Investors who owned stocks in the 2010s generally experienced some big gains. In fact, the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) total return for the decade was 250.5%. But theres no question some big-name stocks did much better than others along the way.

One of the market laggards of the past decade was retail giant Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT).

The 2010s were a transformative decade for the retail sector. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) applied major pressure to a large portion of the sector, and Target was no exception.

Target kicked off the 2010s by announcing its first international expansion into Canada in 2011. It opened its first Canadian stores in March 2013 and eventually grew its Canada presence to 133 stores. Unfortunately, Target Canada was a huge flop and ultimately resulted in $2.1 billion in losses. Target eventually closed and liquidated all of its Canadian stores by the end of 2015.

Targets online expansion was much more successful. In 2017, the company announced Drive Up, a new service that allowed customers to order items online for in-store pickup. In the most recent quarter, Target said online sales were up 31%, while same-store sales growth was 4.5%.

Target shares started the 2010s trading at around $48. By the mid-2011, Target shares had dipped as low as $45.28, a price which would mark its low point of the decade. However, while Target shares held their ground from that point forward, gains were difficult to come by until the past two years.

Target climbed as high as $85.81 in mid-2015 on the home that the company was finally moving beyond its Canada debacle. Unfortunately, slumping same-store sales and heavy investing in online sales and in-store pickup dragged the stock back down to as low as $48.56 in mid-2017. Target finally broke out to new highs in late 2018, reaching $90.39 before another steep correction pulled the stock back down to $60.15 by years end.

Target once again broke out to new highs in mid 2019 and made it as high as $130.24 by the end of the decade.

Target has since pulled back to around $102 following the coronavirus outbreak, and the stock was a bit of a disappointment for investors in the past decade. In fact, $100 worth of Target stock in 2010 would be worth about $263 today, assuming reinvested dividends.

Looking ahead, analysts expect a big year from Target in 2020. The average price target among the 26 analysts covering the stock is $136, suggesting 33.4% upside from current levels.

Related Links:

Here's How Much Investing $100 In Macy's Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today

8 Retail Stocks To Put In Your Cart

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Here's How Much Investing $100 In Target Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today - Benzinga

The global march toward cannabis legalization has seemingly awoken another long dormant area of scientific interest: psychedelics as medicine. While the idea of using LSD, MDMA, andpsilocybin (the main hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms) to treat mental health disorders is far from a trail-blazing concept, this whole area of research had been off limits for the better part of the last 50 years. Then, something strange happened.

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) toCompass Pathways'psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. A few months later, the agency awarded BTD for Usona Institute'spsilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder.In lockstep with the FDA's more open-minded approach towardpsychedelic medicine, Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz all decided to decriminalize magic mushrooms. Hundreds of other U.S. cities are reportedly considering similar measures at the moment.

Image Source: Getty Images.

This renewed interest in psychedelics is being sparked by a pair of seemingly unrelated events. First up, cannabis has now been scientifically validated as a treatment for two severe forms of childhood epilepsy (more on this in a moment). These pioneering efforts with cannabis as medicine, in turn, have inspired researchers to take a second look at other controversial compounds like psilocybin.

The second driver is Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) groundbreaking work with the ketamine-derived medicineSpravato. In March 2019, J&J's hard work paid off when the FDA approved Spravato for treatment-resistant depression. This landmark approval is unique in that ketamine is well known to havehallucinogenic properties, as well as a long history as a party drug.

What's important to understand is that a paradigm shift is starting to taking shape within the Western medical community. In effect, scientists are increasingly intrigued by the therapeutic potential of psychedelics as treatments for a whole range of mental health disorders. Pyschedelic medicine thus has the potential to be a gold mine for early investors.

Psychedelic medicine offers investors several key advantages over legal cannabis. First and foremost, there will be considerably less competition in this emerging space, thanks to the stringent scientific, logistical, and regulatory barriers involved.Keeping with this theme, J&J'sSpravato has to be administeredunder the direct supervision of a healthcare provider. All psychedelic therapies are likely to be administered in the same manner. That's a level of administrative control that simply doesn't exist for medical cannabis.

In addition, psychedelic therapies will probably sport markedly stronger intellectual property rights than most medical cannabis products.This built-in economic moat should translate into steady levels of revenue growth for the industry -- a key feature that is currently lacking in the legal cannabis space because of the lack of a viable competitive moat.

What's the risk? Any approved medicines will have to be rescheduled by theDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Right now, almost all psychedelics are listed as Schedule I drugs, meaning they have no currently accepted medical use and are considered to have a high potential for abuse.

Fortunately, this issue shouldn't be a show-stopper. Back in 2018, the DEArescheduledGW Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ:GWPH)cannabis-based epilepsy medicine, Epidiolex, following its regulatory approval by the FDA. So, there's no overarching reason to think psychedelics can't be handled in the same manner, especially if a drug successfully completes a rigorous clinical trial program.

This flurry of clinical activity and growing public interest in pyschedelic medicine is expected to spark a handful of initial public offerings (IPOs) soon. Here is a list of the companies known to be considering an IPO.

