JEAN-PAUL PELISSIER

Cycling in the rain is one way to make you appreciate life anew.

A few weeks ago I did something I would never normally do: I cycled back from work in a torrential downpour... on purpose. I could have jumped on a bus, but instead, I decided to offer myself up to nature's wrath via a bone-rattling rental bike. And yes, it was horrible, the needle-sharp rain pricking my cheeks, a relentless horizontal gale turning exposed extremities to ice; with every passing bus a tidal wave of brown gutter water dousing me in misery. By the time I arrived home, frozen to the core, I felt like bursting into tears. In a way I wish I had, because it would have made what followed even more delicious.

The misery I had just endured was all part of a plan to inject some much-needed perspective into my relatively trouble-free existence. Sure, I have the usual 21st century anxieties mortgage repayments, what I'm going to have for dinner, the futility of existence but compared with the hardship and struggle that plagued previous generations, I'm like a pampered poodle. Or, as they say in northern England:"I don't know I'm born."

And therein lies the problem and the reason for my masochistic cycle ride: when you "don't know you're born", you don't know you're alive. In theory we should be exceedingly grateful that many of us no longer have to worry about where our next meal is coming from or whether we might freeze to death through lack of heat, but it is only by experiencing and overcoming such hardships that we are able to fully appreciate the good stuff.

When our needs are constantly being met, we lose sight of who we are and become over-entitled, grumpy and dissatisfied. We forget that overcoming obstacles not only gives life purpose and meaning, but also offers us precious snippets of fulfilment with each battle won. Despite our fragility, we humans are remarkably resilient creatures but every now and then we need to be reminded of that, or we become complacent. It may be a clichebut we really do have to experience darkness in order to appreciate light.

The Greek philosopher Epicurus taught us that real pleasure comes not from acquisition but from the removal of pain and I can certainly attest to that. Who knew that the removal of sopping socks could elicit such intense pleasure or that a simple hot shower could feel like a sousing from God? And I can't begin to describe the bliss of wrapping myself in a warm dressing gown, glass of whisky in hand, as my frozen extremities tingled back to life.

None of these little shudders of joy would have been possible without having first put myself through the grinder. So now, every day, I try to throw myself in the way of some unpleasantness or other so that I might emerge on the other side smiling. I like to think that a gratification deferred is a gratification earned.

Take nature for instance. Although I adore the natural world, I was becoming blaseto her beauty; I'd stopped noticing the majesty of trees, the wonder of birdsong, the lilting landscape. Familiarity hadn't bred contempt exactly, but it had certainly bred indifference.

Last weekend, before heading to the country for my weekly hike, I spent the afternoon in a grotty part of my home city,surrounded by bleak industrial estates and grey concrete tower blocks; when I did finally make it back to nature the following morning everything appeared more vivid the greens were greener, the trees more fantastical and the birdsong sweeter. Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Stephen Blumenthal understands the importance of my "forced perspective". He sees a lot of depression and anxiety, especially in men, and believes that material and sensory abundance can have a numbing effect on the human psyche.

"When we no longer have to struggle for things, we lose motivation and our capacity for joy. Human beings need hurdles to overcome in order to feel renewed," he tells me. It is also worth remembering George Bernard Shaw's advice to "choose the line of greatest advantage instead of yielding in the direction of least resistance".

I'm not suggesting masochism as a road to nirvana, but there are lots of little adjustments we can make to roughen things up a bit, just enough so that we don't become numb to life's little elations.

My own light bulb moment came a few months ago when I realised how little I was enjoying food, due to a long period of overindulgence and under-appreciation, which prompted me to change my habits.

These days many of us eat simply out of boredom, or because we're used to it: food is so plentiful that mealtimes are often just a way to break up the monotony of the day. When was the last time you felt gut-gnawingly hungry? Most of us plough through three meals a day with plenty of snacking time in between, meaning we simply don't have time to feel hunger, which is a shame because food tastes so much more delicious when you deprive yourself a little.

I used to be in such a hurry to get through mealtimes I'd often forget to chew, which meant I missed out on the most pleasurable part of eating. But not any more. Once or twice a week I purposely skip breakfast or lunch or both, not because I've signed up to some faddy diet, but because it makes dinner so much tastier.

I actually look forward to mealtimes now rather than just going through the motions. You could even take it further by fasting once a week and drastically reducing portion size. I guarantee your enjoyment of even the humblest of food will increase dramatically.

Epicurus urged moderation for the maximisation of pleasure, understanding that once you strip away all the excess guff, our needs are remarkably modest pleasure is finite, after all. And if you don't believe me, try an all-you-can-eat restaurant and see how it makes you feel.

The Telegraph, London

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An alarming rise in obesity disorder impelled by insalubrious diet and the hectic pace of modern lifestyles among the urban population has become a global concern. Approximately 650 million adults were obese in 2018 worldwide. With fewer calories, less fat and carbohydrates content, almost no sugar, and more proteins, drinkable meals are the eminent food item for people with obesity disorder. Switching from regular food to a calorie-restricted liquid meal once or twice a day has been proved to help people lose weight in less time. In that context, growing consumer preference towards replacing their routine meals with nutrient-rich diet that contain low fiber content and high-quality ingredients are the key factors fueling the growth of the drinkable meals market. Surging demand for low calorie and protein-rich food which helps to maintain a healthy weight have augmented the intake of drinkable meals. Subsequently, increasing demand for personalized nutrient combinations is also a key factor fueling the demand for drinkable meals market.

