You dont have to be a veggie lover to experience tasty vegan food. Published on Thursday, Dec 19th, 2019

The holidays are a tricky time: With all of the heavy food that seems to be passed around the family table, its hard to find healthy things to eat. From Thanksgiving until the end of the year, all bets are off as far as sticking to any kind of healthy eating regime goes. Throw in a couple of holiday parties and midnight turkey sandwiches, and youve gotten to a point where youre craving something on the lighter side. Sweet Soulfood, located at 1025 N. Broad, is serving up delicious vegan soul food, cafeteria-style, to put you back on track this holiday season and all year long.

Owner Chetwan Smith decided to go vegan after suffering from hypertension and migraines. Feeling a bit isolated after changing her eating habits, she decided to open Sweet Soulfood and serve up vegan versions of the soul food that she loves. The goal of Sweet Soulfood is to serve all of your favorite foods with a vegan twist in a way that everyone will enjoy them not just veggie lovers.

Im always trying to eat well myself, but I seem to sometimes gravitate toward heavier food, especially during the holidays. Im not averse to vegan food and I think that it has come a long way since the early days of tofu and rice cakes. I was eager to stop in and try some homemade vegan cuisine for myself at Sweet Soulfood. I like that the food is laid out cafeteria-style, giving you the opportunity to look over the offerings and find something that appeals to you. At the hot bar, you can get up to four items, so I decided to go all out and really treat myself. I got the mac and cheese, chicken fried cauliflower, okra gumbo, and greens.

I have to mention the portions here are extremely generous my four items were $15, and this was easily enough for two meals or even to share. I dug into the chicken fried cauliflower first, mainly because I was so intrigued and I had never had anything like it in my life. WOW. Any hesitation I had about being able to enjoy fried cauliflower went right out the window! This was fantastic big pieces of cauliflower lightly battered and fried. Theres no mistaking that it isnt chicken, but if youre craving that yummy fried crunch, this is a must.

Next up was the mac and cheese. Im not sure how they get it so creamy, since real cheese isnt involved, but I loved it. It had that good chew that you expect from mac and cheese and it was so good that I actually forgot that it was vegan.

The okra gumbo was excellent and even had some non-meat sausage in it, which was quite tasty and reminded me of a leaner meat sausage. The roux was on the milder side, but it was packed with flavor and, after a few bites, I didnt miss the meat. I really like okra, but if it isnt your thing, you might want to skip this, as this dish is packed with okra as its main bulk.

Finally, I dug into the greens, which were seasoned well and flavorful. At first, I was afraid that I was going to miss having bacon and ham in the greens to add that extra fat, but Sweet Soulfoods version was so good that I didnt even think about the fact that it was meat-free.

The rest of the menu at the restaurant is extensive with items such as sweet potatoes, red beans and rice, portabella mushrooms and gravy, eggplant lasagna, stuffed bell peppers, corn bisque, jambalaya, bread pudding and more. It also has a salad bar and serves up wraps, soups, fresh juices, vegan ice cream and other vegan desserts. Also, Yelp just declared Sweet Soulfood the best vegan restaurant in Louisiana, so you know that youre in good hands. If youre looking for a big vegan spread at your next party, Sweet Soulfood also does catering!

In a city that is known for delicious, maybe not-so-healthy food, Sweet Soulfood absolutely fits in and stands out. As a gal who does enjoy her meat, I finished my lunch feeling completely satisfied and excited that I had leftovers to enjoy later.

Even if you dont plan on going full veggie anytime soon, Sweet Soulfood is a great place to enjoy a wholesome lunch.

Price point: $15 or less, depending on number of sides.

See original here:

Sweet Soulfood puts vegan twist on favorites that usually arent so healthy - Very Local New Orleans

It doesn't matter that it's 2013 and the two action heroes are starring in the underwhelming movie "Escape Plan." This sort of machismo is as timeless as a sword wielding Achilles from Homer's Iliad.

In one scene, the two heavyweights are exchanging punches when Schwarzenegger doubles over in laughter. "You hit like a vegetarian," says the strong man turned actor turned politician.

Six years later, Schwarzenegger appears in "The Game Changers" documentary telling the world he no longer eats meat and espousing a vegan diet for high performance. "It's marketing," he says of the long-held connection between testosterone and T-bone steaks.

Initially, James Wilks, the producer and presenter of "The Game Changers," didn't set out to change anyone's mind, let alone Schwarzenegger's. Back in 2013, the former mixed martial artist and special forces combat trainer purchased a second hand camera off Craigslist simply to document his road to recovery from two injured knees.

