How do you ensure you are selecting the best, healthiest wine when at the liquor store? Wine drinks are searching for a healthier wine that has the benefits of antioxidants along with the relaxing effects of a nice buzz, minus the residual effects of too much sugar, additives, tannins, or even extra calories.

Here, we have all the answers to your burning questions about wine. Below, we uncover what makes wines vegan (or more importantly, what can make some wines not vegan), plus what makes them organic, natural and biodynamic. Read on for our criteria on what constitutes “healthy wine” and how to ensure you’re buying a bottle that meets your standards.

Is All Wine Vegan?

Vegan wine: You might be surprised to learn that some wine is not technically vegan. Animal by-products are often used as processing aids, called fining agents. Fining agents are added to wines typically to bind and remove unwanted substances. Common animal-derived fining agents include:

• Egg whites
• Casein
• Bone fragments
• Microorganisms including earthworm exoskeletons
• Isinglass (fish bladder)

“The reason that a lot of companies use fining agents is because there is market pressure to get a product into the stores, and they’re trying to rush a natural process,” says Helen Johannesen (of Helen’s Wine Shop based in LA) on her podcast, WINE FACE.

“All of this stabilizing and fining would happen naturally if people would allow time for it to happen.” She continues to explain, if you’re buying wine at a standard grocery store, there is a good chance that an animal-source fining agent was used. Buying from a local wine shop means that you may have a better chance of getting a great wine, and being able to learn about the production process. Ask if it’s vegan.

Is Wine Healthy?

As for the healthy-or-unhealthy metric, vegan wine is not strictly one or the other. You can have a conventional vegan wine that’s filled with a bunch of additives that many would consider unhealthy. But if you personally consider not using animal byproducts in any aspect of the winemaking process as “healthy,” then choosing a vegan wine may be a good option for you.

Tip: How do you know if wine is vegan? Seeking a vegan wine often requires doing your own research. Don’t trust that even a sommelier at a high-end restaurant will know if their wines are vegan or not. There are some great resources to help: Barnivore keeps a searchable database of vegan wines.

Also, BevVeg is a vegan wine certification site that some winemakers have adopted. You can check out a list of BevVeg-certified brands here. PETA has published an excellent list of favorite, best-tasting vegan wines, specifying brands to look out for.

What Is Organic Wine?

There are two defining characteristics of organic wine: No pesticides used in growing or processing the grape, and no sulfates added to the wine. The USDA gives the organic wine designation, and they have strict guidelines for producers. In addition to farming, synthetic pesticides and herbicides are not allowed in order to pass USDA’s organic certification qualifications.

Any kind of pesticide that has been determined to be harmful to the environment or to people is not allowed. Note, just because a wine is organic, does not mean it’s vegan. Sometimes animal-based fining agents are still used in organic wines.

What Is Natural Wine?

Natural wine represents wine made with minimal intervention, both in the vineyards and in the cellar, often called “low intervention” wines. While there is no official designation for a natural wine (like there is for organic wine), generally, the criteria for natural wine are as follows:

• Organic grapes (or biodynamically grown grapes).
• Hand-picked / harvest (no technology in the field).
• Low-yielding vineyards.
• No added sugars, cultivated (cultured) yeasts, or foreign bacteria.

“Many traditional winegrowers around the world are reviving traditional agriculture with modern techniques and know-how,” says Drew Cuddy, managing partner at Satellite, a natural wine shop, and restaurant in Santa Barbara.

“It takes more physical labor and an interest in truly working in harmony with nature, but the benefits are that the wine is simply better and winegrowers’ families don’t need to fear the effects of using Roundup and other incredibly destructive chemicals at their homes.”

Read More: What Is Natural Wine and Is It Better for You?

Tip: Since the natural wine movement originated in France in the 1960’s, many natural wine bars and shops have been popping up around the country. Next time you’re going out for a glass, do a quick search for “natural wine bars.”

What Is Biodynamic Wine?

Biodynamics, as defined by the Biodynamic Association, is a “holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming,” created by Dr. Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s. Biodynamic farming incorporates holistic practices of the past include using aspects of astrology and focusing on the farm as a complete ecosystem.

They also ensure a “clean” winemaking process so there are no pesticides or fertilizers used. A core premise is gaining a wider connection to the world and the universe. They believe that there are hidden elements that connect a vineyard with the farmers who care for and cultivate it.

What Makes a Wine Healthy?