The global drinkable meals market size was valued at $41.5 million as of 2018 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.8% throughout the forecast period 2019-2025.

Easy eating: Drinkable Meals are vital in an On-the-go World

Changing healthy food habits and food convenience are the most influencing factors aiding the growth of the drinkable meals market. Nowadays, consumers are becoming more health-conscious and looking for food items with more nutritional values. Ready-to-eat food products are being considered as the closest alternative to regular food in order to save time and which can be consumed at any meal time such as during breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Drinkable meals are processed food products that provide a blend of macronutrients and energy to the consumers replacing the main meals. They are also used to provide extra nutrition for patients during and after treatment for several diseases to attain dietary balance. Moreover, the evolution of novel meal replacement formulations made with non-GMO food ingredients having optimum nutritional properties is boosting the drinkable meals market. The lack of appetite in the elderly population and those with digestive issues such as ulcerative colitis, gastritis, and others turned as a barrier for preparation of fresh food, thus increasing the growth of this market in the global front. Thus, the time saved by drinkable meals along with their nutritional benefits are spurring the drinkable meals market growth. On the other hand, the increasing number of health clubs around the world also has a positive impact on nutrient-rich drinkable meal products. In 2017, the health club market size of the U.S. alone was valued at $30 billion. These sturdy health club sectors are further amplifying the awareness of the drinkable meals market.

Healthy Eating in a Hurry - Drinkable Meals and its Indisputable Benefit of Saving Time

The proactive interest to maintain physical health is motivating the young and adult population towards the intake of nutritional supplements in a single meal due to their hectic work schedules. Most of the meal replacement drinks serve as a means of fast weight loss. Rapid surge in the e-commerce business along with the introduction of innovative meal replacement products that offer better health benefits will also aid the drinkable meals market growth globally. Also, an increased effort by retailers to shift online to gain better visibility and offer purchasing convenience is enhancing the online drinkable meals market sales. E-commerce platforms such as wallmart.com and healthkart.com offer a wide variety of protein shakes, protein bars, meal replacement protein powders, and other dietary supplements for online purchase. Nowadays, consumers are ready to spend more on food items with more health benefits. Attractive packaging, in-store promotions, and health claims in labels are some of the common strategies that companies have adopted in recent times. A declining trend towards away-from-home dining surging the at-home cooking trend are other favorable factors constituting the growing demand for convenience food items like drinkable meals globally. As a result, the drinkable meals market is rising with the evolution of e-commerce.

North America Holding Major Share of the Drinkable meals Market

North America generated 38.8% of the global drinkable meals market revenue share in 2018. Increasing geriatric population and proactive healthcare practices of people will spur the growth of the drinkable meals market in this region. A high rate of obesity, cardiovascular, and other health-related problems among the population are other influencing factors for this market growth in North America. More than 130 million adults are estimated to have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2035.These growing numbers, which in turn, shift the focus of the American population towards healthy, nutrient-dense, and less-calorie food intake in the form of daily meal. As a result, the drinkable meals market growth in this region is surging in upcoming years.A rise in working women population has all made the practice of preparing whole meals quite infrequent. The need to replace whole meals with food that can be quickly prepared yet has equivalent nutritional value has boosted the global market for drinkable meals. Consequently, approximately 25.1 million mothers of children 18 and younger are in the workforce, representing a third of the nation's working women. Many have felt that cooking family meals, including school lunches for children, is a burden and time-consuming process, which in turn, creating the perfect storm in the North American drinkable meals market.

The application segment that will be creating the most lucrative opportunities for the drinkable meals market is the meal replacement products. This application segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% through to 2025. Increased demand for convenience products is the key trend that has strongly favored the meal replacement food products. A surge in protein bars and meal replacement protein shake intake increases the demand for more meal replacement food products. Flax milk is non-dairy milk alternative which contains no cholesterol or lactose and used to prevent and treat heart diseases. Cream of Rice is an excellent source of iron and when prepared with water it is naturally free from fat, cholesterol, sodium, and gluten. On the other hand, changing food consumption patterns among consumers, increased willingness to spend on such convenience food and the lack of time to cook at home are also catering the demand for meal replacement products. The use of numerous meal replacement products in weight-loss regimens has also lead to their widespread popularity in the upcoming years. Consequently, the nutrients available in the drinkable meals aiding the weight-loss regime are favoring the growth of the drinkable meals market.

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The Major Players in the Drinkable Meals Market :

Prominent players in the drinkable meals market include Ample Foods Inc., Ambronite, Huel, Jake Nutritionals B.V., Joylent joy, Mana Foods, Queal, and Soylent. These companies are continuously investing in research and development activities to provide innovative and cost-effective product portfolio.

Soylent, an American-based contrarian food replacement company has introduced its new product Soylent Squared, chewable mini-meal on April 18, 2019. This product is a 100 calorie snack-size protein bar. With this product launch, Soylent turned in to complete a nutrition platform in the United States.

Ambronite, Finland-based plant-based meal replacement food Products Company has introduced its new products such as AmbroGreens, Ambronite Balanced Meal Shake, and AmbroBite into the market on June 27, 2019. These products provide plenty of fiber, food-based vitamins, and minerals. These products are swiftly accepted and became a trending items by the consumers in the market.

