles with truffle mushroom cream.

At Planta Cocina, the menu is infused with Latin-inspired dishes where signature items include Sweet Corn Cavatelli, Mafaldine Pasta Verde, and Spicy Tuna Tacos. Unique dessert offerings such as Horchata Cheesecake and Coconut Cake set this menu apart.

Planta Queen offers an Asian-inspired menu featuring dishes such as Dan Dan Noodles, Singapore Noodles, and Chili Garlic Tofu. Desserts such as the Matcha Cheesecake and Chocolate Brownie perfectly end the meal.

Planta

Despite their distinct themes, all three Planta concepts share similarities in their menus. Sushi selections, including Unagi Eggplant Nigiri and Ahi Watermelon Nigiri, are common across the board.

All Planta locations in North America are offering NYE menus at $60 per person that include a choice of four dishes.

Thoughtfully prepared for a two-hour dining experience, the prix fixe menu ($125 per person) at Baia in San Francisco focuses on the bounty of produce available throughout Northern California and the hard-working farmers who grow it.

In addition, vegan caviar will be on the NYE menu, where the culinary team uses a natural sea-sourced alternative called umibudo (also known as sea grapes). The salty and briny ingredient is part of the opening course of Semolina Cake with Herbed Cheese and Seaweed Caviar.

Baia

This is followed by an endive salad, which is plated in the shape of a flower, sending a poetic farewell to the last flowers of the season.

A warm mushroom soup features a clear, slow-cooked shiitake broth poured over unique fungi varieties the team sources from local growers, including a cauliflower mushroom that delivers a tripe-like texture to the umami-packed soup.

The main course here is Cacio e Pepe with a hint of Truffle, a familiar and comforting bucatini pasta dish that speaks to Baias upscale Italian point of view.

Lastly, Champagne Ice Cream and Meringue give guests a way to toast to the new year in dessert form. The culinary team tells VegNews that this send-off is also an homage to all of the different ice cream flavorsfrom pluot to pineapple guava to sourdoughthat Baia has explored throughout 2023.

Crossroads Kitchen is also opening its NYE dinner with vegan caviarthis one is made with kelp and served with almond-based creme fraiche, atop potato rosti sprinkled with chives.

Here, chef Tal Ronnen designed six courses ($95 per person) to delight guests.

Our menu is driven by seasonality, as well as some more indulgent ingredients to help ring in the New Year like our caviar course and our Porcini Mushroom and Chestnut Tortelliboth are seasonal and decadent, Ronnen tells VegNews.

Crossroads/Jakob Layman

Other celebratory offerings include Fennel & Citrus Salad; Spinach & Ricotta Tart with yellow tomato egg yolk, parmesan, and lemon; Eggplant Short Rib with potato gratin and bordelaise; and Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with housemade Nutella cremeux.

These dishesand the teams dedication to uplighting vegan food for a decadeare why Crossroads consistently tops our list of the best restaurants in the country. And Ronnen says there is so much more in store.

The special NYE menu will be available at Crossroads Kitchens Melrose and Calabasas locations.

Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.

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Celebrate the New Year With Steak, Short Ribs, and Caviar at These 5 Vegan Restaurants - VegNews

Investing in vegan stocks hasnt been an easy decision. Much like cannabis stocks and, to a lesser extent, electric vehicle stocks, investing in a future that seems certain can be elusive.

There are benefits of a plant-based diet that shouldnt be ignored at a time when weight-loss drugs are all the rage. Those benefits are more likely to drive this sectors growth than concerns over sustainability. But the latter is where most of the marketing effort focuses.

However, regardless of the reason, acceptance of this kind of diet ultimately comes from the product itself. How does it taste? Is it affordable? For the most part, the industry has conquered the first question. Its the second question that remains a challenge, particularly at a time when consumers are trying to make their food dollars stretch further.

That brings to light another lesson about investing in vegan stocks, particularly pure-play stocks. That is, revenue is only a starting point. To their credit, many of these companies have revenue coming in. But positive, growing earnings are the fuel for stock price growth. And many of these companies are still years away from being profitable. Some have filed for bankruptcy or carry a significant risk of that fate.

