Ready, set, recipes! Here are our just published, fresh-out-the-mill recipes in one convenient place! These are the top vegan recipes of the day, and are now a part of the thousands of recipes on our Food Monster App! Our newest recipes include Lemon Bars to Penne allarrabbiata , so if youre looking for something new and delicious, these recipes are it!

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

Source: Lemon Bars

These Lemon Bars by Brittany Berlin are a wonderful dessert and the tiny addition of turmeric is for color; you cant even taste it!

Source: Sweet Potato Miso Soup

Each miso will produce subtly different results but brown and white miso paste would make fine substitutes. At a Japanese restaurant in Brixton a few years ago theres a fantastic sweet potato, simply baked and split open before being filled with the most wonderful miso butter. This Sweet Potato Miso Soup by Rachel Phipps is that potato in a vegan soup form, making it perfect for a filling, nourishing autumn meal.

Source: Penne allarrabbiata

Penne allarrabbiata has its origin in the Rieti province, in Lazio, not far from Rome. Together with spaghetti aglio e olio and pasta cacio e pepe, penne allarrabbiata is one of the most popular pasta dishes of Italy. This Penne allarrabbiata by ThePlantbasedSchool simple, yet delicious, and naturally vegan, made only with a few healthy ingredients.

Source: Chai Spice Iced Coffee

Chai spice coffee is the perfect way to soak in the fall season. Like pumpkin spice, Chai Spice is full of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other cozy spices. This Chai Spice Iced Coffee by Alexandra/Eian Kelly can be brewed cold or hot, depending on your coffee preference. And the chai spice recipe is super versatile, add it to any baked goods for a touch of fall.

Source: Thai-Inspired Basil Tofu

The most flavorful tofu dish with Thai-inspired flavors. This Thai-Inspired Basil Tofu by Taavi Moore is packed with fresh basil, the perfect dose of heat and mending of flavors.

Source: Homemade Vitamin C Powder

This Homemade Vitamin C Powder by Larice Feuerstein is a great way to add a burst of citrus to your morning smoothies! The best method in using this powder is to mix a teaspoon into your smoothie, but you could also stir it into water, keeping in mind, of course, that it isnt going to dissolve. It could also be used for a subtle orange flavor in tea, or sprinkled onto oatmeal.

Source: Cherry Cheese Danish Crescent Rolls

Imagine, flaky, buttery crescent roll dough stuffed with sweet cream cheese and gooey fruit pie filling and then covered with a sugary glaze. What could be better for dessert or breakfast with a cup of hot coffee? These Cherry Cheese Danish Crescent Rolls by Melanie Sorrentino look like they came right out of a bakery, but theyre actually super-easy to make.

Source: Bakery Style Cheese Danish

These Bakery Style Cheese Danish by Gretchen Price are authentic yeast buns filled with sweet vegan cream cheese and for a variation you make them just fruit filled or do a combination of both!

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 us by donating!

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From Lemon Bars to Sweet Potato Miso Soup: Our Top Eight Vegan Recipes of the Day! - One Green Planet

Just when you thought charcuterie boards couldnt get any more interesting, the hot cocoa charcuterie board makes an entrance. Its quite genius and simple: Take all the hot cocoa accompaniments that you can imagineand may not have imaginedand arrange them on a board.

Let your family (and pod friends) dive in for DIY hot cocoa magic. These days, you can find vegan-friendly consumables not only at Whole Foods and the like, but also places like CVS (which is increasingly adding veg-friendly and health-conscious items and brands to its food isles). Here are some common delectables that you should consider adding to your hot chocolate-board masterpiece. Then, continue on for some visual hot cocoa charcuterie inspiration from some super creative gals spreading a little holiday cheer.

Cocoa powder: You dont need the fancy processed stuff. Often you can buy good old plain cocoa powder and mix it with a little sugar and plant-based milkviola, you have a perfect hot cocoa base.

Carob powder: Meet cocoas younger, hipper, more earthy sister: carob. Carob is made from dry, roasted carob-tree pods and is a great cocoa alternative. High in fiber, low in fat with a rich, pleasantly bitter, chocolatey-ish taste. You can usually find carob powder at health food stores and online.