Related Reports:

A. Vitamins And Nutrition Supplements Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/231/Vitamins-and-Nutrition-supplements-Market-report.html

B. Nutritional Premixes Market

https://www.industryarc.com/Report/15005/nutritional-premixes-market.html

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Drinkable Meals Market Witnessing Windfall Gains Owing to Demand from Health-food Junkies for High-Quality Cost-Effective Food Items - MENAFN.COM

Photo: Alyse Parker/ Youtube

Today in vegan-blogger drama, beloved (former) raw vegan influencer Alyse Parker declared that she was going full onnn carnivore. Meaning, not only would she begin eating meat, but she would only eat animal products a.k.a. only meat, seafood, + eggs for a full 30 days as she adopts the so-called carnivore diet. She made the announcement with an Instagram post; in it, shes posing in front of an uncooked slab of steak.

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By this point, you probably know that I looove trying new things, running little experiments, and diving into challenges of all sorts. Some of the experiments I have run in the past... - 30 days without shampoo - 1 year without deodorant - 21 days of only fruit juice - 30 days without social media - 3 YEARS of not shaving my armpits, not wearing makeup, not using heat on my hair.. Etc. etc. you get da point Yehhh some may call me crazy.. But Im a firm believer in experiencing things first hand + getting a real feel for what something is all about before I form a personal opinion on it. The Carnivore Diet first came into my awareness when a close friend shared with me all of the benefits that he was experiencing by eating this way. Coming from being vegan 4.5 years, I was hellla resistant to the concept of eating ONLY animal foods (aka only meat, seafood, + eggs) I didnt make ANY sense to me. It actually sounded pretty f*cking ridiculous. But oddly enough, I started to hear story after story from my fellow vegan friends jumping ship, testing out the carnivore diet and experiencing amazing health transformations. I was so confused. But I had my own fair share of health struggles and eventually reached a breaking point where I was willing to try anything to function properly again. With an online community of 800,000 people ~ many of which were primarily showing up for my vegan related content... I was a bit conflicted to say the least. But I knew I needed to make decisions based on what was in the best interest for my health. I swallowed my pride + decided Id give it a shot. Full onnn carnivore. I woke up the next morning feeling more mentally clear, focused, wholesome, and healthy than I had felt in years. God bless. But also, WTF? My vegan identity crumbled immediately. This past year of my life has been a journey of remembering who I am separate from what I eat. In hopes of challenging others to step out of their current perspective ~ I documented my newest challenge of eating only meat for 30 days. Video launches next week. Whos ready? Comment below!

A post shared by ALYSE PARKER (@alyseparkerr) on Nov 29, 2019 at 2:22pm PST

Parker, who between her YouTube and Instagram profiles has over a million followers, built her social-media kingdom on her raw vegan lifestyle, including a website raw-alignment.com where you could purchase apparel, sign up for her alignment accelerator (a sort of online life-coaching program), and vegan retreats. Her YouTube channel also includes her not-diet-related lifestyle videos, such as using a fertility tracker as birth control, the pros and cons of dreadlocks, and shooting down rumors that she doesnt shower.

Her status as a vegan paragon had recently gone up for debate, though, after her followers found that she was pinning recipes of egg-based dishes on Pinterest. And this past March, Parker herself confirmed that she had quit veganism in a video titled I am not vegan, claiming it had caused her health issues because of mold exposure. In a follow-up video, she explained that shed begun eating meat again, and in an August video titled Goodbye Raw Alignment. HELLO Alyse Parker, Parker completed her rebrand from raw vegan influencer to a straightforward lifestyle influencer.

The March announcement caused extreme backlash amongst her followers, who accused her of holding off on going public so that she could continue monetizing her audience; specifically, she didnt announce it until after running a vegan retreat in Australia. That criticism has only intensified since her announcement last week that she would exclusively be eating animal foods. Her audience as accused her of hypocrisy, and being so out of alignment its ridiculous, among other things.

So far, though, Parker still has a massive following on social media, and is only the latest in a long list of vegan influencers who have defected from the diet. She, at least, seems to have gotten ahead of any rumors and managed to rebrand to without much fallout. A worst-case scenario recently unfolded when vegan blogger Yovana Mendoza Ayres (Rawvana), was caught eating fish in another persons vlog. The vegan influencer community was shaken by the scandal, and Rawvana faced an onslaught of vicious criticism for her crime.

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Oh No, a Vegan Blogger Has Pivoted to Carnivore Diet - The Cut

This week's newsletter: An OG lifestyle blogger is called out for a ridiculous and inauthentic #ad, and a former vegan announced her very dramatic dietary change.

Posted on December 6, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. ET

This is Please Like Me, BuzzFeed News newsletter about how influencers are battling for your attention. You can sign up here.

Emily Schuman is an OG blogger. In 2008, she started her fashion and lifestyle blog, Cupcakes and Cashmere, as a way to document the things she loved. She quickly became one of the most recognizable and influential personalities in the lifestyle blogosphere and quit her job in media to run her site full-time. In 2010, she designed a bag with Coach and now has a line at Nordstrom. She has written two coffee-table books and her website has a full-time staff of 10, besides Emily and her husband Geoff. In the golden age of blogging, she was an A-lister.

The online landscape is very different now than it was in 2008. Influencers are the new bloggers, and everything is on social media. While Emily and her blogging peers grew their audience through lengthy posts, sometimes multiple times a day, now all it takes is an iPhone and photos with captions to become a fashion influencer. The bar for entry is much lower, and the competition is much fiercer. Bloggers like Emily have had to convert their audiences to new platforms to remain relevant. Not that Emily has been unsuccessful in many ways she is the model example of this. She has more than half a million Instagram followers and her brand is chugging along just fine.

