Lockdowns to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have posed many challenges for school education globally, and India is no exception.

The COVID-19 pandemic, due to its unprecedented scale and unique response strategies, has had a critical impact on childrens education, particularly of those from marginalised sections. Besides the disruption in the school year, there is a risk that prolonged out-of-school learning may lead to alienation of children from school systems and exacerbation of existing inequalities. We could see disruptions in continuity of schooling for girls and children of those who migrated back from urban to rural areas after losing livelihoods, post the abrupt imposition of the lockdown.

The extent of impact of the lockdown on schools, community and children is proportionally very high. India has 1.4 million schools, 2.01 million children enrolled in government schools from Standard 1-8 and an additional 3.8 million children enrolled in Standard 9-10, according to the Udise report on school education in India, 2016-2017. Approximately 29% of Indias population are children, and 19.29 % is in the age group of 6-14 years. This group is legally entitled to education under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Indias multilayered society has always needed a strong public education system incorporating a holistic vision to achieve universalisation of education while also establishing a discrimination-free education system. However, this didnt receive adequate attention from policy-makers. Now, the pandemic has magnified inequalities like never before.

Previous health emergencies also demonstrate that the impact on education is likely to be most devastating in countries where there are already low learning outcomes, high drop-out rates and low resilience to shocks.Despite increase in public awareness and aspiration to get children educated, as well as increased enrolment of children in schools post RTE Act 2009, Indias learning crisis remains grave. The Delhi-based ASER Centres Annual Status of Education reports and many other sources have highlighted this time and again. The National Sample Survey of Estimation of Out-of-School Children report submitted to the ministry of human resource development in 2014 revealed that 6 million children were still out of school.

Also read: Heres How We Can Gear up to Open Schools After the Lockdown

A look at previous emergencies in the country reveal direct and indirect impacts of natural disasters on school education. Direct impacts include destruction of school buildings and damage to roads connecting to schools, resulting in uncertainty of reopening and irregular attendance. Indirect impacts include long-term closure of a school due to temporary conversion of school building to a rehabilitation centre, silent exclusion of children belonging to families in distress through displacement or migration, resulting in child labour, child marriage and child trafficking, a 2017 study by Azim Premji Univeristy found. But resilience is still not a development priority in India as 76% of the 100 smart cities, including Delhi, lie in zones that are at medium to high risk of floods, earthquakes and winds or all three, according to an essay in Disaster Risk Governance in India and Cross Cutting Issues, edited by Indrajit Pal and Rajib Shaw, 2018.

Retrofitting schools and other institutions like hospitals comes with a cost post-disaster, according to the same book. It is astonishing that dialogue between different stakeholders on building a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plan is still not a development priority in India, finds the book. Even though COVID-19 is different from previous emergencies on many counts, it is disturbing to see no preparation despite its outbreak in China in the two months before it fully hit India. The lack of resilience and a DRR approach in the country will lead to catastrophic outcomes, some of which are already becoming visible.

The National Commission for Protection of Children Rights (NCPCR), which is the primary monitoring agency of the RTE Act 2009, has seen a huge swell in the number of complaints it has redressed before the lockdown. In the previous year, the NCPCR addressed around 5,000 complaints; post-outbreak (beginning March 2020), this has increased about 8-fold.

School teachers have also been impacted immensely. Indias school education system includes 10,93,166 contractual teachers at the elementary level. Delhi alone has approximately 29,000 such contractual teachers. These teachers, in many states like Bihar and Delhi, were not receiving their salary for several months even before the pandemic broke out.

Also read: DU Should Cancel Open Book Exams, Spare Students of Final Cuts of Trauma

The coming of the pandemic has made their situation bleaker. Delhi government orders show that contracts have been extended only till the announcement of the next vacation (May 11-June 31, 2020), without any mention of the rest of the year. This has made contractual teachers uncertain about continued employment. Despite all these difficulties, teachers are playing a significant role during the lockdown. Wherever schools have been used as a relief distribution centre, all teachers irrespective of position are providing services from morning till night. In Delhi itself, ration and relief is being distributed in more than 250 schools. If any contractual teacher is not providing services, they are not getting paid at all.

Lack of infrastructure in schools is another major challenge in these COVID times, which will impact continuing school education. The RTE Act brought a normative framework to ensure quality and equity in elementary education. However, even after 11 years, less than 12% schools are RTE-compliant. Lack of safe drinking water, toilets, hand-washing facility, electricity and cramped classrooms means schools dont have the prerequisites to reopen. Further, due to closure of many government schools in several states, as part of a consolidation policy, numerous government primary schools do not fall within the RTE Act requirement that they lie within 1 km from the habitation of all students, which also forms one of the basic principles for reopening schools.

Lack of schools, infrastructure and teaching and non-teaching staff including sanitation workers will impact childrens education immensely, during and post-COVID. Further, participation of community, school management committees and local institutions needs to be increased so that local needs and voices are well-represented. Physical distancing, sanitisation and other guidelines for prevention of infection, should be strictly followed for their safety and of others.