Plant-based milk: You can mix your cocoa or carb powder into really any plant-based / vegan milk your heart desires for a rich and creamy hot cocoa drink. There is an endless selection from soy, to almond, to oat, and more.

Marshmallows: Not all marshmallows are vegan since many contain gelatin. So make sure to read the ingredients, or stick with trusted brands like Dandies, or Trader Joes brand marshmallows (which are vegan).

Gourmet vegan cookies: If you really want to spice up your cocoa board with something special, add some of Mayas Cookies (all vegan, with gluten-free options as well). Cut in half or in fourths, perfect for little dipping bites. These cookies will make your board look ultra-fancy. This season Maya has holiday cookies (like gingerbread) and their standard options available as well.

Oreos: Yes, these are one of those accidental vegan items. Crush up Oreos, and add to your board. They make for a perfect hot chocolate topping...perhaps best sprinkled on top of the whipped cream. Trader Joes make an Oreo-like cookie (which is vegan, although not labeled as such) called Joe Joes which would be a great option as well.

Chocolate bars: To add some fancy chocolate bar flare to your board, you'll have many options. There are now more non-dairy, vegan chocolates than ever. You can chop up in little bits for the board, or break into squares or chunks for snacking or dipping. With oat milk chocolate from brands like Raaka; to health-conscious low-sugar bars from The Good Chocolate; to the popular Hu Kitchen; and the ultra-fancy Lagustas Luscious white chocolate your chocolate-bar game will officially be stepped up.

Whipped cream: Thankfully, more non-dairy, vegan whipped creams are gracing the grocery store shelves these days. You can find whips from brands like SoDelicious (always vegan) and Tru (which makes a vegan option), or look for mainstream non-dairy whipped cream which is typically vegan; but if not labeled, read to make sure there are no dairy derivatives.

Baileys Almande Almondmilk Liqueur: Its been quite a year, so your cocoa deserves a little spiking with Baileys vegan almond milk liqueur...we know, it sounds too good to be true. (This one is adults-only of course.)

Thesedelectable hot cocoa paraphernalia suggestionsare just a start. You can continue to get creative and add candy canes, cinnamon sticks, dark chocolate chips, carob chips, and more!

Check out this Chanukah-inspired board from @rosa_lilyrose. Hot cocoa boards have been super popular on Pinterest this season and I was so inspired by the talented @rebekahlowin and her stunning Chanukah candy board that I had to put these two trends together! she writes on Instagram.

Food allergy-aware mom and lawyer @foodallergydiva is helping make it a December to remember with this spunky vegan and allergy-friendly hot cocoa and goodie board. A clean cocoa cheers to that!

This Insta-cute Physician Assistant (PA) turned stay-at-home mom, @thepeddlingpa, puts this fun cocoa board together for her Stay Home Saturdays series. Ill be coming up with fun ideas for family fun nights and date nights to help us get through this COVID winter! she says in a post. Thats the spirit.

From blogging to decorating, @gatheredliving gives us a fierce hot coca board that she calls a perfect cozy weekend treat for all your fall or holiday festivities.

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Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Boards Are Trending: How to Veganize Them - The Beet

Photo by Lina Kivaka from Pexels

For many years Ive been curious if vegans are satisfied during the holidays, but Im slowing understanding how to eliminate all that meat I was accustomed to eating. I asked some vegans for suggestions and they suggested hearty veggiesoups, casseroles, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and even vegan versions of pies. I like the idea that vegetarian diets promote weight loss because and focused on nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and soy. Vegan diets go even further and cut out calorie-rich foods like cheese. But that would be an issue for me, because I LOVE cheese.

Vegan cheese is healthier than dairy cheese because its free from growth hormones, carcinogenic animal proteins and cholesterol-boosting saturated animal fat makes vegan cheese that are better for us than its dairy counterparts.If youre like me, heres some cheese options: Treeline herb-garlic French-style soft cheese Follow Your Heart cheddar shreds Follow Your Heart feta crumbles Kite Hill ricotta Kite Hill chive cream cheese Daiya mozzarella Trader Joes vegan mozzarella shreds

First African American, one-woman syndicated radio host in the Southeast region for major broadcast networks. Over the past 23 years my passion and perseverance has lead me to reach and relate to demographics spanning, Sports stations, Country, Hip-hop, R & B, Gospel, Adult Contemporary & Top 40 radio stations. I have a unique way of setting the tone, and people feel comfortable telling their story,

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Eating Vegan During The Holidays - kiss951.com

Tyson just made its Raised & Rooted range vegan.