Then theres the fact that many pure-play companies in this sector, like Impossible Foods, are private companies that therefore are not publicly traded. Its a tricky sector, but one that may still have upside for patient investors. Here are three vegan stocks that maygive you different ideas for investing in the sector.

Source: Eric Glenn / Shutterstock.com

Investing in Kroger (NYSE:KR) is likely the safest of the vegan stocks on this list. In addition to carrying plant-based foods from other companies, the company has its own private label, Simple Truth, which has a range of plant-based alternatives. Theres ample evidence that consumers are trading down to house brands to combat food inflation.

Plus, the grocery giant has over 2,800 locations in 35 states. Thats a solid base if the goal is broad acceptance. And it will nearly double once the companys planned merger with Albertsons (NYSE:ACI) which should be complete sometime in 2024.

KR stock is up just 1.23% in 2023 with just a few days left to trade as of this writing. When you look at the companys earnings report, you can see why the stock is a laggard. The results arent bad, theyre just not exciting.

However, investors may be overlooking the companys gross margin which increased by 300 basis points when the company reported earnings in November 2023. The company also strengthened its balance sheet by suspending share repurchases to build cash, pay dividends and keep its debt manageable.

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Ingredion (NYSE:INGR) gives investors another way to invest in vegan stocks. The company isnt a pure play on the sector. In fact, its best known for starches and sweeteners. But Ingredion is increasing its selection of plant-based proteins that help provide plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Increasing the protein content of plant-based foods is considered to be one of the factors that will drive future revenue.

To that end, in 2021, Ingredion opened a facilityfocused on producing pea protein isolate and pea starch. It was the first-of-its-kind in North America and positions the company as a future leader in the sector.

INGR stock is up about 11.76% in 2023 with most of that gain coming in the market rally in November and December. That is discounting the companys strong earnings growth in 2023 which is still expected to grow around 4% in the next 12 months. Plus, investors get a dividend with a 2.87% yield that has been growing for the last 13 consecutive years.

Source: Vladislav Noseek / Shutterstock.com

If you have a speculative itch to scratch when it comes to plant-based stocks, Oatly (NASDAQ:OTLY) may be a good choice. Oatly is a Swedish company that uses oats to produce dairy alternatives. One of its more common products is oat milk.

This is a small company with a $768 million market cap as of December 27, 2023. Its also a company that just over a month ago was trading for under one dollar.

However, OTLY stock is up about 45.88% in the last month of 2023. Any move of that type is worth exploring. In this case, it appears that analyst sentiment has improved. The consensus price target of $2.06 is 58% higher than the current price. And out of eight analysts offering ratings, three give it a Strong Buy rating.

Like any stock that is not profitable and generates only about $750 million in sales, there is a risk of bankruptcy with Oatly. The compelling news is that revenue is increasing, and the company is moving close to profitability. Its still a risk, but with a strong upside, it may be a risk worth taking.

On the date of publication, Chris Markoch did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

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Vegan Stocks to Watch: 3 Players Leading the Plant-Based Revolution - InvestorPlace

2023 in review: How a raw vegan influencer reportedly died of malnutrition  MSN

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2023 in review: How a raw vegan influencer reportedly died of malnutrition - MSN

Kitchen 17, known for being the original vegan deep dish spot in Chicago, has a New Year surprise: vegan pan pizzas shipping nationwide! There are 7 different varieties plus 3 gluten-free pies and a variety pack. As always, there are gluten-free options and every pizza is made from scratch using Kitchen 17s in-house vegan cheeses!

Youll find classics like cheese and pepperoni, with their famed K17 vegan pepperoni, in addition to must-try flavors like the cheeseburger, pickle, and jalapeo popper pizzas! Expanding beyond deep dish, according to owner Jennie, has been the plan for quite some time.

We love our deep dish, but we also recognize that our national audience might want to see that cheese on top! These are some of my favorite pizzas to come out of the kitchen, and Im excited to share them with our remote regulars and newcomers!

Its been two years since Kitchen 17 relocated the restaurant from Lakeview to a much larger space in the Avondale neighborhood. Not only has this allowed them to expand their production and add a vegan bar to the mix, but it has also made way for their front room with a wrap-around mezzanine to transform into a punk rock venue, The Fallen Log at Kitchen 17! Its a unique space with more artwork being added all the time.