Schools are more than learning centres for poor children. They provide social protection, nutrition, health and emotional support to the most disadvantaged, and this applies in all countries, from low- to high-income. About 9.12 crore Indian children are not receiving their mid-day meal during school closure. These meals served as an important safety measure, as economists estimate that 75% of poor families income is spent on food. Further, lawyers have written to the Chief Justice of India to take sou moto notice of rise in cases of child abuse during the lockdown, which highlights that school also acts as a safe space for many children even today.

The big changes to school education in the COVID-19 scenario that the government has announced digital and online education, attendance of 30-40% children after reopening of schools, subsidy to private schools, to name a few is another concern which will have a huge impact on children coming from vulnerable sections. National Sample Survey Office 2014-2015 data clearly shows economic factors as key to children dropping out of school.

Also read: The Pandemic as an Opportunity to Educate on What it Means to Be a Citizen

The pandemic and lockdown has impacted 14 lakh migrant workers as well as others working in the unorganised sector (90% of Indias population is engaged in unorganised work). It has impacted the poor adversely across the globe. In such a situation, blatant emphasis on technology-driven education will exclude many children in this country from continuing school education. Besides infrastructural challenges, India is a diverse and multilingual country. Various dialects, various contexts and diverse lived experiences are what a classroom in India brings together. The one nation, one channel or one digital framework needs to be reconceptualised to ensure equity and quality in education.

The return of children to schools in the above circumstances will bring a new normal, set by the outbreak of the pandemic. Social policy and response during the pandemic will mark the lives of children. On one hand, the school space was used for the benefit of the whole community/public, blurring the gaps between the community and school, and on the other hand community participation was reduced by social/physical distancing and limited movement from the close precincts of homes. On one hand, the country came together on several occasions to show solidarity and, on the other, fellow villagers were attacked in their own village after painstakingly reaching home, often on foot.

In this new normal, changed behaviour of people and changed centralised norms and guidelines could lead to a situation where forms of governance and participation may change. Virtualisation of teaching may impact the social relation between peers, teachers and school and community on the whole. The social class gap between the teachers and students may widen after the school reopens post-lockdown. What would be the everyday experience of children and their response to these changed realities?

The latest Draft New Education Policy (DNEP) 2019, being finalised since long, certainly requires revision in this context. If the new normal becomes the norm, the policy will need to situate equity, inclusion and diversity in the new frame of things. A one nation, one channel or one digital framework will not be able to translate the goal set by the DNEP into action. Further, this will also create barriers to India achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG4 on quality education, which now ever more than before needs to be looked at along with SDG1 (no poverty) 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (partnership for the goals).

Also read: Is Social Distancing Feasible for a Majority of Schools in India?

The DNEP requires revisions to address the following concerns: Strengthening of the normative framework of the RTE Act instead of restricting it; access, equity and diversity of language and lived experiences so that all children are well within the school education system; trained and permanent teachers whose agency is recognised; adequate resilient schools and infrastructure; and, most importantly, participation of local authorities and community so that children coming from vulnerable families, particularly SC/STs, Muslims and girls are not left out.

This will also prepare school systems to face such pandemics in the future more efficiently and without prolonged disruption, as well as move towards building a strong public education system in the country. COVID-19 did teach us how schooling is not equivalent to merely learning, but encompasses a social space, a social process, to learn to live, think and act for ones self and the collective good.

Aparajita Sharma is assistant professor, Council for Social Development, and a Right to Education enthusiast.

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COVID-19 Lockdown Lessons and the Need to Reconsider Draft New Education Policy - The Wire

As uncertainty surrounding the longevity of social distancing measures is likely to continue into the autumn at the very least, the rush to move third-level programmes online has sparked a debate over the quality of such courses and how they will compare with those delivered through the traditional means.

Students registering for college in September will expect more than the emergency remote teaching approach that was adopted in the closing weeks of the last academic year. Most will accept that the college social experience will be limited to some degree this year but they will at the very least also expect learning outcomes to be on a par with what was on offer in previous years.

We spoke to a number of academics and asked them whether it is possible to improve learning outcomes through online and distance learning methodologies.

Prof Mark Brown is the Director of the National Institute for Digital Learning at DCU. He says effective online education has very little to do with the delivery of content. Online education becomes highly engaging and interactive where knowledge is built with students through socially interactive and critically reflective learning experiences.

The approach involves far more than just posting lecture slides online and hosting video recordings of lectures on the virtual learning platform.

Well-designed asynchronous, self-directed and small group learning experiences can be far more engaging, interactive and challenging than sitting passively in front of a screen watching a live or recorded lecture, says Prof Brown.

Aside from successfully passing the course the real measure of our success is whether the learning experience was engaging, enjoyable and academically challenging where students develop important transversal skills, including learning how to learn in more critical, innovative and imaginative ways for a rapidly changing future, he says.

One of the biggest obstacles to designing more impactful online learning experiences is the lack of professional development for educators particularly for those who are new to teaching online.

We need to support our educators to develop the knowledge, skills and courage to be creative and imaginative in how they design new digital spaces for learning, says Prof Brown.

It also needs to be noted that in Ireland many online degree programmes receive no Government funding. This is a major barrier and disincentive to universities investing in the development of online education.

Improved learning outcomes

Nuala McGuinn is the Director of NUI Galways Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development and she believes the right approach to online learning can lead to improved learning outcomes.