There are bound to be hiccups, though. And this week, Emily had a big one when she did an #ad for a new at-home company called P.volve. P.volve offers streaming classes and unique fitness equipment to go along with its low-impact training method. One piece of equipment is the p.ball, a rubber ball attached to a band that fits between your legs for glute and thigh work.

Last week, Emily uploaded a video of herself using the p.ball during a at-home workout. The caption read: Luckily wasn't feeling too intimidated when the only other members of my @pvolve workout class were my cats. #ad.

Emily immediately got completely read for filth by her followers for the ad, which you can watch here. They had two main gripes. The first is that Emily has many times written about how she doesnt really exercise. She has explained in blogs that she has a somewhat complicated relationship with fitness and has said she remains slim due to her naturally athletic build and a naturally fast metabolism, along with dabbling in intermittent fasting. So followers felt that Emily suddenly shilling an exercise product was extremely inauthentic, a mortal sin for bloggers and influencers.

Come on Emily!! Im sorry but this is SO ridiculous. It is soooooo off brand and unauthentic. It comes off like all you care about is making money, no matter the cost or how it comes off, wrote one.

The second gripe: They thought the video was just plain weird and awkward. Some of the commenters trolled her. (Maam this is the olive garden...lol.)

I see both sides here. On the one hand, I understand it can be frustrating to follow someone for years and watch them seemingly sell out with inauthentic ads for money. Fans highly value the authenticity of influencers: It builds the trust that allows their recommendations to be taken seriously. Also, I think this is a microcosm of a growing trend of frustration about how ridiculous some ads on Instagram are becoming.

On the other hand, it has to be incredibly difficult to build your brand around your life and maintain that brand authentically for more than a decade while simultaneously remaining relevant from a business standpoint. The competition for #ads is incredibly tough, and Id imagine it is hard to ensure sponcon is also perfectly on-brand all of the time. I bet it has been harder for Emily to jump from blogging to Instagram influencing than we think. We reached out to Emily for comment.

I think we can all agree, though, we are all lucky we have never had to film ourselves doing as awkward a workout as the p.ball machine, and then post it to 500,000+ people.

Stephanie

If social media helped convince people to go vegan, its now creating a bit of an identity crisis especially for the people who were at the forefront of pushing the cause.

In 2019, famous vegan bloggers have either been outed or have come forward to say theyre no longer vegan. And the fallout has been explosive and difficult for their followers. Many seem to understand that people can change their diets for health reasons, but others feel flat-out duped.

In the case of Yovana Rawvana Mendoza, earlier this year, she was caught eating meat in her private life as she was still proselytizing and profiting off a vegan diet on her YouTube channel. Her fans understandably had trouble with this.

For others, its more complicated. Alyse Parker is a lifestyle influencer who became well-known at one point for advocating an all-plant diet and making exercise videos. She recently came out not only as a meat-eater she announced that shes on an all-meat diet.

The Carnivore Diet first came into my awareness when a close friend shared with me all of the benefits that he was experiencing by eating this way, Alyse wrote. She also said she woke up the next morning feeling more mentally clear, focused, wholesome, and healthy than I had felt in years.

The responses to her newfound carnivore diet was a mess. Some fans congratulated her, told her she was brave, voiced their support, and others were...profoundly mad. And took it very personally.

When I reached out and DMd with two commenters who voiced their anger, they explained exactly what upset them so much about Alyses changed diet: Both of them said she directly influenced their own decisions to go vegan.

Nicole Zach, a 20-year-old who lives in Santiago, Chile, told me Alyse was an inspiration to her, and after watching her videos, she then started a successful vegan lifestyle.

When she announced she was eating meat again I couldnt believe it, Nicole said. She used to be so devoted to veganism.

Nicoles issue, as a fan or, er, former fan was how extreme Alyse seemed to have jumped from one ship to another. And that she fears because she was so effectively convinced to change her lifestyle, that this might influence others the same way.

She can do whatever she wants of course, I just hope this change of diet and lifestyle doesnt affect others. I would hate to see some of Alyses followers getting confused and considering eating animals again, she said.

Another fan named Haley told me shes been following the influencer since 2014. Up until [Alyses latest Instagram post] I would still reference her and be proud that she inspired me, said Haley. However, now I feel as though I listened to a hypocrite.

Haley said she grew skeptical about Alyses motivations after seeing her do a complete 180 about her lifestyle choices.

Considering much of her product and basis of her career is on health and helping the environment, I do not think she has a care for anything besides herself, Haley said.

Both Haley and Nicole said they remain vegan and are happy about their decisions theyre just let down by someone who they once saw as a heroic figure.

Ive reached out to Alyse, but did not immediately hear back.

Its always a sad reality to face when youre empowered by a message, but disappointed by the messenger. And someone you almost viewed as superhuman now continues to show you theyre...just human. And that they might loosely wield their power of influence. However, it sounds like going vegan is a decision Alyses followers are now actively making for themselves, independently, and thats pretty great.

Until next time plant yourself at home this weekend, or go meat someone out. Do whatever the hell you wanna do.