Like Schwarzenegger, Wilks had been conditioned to believe that alpha men chowed down on mountains of rib-eye in order to beef up their muscles. His shock led to curiosity.

"That was the start of the journey," Wilks told CNN Sport. "We never expected it to take us where it has."

Today, "The Game Changers," directed by Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos is a worldwide phenomenon. Alongside Schwarzenegger, co-producers include Hollywood director James Cameron and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.

The documentary's premise is simple: eating more vegetables is good for you, eating meat and dairy products increases your risk of health complications. It's hardly ground breaking news. But the way this message is packaged is the source of the popularity of "The Game Changers."

There are the usual talking heads you'd expect to find in a documentary about nutrition -- scientists, doctors, even the odd historian and sociologist. But the film's unique selling point is the way it leans on the success stories of high-performing athletes to convey its philosophy.

Eight-time US cycling champion Dotsie Bausch, record-breaking strongman Patrik Baboumian, NFL wide receiver Griff Whalen and a clutch of bodybuilders and endurance athletes all speak of improved performances since transitioning from an omnivorous diet to one solely based on plants.

"I used to think that vegans were skinny, long haired, hippie tree huggers living in communes," Wilks said. "You know, they just care about the planet and nothing else. There's nothing wrong with that, but that was my perception and I think a lot of people's perception."

It is for this reason that the word vegan is used just once in the film, by Wilks' father, and never by any expert interviewed or Wilks himself.

"There is a stigma attached to the words veganism and vegetarianism," he said. "Those diets tell you what you're not eating but it doesn't tell you what you are eating."

Apart from setting the record straight on terminology, Wilks and his team also sought to dispel myths surrounding plant-based diets and the benefits of eating meat. Across 88 minutes of screen time, several studies and experts challenge the idea that muscle growth is contingent on animal protein.

"We wanted to show the facts, show the science and then people can make up their own minds. We wanted to open people's minds and present the evidence that challenges some myths around nutrition," Wilks said.

But critics have been out in force.

Others have pointed out that some of the film's producers -- like Cameron who is the CEO of Verdient Foods, an organic pea protein company -- have a commercial interest in turning the world vegan. Some just aren't happy about being told how to live their lives and feel "The Game Changers" is wagging a finger in their face.

"I think there's a misconception of the film," Wilks said. "Before the film came out, people who hadn't even seen the film were saying it's propaganda, that the science is cherry picked. How can you make an interpretation of the film if you haven't seen it?"

"People got hung up on the gladiator thing. They claim I said that gladiators were vegan. I never say that. I say they predominantly ate plants. So people then latch on to this and say that if they can discredit the founding reason for my interest in this subject then the can discredit the entire documentary. But it's just not true."

"We're not trying to tell people to go vegan or go vegetarian, we just want people to make up their minds about what they're eating," Wilks said. "I shouldn't be judging other people or telling them what to do."

Some of the film's points are less open to scrutiny.

Since the release of "The Game Changers," more elite athletes have changed their eating habits. Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is now openly vegan and strongman Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson, who plays "The Mountain" in "Game of Thrones," has said he is open to the idea (but only during off-season).

One documentary cannot change the world. But by speaking to millions of people, and by tapping in to a broader discourse that has already mobilized Extinction Rebellion and fostered an increase in Google searches for the word vegan, Wilks has hit us where we feel it most -- in our stomachs.

Read more here:

Macho vegans: The documentary that's changing the script on plant-based diets - CNN International

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 ourFood Monster App! We have vegetable tarts, savory pumpkin hummus, and a Christmas bundt cake, so if youre looking for something new and delicious, you are sure to find a new favorite!

Source: Black Eyed Pea Patties

Black Eyed Pea Patties by Lydia Filgueras can be served anytime of the day. Theyre at their best when warm, but retain a lot of texture at room temperature which makes them a great choice to carry with you for a meal on the go. They can be eaten plain as shown, or served up sandwich style with your favorite fixings.

Source: Savory Pumpkin Hummus

This Savory Pumpkin Hummus by Mitra Shirmohammadi is a delicious and creamy alternative to the traditional version inspired by seasonal ingredients and flavors. It makes the perfect high-protein and nutrient-dense snack or side dish that happens to be vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free. It works so well in wraps and sandwiches and also as a spread on toast or pizza.

Source: Vegetable Tart

This Vegetable Tart by Lenia Patsi is wonderful and delicious! Its full of vegetables and makes a great brunch!