Students have diverse learning needs, this was always the case whether they were taught in the traditional classroom mode or via online learning, she says.

One of the advantages of online learning is that it allows students to choose where, when, and how they wish to learn. So a well-designed online course will allow the student to engage with the course material through multiple means.

For a course to transition from one method of delivery to another, it is important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy.

In an online course, the role of the instructor moves from delivering content and instruction to one of supporting and guiding the construction of knowledge through the facilitation of communication between course participants, says McGuinn.

The good news for colleges is that most already have virtual learning systems and a range of tools in place that can facilitate remote working and distance learning. However, it is important that they are used in the right context and to the right degree.

While instructors have powerful tools available to them through the virtual learning environment, it is important to get the balance right, says McGuinn.

Each tool has its own purpose and a balance is required in the use of these tools so not to overwhelm the learner and also taking into consideration their access to technology and internet connectivity from home, she says.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework designed to improve the learning experience for students. The approach acknowledges that one size does not necessarily fit all and it offers flexible methods of teaching, assessment and engagement and, according to McGuinn, its principles can be applied to designing online courses without causing much additional work.

The best practice principles of UDL can also be applied in the design of assessments and provides students an opportunity to validate their learning in more creative ways than just end-of-term written assessments and proctored examinations.

Online courses provide flexibility in the timing and type of assessments used and can lead to improved learning outcomes, she adds.

Students can be more prepared ahead of class which means they arrive with valuable background knowledge of the subject area which allows the instructor to focus in on other areas during the live class.

The purpose of these live interactions can focus on the real-world application of learning or an opportunity to consolidate the theory or concepts and foster a community of learning amongst course participants, says McGuinn.

Planning and design

Dr Mary Fitzpatrick, is Head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at UL. She emphasises the time and effort it takes to design an online course

While there are many benefits to online course delivery and assessment, it is critical that these are as a result of careful curriculum planning and design at programme team level which can take many months, she says.

Where this is the case, the benefits include greater flexibility on the part of the student in terms of accessing material, engaging with resources and setting their own pace of study. It allows for the development of technical skills and critical problem solving in an alternative environment.

For lecturers, it can also generate similar benefits in terms of flexibility but also developing alternative means of engaging with the students in a more global platform.

Notwithstanding the incredible response to the emergency transition to online learning and assessment, there are also many challenges in the situation we find ourselves in.

Where we might think that this is the new normal, there is nothing normal about the way we are working, living and studying, as we continue to live through this pandemic and all the consequences that this brings at a personal, professional and social level. The challenge for the sector is to ensure that we continue work in a collaborative way to support both teachers and students in the next phase of academic planning for the new academic year.

What often takes nine to 12 months to bring online was brought online in a matter of days. This was accepted by staff and students in light of the emergency, yet there will be less tolerance and forgiveness for a less-than-planned approach in autumn 20/21, she adds.

The challenge for the sector, she says, is to plan for the next academic year, in a way that meets the expectations of students and the capacity of staff and institutions, where planning for the unknown is the only constant.

Challenges

Of course, many courses which were forced online due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus would look very different were they originally designed with online delivery in mind.

Adapting is not the same thing as programme design. Dont think that it is anything more than a response to challenges, says Kathleen Hughes who is a lecturer in marketing at TU Dublins College of Business.

Whereas students could usually ask questions during face-to-face lessons, or approach the instructor once the class or lecture ended, the loss of this key characteristic of college learning means measures need to be taken to compensate for the loss of person-to-person communication and class participation.

You can tell when you talk through concepts whether two people have got it, 80 per cent have got it or if theres a couple at the back not really paying attention. Thats all gone, says Hughes.

Most new online learning platforms will offer workable solutions allowing instructors to address students individually or in groups during online sessions.

I can take each group into a private break-out room which is not recorded and have a personal meeting with them while the others are working on something else, says Hughes.

What lies ahead?

The pandemic has already changed how we think about higher education.

Universities and colleges across Ireland and further afield will spend the rest of the summer months working out how they will deliver their courses in a socially-distant context.

A lot has already been learned.

While the purely online model of distance education allows students the freedom to study at their own pace it is unlikely to be adopted in full in the short term especially while some chance still remains of a return to campus.

Instead, most institutions have stated their intention to adopt hybrid models or a blend of online and traditional face-to-face instruction.

Rapidly developing online content will not always result in a best-practice high-quality online offering and the degree to which the blend is applied will most likely depend on the individual course and the resources available to the college.

While some courses were originally developed pre-Covid to incorporate some degree of online teaching not all will fit the online-only format.

Realising the goal of offering a high-quality online programme will require more funding and a good degree of organisational planning on the part of colleges and universities not least because it will require more training and the development of a more sophisticated technological course infrastructure.

Now that programmes have started to move from the traditional face-to-face setting to the virtual learning environment are we likely to see an acceleration of the great onlining of Irish higher education as it was described by one academic?

The pivot to rapidly teach online has forced us to think around corners and fast-track the future. While history teaches us to be wary about making speculative claims about the future it is highly probable that online education will never be the same again, says Prof Brown.