The company, one of the worlds largest poultry, beef, and pork producers, just revealed it removed egg whites from its plant-based nuggets.

One recent and noble change we are making is to the formula for the Raised & Rooted Nugget to eliminate egg whites, David Ervin, the companys VP of alternative protein, told FoodNavigator-USA.

We expect our new product to begin shipping to retailers in December, he continued. Moving forward, Raised & Rooted products will not contain any animal products.

Tyson launched the plant-based brand last year. The range includes pea protein-based nuggets in original and spicy flavors, whole-grain tenders, and meat patties blended with Angus Beef and plant protein.

However, since Tyson plans on developing only plant-based products under the Raised & Rooted range, Ervin says the blended patties will be discontinued.

This isnt the first time Tyson has delved into the vegan market.

The company has eyed the plant-based market for years, even investing in California-based food tech brand Beyond Meat in 2016. The company divested from the vegan meat producer right before it went public earlier this year in order to focus on developing its own plant-based products.

The meat giant also sees potential in cultured meatprotein grown from animal cells. It is an investor in Berkeley-based startup, Memphis Meats. The startups high-profile investors include Bill Gates, Kimball Musk, and animal protein giant Cargill. In May 2018, Tyson invested $2.2 million into the Israeli cultured meat startup Future Meat Technologies.

Additionally, Tyson holds investments in MycoTechnology, a mushroom-based protein company.

In October, fast-food chain Jack in the Box debuted its very first plant-based chicken sandwich. Called the Unchicken Sandwich, the new menu item features a plant-based filet by Raised & Rooted.

In a press release, Ervin said the sandwiches were the best tasting plant-based product in the market today.

The sandwiches were launched for a limited time in select locations in Reno, Nevada, and Monterey and Salinas, California. They featured pea protein-based patties in two varieties: original and spicy.

Ervin says the company plans on expanding its plant-based range. Consumers can expect to see additional new plant-based offerings from Raised & Rooted and other established Tyson brands coming to store shelves and quick-service locations in 2021, he explained.

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Tyson's Raised & Rooted Range Is Now Vegan - LIVEKINDLY

Cosmopolitan

If you're vegan and celebrating the holidays with other people this year (be safe, folks!) the BIG meal can be somewhat of a gamble. Group meals = large dishes that everybody's gonna have to love, or else you risk being the one who brought the humiliating barely touched tray at the end of the table (shudder.) For all the vegans out there, the aversion some stubborn friends and family have to anything labeled "vegan" is an all too familiar extra hurdle around the holidays.

But never fret! Long gone are the days when plant-based eaters were limited to veggie side dishes or tofu-based meat imitations (yikes). All over the internet, chefs are putting out vegan creative and delicious crowd-pleasers. So when people will ask Who made this??? it wont make your palms sweat.

Here, yummy ideas for the vegan entrees, sides, and desserts that can grace your holiday feasts or feasts for one this year.

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1 Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes

Is it really the holidays if everyone's favorite starch isn't involved? This recipe takes classic mashed potatoes to the next level.

Recipe from Short Girl Tall Order

2 Apple Pie

What's more American than a dairy-free apple pie? Ok, probably a few things, but this vegan rendition of the classic dish will inspire you to leave extra room for dessert.

Recipe from Vegan Hippie Sol

3 Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are amazing all year round, but there's just something about baking them in wintertime that's extra precious. This vegan chocolate sugar cookie recipe is the perfect addition to the holiday cookie roster.

Recipe from Short Girl Tall Order

4 Cauliflower Steak

How does one turn cauliflower into a flavorful holiday entree that rivals its beefy counterpart? Just ask chef Dominique Williamson of Vegan Hippie Sol, whose cauliflower steak recipe is anything but dull.

Recipe from Vegan Hippie Sol

5 Eggnog

Is it even winter without eggnog? This dairy-free version tastes exactly the same, without the dairy farts.

Recipe from ChoosingChia

6 Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff

Randomly enough, mushrooms absorb most flavors, making them the perfect meat substitute. Your non-plant based guests might enjoy this dish a little extra.