Tanya

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How Fans Are Handling Their Favorite Influencer Going From Vegan To An All-Carnivore Diet - BuzzFeed News

Vegan singer Billie Eilish says that right now is the best time to be vegan. In a recent interview with Variety, Eilish explained that being vegan on tour was hard at first but is now easier as more vegan options have become increasingly available. The first tour we did, I used to lose weight because I never got to eat. And it was not my choice, its like we couldnt eat anything, almost ever. Especially in Europe, the 17-year-old singer said. But now we kind of gain weight when were on tour because we have so many people and their whole job is to get us food, and make sure that were fed and happy and stuff. Going to so many new places, I think its a really good time to be vegan in life, cause theres a lot of places. Eilishwho is a six-time 2020 Grammy Awards nomineeis an outspoken vegan activist and often urges her millions of social media followers to ditch animal products.

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Billie Eilish: It's a Really Good Time to Be Vegan - VegNews

Hungarian startup Plantcraft Innovations Ltd. recently raised HUF $150 million ($500,000) led by investment firm X-Ventures to expand the distribution of its vegan deli meats to the United States. The company was founded by Katalin Ohens and Csaba Hetnyi with the mission of providing a plant-based alternative to familiar deli meats in an effort to promote a diet with a low environmental impact. Currently, the startup is participating in ProVeg, an incubator in Berlin, Germany that is helping the company finalize its products which include pepperoni, salami, ham, and pt. We see significant market potential in Plantcraft products and the know-how accumulated by the team, since in the future it will be possible to produce foods that meet consumers needs at a much lower cost than a traditional farms meat production costsand for customers, price will always be a priority, X-Ventures CEO Levente Zsembery said. Such an economic opportunity will bring about radical changes in the food industry, new products, new business models and new companies will emerge, which is why we have seen potential in Plantcraft. According to Hetnyi, the pt is ready for market while the other meats are in their final stages of development and should be ready for the US market in the coming months.

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Hungarian Brand's Vegan Pepperoni, Salami, and Ham Coming to US - VegNews

Most of the top meat producers in the United States are exploring plant-based protein. Eight of the top 10 processors including JBS, Tyson, and Cargill are making or investing in vegan meat.

Last year, the National Provisioner released a list of the top 100 meat and poultry processors in the U.S. The results were based on net sales.

The top spot was held by JBS, the worlds largest meat producer. Earlier this year, JBS began selling a plant-based burger in Brazil under its Seara brand. The patty is made from soy, wheat, garlic, onion, and beetroot.

The move was a first for JBS. The decision to launch the vegan product in Brazil is notable, too; the country exported 1.64 million tonnes of beef last year, making it the worlds leading exporter of beef.

Tyson Foods ranked at number two on the top 10 list. Tyson has invested in plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat and lab-grown meat brands Memphis Meats and Future Meat Technologies. For the latter, Tyson handed over $2.2 million. Justin Whitmore Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Chief Sustainability Officer of Tyson Foods commented that Tyson is excited about this opportunity to broaden our exposure to innovative, new ways of producing protein.

We continue to invest significantly in our traditional meat business but also believe in exploring additional opportunities for growth that give consumers more choices,he added.

Tyson is going further than investments though. The major meat company plans on rolling out a line of vegan products later this year. The move is an effort to keep up with changing consumer demands,the company said. Former CEO of Tyson once said about the vegan movement: If you cant beat em, join em, right?

Cargill Meat Solutions was placed at the third spot on the meat producer list. Cargill controls more than 20 percent of Americas domestic meat market and is the largest poultry producer in Thailand. Earlier this year, Cargill invested in cellular agriculture company Aleph Farms, which makes slaughter-free clean meat. Cargill has also invested in Memphis Meats and vegan protein company Puris.

Sysco which was ranked fourth is the worlds largest foodservice distributor. It produces boxed beef, ground beef, fresh pork, veal, and lamb, to name a few. But in May, Sysco announced a new venture: a plant-based line called Sysco Simply. The line includes vegan meatballs, almond milk, the Beyond Sausage, and cauliflower pizza crust.

At number five, Smithfield Foods is the worlds largest pork producer. It recently unveiled its first vegan range, Pure Farmland. The range features plant-based burgers, ground beef, meatballs, and breakfast patties.

Hormel Foods, ranked the sixth-largest meat processor, launched a vegan meat range called Happy Little Plants. Its flagship product is soy-based ground beef that boasts 20 grams of protein per serving. Jim Splinter group vice president of corporate strategy at Hormel Foods said the launch was an effort to align with todays dynamic marketplace.

Perdue Farms, claiming the eighth spot, has a goal of adding vegan protein to its range. Our vision is to be the most trusted name in premium protein. It doesnt say premium meat protein, just premium protein. Thats where consumers are going,company chairman Jim Perdue said to IndustryWeek. The 98-year-old meat company is exploring multiple options within the plant-based scene.

At number 10 is ConAgra, which specializes in fresh and cured sausages. In 2000, ConAgra bought plant-based meat brand Lightlife before selling it some years later. In 2018, ConAgra acquired Gardein, producer of vegan chicken, seafood, pork, and beef. ConAgra also owns frozen food company Birds Eye. Earlier this year, Birds Eye launched its first vegan meat range in the UK. The line, called Green Cuisine, offers plant-based burger patties, meatballs, and sausages. In July, Birds Eye launched a 2 million vegan meat ad campaign.

The two companies in the top 10 that havent dabbled in vegan meat (yet) are National Beef Packing, at number seven, and OSI Group, at number nine. However, even they could soon change their tune. OSI Group which has long been producing meat patties for major fast-food chains like McDonalds partnered with Impossible Foods in July.

Speaking about plant-based meat, Kevin Scott senior executive vice president for OSI North America told Reuters: Its time and place is right now.