Read more:
University moves online: Where planning for the unknown is the only certainty - The Irish Times

The Coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down, only to be eclipsed by nationwide protesting over social injustice and the call for sweeping social and political change. But as everyone's attentionhas shifted from the disease to the protests, COVID-19 is still raging on and cases are still rising in states across the south, impacting African American communities and Black counties at disproportionate rates.

From the start, COVID-19 has been an unequal killer, posing a greater danger to Black communities than otherracial groups.Disproportionately, Black counties account for over half of coronavirus cases in the U.S., and nearly 60% of deaths, a recentstudy found.

While existing health disparities have been one factor, poor eating habits among African Americansis another, and one doctor says that this can be effectedthrough dietary changes.

"Adopting a lifestyle such as a plant-based approach to eatingcan be truly life-saving," saysDr. Millard D.Collins, Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Meharry is the nation's oldest historically Black academic health science institution and prides itself on producing physicians, dentists, and researchers that serve poororunderserved patients, primarily African Americans. Nashville is still treating a steady streamofCOVID-19 cases.

In a recent interview, no lesser nutritional leading light than T. Colin Campbell found that plant-based eating had a "significant" impact on the ability to create antibodies to a virus, in the case of his study it was against Hepatitis B, but he points out that the commonalities in how the body creates antibodies apply to all viruses. So the importance of a healthy plant-based diet to fight the coronavirus as well as to prevent disease and reverse symptoms can't be overstated right now.

Dr. Collins points out that the Black community suffersfrom America's silent killers: Heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.A diet rich in meat and processed food has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and an increased risk of some cancers, studies have found. Plant-based eating has been tied to lowering the risk of those diseases and premature death of all causes.

There is already a sweeping trend to reverse this: The fastest-growing demographic among plant-based eating is, in fact, African Americans, according to a study published earlier this year. Plant-based meals, primarily derivedfromvegetables, fruits, (frozen and or fresh), grains, like rice and beans, nuts and seeds have been shown in dozens ofstudies to bean effective way to lower risk of type 2 diabetes, reverse symptoms of heart disease, lose weight, and build the immune system to help fight against infectious diseases, like COVID-19.

Dr. Collins says it is crucial to adopt a healthy lifestyle now. Read on for his best advice regarding how to protect yourself from disease, now and later. The Beet's interview with him:

Dr. Collins: Healthy lifestyles should be practiced at all times, but during times of attack, it is even more of an essential practice that should be embodied by all people.

Pertaining to the African Americans plight, we have the worst health outcomes, compared to any other ethnicity, and the mortality associated with COVID-19 is directly proportional to this reality. It is well documented the impact of a plant-based diet on obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more, which all can lead to cardiovascular (heart) and cerebrovascular (brain) compromise. And we know how healthy plant-based eating can positively affect the body. Adopting a lifestyle such as [a healthy plant-based approach] can be truly lifesaving.

Dr. Collins: Great question. I am not sure if we can decrease COVID-19 cases among African Americans since... distancing practices predicate ones infection with this disease. However, we can adopt this lifestyle as a means to improve the co-morbid conditions that may already be presentfor e.g. heart disease, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancerthus strengthening ones immune system and chances of survival in the event that a person becomes infected.

Dr. Collins: Your presumption is correct, in that veganism is indeed a lifestyle and foods are more available than one may think. I think the critical step in this is to put the word out and challenge African Americans to take matters into their own hands and learn the ways of veganism.

It is always challenging to adopt something new and make it sustainable. Articles such as this are a great first step. Lastly, the adoption of a plant-based diet can do wonders to boost the immune system, improve energy, and improve chronic diseases mentioned earlier, thus, it can save lives.

But it is critical to not confine such an approach just in response to COVID-19. Health outcomes of African Americans need attention, and we must not miss this teaching moment the pandemic has provided to promote this strategy to our people. It can mean the difference between life and death.

Go here to read the rest:

In Light of COVID-19 This Doctor Tells Black Patients: Eat Vegan - The Beet

When you want a vegan meal on the go, Taco Bell probably isnt the first place that comes to mindbut maybe it should be. The chain has plenty of vegan-friendly menu items and many of them even fall on the healthier end of the fast food spectrum. Taco Bell has 31 vegan ingredients that can be used to customize your own plant-based meal. All of those ingredients, plus the restaurants vegetarian menu items, are certified by the American Vegetarian Association.

While some dishes are naturally vegan, others can be customized by making some simple swaps. Taco Bell makes it easy for you with its make it vegetarian option, which automatically swaps out meats from any dish while adding in plant-based protein like black beans. Make it fresco will also swap mayo-based sauces, cheeses, sour cream, and guacamole with pico de gallo for most items. Want to keep your order nutritious? There are a few more things to keep in mind when going vegan at Taco Bell:

Define what vegan means to you: Everyone approaches a vegan diet differently, so its important to note that Taco Bell defines menu items as vegan as long as they contain no animal ingredients. However, in some restaurants we use the same frying oil to prepare menu items that may or may not contain animal ingredients. Also, we cannot guarantee that cross-contact with meat products will not occur, they state on their site. This can be a deal-breaker for some, and no biggie for others.