Recipe from Lavender and Macarons

7 Apple Cider Donuts

Shoutout to all the gluten-free peeps, here's a treat for you too. A seasonal donut to indulge in, no wheat required!

Recipe from Minimalist Baker

8 Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

What's better than a sweet potato? An aesthetically pleasing stuffed sweet potato that'll make all of cute pics you take of your table spread pop.

Recipe from Nikki Vegan

9 Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

10

Opting for sweet potatoes instead of cheddar might not seem like a plausible swap, but this right here is a creamy mac and cheese dish that would make Cardi B proud. This recipe is also nut-free!

Recipe from A Virtual Vegan

11 Gingerbread cookies

An obvious necessity. This gingerbread dough recipe is super simple, so you can spend more time focusing. No deformed casualties in the high-intensity cookie shaping process this year!

Recipe from Rainbow Nourishments

12 Stuffing

Stuffing is the perfect side, and I'm more than happy to expand on this. It incorporates basically every good thing about a holiday meal into one deliciously baked culmination of flavorsand the vegan version is no different.

Recipe from Short Girl Tall Order

13 Sweet Potato Casserole

The best part about this dish is that no one is able to decide whether it's a dessert or a side dish. That makes it a 2-in-1 special!

Recipe from Loving it Vegan

14

If you've been bingeing The Crown and feel inspired by our friends across the pond, these mince pies are the perfect way to pay tribute the vegan way.

Recipe from A Virtual Vegan

15 Cranberry Sauce

Why use the canned stuff, when this homemade cranberry sauce is so easy you could whip it up with your eyes closed (but like, please don't try that.)

Recipe from The Green Creator

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15 Vegan Holiday Recipes 2020 15 Vegan Holiday Recipes No One Will Even Suspect Are Healthy - Cosmopolitan

A new study b British researchers shows a direct link between cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength and a persons mental health.

The study, which included more than 150,000 participants, found those who had a low combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength were 98% more likely to experience depression and 60% more likely to experience anxiety.

Researchers also noted that individuals can improve their physical fitness in just three week, which can reduce their risk of developing a mental health condition by up to 32.5%.

Source: BMC Medicine journal

Vegans may need to bone up

Although there are several health benefits associated with being a vegan, researchers with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics say those who do not eat any meat or dairy products may need to pay closer attention to their bone health.

A study found factors such as low calcium and protein intake, as well as a low body mass index, may make bones more fracture-prone.

The academy says those who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet should focus on getting the nutrients they are missing from meat sources in consultation with a dietitian.

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Assessing eye problems, walking and life expectancy, heart and mind, vegan bone issues, eat early - nwitimes.com

Ive been vegan for about nine months now. Since going vegan, I receive the same comments over and over again. People always ask me, If you dont eat animal products, do you just eat vegetables all day? and How do you get any protein in? In reality, vegan diets can still be balanced and provide enough protein, despite relying on only plants. Over the past few months, Ive learned how to be creative with my vegan meals and find alternatives for my favorite animal product-based foods.

Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus

Breakfast

Breakfast is definitely my favorite meal of the day. I used to love the Birch Benders Paleo mix, but since going vegan, Ive been loving their Plant Protein mix. Luckily, this pancake mix is always in stock at the IV Food Co-op! Additionally, I use chia seeds in my batter to act as an egg replacement. Since the chia seeds absorb liquid, it really helps with the fluff factor! Heres how I whip up protein-packed vegan pancakes in the morning.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus

Lunch

After a few hours of studying, its time for lunch. I usually opt for a veggie wrap of some sorts or a tofu scramble. I used to be a big scrambled egg person, but now eggs kind of gross me out. Trust me, you wont miss eggs with this vegan scramble.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Tofu is packed with protein and pairing your scramble with whole wheat toast and avocado will keep you satisfied instead of feeling snack-y all afternoon long.

Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus

Snack

After my afternoon workout, I look forward to a protein smoothie to help my muscles recover. Especially since I usually do strength training, fueling after I work out is so important.