For information about upcoming shows and events can be found on their events page! They also have a new shipping policy, which makes it worth grabbing a few pizzas at a time. When you place an order over $110, they use 20% of your order total to deduct from the shipping cost! In other words, if you live within a few states from Chicagoland, your order will very likely have FREE ground shipping!

For those who live further away, this means that you save a lot on shipping. Their pizzas stay good in your freezer for 18 months, so stock up! You can order yours here: https://kitchen17.com.

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Kitchen 17 Vegan Pan Pizzas: Shipping Nationwide USA in 2024 - VEGWORLD Magazine

Flacos Tacos, for years a go-to spot for vegan Mexican food in Berkeley, is closing its brick-and-mortar location on Dec. 30, 2023.

We want to thank all of the people who have given us the chance to serve them and make it this far but as of now, we can no longer sustain our relationship to our community and people, the restaurant posted on Instagram. (The news was first reported by Berkeleyside.)

Flacos started off as a farmers market stand in 2001 and soon moved into a charming little hut by the Ashby BART station. Founder Antonio Magaa grew up enjoying the traditional family recipes from his Abuelitas Carmen & Santos Chata,' according to the restaurants website. As a child, he and his siblings would help his mother in the kitchen, and these memories inspired the creation of Flacos. He took those dishes and replaced all the animal ingredients with vegetarian-based substitutes.

As of Dec. 28, the fundraiser had collected $5,476 of a $20,000 goal.

Its been a rather brutal year for vegan spots in the Bay Area. Among the restaurants that shuttered are VeganBurg in San Francisco, the vegan-friendly Pizza Flora in San Jose, and Souley Vegan and the brick-and-mortar location of Vegan Mob both in Oakland.

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Another Bay Area vegan restaurant bites the dust, this time in Berkeley - The Mercury News

You've decided: This is the year you're going vegan, at least part of the time. You've heard of the health benefits of a plant-based diet and seen some of the most colorful, sexiest concoctions on your vegan friend's plate. But you have no idea where or how to start. EBONY has got you covered.

These three Black vegan YouTube creators have a real passion for everything vegan. From juice blends to skincare products,they're testing, tasting and tackling everything you need to know to get started on a morevegetarian and vegan-based lifestyle. If you haven't heard their names yet, get in on this slice of (vegan) pie.

It's go big or go home for Dallas-based vegan Erin Wells, who creates vegan-friendly content from her home state of Texas. On her YouTube channel, you'll find vegan recipes, vlogs and vegan diets. This no-meat warrior is out in the streets testing vegan recipes in fast food joints. She also shares recipes for her tasty versions of our favorite drive-thru treats, like a breakfast sausage biscuit, using vegan ingredients. Wells began her vegan lifestyle in July 2016 and has loved her journey, which continues on her website, thatchocolatevegan.com.

We want an invitation to dinner at Andrew Bernard's house. His stunning tutorials, shot in close-up, make our mouths water just by watching. Bernard's channel offers easy-to-create recipes with full instructions and ingredient lists on his website, makeitdairyfree.com. Some of his content features special guests, like his mom! Bernard is here to get you started on vegan basics, like cooking homemade vegetable stock.

Based in New York City, Angela Yvonne knows that there's vegan food to be found at every corner. Through her digital series Vegan Pop Eats, Yvonne takes you on her culinary adventures, showcasing restaurants, testing vegan products and interviewing leaders in the vegan community. She also keeps it real on her Instagram, sharing how she uses her vegan diet and exercise to stay in tip-top shape. This rising star shares more content and her how-to-vegan e-books at veganpopeats.com.

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Kick Off Your Vegan New Year's Resolution With These 3 Black Vegan YouTubers to Watch in 2024 - EBONY

Vegan leather is no longer confined to vegan-centric brands: it's everywhere. But what is vegan leather? Whether a pair of black pleather pants or a fiery red synthetic leather clutch, the new, glossy iterations are like leather's cooler younger sibling that went vegan and didn't tell the family until Thanksgiving day. With sustainable fashion becoming ever more mainstream, vegan leather has gone from being a niche alternative to becoming both a sustainable staple and part of the greenwashing wave. Here, we break down the pros and cons of vegan leather and whether it's a fashion phase or an effective way to combat climate change.