Source: Lemon Poppyseed Cake Balls

If you like the traditional lemon poppyseed cake, youre going to LOVE these Lemon Poppyseed Cake Balls by Nikki and Zuzana. To make these balls youll only need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have at home and about 15 minutes of your time. They are raw (so no baking required, vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar free, but the flavors are the real thing! With ingredients like cashews, coconut, maple syrup and healing spices, these little treats are not only going to satisfy your sweet cravings but also nourish your body.

Source: Almond Coffee Pudding

This Almond Coffee Pudding by Avenue is an easy and delicious breakfast that will kickstart your day!

Source: Christmas Bundt Cake

This vegan Christmas Bundt Cake by Lena Novak is delicious and so easy to make, and to top it all off looks absolutely beautiful! It also uses applesauce, xylitol (instead of refined sugar), and whole wheat flour, so it is a much healthier dessert. Give it a try this holiday season, your family will love it!

Source: Tempeh Meatball Subs with Roasted Veggie Marinara and Homemade Buns

Homemade meatballs, homemade sauce, and homemade buns what could be better! This is an amazing recipe for Tempeh Meatball Subs by Travis Piper that is sure to impress.

Source: Root Vegetable Tart with Candied Nuts

This beautiful Root Vegetable Tart with Candied Nuts by Kirsten Kaminski is the perfect combination of sweet and savory and a showstopper for your Christmas brunch or dinner! These colors truly pop and there is a variety of textures in this dish: flaky puff pastry, melted cashew mozzarella, chunky root vegetables and crunchy candied nuts.

Source: Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas

These Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas by Rene Barker are hot, cheesy, and comforting. What if you put those flavors and feelings into a tortilla? BOOM, thats what these quesadillas are! These are ooey, gooey, and super delicious.

Source: Fudgy Coconut Glazed Mini Doughnuts (No Donut Pan Needed!)

These Mini Doughnuts by Shannon Leparski are special. They do not require a doughnut pan. Just a regular baking sheet or muffin tin. If you have a doughnut pan, thats cool too. The coconut glaze is everything! Super decadent and sweet, so no need to drown the doughnuts in the glaze unless you want a major sugar high. Drizzle just enough to lightly coat the mini doughnuts. Sprinkle some shredded coconut over top and be proud that you succeeded at vegan doughnuts!

We also highly recommend downloading ourFood Monster App, which is available foriPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

For more Vegan Food, Health, Recipe, Animal, and Life content published daily, dont forget to subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Pleasesupport us!

Read more from the original source:

From Almond Coffee Pudding to Tempeh Meatball Subs: Our Top 10 Vegan Recipes of the Day! - One Green Planet

Alright, youve done the Thanksgiving dinner. You spent hours dicing onions, chopping sweet potatoes, creaming spinach, stewing mushroom gravy and your vegan feast was a total success!

All of sudden Christmas is right around the corner, youve still got your shopping to do, not to mention those work deadlines that youre putting in extra hours for, and theres at least one more holiday party youre planning to attend.

Whos got the time to make yetanotherfeast?

Luckily, if youre crunched for time, but still have family and friends to provide for, there are a slew of wonderfully tasty and vegan-friendly pickup, delivery, or even shipped options that you can choose. Save yourself time, headache, and even a bit of moola and try one of these pre-made Christmas dinner options!

The Purple Carrot/purplecarrot.com/plant-based-recipes

If you went with a Thanksgiving delivered feast this year, then you may recognize this company! Purple Carrot believes that when you eat plant-based foods, good things happen. Along with offering Thanksgiving pre-made meals, Purple Carrot is also offering a shippable Christmas feast the week of December 22nd. One hundred percent vegan with a slew of gluten-free and soy-free options, Purple Carrot offers eight different recipes to choose from for your Christmas box including Beet & Coconut Bacon Flatbread, White Lentil Risotto, Herb Sausages, Peanut Vegetable Buddha Bowls, Tofu Scramble Tacos, Walnut Crusted Artichokes, Pumpkin Coconut Curry, and Buffalo Tempeh Quinoa Bowls.

TeroVesalainen/Pixabay

Another familiar name from the Thanksgiving list! Whole Foods is wildly popular and not just for their high-quality, super tasty meals, but they are one of the only grocery store chains offering pre-made vegan-friendly meals.This Christmas choose from a slew of vegan options for your feast including Mixed Mushroom Soup, Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, Roasted Garlic and Parsnip Gravy, Creamiest Winter Squash with Raisins and Sage, Celery Root Mash, Coconut Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Tahini-Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Raw Cranberry Sauce. Build your own box, choose a date to pick it up, and simply re-heat at home!