Heres a protein smoothie that I create, usually using Sun Warrior protein.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus

Dinner

Ive been loving hearty grain bowls for dinner because they only take a few minutes to make. Since there is no strict recipe for grain bowls, they are a highly customizable dinner option. To ensure that my bowls are balanced, I use this formula when I make them: A third of the bowl is composed of a hearty grain, another third of the bowl is a plant-based protein source and the other third can be any veggie of your choosing! Heres my go-to combination:

Ingredients:

Directions:

Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus

Dessert

Since I have a sweet tooth, I always need some sort of chocolate at night. I usually opt for some crunchy green grapes and Theo dark chocolate which can also be found at the Isla Vista Food Co-op.

See, being vegan can still be super fun and tasty I hope you try out some of these delicious, healthy recipes.

Stephanie Gerson

Stephanie Gerson is a first-year student studying Art History at UCSB. She is from Palo Alto, California and she is passionate about sustainability, fashion, photography and vegan cooking. In her spare time, Stephanie loves going on bike rides on campus, catching up with friends, or spending hours on her latest embroidery piece!

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A Full Day of Vegan, Homecooked Meals That Don't Break The Bank - Daily Nexus

U.S. courts seem to recognize plant-based companies constitutional right to use meat and dairy advertising terms.

Is it constitutional to label a vegan product as butter? You butter believe itor, at least, that is how several U.S. courts have responded in ongoing cases.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) places federal requirements on food product labels, but FDA does not pre-approve labels before they enter the market. Although states often rely on FDA to clarify labeling standards, some states institute standards stricter than FDAs federal ones.

For example, Californias false-advertising law, which may be the strictest in the country, imposes a burden on companies to show that a label is not likely to deceive members of the public. As a result, companies must comply proactively with both federal and state laws, and vegan food companies and advocates, in particular, have often found themselves in court arguing that state law restricts their labeling options beyond the extent allowed by federal constitutional law.

In the most recent case as of this writing, a federal trial court has grappled with a vegan food companys claim that the First Amendment protects its use of the term butter against interference by California regulators. Vegan food companies have viewed an early ruling in the case as a victory with significant industry-wide implications.

The case originated in a warning letter that the California Department of Food and Agriculture sent to Miyokos Kitchen in 2019, advising the vegan food company that its butter labels were misbranded under FDA requirements and the California Food and Agriculture Code. This state code restricts the use of dairy-based language and imagery on imitation dairy product labels. In turn, Miyokos Kitchen sued the state, arguing that the Department sought to chill its free speech and had bowed to pressure from dairy industry lobbyists. In September, the court barred the Department from taking any enforcement action against the companys use of the terms butter, lactose free, or cruelty free on its labels.

Although the ruling was only preliminary and the case will not proceed to a full trial until 2021, the courts decision to protect Miyokos Kitchens use of butter terminology sparked both excitement and frustration. The Animal Legal Defense Fundcelebrated the decision for its implications for smaller vegan companies, which rely on terms such as butter and milk to market their products uses to consumers.

But other commentators, including the National Milk Producers Federation, complain that the butter sold by plant-based companies is simply margarine with better marketing. They claim that FDA has a responsibility to stop this rampant margarine mislabeling. After all, most vegan butter products fit neatly into FDAs definition of margarine.

The Miyokos Kitchen lawsuit is only the latest battle in U.S. butter wars, which have raged for over a century between the dairy industry and producers of dairy alternatives such as margarine. Historically, six dairy-dominated states banned margarine outright, multiple states imposed extra taxes on butter alternatives, and 32 states regulated the color of margarine, forcing producers to dye it an unappetizing pink, red, brown, or black color rather than butter yellow.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the pink laws in 1898, and the last state to maintain a ban on yellow margarine repealed that law in 1967. Still, the dairy and meat industriesand the states that host themare eager to regulate against vegan companies use of terms such as butter and burger. In 2019, for example, Mississippi passed a law prohibiting the use of meat product terms to describe plant-based foods.

But plant-based companies have started fighting back against such restrictions. The Plant Based Foods Association and the Institute for Justice immediately challenged the Mississippi law in court. The groups weaponized the First Amendment to argue that companies have a protected right to use the terms veggie burger and vegan hot dog on their labels, as these phrases do not mislead consumers. The groups also suggested that if companies were forced to change their labels, consumer confusion would increasebecause alternative terms, such as veggie discs or vegetable protein tubes, are not very clear.