Mind Medicine is reportedly considering an IPO on Toronto's NEO Exchange in early March. The IPO would take place via a reverse takeover under the ticker MMED. Mind Medicine lists former Canopy Growth(NYSE:CGC) co-CEO Bruce Linton as a director, as well as Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary as an investor.

Compass Pathways is also mulling over the public option. One of the company's main financial backers, biotech building company Atai Life Sciences, has reportedly spoken to multiple financial institutions about an IPO for Compass. Atai is seeking an $800 million capitalization for Compass upon its public debut, presumably on a Canadian stock exchange.

Field Trip Ventures is a Canadian venture capital fund that funds research into psychedelic medicines. The company has stated that it might consider going public sometime soon, but it may also decide to remain private for the time being because of the nascent stage of the industry.

Buying psychedelic medicine stocks during the first wave of IPOs is a risky proposition, to be sure. But the upside potential is undoubtedly immense. Any novel drugs approved for hard-to-treat forms of depression will have megablockbuster sales potential, with annual sales topping $5 billion. In that event, a Compass Pathway IPO, even at an initial market cap of $800 million, would probably look like an incredible bargain in hindsight.

The IPOs of Canopy Growth and GW Pharmaceuticals illustrate this point nicely. In brief, Canopy Growth and GW Pharmaceuticals both delivered 1,000% plus returns for investors that bought their IPOs. Psychedelic medicine stocks, though, may eclipse even these stately returns, thanks to their inherent competitive advantages over the struggling legal marijuana industry.

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Forget Cannabis: Psychedelic Medicine Is the Better Investing Opportunity - The Motley Fool

In this week's Industry Focus: Wild Card Wednesday, Emily Flippen talks with Matt Anderson from Vanguard Scientific. This show was prerecorded in December at MJBizCon, the world's biggest conference for the cannabis industry. Matt talks about his history in the regulated-products market, why marijuana is a lot like the oil we put in our cars, what investors need to know about buying into the market now that it's dropped so harshly from its highs, how the marijuana industry might handle vertical integration, and more.

To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out ourpodcast center. To get started investing, check out ourquick-start guide to investing in stocks. A full transcript follows the video.

This video was recorded on Dec. 11, 2019.

Emily Flippen:It's Wednesday, Jan. 29, and I'm your host, Emily Flippen. For this week's Wildcard Wednesday, we're going back in time a little bit, back to Dec. 11, 2019, when we traveled out to Las Vegas for cannabis convention MJBizCon. While our team was out there covering the cannabis industry, we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with one industry insider himself, Matt Anderson.

Now, before we dive into our interview, I want to give listeners a quick overview of the cannabis industry to the extent that I can. We hear a lot about investing in pot stocks, especially in the news, and the volatility that comes with it. But it's important to understand the industry dynamics for the cannabis industry. They're completely different than any other industry you may be investing in. For those who aren't aware, marijuana, both medical and recreational, is legal in Canada, as well as 11 states across the U.S. Hemp was legalized across the U.S. in 2018, and it's not the same thing as marijuana. Hemp is derived from the same cannabis plant that marijuana is, but it doesn't contain any of the psychoactive substances -- that's THC. CBD is a chemical that can be derived from hemp, and the sale of hemp-derived CBD topicals is legal nationwide.

So, having covered our bases there, the opening of the cannabis industry has opened up a whole new part of the equity markets. A lot of investors have lost their shirts investing in the cannabis space, while others still see the long-term potential. We sat down with Matt and we talked about his business, the state of the cannabis industry today, and what he sees for cannabis investors in the future. We hope you enjoy the interview!

Matt, thanks for sitting down with us today and talking. We're here at MJBizCon, which is the largest cannabis conference for professionals in the world. Yet there are still a lot of investors and a lot of listeners out there who have no idea about what investing in cannabis even means. You have been around the block yourself, to say the least, in the cannabis space, so I'd love to hear a little bit more about your background, your history, and how you got started in cannabis.

Matt Anderson: So it's dangerous, right, to say you've been around the block in the cannabis industry. My background's actually in regulated products. When I was 21, I built a distillery in my garage and made bathtub gin. Fast-forward seven years, we had two distilleries built in the United States and we were distributed in 17 states. Coming out of the alcohol space in 2015, I joined the regulated environment in Florida, actually for Senate Bill 1030, which was high CBD, it was called the Charlotte's Web Initiative. And I really got to see the difference between luxury or alcohol products to a real health-controlled product like a cannabinoid. And from that, the industry has just blown up, right? It's been something that's had conversations touching medicine, therapeutics, all the way to recreational and consumer dollars. So, for investors looking in the space, they've been able to find a niche, but then trying to quantify what that niche opportunity means has been, let's just say, less than straightforward.

Flippen: Your role now, you are now the CEO of Vanguard Scientific, which is an extraction company. I know a lot of listeners out there were probably confused by a lot of the words -- not only extraction, but cannabinoid, even. So maybe give us a baseline. What do you do now?