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80% of the Top Meat Producers Are Now Making Vegan Food

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Most of the top meat producers are exploring vegan protein. Major meat producers, including JBS, Tyson, and Cargill, are making or investing in vegan meat.

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Jemima Webber

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LIVEKINDLY

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80% of the Top Meat Producers Are Now Making Vegan Food - LIVEKINDLY

Its that time of year again. Festive music is playing in stores and Christmas lights are likely popping up in your neighborhood. It can mean only one thing: the holiday season is in full swing. Are your loved ones asking for vegan gifts that are kind to the planet and animals? Or maybe you want to celebrate this special time of year while sticking to your values. So, whats a conscious shopper to do?

Everyone is their own unique person so how do you navigate finding the perfect gifts? Consider the giftee and what they like. Do they love coffee? Then they might like a reusable mug or a machine that lets them make their own dairy-free milk. If they love to kick back and relax, then maybe a candle, body cream made with soothing essential oils, bath bombs, and a cozy sustainable shawl to snuggle in. Or maybe theyre more the jet setting type and would appreciate eco-friendly luggage, comfortable shoes, and an overseas vacation experiencing foreign vegan cuisine. Figuring out whatll make your giftee happy is all just part of the fun.

Gifts disguised in colorful wrapping paper look pretty underneath the Christmas tree, but the impact on the planet isnt so nice. According to the Atlantic, as much as half of the 85 million tons of paper that Americans use each year is wrapping paper. Wrapping paper and shopping bags generate 4 million tons of trash each year. According to one estimate, Brits throw away the equivalent of 108 million rolls of wrapping paper for Christmas.

Whats more, these throwaway colorful sheets of paper are expensive Americans spend an estimated $2.6 billion on wrapping paper alone.

But, the good news is that you may already have a sustainable, wallet-friendly alternative in your home. Paper grocery bags can be taken apart and used to wrap gifts newspapers are another fun option. If you already have colored pencils or markers, decorate your DIY wrapping paper with some festive designs. If you sew, try using fabric scraps. Use old cardboard boxes to make your own gift tags, and tie up boxes with kitchen twine. Save wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbons from gifts you receive to wrap future presents.

Keeping those eco-conscious wrapping and shopping tips in mind, here are 18 vegan gifts that are sure to make her (or anyone you know who would love them) smile this holiday season.

BKIND is a vegan, eco-friendly cosmetics brand that makes natural beauty and home products in Montreal, Quebec. Respect is at the heart of everything the brand does, from ensuring that ingredients are gentle on the body and kind to the planet and animals. Skin and body care ingredients such as shea butter, apricot oil, and hamamelis flower water were carefully chosen to provide the most benefits.

Nail polishes are 10-free, meaning they dont contain 10 of the most common chemical ingredients in nail polish: toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, animal by-products, and fragrance. BKIND also offers natural products for the home, such as linen spray, laundry detergent, and hand soap.

For those looking to reduce the amount of plastic in their life, there are bamboo toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and soap dishes. Nearly everything is also offered in bulk and everything is shipped in recyclable or compostable packaging.

BKIND was founded by Marilyne Bouchard in 2014 after she realized that standard beauty products did not suit her skin. Leveraging her masters degree and passion for natural cosmetics, she turned to making products that work for her and others with sensitive skin.

BKIND also always has animals at heart. Two percent of sales are donated to a different animal shelter every year.

Check it out here.

Give your loved one something to snuggle up in. The Botanical Duvet from John Lewis & Partners is vegan, eco-friendly, and biodegradable. Handmade in Devon, England, this cozy comforter is made from tencel lyocell, a natural material derived from sustainable wood sources thats soft, breathable, and regulates temperature naturally. It comes in a variety of sizes, including Single, Double, King, and Super King in both in both lightweight 2.5 and 4.5 tog.

Check it out here.

Forget feathers. This vegan pillow from Avocado Green Mattress is vegan and made from eco-friendly materials. Its made from Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) organic certified latex, which is upcycled from the same latex used in the brands mattresses. Instead of feathers, its filled with GOTS organic certified kapok fiber, tree-derived fiber thats silky to the touch and fluffy like cotton. Its hypoallergenic, sustainable, biodegradable, and grown pesticide-free.

Check it out here.

Brighten someones day with a vegan candle. UK-based brand Haze makes candles with soy wax and real essential oils. The Christmas scent, Winter Mist, is a festive blend of orange, cinnamon, clove, and cedarwood. The brand describes it as a warm winter breeze in your room.

Check it out here.

Give the gift of relaxation. This bath bomb set from Kush Queen is infused with hemp-derived CBD oil sourced from a farm located in the Pacific Northwest. It features five scents for every mood Awaken for Energy, Sleep for Rest, Relieve for Pain, Relax for Mood, and Love for Passion. Each bath bomb is made with organic essential oils and CBD to create effect-specific full-body experiences. For example, Awaken for Energy contains rejuvenating peppermint oil while Relax for Mood features lavender, chamomile, and frankincense.

Check it out here.

This hemp shawl from Amsterdam-based brand Hemp Hoodlamb is perfect for cozying up indoors with a cup of tea. True to the brands sustainable ethos, its made from hemp and OSC organic cotton.

Check it out here.

Socks have a bad rep as the boring gift. These wool-free socks from Bombas are anything but boring! They were specially developed for hiking, featuring Hex Tec cushioning for maximum comfort. Thermoregulating ventilation and moisture-wicking fabric keep the feet dry and comfortable all year round.

Check it out here.