Watch the calories: This is dependent on your ideal body weight and how many meals and snacks you have per day, but for most Americans, you should aim for 1,700 to 2,000 calories per day, says Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. That gives you room for roughly 400 to 500 calories a meal, with some room for snacks.

Mind your macros: Your body needs a mix of macronutrientscarbohydrates (rice, tortilla, veggies), fats (gauc), and proteins (beans)to keep you going. Some important hormones are made from fat, Keatley says. Our muscles and organs are made from protein. Carbs are our bodys main source of energy. Ideally, you want a balanced meal to hit all of your macros.

Be wary of salt and sugar traps: With any meal, its important to look out for excess sodium and sugar, especially if you eat out frequently, says Beth Warren, R.D., founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Secrets of a Kosher Girl. That said, if you rarely have fast food, a little bit of extra salt and sugar isnt a huge deal in moderation, she says.

Now that you have some pointers to keep mind, its time to dig in! We combed through Taco Bells menu to find the best vegan optionsand we promise they wont disappoint.

1 Veggie Power Burrito

This burrito hits all your vegan macros: black beans for protein, guacamole for healthy fat, a wrap for carbs, and lettuce and pico de gallo for texture and flavor. This mix of nutrients stabilizes your blood sugar for all-day energy and keeps mindless snacking at bay, says Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., author of The Little Book of Game Changers. Just skip the cheese, sour cream, and ranch.

Per serving: 320 calories, 10 g fat (2.5 g sat), 49 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 790 mg sodium, 9 g fiber, 10 g protein

2 Veggie Power Bowl

The Veggie Power Bowl has all the goodness of the burrito, but with a fluffy layer of rice instead of a wrapa nice compromise if you like to save your leftovers in a tidy container. Again, ditch the cheese, sour cream, and ranch to make it fully vegan.

Per serving: 370 calories, 10 g fat (1 g sat), 62 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 820 mg sodium, 13 g fiber, 10 g protein

3 Soft or Crunchy Tacos

Both the crunchy and soft tacos are vegan, if you load them up the right way. Add beans for your protein source, ditch the dairy, and load it up with lettuce, onions, and pico de gallo to elevate the crunch and flavor. Order at least three tacos to make it a filling meal.

Per serving: 160 calories, 4.5 g fat (.5 g sat), 24 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 240 mg sodium, 7 g fiber, 5 g protein

4 Tostada

Taco Bells signature tostada is basically like a crunchy taco spread out flat. Use a refried or black bean base with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions for flavor and texture. You can also add guac for a little extra fatthat can help keep you fuller, longer, Cording says. Just make sure to skip any dairy. Want an extra kick? Taco Bells sauce packets are also vegan-friendly.

Per serving: 150 calories, 5 g fat (1 g sat), 22 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 360 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 5 g protein

5 7-Layer Burrito

Technically this is called a 7-Layer Burrito, but its five layers once you take out the sour cream and cheese. You can add in extras like onions and jalapeos if you want to substitute those items for something flavorful. Refried beans offer a punch of protein, while rice offers filling carbs.

Per serving: 440 calories, 14 g fat (3 g sat), 67 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 860 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 12 g protein

6 Fiesta Taco Salad

This is a fun take on your basic salad, and it can easily be veganized. Ask for the salad without the ground beef, sour cream, or cheese, and sub in black beans and guac for protein and fat to hit all of your macros versus simply ordering a plain tossed salad, says Keri Gans, R.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet.

Per serving: 550 calories, 24 g fat (2 g sat), 71 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 680 mg sodium, 9 g fiber, 12 g protein

7 Bean Burrito

This is just about vegan-readyyou just need to get rid of the cheese. Make it fresco for a punch of fresh and crunchy pico de gallo, or add in extras like lettuce, onions, and jalapeos to dress it up however you like.

Per serving: 350 calories, 9 g fat (2.5 g sat), 56 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 1010 mg sodium, 9 g fiber, 13 g protein

8 Black Beans and Rice

Sometimes, you just want to keep it simple, and this side dish is it. Black beans and rice gives you a little bit of everything in the macros department with a solid boost of protein. You can also add guac and onions to make it even tastier.

Per serving: 190 calories, 4 g fat (0 g sat), 35 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 390 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, 5 g protein

9 Crunchwrap Supreme

This beloved classic requires some slight swaps, but nothing too tricky. Just order your Crunchwrap without the meat, sour cream, and cheese, and add black beans for filling protein, Warren says.

Per serving: 460 calories, 12 g fat (3 g sat), 74 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 900 mg sodium, 9 g fiber, 13 g protein

10 Chips and Guacamole

Keatley says a hearty snack should hover around 250 calories and the chips and guac combo just about gets you there. It should help fill you up for a bit, while fulfilling your salty cravings.

Per serving: 230 calories, 14 g fat (1.5 g sat), 23 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 310 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 3 g protein

11 Mexican Pizza

Pizza and vegan dont exactly go together, but its possible to customize this menu item to suit your needs. Swap in black beans for the ground beef, and ask for your pizza without cheese. You can add guac for an extra satiating topping.