Veestro/veestro.com

Take a walk down the super healthy side this Christmas with a curated vegan box from Veestro! Veestro offers 100 percent plant-based, organic, preservative-free, and fully prepared meals delivered directly to your doorstep.Plus, you get to choose from a variety of delicious and masterly created recipes including Pulled Jackfruit Turky, Golden Chickpea Stew, Beluga Lentil Braise, Portobella Steak Dinner, Spinach Pie, Kale and Quinoa Salad, Cauliflower Milanese Dinner, Lentil Meatloaf, Mushroom Stroganoff, and Quinoa Bake, just to mention a few of the options.

Image Source: George Sheldon/Shutterstock

If youre looking for that perfect easy dinner for Christmas day, why not call in an order to a local favorite hot spot Buca di Beppo? With over 70 locations in the states, youll definitely be able to find one! Plus theyve got options for everyone. Vegan alternatives include the bruschetta (hold the cheese), mixed green salad (substitute Italian dressing for oil and vinegar), special order the pasta puttanesca, go with garlic olive oil over marinara sauce and get a side of steamed green beans and broccoli.Plus, make it super easy by ordering online and picking up hot and ready to eat!

Make, Believe Bakery/makebelievebakery.com

Make, Believe Bakery, located in Denver, Colorado, is a 100 percent vegan bakery that also specializes in allergy-free baking. They not only believe in compassionate cooking that meets the needs of as many people as possible but they also use quality, organic, GMO-free products whenever they can.

If you live in the area, you can stop by one of their locations Make, Believe Bakery, Watercourse, or City, O City and pick up a preordered box of goodies or have your baked desserts shipped. Make sure to order by December 20th to get your goodies by Christmas!

Get pastries, such as sweet potato cinnamon rolls, babka, and ho-ho cake, cookies, such as chocolate, ginger-molasses, and sugar, or delicious bread, such as banana bread, rye, or pretzel.

Vegan Treats/vegantreats.com

So, weve got Christmas dinner covered on the list. Whether its shipped or delivered in a prepared box or picked up steaming hot. What about dessert? Maybe youve got a few a holiday parties coming up or a family that fiercely loves their holiday goodies.Either way, weve got the perfect place for you to get those baked desserts shipped right to your door!

Vegan Treats, founded by Danielle Konya 20 years ago, is an ethical vegan bakery that promises to provide desserts that not only taste good, but actually [taste]betterthan any other cake, vegan or otherwise.

What treats will you find for the holiday season? Holiday variety packs, Traditional Cannoli, Swiss Chocolate Encased Cannoli, or even a Gluten-Free Cannoli.

Pumpkin Chocolate Boat Loaf/wholesomebakery.com

Didnt quite find what you want or need from Vegan Treats?

Luckily Wholesome Bakery is here to fill whatever baked goods void is left! Wholesome Bakery, located in San Francisco, wants to inspire and provide high quality, sustainably made, allergy-friendly products that everyone can enjoy while servicing our environment, the small working farmer and ecological habitats.

Plus, they have a slew of vegan baked goods that are perfect for the holiday season and can be shipped directly to your doorstep; from the Pumpkin Chocolate Boat Loaf to the Cookie Sandwiches to the Holiday Gift Box. If youre in the San Francisco area, you can drop by to pick up a Holiday Pie, a Custom Tiered Cake, Seven Layered Bars, or a box of cupcakes.

Make sure to order well in advance for shipping or place an order to be picked up by Christmas Eve, as they are closed on Christmas Day.

The Butchers Son/thebutchersveganson.com

You may be thinking that this one looks familiar thats because the Butchers Sonalsomade the Thanksgiving holiday list! This absolutely wonderful, 100 percent vegan delicatessen and bakery in Berkely, California, has just posted their Christmas pre-order menu and it looks amazing!

Build a vegan Christmas box from their menu items complete with Smoked Turkey Roast with a Pear Honey Glaze, Sausage Stuffing, Small Shepherds Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, Whole Cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apple Pie, and Classic Eggnog. Take everything or pick and choose the items youd like!

Remember, this is a pickup only option, but, if youre in the Berkely area, you get to choose from four different pickup times including December 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or the 24th!

Reverie Bakeshop/reveriebakeshop.com

Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas, Reverie Bakeshop serves up vegan delights. This Latina woman-owned business provides sweets that are compassionate towards animals, the planet, and our health, with the goal to offer high-quality vegan pastries that are healthier than non-vegan counterparts and just as tasty!

This holiday season Reverie Bakeshop will be offering up gingerbread houses, sugar cookie assortments, candy cane cake, red velvet shortbread cookies, coconut macaroons, snowball cookies, and a variety of gluten-free options.