While everyone’s definition of a healthy wine might vary, below are some of the key criteria that you might use to constitute a beneficial beverage.

• Rich in antioxidants: Dry red wines, since they maintain their grape skins during fermentation, pack a more powerful antioxidant punch. Antioxidants found in red wines are called polyphenols, which have been shown to protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. Studies have shown that drinking red wine (in moderation) has been linked to lower risks of cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
• Low in sugar: Less residual sugar often means fewer calories, so if you are calorie counting, or just seeking less sugar in your diet, then stay away from the sweeter wines like Moscato. Typically a dry white or a dry red will tend to be lower in calorie count (110-130 per 5-ounce pour).

• No pesticides: Since organic wines are void of pesticide residue, and so are natural wines, some may say they are in fact healthier. Because of the organic farming principles used, they are also healthier for the environment. Also, organic wines don’t have added sulfites and preservatives that can trigger negative side-effects for people like asthma-like symptoms and headaches.
• Alcohol content: It’s possible to enjoy a few more sips of your favorite wine without as much buzz if you choose a wine with a lower alcohol content per ounce. While the difference between 10 percent for most whites to up to 15 percent for some reds sounds negligible, this translates to a higher blood alcohol level the more you drink.

How to Find a Healthy Wine

Since wine labeling does not disclose everything you might want to know, it can be tough to find a wine that meets your personal needs. Cuddy notes to be wary of buying wine from a grocery store. “Do not do it!” says Cuddy. “The wines there are almost all guaranteed to be mass-produced, heavily manipulated, have near the maximum allowable SO2 [sulfite] content, and will have many of the stabilizers, coloring agents, clarifiers, and a litany of other non-wine ingredients they are allowed to add but not label.”

When possible, seek out wine from your local wine shop. The sellers who choose to work at local wine stores tend to be extremely knowledgeable about wine, and many up-and-coming shops are natural-wine-focused, so you’ll certainly find some great, natural, and organic wines from low-yield producers. They will also likely be able to tell you whether a wine is vegan or not — if that’s a box on your wine criteria checklist.

When choosing a wine, look for ones with no sugar added, made with organically grown grapes ( which should be free of glyphosate, the ingredient in Roundup), and minimal added sulfites to extend shelf-life, like those from vegan-friendly Duck Pond Cellars. They were not only extremely tasty but left us with no headaches or scratchy throats the next day, a win.

For more expert advice, visit The Beet’s Health & Nutrition articles. 

The post The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Healthy Vegan Wine appeared first on The Beet.

To get to the bottom of this vegan bacon mystery, we tracked down six of the latest and most widely available plant-based kinds of bacon on the market to see how they would stack up. Here is our take, and we would love to hear from you if you have any that you prefer! Plus, you may want to try making these bacons in the oven, for an even more crispy bacon taste.

Avoiding Processed Meat for Your Health

Bacon is America’s favorite processed meat with some estimates claiming that the average American consumer eats 18 pounds of bacon per year. But now, increasing research has shown eating processed meats such as bacon regularly can lead to several chronic health conditions including heart failure, kidney disease, and several forms of cancer, among others. Eating processed or red meat regularly can increase your heart disease and cancer risk by 18 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

To help improve your overall well-being and lower your risk of heart disease, introducing new plant-based bacon to your diet can significantly help improve your health for longer. Adding a few plant-based meals to your diet can reduce your risk of heart disease 30 years later, according to a recent study. Another study shows that switching to a more dominantly plant-based diet can actually prolong your life expectancy by 10 years or more. So next time you are cooking breakfast or making a B.L.T., check out some of these top bacon alternatives for a healthier protein.

For all the Beet Meters, check out the best vegan products.

Be Leaf Vegan Bacon

BeLeaf’s vegan bacon hits all the right taste and texture notes. For that reason, it tops our list. It cooks up extremely easily and yields a consistency and is easy to work with to create any bacon dish you desire. BeLeaf captures that meaty, salty bacon-like taste.

Price: $9.99, 10 oz package

Where to buy: Besties Vegan Paradise, Lassens, and other local natural grocery stores. Also on online retailers like Vegan Essentials, GTFO It’s Vegan, and more.

Calories 44

Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 3.5g

Hooray Foods Plant-Based Bacon

Hooray Foods is a plant-based bacon designed to look, cook, and taste like the real thing. The pieces stick together if they touch while cooking so make sure you use a large pan to keep separate. This bacon has a heavy coconut aftertaste so we would recommend using it on salads or as a topping.