Per serving: 380 calories, 18 g fat (2 g sat), 45 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 480 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 9 g protein

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The Best Vegan Options at Taco Bell - Vegan Taco Bell Menu - Prevention.com

At The Beet,we're looking for different ways to amplify Black creators in the plant-based space.To show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and Black vegan influencers who inspire us daily, we put together a list of 10 creators to add to your social media feed. Follow and support these vegans now and forever. If youre looking for Black vegan businesses to show your patronage, check out our story here.

Ashley is a vegan creator focusing on promoting plant-based food, smart tech, and sustainable lifestyle content. She shares easy to recreate vegan recipes that are nutritious and colorful as well as helpfulvegetable gardening tipsto start your own at-home harvest. Ashley is also trained in rescuing injured animals and has saved a few ill and injured creatures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and read her blog, Travel Lushes.

Rachel is an ultra-popular vegan YouTuber, blogger, and the author of the cookbook, Rachel Amas Vegan Eats. Her food hacks are epicdont miss her tips for making the perfect hummus. Her Youtube videos are some of the most helpful, instructional, fun-to-watch vegan content available. If you have a sweet tooth, get to baking her apple cake. Rachel is expecting and recently shared her pregnancy journey and experience with illness from COVID-19. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and on her namesake blog, Rachel Ama.

Cecilia is a vegan chef focused on crafting traditional Latino dishes to be vegan-friendly. Shes the queen of a veggie grill out, you havent lived until youve tried BBQ cabbage. Her drool-worthy creations are savory and scrumptious. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog, Coco Verde Vegan.

Koya is one of the most popular yoga instructors on the gram with almost a million followers, and shes also vegan! In her holistic health school for women of color, Get Loved Up, she educates about vegan cooking, mindful living, and more. Koya is also an expert in mediation and breathwork which compliments a vegan diet for a healthy life. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and her namesake website, Koya Webb.

Torre is a fitness coach and bodybuilder who was raised vegetarian and has been vegan for over two decades. Hes proof that you can be super strong and vegan, and crushes the notion that you need animal protein to build muscle. He uses his sage insight into health and fitness to share vegan-friendly nutrition guides weekly. Follow him on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and his namesake website, Torre Washington

Monique is a plant-based influencer dedicated to showing folks how easy it can be to go vegan. She caters many of her tips to families, so if you're trying to help your loved ones become more plant-based, definitely give her a follow. Youll find drool-worthy recipes across her social media platforms that will inspire you to whip something up new in the kitchen. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog, Brown Vegan.

Lauren is the rightfully self-declared Queen of Green and an epic vegan chef. She creates picturesque plant-based dishes with healing ingredients for many celebs including Cardi B, Stevie Wonder, and Common with whom she recently did an IG live with about healthy living. Her book, Eat Yourself Sexy! The Goddess Edition, is a vegan cookbook with a foreword by her client Serena Williams. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Berto is an NYC-based vegan creative focused on spreading messages of mental and physical health paired with accessible veganism. Turn to his channels for tips about plant-based nutrition and holistic lifestyle practices. Follow him on Instagram and YouTube. Dont forget to also follow his IG account dedicated to all the vegan junk food he eats, @WholeLottaFoodShit, youll want to try all of these dishes on the feed.

Jenn is a vegan chef who has been blogging about veganism for over a decade! She generously shares her delicious vegan Southern-inspired recipes on her IG feed including her sunflower Caesar salad, banana pancakes, and butternut squash chickpea tagine. You can find more of her phenomenal plant-based renditions in her vegan cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog, Sweet Potato Soul.

Tik Tok megastar Tabitha is the brains behind the viral trend of the moment to prepare vegan renditions of the classic BLT sandwich. Youll also find recipes for BBQ jackfruit sandwich, ceviche, and more on her feeds. She makes vegan cooking fun with her hilarious how-to videos of her homemade recipes. Follow her on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and her website, I am Tabitha Brown.

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10 Black Influencers in the Vegan Instagram World to Follow - The Beet

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! Our newest recipes include beignets, cookies, and sandwiches so if youre looking for something new and delicious, these recipes are it!

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

Source: Banana Split Sugar-Dusted Beignets

These Banana Split Sugar-Dusted Beignets by Lauren Hartmann are a tribute to New Orleans. These beignets taste just like the ones from Caf Du Monde. This version is even more awesome by drowning them in chocolate powdered sugar, banana powdered sugar and strawberry powdered sugar. They taste just like a banana split!

Source: Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the best cookies! These Chocolate Chip Cookies by Angelina Papanikolaou are thick, chewy, and loaded with chocolate! No one would ever guess that these chocolate chip cookies are made with no butter or eggs.

Source: Green Pea Fusilli Salad with Orange Citrus Vinaigrette

Served as a meal or side dish, this green fusilli salad is refreshing and flavorful. Its a salad that will fill you up, but in a light kind way. Its also easy to make. This Green Pea Fusilli Salad with Orange Citrus Vinaigrette by Julie Zimmer is packed with vitamins, fibre and minerals, the green pea fusilli in this dish will also give you good quality plant protein.

Source: Mushroom & Nut Burgers

These Mushroom & Nut Burgers by Lydia Filgueras are the best of the bunchso far, at least! Theyre flavorful and moist while maintaining a meaty texture that is often missing from patties made from beans and potatoes.

