Oat's Unsung Versatility

Oats. An old fashioned food that many are first introduced to in childhood. A standard easy and fast breakfast food, these grains have started to gain a reputation for being bland and boring. This is unfortunate because oats are tremendously nutritious and provide high amounts of protein. Best of all oats are very cheap. Oats are low fat, high in fiber, and full of vitamins and minerals such as biotin, folic acid, thiamin, vitamin E, iron, and zinc. These grains are also high in calories and carbohydrates which supply sustained long term daily energy which is great for physically active individuals. With all this in mind oats are definitely worth reconsideration as a regular nutrition source.

Lean Zucchini Pasta

Here is a great variation on a favorite pasta dish, pasta alfredo. This time it is gluten free and totally vegan. Instead of using traditional pasta, sliced squash is used instead. This is a great low fat version of this classic dish. Read on for the full recipe.

Winter Squash Flavors

Autumn is a great time to experiment with seasonal vegetables. Hard skinned squashes and gourds like butternut and acorn squash, the most recognizable pumpkin, kabocha and many more. Here are some warm orange colored recipes for when the leaves to change.

Vegan in Germany

Traditional German cuisine is well known for heavy savory pork meat dishes like bratwurst and schnitzel. However, more recently Germany is becoming more accommodating for those who embrace vegan and plant based nutrition. The famed Oktoberfest has been a celebration with the essential consumption of meat based foods. Now the annual festival has been including more vegan options for vegan patrons of the event. The event attracts visitors from all around the world, many with various dietary restrictions. Part of the motivation behind adding more vegan food to Oktoberfest offerings is to create a more inclusive experience for the diversity of attendees.

Nu Vegan Cafe

Now in Richmond VA the NuVegan Cafe made its debut on June, 30 2018. This is actually the third location as their are two more located in College Park, Maryland as well as their first location in Washington DC. As a chain of southern style soul food restaurants this will be the very first fully vegan fast-casual restaurant in Richmond, VA. Some of the items on the menu include southern comfort favorites like cheesy grits, fried “not” chicken, collard greens and more. The menu also caters to those who may practice raw food nutrition. 

Green & Exotic Pandan

Native to the Asian tropical regions pandan is a green herbaceous plant that has been cultivated for culinary purposes. Enjoyed for its unique sweet aromatic flavor pandan is an ingredient in many Thai dishes. Pandan is especially popular as an ingredient in sweet dishes. Cakes, muffins, pies, breads and more, it is easy to add pandan to baking recipes. This exotic ingredient offers a vibrant green color to foods that look truly out of this world.

The Vegan Adventure of Daphne Cheng

Over the past few years Daphne Cheng has been highly active in the culinary world. Very passionate about veganism she maintains that plant based foods could, and should be the centerpiece of meals.

Nutritious Bamboo

Easily recognized for its historical place as an ornamental plant in many Asian cultures bamboo is an amazing plant with a wide range of utility uses. Bamboo is also widely consumed as a food. It is the young white shoots that are edible. These are a main feature in many Asian dishes such as soups and stir frys. Bamboo also offers some surprising health benefits. Bamboo is high in protein and consists of seventeen essential amino acids. Bamboo also offers a wide range of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and copper and is high in dietary fiber.

Lovable Lentils

Lentils are a great food for vegans. They are versatile and easy to adapt to different recipes and they are very nutritious as well. Lentils are high in iron, a great source of fiber and a great food for lowering cholesterol. Lentils are a great source of B vitamins, most notably folate and niacin as well as high levels of protein. Even better lentils are very affordable. Here are some delicious lentil recipes perfect for any meal of the day.

Collagen from Plants

Collagen is a long chain amino acid protein that is highly abundant in the human body. It is present in the skin, bones, hair and nails. It provides elasticity to skin, makes hair stronger, and reinforces connective tissues. Moreover healthy production of collagen helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sustains youthful looking skin. Collagen is also found in the walls of the intestines and therefore benefits good digestion. Collagen benefits the strength of cartilage joints throughout the body. With all of the health benefits offered by collagen it is fortunate that there are many plant based foods that enhance the body’s ability to make its own collagen.

Homemade Vegan Bean Pie

Made popular by Elijah Muhammad of the nation of Islam in his book How to eat to Live.This pie is not only sweet and filling but is also offers a healthy amount of protein and fiber. Here is a great easy recipe that should satisfy a sweet tooth.

Toad Style Vegan

Deep in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn this eatery’s name is a reference to the 1978 cult classic martial arts film Five Deadly Venoms. Nestled among barber shops and bodegas this place might be easy to overlook. Within is a funky decor of vintage martial arts movie posters and an old fashioned arcade machine in the corner. Started by three friends, Toad style was opened with the goal of providing quality foods to people in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood at affordable prices. They also wanted to prove that these kinds of foods can be made without using animal products.

Incredible Moringa

Originally a native to the Himalayan foothills, Moringa is well known as a native herb of northern India. Though this plant has been a part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years Moringa is only starting to gain recognition for its wide range of health benefits. Still rising in popularity the plant is now becoming more mainstream. As it turns out this plant contains a powerful abundance of antioxidants. Considered to be highly nutritious as the plant also offers many vitamins and minerals. Moreover it is revered for its anti-inflammatory antibiotic and adaptogenic qualities.

The Humble Dandelion

Despite being dismissed as a weed Dandelion is an incredibly healthy plant. From flower to leaves and roots the wildflower offers a wide range of health benefits and every part of the plant is edible. Even better as the Dandelion can be found in nearly all parts of the world, it is easy to find and can be foraged wild and even grown indoors.

Vegan Ravioli

Ready for a fun, from scratch pasta recipe? This recipe is not only vegan but also gluten free. Try this homemade recipe for ravioli that is far healthier than anything you will find in those chef cans.

Vegan in Warsaw

Warsaw, Poland may not spring to mind when thinking of vegan cuisine, but in the last few years the East European city has seen a near explosion in plant based eateries. The turning point for all of this might have been in the year 2013 when a major Warsaw newspaper held a poll for the best local burger establishment in the city. Krowarzywa, a vegan burger restaurant, ranked the highest winning the poll. What is more remarkable is this ranking put Krowarzywa up against other meat based burger establishments and beat them all. This caused a surge in popularity for Krowarzywa as many citizens wanted to visit and try the burgers for themselves. This incident totally changed the local perception about vegan food and more vegan restaurants started to rapidly appear in Warsaw.

Upside Down Tomato Planter

Ever seen one of these sold on TV? The Topsey Turvey upside down tomato planter experienced a high amount of popularity for a couple of years. A great innovation for growing fresh produce at home from seed. The reason why these specialized planters work so well is the vertical inversion of the plant allows roots to grow upward to the soil surface. This creates ease of access for water contact with the roots facilitating better fuller, faster, plant growth.

Homemade Apple Cider

Apple Cider is a delicious beverage made from the common highly regarded fruit, the apple. Typically enjoyed in the fall months it is often served warm to off set the cooling weather. A better way to enjoy this sweet fruity drink is to make it at home from scratch. Fortunately this drink is easy to make at home, all it requires are some simple household appliances.