Anderson:Yeah, sure. We're actually technology integrators, but, extraction company, sure. Let's use oil and gas for comparison. The oil that you pull out of the ground isn't the same E-85 that you put in your gas tank. There's about nine to 10 different pieces of equipment, and then a number of specialized different steps that take, to actually be able to consistently produce that final oil product. The same is exactly true for this industry. Whether you're looking to produce a full-spectrum oil for a therapeutics product, or you want to get a distillate or isolated cannabinoid product for pharmaceutical off-take, there's different equipment, different processes, and different regulatory hurdles that are needed in order to be followed and compliant do so. What we do is, we work with our clients in a sole source relationship. So we'll show up and become consultant advisors. We'll help them procure their equipment to meet their needs. Our company's technology agnostic, so we represent the best extraction companies on the floor today. And then, we help them understand knowledge, technology, and methodology so they can actually produce compliant ingredients to get to the final market.

Flippen:I love that analogy you used about the gas you're pulling out of the ground not necessarily being the same thing that you put in your car. Obviously, your company now is great kind of a middleman in that process. I'll continue the analogy. You have upstream, midstream, and downstream in the energy sector. In the cannabis sector, it can be the same, right? You have people who are growing their product, people like yourself who are working in the middle, transforming what you pull out of the ground into something like oil. And then, you have people who are maybe taking that and then putting labels on it and selling it to the end consumer there. So it's a really great analogy, and there's lots of interesting, investable companies at every point along the space. But the equity markets now, they've been really depressed. Maybe talk to us about what we're seeing today that's impacting the equity markets, both in Canada and the U.S.

Anderson:Look, I think that what's happened in this over 60% retrenchment of the Canadian markets was probably the best thing or the most healthy thing that could have happened to the industry. For better or for worse, we've had very comfortable legal firms and very comfortable NYMEX or CSEX marketplaces that were enabling pre-revenue companies to justify large valuations.

For sophisticated investors, they kind of saw it coming. Quarterly reports were coming, and without real revenues or real assets, you were selling on an opportunity of a value creation. So we saw that happening in the United States. But at the same time, some of the more sophisticated private equity groups in the United States began to aggregate dollars and then bet on real revenue, and bet on, let's say, horses that could run. Vanguard, for instance, we're eight quarters of on-target earnings, and we've really focused on returning that investor experience.

This is going to be the largest economy in the United States and the world. Dow Chemicalhave released a small press release that said by 2025 that hemp might actually be larger than soy production globally. So when you start thinking about what the actual cannabinoids can do, and then the actual plant itself below the flower, we're starting to talk about addressing plastics and biofuels, right? Pain management. I think the number we quoted was something like a $2.6 trillion investable or addressable market that's capable.

So the equity markets themselves, what they've done is, they've said, "Look, you can't bet the widget and expect the horse to come in. You have to do your diligence. You've got to look at a run rate. You've got to look at the fitness of a company. And just like any other industry, you have to use some standards before you place capital."

Flippen:Now that the valuations we've seen in the public market have come back down to a reasonable basis, it really gives investors something to start working off here. What do you see as being the biggest headwinds and the biggest tailwinds for cannabis companies today?

Anderson:Wow, that's a great question. I think that companies that have published forward-looking perspectives that haven't recalibrated or haven't had a chance to readdress what they've promised are in a tough position. I've seen some of the best companies, no matter how big they are, print reactionary statements saying, "Look, given the circumstances in the environment, here's now our recast." Those are things that I really look for and appreciate in leadership teams.

Yeah, they take a haircut in upfront valuation, but they're finally putting a barrier, or I should say a hurdle rate out there, that they'll actually be able to hit, versus getting ready to let their investors down again. So I think that's probably a very large headwind opportunity. Folks that have gone heavy on the wrong infrastructure, that have invested in the wrong part of the supply chain, one would argue it's time to recap those companies' bets and start over.

Flippen: In terms of tailwinds, for Vanguard Scientific, what do you think is catalyzing the industry moving forward? Is there any reason why retail investors should be involved in the cannabis industry today?

Anderson:Yeah, without a shadow of a doubt. I think that the regulatory hurdles overall create the market opportunity. In any sort of industry that has hurdles or barriers to entry, what you see is market opportunity for those companies or performers that have the fitness level to compete. So, not everybody has a chance to be on the Walgreensshelf, but boy, oh boy, once that product hits the shelf, they're in 100 stores worldwide.

So, kind of looking at that analogy, for those operating teams and those companies that have a strong value proposition -- and I'd say Vanguard definitely is one of those companies -- what we're doing is promising our investors stabilized returns. We're looking to smooth out the return narrative while we're aggressively asking them to invest in audacious reaches for us to continue to expand our business model.