Orders are open through December 21st, so dont waste any time and get your vegan desserts pronto!

Very Good Butchers/verygoodbutchers.com

Very Good Butchers set out to redefine and create a better, less-processed plant-based meat alternative. Created by trained chefs, this plant-based butcher team, loving called bean butchers, have been selling out across British Columbia.

This holiday season get your very own holiday box of plant-based goodies!

If you miss the holiday deadline or youre just not into a holiday box, try getting one of their regular meat boxes such a this Big Box of (Vegan) Meat that includes two Very Good Burgers, one pack of Smokin Bangers and Very British Bangers, two packs of Taco Stuffer, one pack of BBQ Jackfruit, two packs of Ribz, and two packs of Pepperoni. This box will help you create a Christmas feast that will knock the socks of off all your family and friends!

We also highly recommend downloading ourFood Monster App, which is available foriPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

For more Vegan Food, Health, Recipe, Animal, and Life content published daily, dont forget to subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Pleasesupport us!

Originally posted here:

10 Vegan Christmas Meals and Desserts You Can Pickup or Have Delivered to Your Doorstep - One Green Planet

Last week, Reebok, owned by Adidas (ADDDF) since 2005, unveiled the design for its first plant-based running shoe, the Floatride GROW, which is expected to hit store shelves in the fall of 2020.

The upper part of the shoe is made primarily from eucalyptus. Its soles are made from castor beans and natural rubber. The scheduled debut comes two years after Reebok started selling a "vegan" version of its famed Newport (NP) Classic shoes made with cotton and corn. The more sustainable version of the NP Classics are "lifestyle" footwear not designed for athletic performance.

In contrast, Reebok brand president Matt O'Toole says the Floatride GROW is sturdy enough to handle the wear and tear from intense and constant use by athletes.

"One of the challenges for the innovations team was [the Floatride GROW] had to be equal to or better to" the vegan NP Classics, O'Toole told CNN Business. "We actually have our own testing machines. The shoe holds up just as well as our other [athletic] shoes."

Reebok and Adidas are just two of the major athletic retailers vying to get in on the ground floor of what experts expect to eventually be a booming plant-based sneaker market, as discarded footwear fills up US landfills.

Most shoe waste is comprised of non-biodegradable plastic, leather and petroleum-based rubber, materials that take an average of 25 to 80 years to decompose naturally, multiple shoe companies told CNN Business.

In recent years, calls for climate change reform and for major corporations to engage in more sustainable business practices have created a niche market among young people who are interested in shoes that are more biodegradable.

A 2019 "future of footwear" study commissioned by the market research firm NPD found that Millennials and Generation Z, the primary consumers of athletic footwear, are "very concerned" about the environment.

"Our survey shows that consumers were concerned about where their shoes were made and whether or not they were made ethically," NPD senior sports industry advisor Matt Powell told CNN Business. "About 35% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more for a shoe sustainability made. While it isn't the entire market, that's certainly a category for growth."

The shoes have been resold for as much as $1,446 per pair on second-hand retail sites.

Maharashi sales associate Miles Chick said the promotion's organizers were inundated with requests to enter the online raffle for Nike's vegan sneakers. "When word spread, it just started kind of ringing alarms in the vegan community," he said.

Nike says sustainability has been at the core of its business for decades, but noted that recent research about climate change has compelled the company to change the way it makes and sells its shoes.

"We exist to serve athletes. ... We know that if there is no planet there is no sport," a Nike spokesperson told CNN Business in an emailed statement. "Advancing a more sustainable future requires companies of all sizes to think holistically, innovate solutions and adopt the principles of circularity."

Powell, the sports industry advisor, says the jury is still out on how many Americans will purchase shoes made from more sustainable materials over the versions they know and love.

"I think there's a whole lot of other things that go into what makes a shoe successful," he said. "The style has to be right and the shoe has to perform. Reebok knows how to make shoes. I'm pretty convinced this shoe will do well."

Read more:

Vegan sneakers set to be next sustainable plant-based craze in 2020 - CNN

The Vegan Nest in Worcester is kicking off 2020 with a mini film and food festival to promote healthy eating and community.

On Saturdays from 7 to 9 p.m., the Waldo Street restaurant will show a film along with a special pop-up menu. The festival will go throughout Veganuary, which encourages people to eat vegan through January.

Whether folks are plant-based, vegan or just looking for healthier options, this is sure to be an opportunity for our entire community to thrive, said owner Nicole Broushet.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online. Admission includes food, drink and the film screening. Attendees will also have access to recipes, meal plans, resources and materials for the month of January and health consultations for 2020 wellness goals. Seating is limited.