Animal leather is usually made from the skin of cows, but can also be derived from the skin of pigs, sheep, snakes, horses, and more. Vegan leather, or faux leather, imitates actual leather by using synthetic materials or plant-based fibers like pineapple leaves, cactus, cork, and apple peels to get a similar consistency. However, the majority of vegan leather is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), both of which are petroleum-based plastics. But as long as the leather isn't derived from any animal products, it can be considered vegan.

If you've decided on a vegan lifestyle or are interested in more eco-friendly options, faux leather offers an alternative to the standard animal hides. Real leather is made through a lengthy process in which the animal skin is heavily salted, soaked in calcium oxide, tanned, and then put through the liquoring method, which includes adding fats and oils to the leather to make it softer and stronger. If you're familiar with real leather, you'll be able to recognize its signature earthy scent due to the tanning process, and its breathable qualities when worn for long periods of time. The most common forms of tanning are chromium and vegetable tanning. Chromium uses chemicals to preserve the animal's skin, and offers more water and heat resistance for the leather products it's applied to. But this form of tanning produces chromium waste, which pollutes the neighboring waterways. Vegetable tanning avoids harmful chemicals and uses natural materials, like tree bark, in their place. But, this form of leather is generally more expensive. When properly cared for, genuine leather can last for multiple decades in either case.

In recent years, vegan leather has gotten incredibly close to feeling like the real deal. The obvious plastic-like dupes have evolved into more buttery and luxurious leather alternatives. Unfortunately, vegan leather products tend to have a lifespan of only two to five years. But, leather-like products offer a more eco-friendly option, especially for those concerned about their carbon footprint. Traditional leather relies on livestock like cattle, and industrial animal-raising contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gases. By cutting out cattle as a source of leather, fake leather seemingly provides a more sustainable and cruelty-free option. But this is where it gets a little tricky.

Vegan leather's lifespan proves to be shorter than that of real leather, which means consumers will have to replace items made with it more often. Additionally, plastic-based vegan leather products cannot biodegrade as well as natural leather. And while both traditional and faux leather-making processes involve chemicals, PVC can release pollutants and toxic chemicals. While PU leather is less harmful than PVC, it's still derived from fossil fuels. But ultimately, natural fibers are the best option when seeking out vegan leather.

The fashion industry has seen a rise in alternative leather options from fish skin to pineapple leaves to cork leather. High-end fashion brands like John Galliano, Prada, and Christian Dior have dabbled in fish skin options for their products; the practice itself has roots dating back centuries to multiple Indigenous groups across the globe. Brands like Nanushka and Hugo Boss, meanwhile, have sought to use leather alternatives that are completely vegan.

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What is Vegan Leather? - Vogue

The impact of food on long-term health is difficult to study. So many nutritional studies will conclude with this was an observational or prospective study so it does not prove cause and effect.

Often, the best that can be said is that there was an association. I know this can be frustrating, but it also happens to be the truth. So when we find a clinical trial that makes a point about food intake, we feel more confident saying that this can be cause an effect. And it might be a motivator to change eating patterns.

A small clinical trial published last month in JAMA Network compared the effects of a healthy vegan diet to a healthy omnivore diet during the eight-week study period. Twenty-two pairs of identical twins were divided into two groups. Using twins minimizes genetic influences.

Now, this seems like a small number but I remember when NASA wanted to study the impact of long space flight on body function. Luckily there were twin astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly. Scott Kellys trip lasted 340 days in space and when he returned home every body function and bio marker was compared with his twin brother Mark, who had remained on earth. So this study of 22 pairs of twins seems big in comparison

One twin from each pair received vegan meals for eight weeks and the other twin received a healthy mixed diet. Both meal plans were low in sugar and refined grains. Interestingly, all participants received meal service for the first four weeks. During the second half of the study, they had to prepare their own food. There was only one dropout, which is remarkable and shows one can learn to make vegan meals in a short time period

The twins on the vegan diet had significantly lower LDL cholesterol, lower fasting insulin levels and lost more weight. All these factors contribute to reduced risk of heart disease. Another piece of evidence supporting a plant-based food intake.

Sheah Rarback MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist in private practice in Miami. srarback@hotmail.com

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Twins were given vegan meals, meals with meat. One group had much lower heart disease risk - AOL