Flippen:Now, as somebody who is operating in that midsection of the market, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about vertical integration. It's a fancy word to just say that there are a lot of companies out there that are making the decision, whether that be because of their own personal beliefs about the market or regulatory requirements, to own every aspect of the value proposition in the cannabis sector. So they're owning the seed to sale experience, producing it, extracting it, changing it, labeling products, doing it all themselves, getting to consumers. Obviously, that is not your business right now. How do you feel about the future of vertical integration?

Anderson:Great question. You go back to business school; you've got two paradigms. One's buy versus build. Can you be great at everything? Are you an expert at every step of that value chain? And then you start setting things, supply chain integration, right? And that doesn't say vertical supply chain. I'm not saying I own it all. But what it does mean is, I do have a tight relationship, right? I'm hardwired and understanding, in which I know tolerances, plus and minus a value across the supply chain, so I can do what is the most important part, and that's promise consistency in the final product.

So I think some of the companies that are doing it the best aren't necessarily coming in and saying, "I have to own the company because I want to justify on my balance sheet that I've got the value creation," but they've come in and invested in this supply chain infrastructure because they have the need to guarantee that final product. So I think it's supply chain integration versus vertical integration for the win.

Flippen: Matt, thank you so much for talking with us here at MJBizCon. It's been an absolute pleasure.

Anderson:Yeah, thank you and thank The Motley Fool!

Flippen:As always, people on the program may have interest in companies discussed on the show, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against any stocks mentioned, so don't buy or sell anything based solely on what you hear. Thanks to Austin Morgan for his work behind the glass today. I'm Emily Flippen. Thanks for listening, and Fool on!

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Interview: The Future of Cannabis Investing - The Motley Fool

Vegetarian diets have reportedly been around since as early as 700 B.C.

Several types exist and individuals may practice them for a variety of reasons, including health, ethics, environmentalism and religion.

Vegan diets are a little more recent, but are getting a good amount of press.

This article takes a look at the similarities and differences between these two diets.

It also discusses how they affect your health and the environment.

According to the Vegetarian Society, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or by-products of animal slaughter.

Vegetarian diets contain various levels of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds. The inclusion of dairy and eggs depends on the type of diet you follow.

The most common types of vegetarians include:

Those who do not eat meat or poultry but do consume fish are considered pescatarians, whereas part-time vegetarians are often referred to as flexitarians.

Although sometimes considered vegetarians, pescatarians and flexitarians do eat animal flesh. Therefore, they do not technically fall under the definition of vegetarianism.

A vegan diet can be viewed as the strictest form of vegetarianism.

Veganism is currently defined by the Vegan Society as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty as much as possible.

This includes exploitation for food and any other purpose.

Therefore, a vegan diet not only excludes animal flesh, but also dairy, eggs and animal-derived ingredients. These include gelatin, honey, carmine, pepsin, shellac, albumin, whey, casein and some forms of vitamin D3.

Vegetarians and vegans often avoid eating animal products for similar reasons. The largest difference is the degree to which they consider animal products acceptable.

For instance, both vegans and vegetarians may exclude meat from their diets for health or environmental reasons.

However, vegans also choose to avoid all animal by-products because they believe this has the largest impact on their health and the environment.

In terms of ethics, vegetarians are opposed to killing animals for food, but consider it acceptable to consume animal by-products such as milk and eggs, as long as the animals are kept in adequate conditions.

On the other hand, vegans believe that animals have a right to be free from human use, be it for food, clothing, science or entertainment.

Thus, they seek to exclude all animal by-products, regardless of the conditions in which animals are bred or housed.

The desire to avoid all forms of animal exploitation is why vegans choose to forgo dairy and eggs products that many vegetarians have no problem consuming.

Research shows vegetarian and vegan diets tend to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

They also tend to contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy plant compounds (1).

What's more, both diets contain a high amount of nutrient-dense foods. These may include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and soy products (1).

On the other hand, poorly planned vegetarian and vegan diets could result in low intakes of some nutrients, particularly iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin D (1, 2).

Both diets also tend to contain limited amounts of vitamin B12 and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, although levels of these nutrients are generally lower in vegans than vegetarians (1).

According to a report from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and several scientific reviews, both vegetarian and vegan diets can be considered appropriate for all stages of life, as long as the diet is planned well (1, 2, 3, 4).

An insufficient intake of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamins D and B12 can negatively impact various aspects of health, including mental and physical health (5, 6, 7, 8).

Both vegetarians and vegans may have lower intakes of these nutrients. However, studies show that vegetarians tend to consume slightly more calcium and vitamin B12 than vegans (9, 10).

Nonetheless, both vegetarians and vegans should pay special attention to nutrition strategies meant to increase the absorption of nutrients from plant foods (2).

It may also be necessary to consume fortified foods and supplements, especially for nutrients such as iron, calcium, omega-3 and vitamins D and B12 (1, 11).

Vegetarians and vegans should strongly consider analyzing their daily nutrient intake, getting their blood nutrient levels measured and taking supplements accordingly.

The few studies directly comparing vegetarian to vegan diets report that vegans may have a somewhat lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and various types of cancer than vegetarians (12, 13, 14, 15).