Price: $8.49-$8.99, 5 oz package

Where To Buy: Select Whole Foods Market

Calories 60

Total Fat 4g, Saturated Fat 3g

Protein 0g

LightLife Smart Bacon

LightLife is a long-time player in the vegan food space and you can feel good about eating its Smart Bacon which is easy to find on most grocery store shelves. LightLife’s Smart Bacon has a slight soy taste which some people might not love. Use this Bacon on a plant-based patty or vegan BLT the next time you have a hankering for bacon.

Price: $5.99, 5 oz package

Where to buy: Various mainstream grocery stores, health-food retailers, and online shops.

Calories 20

Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 2g

Prime Roots Superprotein Bacon

Prime Roots uses fermentation technology to mimic real bacon. Their secret weapon is an ingredient called Koji, a Japanese fungus that is actually a whole-food protein, packed with nutrients. It certainly smells and tastes like bacon. It can overcook easily, so it’s a good option if you like “crispier” bacon. This would go well in a sandwich or as crumbles on a salad.

Price: $9.99, 8 oz package

Where to buy: Online at www.primeroots.com

Calories 110

Total Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 6g

Protein 6g

Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon

Sweet Earth has been a consistent plant-based brand that doesn’t ever disappoint. And their Benevolent Bacon is no exception. This bacon is teeming with flavor and a “meaty” texture. You’ll enjoy notes of hickory, sage and garlic in every bite. It cooks like the real thing is available for purchase both in frozen and refrigerated packaging.

Price: $3.99, 5.5 oz package

Where to buy: Check out Sweet Earth’s online locator tool to find a store closest to you, including select SafeWay, Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and more.

Calories 45

Total Fat 1.5g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 4g

SUPRIMA Bacon Crack

As if we needed reminding just how addictive bacon is, along comes a plant-based bacon product called “Bacon Crack” that is cooked and crispy and ready to eat right out of the box. Bacon Crack from Superhumn, is an all-natural, gluten-free, soy-free plant-based formula that “checks all the boxes” when you’re searching for healthier bacon. The most important box of all? When it comes to bacon, that’s taste. When it comes to the savory, smoky, slightly sweet, crispy salty fix that bacon lovers have come to count on, many plant-based versions fall short. Bacon Crack checks that box too.  At 60 calories for 2 strips, a saturated fat content of 2.5 grams, and 2 grams of protein per serving, this bacon has half the fat and 40 percent less sodium than real bacon. We see a BLT in our future.

Price: $6.99 for one 2.5 oz package.

Where to Buy: Check out Superhumn’s website to purchase this tasty bacon. Currently offers limited availability.

Calories 60

Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 2.5g

Protein 2g

Upton’s Bacon Seitan

Upton’s makes a tasty and smokey bacon that is well suited in a BLT, or crumbles on a salad. While it doesn’t quite resemble the real thing, it’s still a good substitute when you need bacon in a recipe. We suggest you cook it longer to get a crispy bacon crunch.

Price: $4.69, 5 oz package

Where to buy: Whole Foods Market and other retailers as well as online Amazon.com, ThriveMarket.com and more.

Calories 100

Total Fat 0.5g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 15g

The post The Best Vegan Bacon That Tastes Just Like the Real Thing appeared first on The Beet.

But fear not, because eggless baking is totally possible! Here are nine egg substitutes that you can use to replace eggs in your favorite recipes. You can find a few different brands of egg replacements like Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer, Just Egg, Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg, or Ener-G Egg Replacer. All these brands will do just fine in your recipes, but if you want to use more natural ingredients or even a staple that may be sitting in your kitchen here’s what to use.

Here are nine vegan egg substitutes to use while baking.

9 Vegan Egg Substitutes for Baking

1. Overripe Banana

1 overripe banana equals one egg. 

When you see your banana start to brown, don’t throw it out but instead use it in a muffin, cookie, or bread recipe. Just mash up one ripe banana in place of every egg the recipe calls for. Bananas are 75 percent water, adding moisture to your baked treats.

2. Silken Tofu

1/4 cup silken tofu equals one egg. 

Tofu is a great substitute in pound cake, muffins, and quick breads. Using tofu also sneaks some protein in your treat (4g per 1/4 cup to be exact).

3. Flaxseeds or Chia seeds

1 tbsp of seeds combined with 3 tbsp water equals one egg. 