The lawsuit prompted Mississippi to replace the law less than four months after it became effective. A new proposed Mississippi state regulation specifies that plant-based meat products will not be considered mislabeled as long as their labels include an adjective such as meatless, plant-based, or vegan.

In a similar example, a federal trial court blocked the state of Arkansas from enforcing a law that prohibits plant-based meat producers from using the word meat and related terms. In 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Good Food Institute sued the state, claiming that the law violated a vegan companys rights under the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court rejected the states argument that plant-based meat product labels are misleading even if they include ample terminology indicating their vegan or vegetarian nature. The court also blocked the law from taking effect while the case proceeded to trial.

The outcomes of the Miyokos Kitchen and ACLU lawsuits may impact the growth of the plant-based foods industry, which is expanding quickly. The Good Food Institute values the U.S. plant-based butter industry at $198 million, a figure that presently far outpaces the growth of the dairy butter industry. Between 2018 and 2020, U.S. sales of plant-based foods surged by 29 percent, and a study projects that the worldwide plant-based food sector will be worth $74.2 billion by 2027. But as the court noted in the Miyokos Kitchen case, each vegan company dealing with labeling disputes may have to spend millions of dollars if regulations or court decisions require label changes.

Lawsuits concerning plant-based products may also be relevant to the coronavirus crisis. Due to COVID-19s disruption of supply chains, some milk intended for butter production is being dumped. The Good Food Institute claims that the supply chains for vegan alternatives are better poised to respond to pandemic conditions, as they are less vulnerable to disruptions typical to animal agriculture. Although FDAs relaxation of some labeling rules during COVID-19 has increased plant-based products access to the market, court decisions requiring label changes could reverse this trend.

By creating clearer regulations as to the labeling of vegan products, FDA could melt away many of the conflicts between plant-based food companies, state regulators, and lobbying groups. But given FDAs recent budget cuts and chronic underfunding, as well as the demands of the COVID-19 crisis, FDA priorities seem to lie elsewhere. In the agencys absence, the U.S. judicial system seems poised to continue cutting through these regulatory issues like a hot knife through butteror vegan butter, as it may be called.

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Are Vegan "Butter" and "Meat" Labels Protected as Free Speech? - The Regulatory Review

How many times have we skipped breakfast because we were late to work or skipped lunch due to professional commitments? Almost all of us would have skipped meals at some point in our lives due to our extremely busy lifestyles. Skipping meals means a lack of nutrient intake and our bodies require compensation. For this, vegan and vegetarian supplements are the perfect solution. Before delving deeper, let us first understand what veganism is about and the implications of other supplements consisting of chemicals and steroids. (Image: Canva)

Often confused, veganism largely differs from vegetarianism. While a vegetarian diet does not allow the intake of eggs, meat, and seafood, it does accept diary and other by-products. Veganism, on the other hand, takes this idea to the next level, avoiding all animal products and is entirely plant-based. Recent years have seen veganism go from a trend to a way of life with several people across the world, including celebrities and even athletes adopting a vegan diet.

A vegan lifestyle offers a plethora of benefits be it maintaining a healthy immune system or avoiding the implications of consuming meat, a vegan diet has become an ideal choice for many. However, there are certain drawbacks to veganism. It is easy to overlook some aspects and since the food consumed in a vegan diet is so selective, people often miss out on important nutrients. Entre, vegan supplements. Proper nutrient supply is required to ensure that we do not become victims of our busy lifestyles. On that note, here are some vital nutrients to include in your diet that are available as supplements. (Image: Canva)

A vital component, protein is needed for our muscles, bones, skin, and other organs to remain healthy. Without consuming meat and dairy our body still requires essential amino acids to function normally. Vegans can get their share of protein through nuts, seeds, grains, legumes such as chickpeas, and lentils. But most of the time, a supplement in the form of protein powder will cover their protein needs and help maintain good metabolism. Plant-based protein is the ideal solution and can be found in online and offline stores. (Image: Canva)