In addition, vegans tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than vegetarians and seem to gain less weight as they age (12, 16).

That said, most studies so far have been observational in nature. This means that it's impossible to say exactly which aspect of the vegan diet produces these effects or confirm that diet is the only determining factor.

Although vegetarians and vegans may choose to avoid animal products for similar purposes, this choice often extends beyond diet for vegans.

In fact, veganism is often considered a lifestyle strongly anchored in animal rights.

For this reason, many vegans also avoid purchasing clothing items containing silk, wool, leather or suede.

What's more, many vegans boycott companies that test on animals and only purchase cosmetics that are free of animal by-products.

Ethical vegans also tend to steer clear of circuses, zoos, rodeos, horse races and any other activities involving the use of animals for entertainment.

Finally, many environmentalists adopt a vegan diet for its reduced impact on the earth's resources and the benefits it has against climate change (17, 18, 19).

Vegetarians and vegans may avoid consuming animal products for similar reasons, but do so to various extents.

Several types of vegetarians exist, and vegans are at the strictest end of the vegetarian spectrum.

Both types of diet can be considered safe for all stages of life, but vegan diets may even offer additional health benefits.

However, it's important for both vegetarians and vegans to plan their diets well in order to avoid health problems over the long term.

More about vegetarian and vegan diets:

Excerpt from:

Vegan vs Vegetarian - What's The Difference?

If you are newly vegan or looking to go vegan, it can be a bit overwhelming at first. You might be used to eating whatever you want without having a second thought about it, but now you suddenly have to scrutinize ingredient lists. You probably had a handful of go-to easy recipes you could whip up and enjoy for when hunger strikes, but now some of those recipes might not be vegan.

I get a lot of emails and comments from new vegans so I wanted to help out with a collection of easy vegan recipes for beginners. If you are new to my blog, then be sure to check out my recipe index,my cookbook Fuss-Free Vegan, and subscribe to my mailing list. Quick and easy recipes are the name of the game here on this blog.

I put some of my favourite and easiest recipes in this collection post along with recipes from a whole bunch of other amazing bloggers. Most of the recipes in this collection require just a handful of ingredients, not too much cooking time, and will get you started on your new vegan adventure. Everything from breakfast, snacks, mains, and desserts.

These recipes are from amazing bloggers all across the web, so not only will you be sampling some deliciousness, but you might find a few awesome blogs along the way. To get the full recipe for any dish, simply click on the picture or the title of the recipe. I hope you like this collection of easy vegan recipes for beginners!

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Vegan Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

Sweet Simple Vegan: Healthy 3-Ingredient Vegan Pancakes

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Vegan Toast Dipping Sauce

Beaming Banana: Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Evolving Table: Maple Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Serving Realness: Easy Vegan Peanut Butter Oat Bar

Gluten-Free Vegan Pantry: Avocado Toast 5 Ways

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Vegan Banana Bread Oatmeal

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Rosemary & Lemon Zest Popcorn

The Circus Gardeners Kitchen: Celery with Peanut Butter and Smoked Paprika

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Crispy Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas

Hummusapien: Easy Vegan Queso

Savory Tooth: Spicy Smoky Garlic Almonds

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Quick & Easy Vegan Cottage Cheese

Vegan With Curves: 5 Ingredient Spicy Roasted Nuts

The Big Mans World: Oil-FreeBaked Veggie Chips

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): 10-Minute Peanut Butter Popcorn

Happy Kitchen Rocks: 5-Minute Easy Vegan Tacos

Veggies Save the Day: Lemon Cream Pasta Sauce

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Creamy Lemon Pepper Chickpeas

Where You Get Your Protein: Hummus and Avocado Toast

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Vegan Potato Pancakes

Healthy Liv: 5-Ingredient One-Pan Mexican Quinoa

Happy Healthy Mama: Simple Baked Apples

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Smoky Vegan Beans on Toast

Strength& Sunshine: Microwave Gluten-Free + Vegan Mac & Cheese For One

VNutrition: Lemon One Pot Pasta

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): 10-Minute Thai Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Soup

Veggie Inspired: Super Simple Vegan Burrito Bowl

Moon and Spoon and Yum: Baked Garlic Pepper Polenta Fries

Vegan Huggs: Oil-Free Avocado Pesto

Vegan Heaven: Vegan Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomatoes

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Sweet Korean Lentils

Rhians Recipes: Lazy Falafel

Intentionally Eat: Black Bean Soup Quick and Easy

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Pantry Pasta Puttanesca

Sprouting Zen: 10-Ingredient Vegan Walnut Taco Meat

Beaming Banana: Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Shake

NamelyMarly: Easy Vegan Chocolate Croissants with Raspberries

Joy Food Sunshine: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Cashew Clusters

Beaming Banana: Vegan Banana Coconut Cookies 2 Ingredients

Feasting on Fruit: 3-Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Pots

Strength & Sunshine: 3-Ingredient Maple Tahini Freezer Fudge

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): 5-Minute Vegan Creamsicles

It Doesnt Taste Like Chicken (thats me!): Easy Fruit & Nut Vegan Chocolates

Beaming Baker: No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies

Blissful Basil: 5-Minute Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Delightful Mom Food: 3-Ingredient Brownies

See the original post here:

50 Easy Vegan Recipes for Beginners It Doesn't Taste Like ...

This vegan meatloaf is a savory, healthy and gluten-free dish. Made with easy to find ingredients, its a delicious plant-based version of a classic recipe.