British designer Stella McCartney teamed up with Hunter to create a sustainable and fashionable rubber boot. These vegan boots are made from natural rubber sourced from sustainably managed forests in Guatemala, meaning no rainforests were culled in the making. Stella McCarney also ensures that the workers and the local community are treated with respect, so theres no harm to humans, either.

Check it out here.

Made in collaboration with American fashion designer Rick Owns, these running shoes by VEJA are completely free from animal materials. The upper features V-Knit, a sustainable textile made from 100 percent recycled water bottles. The mid-sole is made from sugarcane, rice waste, and banana oil. The outsole and insole use wild rubber, recycled bottles, and recycled EVA, a soft, rubber-like polymer.

Check it out here.

Docs never go out of style. With six eyes, the Vegan 101 boot in Cherry Red sits lower on the ankle, but still has that classic Dr. Martens silhouette. These durable boots are 100 percent vegan and great for work or long days. The signature AirWare sole cushioning will keep your feet happy for hours.

Check it out here.

A minimal wristwatch that goes with anything. This petite timekeeper from Votch features a vegan leather strap that can also be swapped out for any of the brands other straps. It arrives in an eco-friendly pouch and its waterproof, so no theres stress over getting caught in the rain.

Check it out here.

The Telfar bag has been causing a stir in the fashion world thanks to its uncanny ability to go with every outfit it was even nominated for Accessory Designer of the Year at this years Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. The medium-sized Shopping Bag is made from vegan leather and features a double-strap so you can wear it over your shoulder or carry it by hand and a secret compartment. Its big enough to hold a laptop and your daily necessities.

Check it out here.

The COLTON backpack in rose gold is the perfect size to carry your daily necessities and keep your hands free. It features a 13-inch padded laptop pocket, a separate zipper pocket, a phone pocket, and a zip closure. Its made from vegan leather and is lined with 100 percent recycled nylon.

Check it out here.

Make your own vegan milk with the touch of a button. The Almond Cow lets you make any nut, seed, or grain into homemade plant-based milk. No straining required the machine automatically separates the pulp from the milk, making cleanup easy.

Check it out here.

Take your coffee on the go with the Soma Brew Bottle. This double-walled glass bottle features a stainless steel filter that lets you brew hot or cold coffee right in the bottle and while the sturdy cap prevents spills.

Check it out here.

Samsonites Eco-Nu range of luggage was made to last. All fabrics including the lining are made from post-consumer plastic bottles. It features a unique wrap-around frame design thats lightweight and strong and a Saguaro Wheel System designed for high performance.

Check it out here.

Spend some time in the winter months soaking up the sun in Thailand and volunteering your time to helping rescued gibbons. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, part of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF), helped reintroduce gibbons to the wild when they were nearly poached to extinction 40 years ago. The trip-goer will learn about the sanctuarys mission, learn about gibbon research, and observe them in their natural habitat while listening to rescue stories in the jungles of Phuket. All of the proceeds to toward helping WARF continue to helping animals.

Earlier this year, Airbnb rolled out new guidelines for all tours involving animals. The tour operator now works work World Animal Protection to ensure that all Animal Experiences are kind to other living beings.

Check it out here.

Veg out in Bali. This 12-night trip to the Indonesian island takes you across the island and all the way to Java. On the way, youll experience beautiful beaches, learn some of the local language, and experience the culture. It involves a vegan cooking lesson, a trip to a traditional rice field, a snorkeling class, visits to local temples, and an introduction to the Coral Restoration Project. Accommodations include 12 nights in hotels across the island and 33 vegan meals.

Check it out here.

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The 18 Best Vegan Gifts for the Amazing Women In Your Life

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From cruelty-free makeup and faux leather shoes, here are the best vegan gifts for women for the holidays, plus sustainable wrapping ideas.

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Kat Smith

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The 18 Best Vegan Gifts for the Amazing Women In Your Life - LIVEKINDLY

Vegan salad

Violeta Stoimenova, Getty

London has been named the world's most vegan-friendly city, according to an annual ranking from an online restaurant guide.

The U.K. capital came top for a second year, in the rankings put together by HappyCow, which claims to be the largest vegan and vegetarian restaurant guide in the world, looking at options in more than 180 countries.

HappyCow's top 10 rankings were determined by the number of vegan restaurants within a closely proximity and its overall impression of each city's "vegan-friendliness."

London currently has 152 vegan restaurants and it was the first city on HappyCow to have more than 100 completely vegan restaurants in 2017.

Specialist eateries in the capital include the world's first vegan "chicken" shop, The Temple of Seitan, as well as the U.K.'s first vegan cheese shop La Fauxmagerie.

"Veganism continues to become a mainstream lifestyle in London, and this city takes veganism to a new level," said Ken Spector, a spokesperson for HappyCow.

The number of vegans in the U.K. has quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, with around 600,000 Britons now on a plant-based diet, equivalent to more than 1% of the population, according to charity The Vegan Society.

New York came second on the list, with 111 restaurants in a five-mile radius of the city.

Bangkok, Thailand was the only city to be added to the rankings this year, coming in eighth. HappyCow counted 74 vegan restaurants in the city. Spector said that most restaurants have "solid vegan options" on the menu thanks to Bangkok's "predominantly Buddhist background."

HappyCow cited data from Google Trends, which showed interest in "veganism" increased sevenfold in the five years between 2014 and 2019.

Edward Bergen, global food and drink analyst at market research firm Mintel, spoke about the shift to veganism on CNBC's "Street Signs" last week.