Most of us might have come across the term Omega-3 fatty acids in magazines or newspapers or even while browsing the internet. So, what makes this extremely important? Omega-3 fatty acids are an excellent source of healthy fats required to keep our body functioning properly. While a vegan diet is rich in certain kinds of Omega-3 fatty acids, it does lack in some. Proper supplementation to make up for this will help people avoid depression, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), heart diseases, etc. (Image: Canva)

Another crucial nutrient, Vitamin B-12 plays a pivotal role in the formation of red blood cells, metabolizes proteins, and supports a healthy nervous system in our body. Although anyone can be deficient in Vitamin B-12, vegans run a higher risk of deficiency and therefore need to constantly keep a check on the Vitamin B-12 levels in their body. There are several plant-based Vitamin B-12 supplements available in the market in the form of capsules that can be consumed regularly or as directed by a doctor.

It is perhaps a no-brainer that our bodies require a healthy dose of iron content to sidestep a hoard of health problems. Iron is crucial to building healthy blood cells and helping them carry oxygen throughout our bodies. Nuts, seeds, dates, leafy vegetables such as spinach, and figs are rich in iron content and can provide us with adequate iron content. In addition to this, a substantial intake of Vitamin-C can increase the retention of iron in the body. However, getting the right iron intake may be tricky as too much iron can become counterproductive and dangerous, so it is best to consult a doctor to check the level of iron your body needs. (Image: Canva)

These are two other nutrients that vegans often lack. Playing a vital role in the formation of healthy and strong bones, teeth, muscle function, and protecting heart health, calcium and vitamin-D is of utmost importance for health and fitness. Vitamin-D also improves the immune system and helps in the absorption of other nutrients into the body. Research shows that leafy greens, legumes, oranges, lemons, and plant-based milk are rich in calcium and vitamin-D and are suitable for vegans to consume. For those who lack these nutrients, supplements are the easiest way to boost calcium and vitamin-D content in the body.

Vegans can enjoy a lifetime of good health provided they inculcate a healthy and well-balanced diet into their lifestyle. Simple steps such as regular monitoring of health and nutrient intake can go a long way in ensuring you remain in the prime of good health throughout your life. (Image: Canva)

Contributed by: Mr.Vipen Jain, CEO and Co-Founder Fitspire

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Supplementing vegan diet with the right nutrients - Times of India

By KC Ifeanyi6 minute Read

Within the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 100,000 restaurants in the United States either permanently closed or shut down for the foreseeable future, leaving nearly 3 million workers unemployed, according to the National Restaurant Association. Amid all the industry tumult, a vegan joint in Atlanta has not only stayed afloat but is having its best year ever.

Founded in 2018 by TV exec turned restauranteur Pinky Cole, Slutty Vegan has become one of Atlantas buzziest eateries with its saucy take on vegan fast food, attracting celebrity customers including Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Megan Thee Stallion, and Woody Harrelson.

[Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]When the pandemic first hit, Slutty Vegan shut down for two weeks in March, but to Cole it was the unexpected downtime she needed to retool a strategy for growth. She hired the companys first C-suite. She pushed forward in opening two new locations in Atlanta, growing overall revenue by 15%. She secured a book and movie deal (which Cole calls a modern-day Good Burger), and is developing a line of vegan snack foods for kids slated to hit shelves in 2021and all thats just on the profit side of the business.

Pinky Cole, founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan [Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]Through her nonprofit the Pinky Cole Foundation, Cole paid the rent of local Atlanta businesses so they wouldnt shutter during the pandemic. In collaboration with Derrick Hayes, owner of Atlanta restaurant Big Daves Cheesecake, Cole gifted a car, college scholarships, and life insurance policies to the widow and kids of Rayshard Brooks, the 27-year-old Black man shot to death by an Atlanta police officer in June. Cole also partnered with Impossible Foods for a voter registration initiative in the run-up to the most recent election.

I just thought it was going to be something dope and cool to do, Cole says of starting Slutty Vegan. And here we are, two years later: I have one of the hottest concepts in the country. Im thriving in a pandemic. Ive been able to help my community in which I serve and give people hope that you can really create a business and it could be bigger than youve ever imagined.

Cole calls her entre into the restaurant an accident.

On the very day she was born in Baltimore to Jamaican immigrant parents, Coles father was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug ring.

The family dynamic changed the minute that I walked into earth, says Cole, whos 33. My mother would work about three to four jobs, so my grandmother would watch me. And living in a household with a Jamaican grandparent is a lot different from just the average American grandparent.