Source: Smashed Avocado, Chickpea and Pesto

This Smashed Avocado, Chickpea and Pesto by Wholesome LLC will fill you up and is super delicious!

Source: Creamy Pea and Mushroom Gnocchi

Try out this Creamy Pea and Mushroom Gnocchi by Jenny Marie! A sweet and savory creamy pan-fried gnocchi delight for when you cant face pesto again.

Source: Saffron Pear Iced Tea

This Saffron Pear Iced Tea by Charlie Rioux is spicy, sweet and invigorating. It does have an intense saffron flavor, so only make it if you like saffron! Want to make this into a flavorful cocktail? Add a shot of vodka!

Source: Fruit Infused Sun Tea

Spring and summer would not be the same without sun tea. Fruit infused sun tea is especially delicious, and dont worry, this recipe of Fruit Infused Sun Tea by Wendy Irene works great even if its not scorching hot out, all you need is some good ol fashioned bright sunshine.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading theFood Monster App with over 15,000 delicious recipes. It is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmentalandhealth benefitsof aplant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please considersupporting us by donating!

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From Banana Split Sugar-Dusted Beignets to Chocolate Chip Cookies: Our Top Eight Vegan Recipes of the Day! - One Green Planet

According toBlueWeave Consulting, the GlobalVegan Mayonnaise Marketis expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The global veg mayonnaise market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6%. It is projected to reach the valuation of xx million during the forecast period 2019- 2025.

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The market is growing due to various factors. Basically, it is very difficult to change the whole egg market, not for the following 10 years in any event. In spite of this, the egg-free fragment is developing quickly. Late patterns, for example, the adjustment in diets and developing wellbeing mindfulness are required to build the offers vegan mayonnaise. Vegan mayonnaise is accessible in appealing and helpful bundling. Various sizes of sans egg mayonnaise bottles are made accessible in plastic, just like glass. Indeed, even little and huge pockets and sachets of vegan mayonnaise are accessible, which are anything but difficult to convey while voyaging. Vegan mayonnaise bottles are accessible in various hues, for instance, tomato enhances is accessible in a red-hued bottle.

The expanding interest for vegan mayonnaise and the developing number of producers everywhere throughout the world are the purposes behind the expanding focused level in the global vegan mayonnaise market. To keep up their situation in the vegan mayonnaise market, makers are delivering one of a kind and inventive items with appealing contributions. As indicated by the report, the rising interest for advantageous nourishment will quicken the development of the mayonnaise showcase during the figure time frame. An extending the working populace in G7 and EU nations has prompted a huge lack of time and busier ways of life among customers.

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The retail segment makes a huge sale of the vegan mayonnaise as the demand for the item is always in bulk. Different food businesses like restaurants, hotels, eateries, cafes, inns and other commercial enterprises require vegan mayo which they buy in bulk. Apart from that different types of flavors are available in the retail market which makes it easier for the customers to get immediately hold of.

The major players in the Global Vegan Mayonnaise Market include prominent names like Just Inc, Veeba Food Services Private Limited, and Follow Your Heart, Remia C.V., Granovita, Nasoya Foods, Inc and Conagra Brands, Inc., Dr. August Oetkar KG, Crosse & Blackwell, Kensington & Sons, LLC, Nestle, Zydus Wellness Limited, Del Monte Foods Inc, Spectrum Organic Products, LLC, Unilever Group, among others.

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Vegan Mayonnaise Market Growth, Trends And Forecast to 2025 - Cole of Duty

Plant-based brands have been cranking out new food products like clockwork, so all you vegan eaters eager for a new snack, dip or dessert, a grocery store run is certainly in order.This June, we cant get enough of these recently debuted tastebud winners from Salted Caramel Chocolate dessert pots to we-cant-believe-its-not-ground-beef crumbles. First up, our favorite sweet releases followed by our favorite savory finds. Read on, and get that shopping list ready.

Thank goodness these are portion-controlled is all we have to say about these stellar mini cups of Salted Caramel Chocolate and Chocolate-flavored perfection. Made with coconut cream, we promise even the non-vegans in your household will sneak a pot when they think youre not looking and melt into their Happy Chocolate Place Heaven.

Popcorn gets an hors d'oeuvres-worthy upgrade with these non-greasy, delectable kernels that are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Right now, were loving the new Dark Chocolaty Drizzled Popcorn and Key Lime Pie Drizzled Popcorn for another day of perking up at-home snacktime day numero...

As Iceland's first and only bean-to-bar chocolate maker, you can feel good about supporting a unique company as you satiate your sweet tooth. Using high-quality ingredients that are sourced with ethical concerns and sustainability in mind, the packaging is beautiful enough to make these bars part of that vegan gift basket youre totally curating for your besties birthday or Fathers Day. P.S. The Peru bar (pictured above) just launched in America last month and has fast become our reliable afternoon pick-me-up.

Hows a salted fudge, cinnamon fig or blueberry ginger treat sound to you? If it sounds pretty good, its about to sound even better when we tell you theyre all delectable flavors of newly launched vegan protein bars that are low in sugar and brimming with nutritious ingredients. A women-owned company, founded by three friends who suffer from dietary restrictions, taste isnt compromised in eachgluten-free, vegan, non-GMO!bite.