He pointed out that around half (51%) of consumers in the U.K. said they were either meat-free or were actively reducing their meat consumption in 2019, rising from around 41% last year.

Bergen said health tended to be the main factor driving people to cut out meat or become "flexitarians," those reducing their meat intake in favor of a "part-time" vegan or vegetarian diet.

"Consumers are seeing availability of shelves and it's easier for them to move over," he added. "And also they get bored more so they're trying more foods altogether."

Environmental considerations and concerns over animal welfare were also motivating this shift by consumers, he said.

The U.K. overtook Germany in 2018 as the world leader for vegan food launches, according to Mintel.

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London named the most vegan-friendly city in the world - CNBC

Kristen Seymour Published 7:00 a.m. ET Nov. 30, 2019

Make your party plant-based and inclusive with simple tips and swaps.(Photo: Foxys_forest_manufacture, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It wont surprise food lovers to hear that healthier fare is having a moment. In fact, a report from food delivery service Grubhub showed that plant-based eating is a top trend in America; even fast food chains are jumping on the meat-free train, with Carls Jr. partnering with Beyond Meat and Burger King adding a Whopper version of the Impossible Burger to the fast-food giants menu (currently at select U.S. locations).

And there are plenty of good reasons to veer toward veggies. A plant-based diet (which emphasizes minimally processed foods made from plants, sometimes including small amounts of seafood, poultry and dairy, but usually little or no red meat) has loads of benefits: reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer, along with increased brain health. Its also a solid choice for those who want to score points with Mother Nature, since cutting back on our meat consumption reduces our environmental footprint and helps combat climate change.

If you find yourself hosting a holiday gathering with some vegetarian or vegan guests and have never cooked a vegan dish in your life, dont worry plenty of other people have, like Whitney English Tabaie, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian, nutritionist and founder of WhitneyERD.com, as well as the pediatric nutrition platform Plant-Based Juniors. Shes made her vegan lentil loaf for the past three Thanksgivings. Everyone, meat eaters included, loved it! she says. But if thats not quite what youre looking for, the world is your (vegan) oyster, says Tabaie. If youre stumped on what to make, just Google vegan before any classic holiday dish, and youll find tons of animal-friendly options. And even if you have an absolutely incredible vegan dish as your main dish, she suggests having more than just that one veg-friendly item on your table.

Kathryne Taylor, author of the vegetarian cookbook Love Real Food and creator of the popular vegetarian cooking blog Cookie + Kate (cookieandkate.com), agrees. To be honest, Im content eating side dishes at holiday dinners, she says. Turkey is boring, and I dont have any interest in a vegan meatloaf, since I didnt like meatloaf to begin with.

However, Taylor has plenty of crowd-pleasing suggestions. You could make a hearty vegetable lasagna with vegetarians in mind, for example, and everyone could enjoy it. I also love layered platters with whole grains and beans, roasted vegetables and a fresh sauce or herbs, like the roasted carrots with farro, chickpeas and herbed crme fraiche recipe on her website. Technically, theyre composed of a couple of side dishes, but the combination looks purposeful and beautiful, she says.

Once youve gone to the effort to offer a veg-friendly dish, Tabaie has one more recommendation. Make sure to let your plant-based guests know which dishes contain animal products, so they dont have to ask you about every dish before they take a bite. That can get annoying for everyone.

If you find yourself feeling a little veg-curious this holiday season, go ahead and get creative in your kitchen. Vegetarian cooking can be completely satisfying, says Taylor. They can also be more exciting (and colorful) than conventional diets. Eating a variety of whole foods is key, and you can get plenty of protein from beans, eggs, tofu and dairy.

And even though it may seem exciting to go all in on plant-based eating once you realize just how good it can be, Tabaie urges people to take it slow. Try easing in with a Meatless Monday or even a one-meal-a-day option where you go plant-based for a specific period of time, she says. Good health is not all or nothing.

Recipe Ruiners & Simple Swaps

Theres little more frustrating than making a dish specifically to accommodate a guest, only to learn that youve used an ingredient they dont eat. So, before you say, Soups on! make sure you know some of the common ingredients that make dishes nonveg-friendly and get the scoop on some swaps you can make instead. Just be sure to read up on how to adjust measurements when swapping out one ingredient for another, as its not always a 1:1 ratio.

Avoid: Meat

Use: Lentils and walnuts combined in a food processor can be a great substitute for ground beef, saysTabaie.And mushrooms have a meaty texture, so theyre an awesome replacement for beef in many recipes. You may also find that beans work well as a substitute, adds cookbook author Kathryne Taylor, who likes to use black or pinto beans in recipes with a Mexican flair, opting for chickpeas in Mediterranean recipes.

Avoid: Eggs

Use: Vegan eggs can be made using a tablespoon of ground flax seeds or chia seeds with 2-3 tablespoons of warm water, suggests Tabaie.

Avoid: Dairy

Use: It depends on what type of dairy youre trying to replace, but there are countless vegan milks, plant-based yogurts and dairy-free cheese options on the market. Just make sure to pay attention to whether its flavored or not.

Avoid: Chicken stock

Use: Substituting vegetable stock for chicken or beef is a great option in soups, stews and risottos, says Taylor.

Avoid: Butter

Use: Applesauce or mashed banana in baked goods, or a vegan butter substitute for spreading on rolls and such.

Avoid: Honey

Use: Agave nectar or maple syrup.

USA TODAY's Modern Woman magazine(Photo: Ricky Middlesworth)

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