Heres another plant-based recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, special occasions or just to make on a daily basis. Ive never been a meatloaf-lover myself, but I do love this vegan meatloaf.

Vegan chocolate chip cookies, perfect for everyday baking and made with 9 ingredients. They are so crisp on

Vegan burger, a simple recipe that only requires 30 minutes. Its grillable, full of flavor, and a healthy

Cashew milk, a creamy and delicious plant-based drink. Its ready in 5 minutes and it only requires 2

Roasted chickpeas, the perfect snack or appetizer thats also full of protein. They are savory and crunchy, so

Homemade soy milk is a great alternative to cows milk. Its delicious, so inexpensive, easy to make and

This simple vegan jambalaya is a super tasty, satisfying and nutritious vegan recipe, and a delicious dinner dish

Read the rest here:

Simple Healthy Vegan Recipes - Simple Vegan Blog

What Vegans and Vegetarians Eat

Most vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or poultry, but they tend to consume dairy products (especially vegetarians in India) and eggs. Many vegetarians also do not eat products that contain gelatin or other animal-based products. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products, but not eggs; ovo-vegetarians eat eggs, but not dairy products; and lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat eggs as well as dairy products. There is also pescetarianism, a vegetarian-like diet that avoids meat and poultry but does include fish.

The vegan diet tends to be much stricter than most vegetarians' diets. Meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and all other animal-based products, like honey, are entirely avoided. Moreover, any food or other (sometimes inedible) product that makes use of animals is avoided. This often extends to clothing, medicines, and anything else in which animals or animal products are used. For example, a vegan would not use leather shoes or belts, cosmetics that have been tested on animals, down comforters, gelatin medicine capsules, woolen sweaters, or fur coats.

Fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts are staples of both the vegan and vegetarian diets. Sometimes tofu is used as a replacement for meat-based products.

While some vegans may cite nutritional concerns or food allergies as the primary reason for adhering to their diet (dietary vegans), most adopt a vegan lifestyle for moral and political reasons (ethical vegans). The vegan point of view tends to be that animals are not here to be exploited by man, and that commercialization of animals involves a fundamental, inhumane component and lack of respect for basic life.

There are many reasons one might be vegetarian. A prominent reason is for health concerns, as the vegetarian diet is often high in fiber while also being and low in sugar and saturated fats. Similarly, some adopt vegetarianism due to growing concerns about food safety when it comes to meat. Moral and/or political reasons are also common; for example, some have embraced vegetarianism (and veganism) for environmental reasons.[1] Some religions, like Hinduism and Jainism, prescribe or encourage vegetarianism. Others, like some Christian sects, practice abstinence from animal products during Lent.

In general, most studies show vegans and vegetarians are as healthy, if not healthier than, their meat-eating counterparts. Veganism, in particular, is very good at eliminating common food allergens, such as shellfish and dairy. A plant-based diet is high in complex carbs from whole grains and root vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, etc.

There is ongoing study of the advantages and disadvantages of the vegan and vegetarian diets. Many studies have found cardiovascular benefits to both diets, and some suggest there is a lower risk of cancer among vegans and vegetarians.

An extensive study published in June 2013 shows that vegetarians live longer than meat eaters and are 19% less likely to die from heart disease. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a Journal of the American Medical Association, was covered by the Wall Street Journal. Other key findings from the study include:

A rebuttal of the media reports of this study argues that correlation does not imply causation, and that the longer life span of vegetarians found in the study could also be attributed to the fact that the vegetarian group tended to exercise more, be married, consume less alcohol, and smoke less compared with the meat-eating group.

Overall, determining whether these diets directly affect long-term health outcomes is difficult. The different types of vegetarians are rarely studied against each other, for instance, and vegans and vegetarians often tend to be more affluent or health-conscious, both of which positively affect long-term outcomes.

A notable downside to the vegan diet is that vegans often need to take B12 supplements and sometimes (depending upon how thoughtful you are to craft a well-balanced diet) other dietary supplements, such as amino acids, iron or vitamin D as their diet tends to lack these essential nutritional components.[2] There is also a risk that a meatless diet does not contain enough protein, which is especially concerning for growing children.

There are varying results of studies on the environmental impact of diets. While no two studies arrive on the exact same conclusions, it is widely accepted that cutting down on meats and moving to a more plant-based diet would be more environmentally-friendly.

A 2014 study found that moving to a meat-free lifestyle would help reduce carbon emissions.