Self-proclaimed as crafted from bullsh*t-free ingredients, these nutrient-rich nut butter blend walnuts, macadamia nuts, cashews and MCT oil, boosted by make-you-melt flavor profiles like cinnamon vanilla and chocolate reishi.Organic, raw, vegan, and tastes-good-with-bread, what more could you want out of a vegan indulgence?

The newest smoothie from Raw Generations superb roster is one of our favorites yet. Creamy and mildly sweet from dates, this soy-free beverage is an excellent breakfast choice when youre in a rush or when you just need a day off from overnight oats-ing it.In mid-may, Raw Generation also launched Keto Meal Shakes,deliciously crafted with plant-based proteins and designed to help curb cravings.

Now, if youre craving something savory, keep reading...

Just because you eat vegan doesnt mean you should have to miss out on slathering butter on your morning toast or stirred into a savory risotto. Behold Califia Farms Plant Butter, which is a buttery, cultured spread made with whole food ingredients like tiger nuts, nutritional yeast, cashews, and more. Its also free of canola or palm oil, trans fats, soy, and GMOs and melts and cooks like dairy butter in either baking or cooking recipes.

The secrets out, and boy are we glad: This month, Kite Hill has launched a tzatziki dip to make all your dill-y, cucumber dreams come true. With a creamy texture and a hit of acid from lemon juice, this dairy-free dip will fast become a snacking staple. Even better: Pile it on pita for your next falafel sandwich night.

Vegans and keto-ers alike will be salivating over the two new plant-based dips from Fresh Cravings, French Onion and Spinach Artichoke. Free of dairy and preservatives, we also love using either on baked potatoes as a savory condiment. For now, enjoy during a solitary nosh. For later, look forward to serving at a dinner party when the time is right.

Watch out, Beyond Burger.Whether youre in the mood for a plant-based patty, vegan ground beef-style crumbles, or Mexican seasoned ground meat, youre going to love this new collection of meat substitutes. Taco night, catch ya later.

Ready to get saucy? Order the new saucy box from this vegan snack company, which includes Sweet Sriracha, Zesty Ranch, and Sweet Onion and Mustard fava bean-based snacks. Were warning you in advance: Good luck putting down the ranch-flavored treats.

This protein-packed milk with eight grams of satiating protein per serving (along with nine essential amino acids and vitamins and minerals to boot) works wonderfully in cereal or smoothies, or a refreshing beverage on its own. If youre a big vegan baker, it may also fast become your new go-to.

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12 Amazing New Vegan Snacks to Try This Month - The Beet

Ice cream brand Arctic Zero removed whey from its ice cream formulations to become fully vegan. Greg Holtman founded Arctic Zero in 2009 as a low calorie and low glycemic frozen dessert brand. The founder actually created Arctic Zero because his mom lives with Type 1 diabetes, and he wanted to create something she and his whole family would be able to enjoy. Ten years ago there were really no healthy ice cream options, a spokesperson for Arctic Zero told VegNews. Its in the founders heart to continue to offer healthy treats everyone can enjoy.

In 2018, the company debuted its first nine flavors of plant-based ice creamsuch as Chocolate Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, and Cookie Shakemade with fava bean protein, an ingredient Arctic Zero landed on after experimenting with other plant-based ingredients. Under its new plant-based certification, the brand will continue launching vegan flavors and has expanded its line this week to include Classic Vanilla and Pistachio.

Please support independent vegan media and get the very best in news, recipes, travel, beauty, products, and more. Subscribe now to the worlds #1 plant-based magazine!

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Low-Calorie Ice Cream Brand Arctic Zero Goes Vegan - VegNews

With scientists and experts urging the public to go vegan to help to avoid future pandemics such as coronavirus, its no surprise that interest in vegan diets has risen in recent months.

According to new data from market research firm Mintel, a staggering one in 10 Brits (12%) say the COVID-19 pandemic has made a vegan diet more appealing.

Young British Millenials (aged 21-30) are leading the way with a quarter (25%) saying they are interested in plant-based diets, along with almost a quarter (22 percent) of Londoners.

Mintel attributes the growth in interest to people searching for ways to show compassion and looking for ways to add more nutrients to their diets to support their immune systems.

Alex Beckett, associate director, Mintel Food & Drink, said: For consumers struggling to know how to make a positive difference, cutting out animal protein may be seen as a way of tackling the climate crisis, showing compassion for nature, and boosting their own nutrient intake.

Beckett added that one of the attractions of plant-based products for younger people looking for convenient, fresh food that did not take long to prepare is that much of it has a longer shelf life.

But under lockdown, with more time at home and no restaurants or cafes open for business, long-life food has had clear advantages.

It doesnt take up precious fridge space and lasts a good while, making it suitable for quarantine-living and resulting in fewer shopping trips. Its affordable, often nutritious, and, in the case of tinned veg or fruit, suits our rekindled fondness for cooking from scratch.

Coronavirus: What does it mean for farmed animals? Find out here.

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Coronavirus prompts shift towards vegan diets as 12% of Brits say it is more appealing - Vegan Food and Living