The film lineup is Vegucated on Jan. 4, H.O.P.E What You Eat Matters on Jan. 11, SEED: the Untold Story on Jan. 18 and Ancient Health on Jan. 25. Additionally, Jan. 18 will be The Vegan Nests kickoff date for its community garden initiative.

The Vegan Nest opened about two years ago and offers a menu of vegan breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Related content:

More:

Worcesters The Vegan Nest hosting a food and film festival for Veganuary - MassLive.com

There are countless plant-based meats available in stores and restaurants now. From classic meatless brands like Gardein, Quorn, and Morningstar Farms to newer meaty mainstream brands like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.Unlike meat, dairy, and eggs, plant-based foods are proven to be better for preventing diseases like type 2 diabetes, alleviating arthritis, healthier gut and digestion, better cholesterol levels, improved cognition, and more. Studies have proven that eating plant-based foods is much healthier than consuming animal products, but consumers still have an important concern: are plant-based meat alternatives really that much healthier, or healthy at all?

Well one startup company is aiming to relieve consumers of that worry. Daring Foods has created a plant-based chicken alternative that they claim is much healthier than meatandother meat replacements. It is made with five non-genetically modified ingredients water, soy, sunflower oil, salt and natural flavoring (a mix of paprika, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, cardamom).

Daring Foods co-founder and CEO Ross Mackay told TechCrunch: Theres a big need for plant-based food thats actually healthy. The chicken is currently being sold in the United Kingdom as of this year, but after a $10 million investment from Rastelli Foods Group, a major U.S. food company, they plan to launch in the U.S. in February!

They will sell directly to consumers through their website, and to restaurants and retailers. Although the CEO Mackay is vegan, the consumers he hopes to reach are meat eaters who are looking to incorporate plant-based foods or transition to plant-based diets. He told Anthony Ha of TechCrunch that he is hoping to create what he calls a second generation of plant-based meat products healthier than the first, and therefore a bigger part of everyday diets.

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects. Learn aboutsome Common Health Concerns That May Disappear Once You Ditch Dairyand 10 Calcium Supplements For Healthy Living on a Dairy-Free and 10 Carrageenan-Free Non-Dairy Products!

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 meatless, plant-based, vegan and allergy-friendly 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.

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter!

Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!

Here is the original post:

Healthy Plant-Based Chicken Alternative Coming to the U.S. in February 2020! - One Green Planet

The burger giant has just announced that it will launch a fully vegan meal in January, 2020 (Picture: McDonalds)

Veganism has gone mainstream, so its easy to forget what life used to be like for us plant-munchers.

In restaurants we had to endure awkward conversations with bewildered waiters, who would disappear to the kitchen and return saying they could do us the salad with the cheese picked out and the dressing left off. Wed go home hungry.

Now virtually all chain restaurants and cafes offer delicious vegan options and we can dine almost as happily as everyone else and McDonalds is about to join the party.

The fast food chain will be rolling out its first fully vegan meal on 2 January a year on from the much-hyped launch of Greggs vegan sausage roll and just in time for the annual Veganuary gimmick.

As the burger giant becomes the latest brand to try to seduce vegans into its restaurants with a carefully-targeted product, you might think it wouldnt have a hope in hell. Vegans in McDonalds? No chance!

But despite criticism of the chain over animal suffering,as outlined in a report by World Animal Protection, the seduction will succeed.

Why? Because a lot of vegans believe that spending money at chains like McDonalds will show a demand for plant-based products and bring an end to the slaughter and exploitation of animals.

On social media, vegans post photographs of overflowing supermarket baskets or restaurant tables groaning under the weight of vegan meals, proudly boasting that theyre showing the demand for these dishes, and changing the world.

And when the likes of KFC and Burger King launch plant-based products, they are, astonishingly, given uncritical publicity by vegan publications.

Once McDonalds launches its plant-based meal, lots of vegans will undoubtedly pour through the doors, believing that by handing money to cow slaughterers they will somehow help bring the slaughtering of cows to an end.

Likewise, when Burger King launched its plant-based Impossible Whopper, many vegans said that it would encourage meat-eaters to stop eating meat but thats not what happened.

As Jos Cil, CEO of Burger Kings parent company, Restaurant Brands International, said: We arent seeing guests swap the original Whopper for the Impossible Whopper its attracting new guests.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

In other words, meat-eaters continue to buy beef burgers and they still account for most of Burger Kings profits.The only difference is that vegans and vegetarians have started to come through the doors, too.

That sound you can hear is burger bosses laughing all the way to the bank.