However, this does not mean that a vegan diet is necessarily the most environmentally friendly. Another study in 2016 analyzed the carrying capacity of ten diet scenarios, i.e., how much land would be required to feed 1 person under a particular dietary regime.

The study found that while a vegan diet is significantly more efficient than our current diet, it's not the most efficient diet there can be. That's because not all land is suitable for agricultural use. If grazing land can be used for cattle, and a certain portion of human nutritional needs are fulfilled by dairy, then a significant number of people can be fed.

A 2008 study by Vegetarian Times found that 7.3 million people, or 3.2% of the U.S. population, is vegetarian; even more are partly vegetarian, eating meat only on occasion. A majority of vegetarians are female (59% of women vs. 41% of men), and most are younger (42% are in the 18-34 demographic).

A 2012 Gallup poll found the number of American vegans and vegetarians to be even higher than what Vegetarian Times found, with 5% of the population identifying as vegetarian and 2% identifying as vegan. Most vegans and vegetarians in this poll were found to be female, single, liberal, and older in contrast to what Vegetarian Times found.

In 2010, the UK's National Center for Social Research released data from a 2008 social attitudes survey. They found vegetarians and vegans were much more likely to have higher incomes. They also found non-whites were more likely to be vegetarian or vegan than whites, and often for religious reasons.

Many well-known celebrities, activists and politicians, artists, and sports figures adhere to vegan or vegetarian diets. Famous vegans include singers Carrie Underwood and Erykah Badu, Olympic sprinter Carl Lewis, actor and musician Jared Leto, and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. Among vegetarians, there is Coldplay singer Chris Martin, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi, and actors Natalie Portman and Peter Dinklage.

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Vegan vs Vegetarian - Difference and Comparison | Diffen

This simple vegan jambalaya is a super tasty, satisfying and nutritious vegan recipe, and a delicious dinner dish made with beans instead of meat.

Jambalaya is a dish from Lousiana, which has its origins in the Spanish and French cuisines, especially in the Spanish dish paella and jambalaia, a French dish from Provence.

Classic recipe is not vegan and is made with some meat or seafood, veggies, and rice, but Ive made a plant-based version using chickpeas and beans instead of an animal-based protein.

Its a super nutritious dish because it contains vegetables, protein (legumes), and a healthy source carbohydrates (rice), and also so tasty because of the spices Ive used.

I used to saute my veggies in water and then I added tahini along with the legumes, but I prefer to saute my veggies in oil now and I also omit the tahini. Both versions are so good, so make the one you prefer!

No, I dont, but you could if you want or you could also use leftover rice. In that case, just omit the water or vegetable stock and add more oil or tahini if needed.

You could eat it by itself as it includes veggies, carbs, and protein, but here are some side dishes that pair very well with jambalaya:

Please leave a comment below, share it or rate it. You can also FOLLOW ME onFACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM,andPINTEREST. Id love to see what you cook!

This simple vegan jambalaya is a super tasty, satisfying and nutritious vegan recipe, and a delicious dinner dish made with beans instead of meat.

Update Notes:This post was originally published in September of 2017, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions and tips in January of 2020.

Hey, Im Iosune! I am a recipe developer, writer, and author of Simple Vegan Meals and Simple Vegan Smoothies CookBooks.

Find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Vegan Jambalaya - Simple Vegan Blog

I am besotted with the vegan caesar at Lodge Bread in Culver City. Lodge is always my first stop when Im visiting my parents, and I miss the salad almost as much as I miss them when I leave L.A. Im not exaggerating when I say that I would eat this salad every day if I could. How do they build such a well balanced and addictive salad?

Lex G, Oakland

Classic Caesar salads rely on the umami punch of Parmesan and anchovies and on the fattiness of eggs for a creamy dressing. This totally plant-based version blends nutritional yeast with miso and tahini to make it as delicious as the original and combines lemon juice and cider vinegar to balance the richness. And as with the standard, raw garlic brightens the mix with its sharpness.

Although the dressing comes together in minutes, it gets even better after a day or two in the fridge. In that chill time, the flavors meld and umami deepens into a truer Caesar. Because this mix is vegan, it keeps well in the fridge for a whole week.

At Lodge, the romaine comes speckled with parsley and dill. The herbs add a nice, fresh bite, but skip them if you prefer a typical Caesar. And if youre OK with cheese, swap the final sprinkle of nutritional yeast for Parmesan shavings. Just dont skimp on the cracked black pepper at the end. Those pops of heat tie everything together.

15 minutes. Serves 8.

The proportions below make one cup of dressing. You can use it all at once with the amounts of lettuce and croutons below for eight generous salad servings or divvy it up as you want. A quarter cup will coat the chopped leaves of one romaine heart nicely.

Ingredients

Instructions

Make ahead: The dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Adapted from Lodge Bread.

45 minutes. Makes as much as you want.

Homemade croutons taste way better than store-bought. They take time to bake but little effort to put together. And they dont require exact measurements: crisp up as many or as few as youd like and adjust the other quantities as needed. The timing depends largely on the bread and your crunch preference. Heres how to do it.