From a young age, Cole was learning how to clean, properly crease bedsheets, and, of course, cook.

I learned about food and how food can bring people together. When my grandmother would cook, everybody would come together as a way of fellowship, Cole says. I carried that throughout the years.

By her teens, Cole was already turning her passion into profit by catering parties and selling sandwiches at school. After graduating from Clark Atlanta University, Cole decided to pursue a career in entertainment, first as an actor in Los Angeles and then in TV production in New York City. All the while, though, the food business wasnt far from her thoughts.

[Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]Something clicked. I was like, I want to open up a business,' Cole says. I had my 401(k) saved. And one of my friends who had a restaurant at the time said that there was a restaurant available for lease [in Harlem].

Cole turned that spot into a Jamaican restaurant serving island staples such as jerk chicken and oxtail, even though she herself was vegan.

I was selling a product that I didnt believe in, Cole says.

Despite her personal conflicts, Pinkys Jamaican and American Restaurant became a local favorite for two yearsuntil a grease fire burned everything to the ground in 2016. On top of that, Cole says she made the rookie mistake of not having the right insurance policy. Left with nothing, she decided to go back into TV with a gig as a casting director for Iyanla, Fix My Life, which films in Georgia.

Slutty Vegan One Night Stand [Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]One day, I was sitting in the house, coming up with my ideas as normal, and it hit me: Slutty Vegan, Cole says. I was solving a problem, because there was no late-night vegan food in Atlanta.

If you think Cole perpetually tumbles into restaurant businesses with little more than her love for cooking, shed readily agree with you.

Everything that Ive ever done, I have never had a plan, she admits. I just did it.

Cole attributes that drive to not only her mom, who was working several jobs to support the family, but her dad as well, who gave Cole business advice from behind bars.

My father is a genius. And being a genius, sometimes you dont make the best decisions because you are so committed to a goal, Cole says. I got two really good examples of parents that were committed to taking care of their family. And because of that, it showed me how to be a boss. It showed me how to level up. It showed me how to not wait on somebody to give me an opportunity but instead go out and get the opportunity my goddamn self.

And in the new opportunity of Slutty Vegan, Cole wanted to make sure her values as a vegan were in line with the business.

I realized I wasnt living in my authentic truth [with Pinkys Jamaican and American Restaurant], Cole says. I wanted to do something that was a reflection of who I was, who Pinky Cole is as somebody who loves to cook and get people to see food in a different way.

Theres been a long-held cultural perception that veganism is mainly for white and often affluent people.

But statistics say otherwise.

In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, African-Americans are the fastest growing vegan demographic in the United States. Cole has capitalized on that trajectory by making vegan food more accessible as comfort food.

[Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]The reality of it is roughly about 97% of the people who come to Slutty Vegan are meat eaters, says Cole of her largely Black customer base. Were not pushing the agenda on you that you have to stop eating meat. We just want you to open up your consciousness and be able to introduce new items into your lifestyle.

My mission is not to tell people that youre going to go to hell if youre not vegan, she adds. My mission is to get people to understand that all it takes is one step. And youre halfway there.

Breaking down those barriers obviously extends to the name of the company and its menu that includes items like Sloppy Toppy, One Night Stand, Mnage Trois, and Hollywood Hooker.

When we talk about the impact thats been made in the South, to have people lined down the fucking block every single day? I got three locations right now and have a line down a block every day that tells me that obviously were doing something right, Cole says. Weve been able to show people that veganism can be fun.

And Cole has shown herself how important it is to align yourself accordingly with your brand.

Slutty Vegan Super Slut [Photo: courtesy of Slutty Vegan ATL]It feels good to be able to walk in my purpose through this business, and I know that its my purpose because everything is coming the way that I want itdoing partnerships, my foundation, being able to open up all these restaurants in the middle of a pandemic, Cole says. So many people naturally support this business because its authentically in alignment to who I am. And thats why the business has been successful.

KC covers entertainment and pop culture for Fast Company. Previously, KC was part of the Emmy Award-winning team at "Good Morning America," where he was the social media producer.

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Atlanta's Slutty Vegan is having its best year ever during a pandemic - Fast Company