It was the same story at Greggs. When the bakery giant launched its vegan sausage roll, it enjoyed a 58 per cent rise in profits and a surge in customer numbers, but if it had just been Greggs regulars who switched from meat to the plant-based sausage roll, profits would have stayed much the same.

Vegans arent changing the world by buying plant-based products from big chains, theyre just making animal slaughterers even richer.

And this successful seduction from big business has left many small, independent vegan businesses struggling to stay afloat.

They cant compete with the hype of Greggs or KFC, so they watch on broken-hearted as vegans stampede to bankroll animal slaughter.

As veganism becomes increasingly trendy, I suspect that a lot of vegans are secretly vegan for the trendiness or vegan for the consumerism

This all comes down to why you are vegan.

Some in the community say they are vegan for the animals, or vegan for the environment or vegan for health. If you fall into any of those camps, I cant see why youd eat in a McDonalds.

Simon Cowell shows off results of vegan diet as he soaks up Barbados rays with son Eric

Insiders at Greggs reveal a vegan steak bake is on the horizon

Greggs is extending their vegan range but won't tell us which products they're releasing

As veganism becomes increasingly trendy, I suspect that a lot of vegans are secretly vegan for the trendiness or vegan for the consumerism.

If you are either of those, then sure, go and eat a vegan meal in McDonalds if youd like to.

But if you are vegan because you want animal exploitation to actually end, and if you hope that a fairer society for animals could lead to a fairer society for people, then handing money to McDonalds, a company that exploits humans as well as animals, would be heretical.

Lots of vegans say they are activists, but their activism is just tapping credit cards against the contactless machines of big corporations.

That isnt activism, its capitalism and talk of ethical capitalism is as laughable as the meat industrys claims of humane slaughter.

Im not lovin it

MORE: Token veggie burgers and vegan sausage rolls arent enough to save the world

MORE: Im not just a vegan. Im a fat vegan

MORE: Im on a mission to save the planet by being a terrible vegan

Read the original:

You can't be a vegan and still eat at Mcdonald's - Metro.co.uk

We wish you a headless robot/ We wish you a headless robot/ We wish you a headless robot/ and an alpha zero. If that ditty lacked a certain something, you should be going Da da da doom! about the festive piece in Saturdays Post about a computer saying Roll Over Beethoven and finishing his fragmentary 10th Symphony for him, possibly as a weirdly soulless funeral march.

Evidently this most ambitious project of its type ever attempted will see AI replicate creative genius ending in a public performance by a symphony orchestra in Bonn, Beethovens birthplace part of celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the composers birth. Why its not being performed by flawless machines synthesizing perfect tones is unclear.

What is clear is that its one of those plans with only two obvious pitfalls. It might fail. Or it might work.

Its one of those plans with only two obvious pitfalls. It might fail. Or it might work

A bad computer symphony would be awful, like early chess programs beneath contempt in their non-human weakness. But now their non-human strength is above contempt, as they dispatch the strongest grandmasters without emotion.

So my main concern here isnt with the headless Beethoven thing failing. Its with it succeeding. I know theres no stopping progress, that from mustard gas we had to go on to nuclear weapons then autonomous killer bots. But must we whistle so cheerfully as we design heartless successors who will even whistle better than us?

Its strange how many people yearn for the abolition of man. From New Soviet Man to Walden II, radicals cant wait to reinvent everything, including getting rid of dumb old languages where bridges have gender, and dumb old Adam and Eve into the bargain. Our ancestors stank. And we stink. The founder of behaviourist B.F. Skinners utopian Walden II chortles that when his perfect successors arrive the rest of us will pass on to a well-deserved oblivion.

So who are these successors? In That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewiss demented scientist Filostrato proclaims that In us organic life has produced Mind. It has done its work. After that we want no more of it. We do not want the world any longer furred over with organic life, like what you call the blue mould What if were nearly there?

Freed of the boring necessities of life we might be paddocked in a digital, this-worldly Garden of Eden. But unless we are remade, we shall be more than just restless there. Without purpose we would go insane, as in Logans Run or the planet Miranda.

Ah, but we shall be remade. Mondays Post profiled Jennifer Doudna, inventor of the Crispr-Cas9 gene-editing technique so simple and powerful theres an app for it. Scientists can now dial up better genes on their smartphones and leave all the messy calculating to the machines. But if the machines can outcompose Beethoven, why would they leave the creative redesign of humans to us?

If the machines can outcompose Beethoven, why would they leave the redesign of humans to us?