Ingredients

Instructions

Make ahead: The croutons will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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Excerpt from:

The Lodge Bread vegan caesar salad recipe is fast and easy - Los Angeles Times

Veganism is on the rise worldwide and pop culture, retail and sports have taken notice.

Scientific evidence shows that diets high in unrefined plant foods are associated with beneficial health outcomes, including general health, immune function, cardiovascular health and lifespan. It would appear logical that plant based diets have the ability to enhance performance in a variety of areas, including sports.

LONDON ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Vegan strongman world record holder Patrik Baboumian poses for ... [+] portraits after talking about his veganism and the documentary Game Changers during Plant Powered Expo 2020 at Olympia London on February 2, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images).

Many critics have dismissed this shift in sports culture to a fad with no concrete scientific evidence to back it. And whether the merits can be substantiated or not, one thing is for sure plant based is a growing trend in the sports world with an increasing number of athletes advocating for its game changing qualities.

Here are five reasons why sports are going vegan.

Many plant-based products have more protein than meat

Traditionally athletes believed that the only way to meet their daily protein requirement was via meat consumption, but with increased awareness around nutrition, this has changed.

Many plant-based foods are actually richer in protein than meat. One ounce of meat protein contains 7 grams of protein, which is comparable to many plant based sources.

A 2019 German study, reported in the journal Nutrients found that athletes following a plant based diet with B-12 supplementation actually had marginally higher nutrient adequacy than athletes who were meat eaters.

With 15g of protein per serving, black beans for example, have more protein than a chicken drumstick and one cup of lentils has 18g of protein more than a hamburger. The need for other nutrients, such as calcium, iron, and vitamin B-12, can be met via plant based sources such as edemame which provides 27.6 per cent of the daily requirement of calcium, one cup of fortified orange juice which meets one half of the daily calcium requirement, spinach which carries more than twice the amount of iron than meat and dark chocolate which carries more than six times the amount of iron as meat. As for B-12, fortified foods and supplements can be used to ensure good health.

Sports drinks and performance enhancers are going plant based

According to research from Lumina Intelligence, 21 per cent of online bestselling protein powders in the USA are plant-based (March 2019).

A sharp increase in the availability of plant-based, performance enhancing products has made it easier and more enticing for athletes to embrace a plant-based lifestyle.

The sector is booming and is intensely competitive. Lumina reveals that there is an innovation race, as brands chase the elusive perfect plant protein with pea protein currently taking the number one spot.

Vegan sports nutrition is also coming in the form of pre-prepared meals and nutritional programs. In 2016 Tom Brady teamed up with Purple Carrot, a vegan meal delivery service to create a meatless, dairy-free TB12 performance meal plan.

Plant based gives endurance athletes an edge when it comes to heart health

In a 2019 review entitled, Plant-Based Diets for Cardiovascular Safety and Performance in Endurance Sports, it was reported that the elevated cardiovascular risks faced by endurance athletes, such as atherosclerosis (plaque building up inside arteries) and myocardial damage (decreased blood flow to the heart) can be reduced by a plant based dairy free diet.

Researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have also suggested that a vegan diet can enhance athletic performance due to enhanced cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol and weight loss.

Plant based diets are more conducive to recovery

Armenian-German strongest man in the world and former body builder, Patrik Baboumian credited his body building success to a vegan lifestyle. My recovery time was so much faster so I could train more, he said.

Evidence from Harvard Medical School shows that plants antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to shorten recovery times, reduce delayed onset muscle soreness, lessen joint pain, and enable quicker healing from injuries. Plant based diets also improve blood viscosity, which helps to efficiently deliver oxygen around the body, promoting healing. All of these factors can also contribute to career longevity.

Pro athletes are endorsing the plant-based link to performance

The plant based shift in sports culture is evident in the Netflix documentary, The Game Changers produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, that uses first hand testimonials from elite athletes to depict how a vegan diet improves athletic performance.

Venus Williams opted to transition to a raw, vegan diet when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Sjgrens syndrome that caused her to suffer from joint and muscle pain. In an interview with Health magazine, Williams revealed that her new diet was life changing, allowing her to return to tennis. I feel like Im doing the right thing for me," she said.

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 26: Venus Williams of the USA learns to make tanghulu (candied fruit) at ... [+] the 2019 China Open on September 26, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Pro athletes are increasingly adopting vegan or vegetarian diets, while advocating for their overall health benefits, improved performance and enhanced recovery. Footballer, Tom Brady eats a predominantly plant based diet, the Williams sisters are vegan, elite rock climber, Steph Davis is vegan Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic, Colin Kaepernick, Lewis Hamilton The list goes on.

According to Barny du Plessis, the worlds first vegan bodybuilder and Mr Universe 2014, These days I train half as much, do half as much but get better results. Why? Only one answer, going vegan, GMO free, and organic. My body is running perfectly."

Read more from the original source:

Five Reasons Why Sport Is Going Vegan - Forbes