To her credit, Prof. Doudna has nightmares about Hitler welcoming her invention. But forget Hitler. Here comes Leela to edit us away. And if Walden IIs eagerly anticipated design of personalities and control of temperament are within reach, and desirable, why should the new ones look anything like our current wretched ones? Is there anything to cherish in fallible man? If not, what sleep shall come?

So as we ponder Christmas, if we do, let us remember that 2,000 years ago the world was turned upside down by a God made Man because he loved weakness not strength. As a baby, then in the hideous humiliation of crucifixion, Christ gave a dignity to the helpless and downtrodden you find nowhere else including operating systems. Is it all rubbish, from the theology to the morality?

Years ago I argued for genetic modifications to restore the normal human template. But not to improve it, from eagle eyes to three legs to eight feet tall. But what will the computers think, and why should they? If nature is an obstacle to transcendence, where will they get their standards? Not from us. Nor will they want a bunch of meat around, sweating, bruising, rotting. Say goodnight, HAL.

Already algorithmic pop music is not just worse but in some important way less human. Where is Greensleeves or Good King Wenceslas in this Brave New World? And where should it be?

Shall the digital future burst forth from our abdomens and laser away the mess? Or is there something precious about us frail, vain, petty and, yes, smelly mortals? If so, what?

Many people love Christmas without being Christian. But many do not. And I think it comes down to your ability, or inability, to love humans as we are, which the Bible says God did but which supercomputers have no obvious reason to do.

So sing a carol for fallen man while the machines work on a funeral march.

Go here to see the original:

John Robson: Why is man so keen to make man obsolete? - National Post

Whether were learning to cook an omelet or drive a car, the path to mastering new skills often begins by watching others. But can artificial intelligence learn the same way? A new challenge teaching AI agents to play Minecraft suggests its much trickier for computers.

Announced earlier this year, the MineRL competition asked teams of researchers to create AI bots that could successfully mine a diamond in Minecraft. This isnt an impossible task, but it does require a mastery of the games basics. Players need to know how to cut down trees, craft pickaxes, and explore underground caves while dodging monsters and lava. These are the sorts of skills that most adults could pick up after a few hours of experimentation or learn much faster by watching tutorials on YouTube.

But of the 660 entries in the MineRL competition, none were able to complete the challenge, according to results that will be announced at the AI conference NeurIPS and that were first reported by BBC News. Although bots were able to learn intermediary steps, like constructing a furnace to make durable pickaxes, none successfully found a diamond.

The task we posed is very hard, Katja Hofmann, a principal researcher at Microsoft Research, which helped organize the challenge, told BBC News. While no submitted agent has fully solved the task, they have made a lot of progress and learned to make many of the tools needed along the way.

This may be a surprise, especially when you think that AI has managed to best humans at games like chess, Go, and Dota 2. But it reflects important limitations of the technology as well as restrictions put in place by MineRLs judges to really challenge the teams.

The bots in MineRL had to learn using a combination of methods known as imitation learning and reinforcement learning. In imitation learning, agents are shown data of the task ahead of them, and they try to imitate it. In reinforcement learning, theyre simply dumped into a virtual world and left to work things out for themselves using trial and error.

Often, AI is only able to take on big challenges by combining these two methods. The famous AlphaGo system, for example, first learned to play Go by being fed data of old games. It then honed its skills and surpassed all humans by playing itself over and over.

The MineRL bots took a similar approach, but the resources available to them were comparatively limited. While AI agents like AlphaGo are created with huge datasets, powerful computer hardware, and the equivalent of decades of training time, the MineRL bots had to make do with just 1,000 hours of recorded gameplay to learn from, a single Nvidia graphics processor to train with, and just four days to get up to speed.

Its the difference between the resources available to an MLB team coaches, nutritionists, the finest equipment money can buy and what a Little League squad has to make do with.

It may seem unfair to hamstring the MineRL bots in this way, but these constraints reflect the challenges of integrating AI into the real world. While bots like AlphaGo certainly push the boundary of what AI can achieve, very few companies and research labs can match the resources of Google-owned DeepMind.

The competitions lead organizer, Carnegie Mellon University PhD student William Guss, told BBC News that the challenge was meant to show that not every AI problem should be solved by throwing computing power at it. This mindset, said Guss, works directly against democratizing access to these reinforcement learning systems, and leaves the ability to train agents in complex environments to corporations with swathes of compute.

So while AI may be struggling in Minecraft now, when it cracks this challenge, itll hopefully deliver benefits to a wider audience. Just dont think about those poor Minecraft YouTubers who might be out of a job.

Continued here:

AI has bested chess and Go, but it struggles to find a diamond in Minecraft - The Verge