The same water-to-seed ratio can be used for both chia seeds and flaxseeds. Combine one tablespoon of flax or chia with three tablespoons of water per egg. Let this mixture sit for about 20 minutes to form a thick consistency. Add chia or flax to your waffle recipes for a boost of fiber and Omega-3 fats.

4. Chickpea Brine or ‘Aquafaba’

The liquid of 1 can of chickpeas equals one egg. 

Don’t want the liquid in your canned chickpeas to go to waste? The brine, also known as Aquafaba, mimics an egg white, so if you need that as texture when a recipe for egg whites. Aquafaba is the ideal substitute.  Instead of whipped eggwhite, the liquid in the can of chickpeas can be similarly whipped. Use Aquafaba in sweets like meringues, cakes, and cookies.

5. Cornstarch

2 tbsp cornstarch combined with 3 tbsp water equals one egg. 

Combine the cornstarch with water before adding it to the recipe. Use this mixture as a thickening agent in custards, pies, or cheesecakes.

6. Avocado

1/4 cup of avocado equals one egg.

This superfood makes your baked goods softer and less likely to crumble since it is about 70 percent water. We recommend adding avocado to a fudgy brownie recipe since its soft texture helps mimic melting chocolate.

7. Applesauce

1/4 cup of applesauce equals one egg. 

Use unsweetened applesauce so recipes don’t taste too sugary. If you only have sweetened applesauce handy, just reduce the amount of sugar you use in the recipe. Applesauce works best in cakes and muffins. A lot of people think that the apple taste will come through, but it is actually mild enough that it blends better than something like sweet potato or pumpkin.

8. Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Puree

1/4 cup of puree equals one egg. 

Pumpkin and Sweet Potato purees add moisture to baked treats and are best used in pancakes or muffins. One thing to note is that the flavors of the puree will come through in the final product.

9. Vegan Yogurt

1/4 cup of yogurt equals one egg.

Vegan yogurt is another substitute that thickens baked bread and muffin batters.  Buy unsweetened yogurt so the flavor doesn’t overwhelm the recipe itself.

Bottom Line: Use any of these 9 substitutes for eggs while baking.

You don’t need eggs to make a delicious dessert! Try these easy vegan swaps.

Check out The Beet’s library of more than 1,000 vegan recipes. 

The post The 9 Best Egg Replacements to Use in All Your Plant-Based Baking appeared first on The Beet.

Before you head for the red wine (which you know to be healthy because of the polyphenols in the pigment), here are the best boozy beverages that are healthier for you than others. Take this guide to the liquor store and know you’re buying the healthiest, vegan adult beverages this holiday season and beyond.

The Healthiest Kinds of Alcohol

Hard Kombucha

Hard kombucha is a fermented tea drink that is packed with probiotics. It often includes other good-for-you ingredients like adaptogens, while keeping sugar and carbs in check. Hard kombucha is growing in popularity and increasingly making beer and hard seltzer seem like antiquated drinks of the past. You can typically find a selection of hard kombucha at your local grocery store (usually found in or near the beer section).

Many companies sell directly on their website as well. California is quickly becoming the birthplace of the best hard kombucha around. Here are some of our vegan-friendly recommendations to stock up on:

Flying Embers is known for its adaptogenic blends and wide array of flavors. The brand also manages to deliver a zero-sugar, zero carbs, low-calorie drink, void of any added flavoring or artificial sugars. Not only do they taste good, but they also do good, by donating a portion of their proceeds to firefighters and first responders. Bootchcraft is a San Diego-based company that is perhaps the OG of hard kombucha. These people know how to brew some seriously good — and seriously strong — ‘bucha.

With a 7 percent ACV per can, you can get a buzz pretty quickly, so pace yourself. Bootchcraft recently released a number of seasonal flavors, like Spiced Pear, perfect for coupling with your festive holiday meal. You’ll feel good about supporting this eco-conscious brand that embodies what it means to be a good environmental steward because it contributes to the Regenerative Organic Alliance for each bottle sold.

For a lighter alcohol option, reach for NOVA Easy Kombucha, another San Diego-born company with expert brewmasters at its helm that’s been quietly whipping up a seriously-great tasting brew that is easy drinking at its finest. NOVA’s straightforward and familiar flavors are sure to please any palate.

Clean Wine

If you’re confused when it comes to buying a clean, healthy wine, you’re not alone. Because winemakers are not required to display ingredients and nutritional info on their labels, it’s hard to make an informed decision. Some wines have tons of additives, artificial flavors, dyes, sulfites, added sugars, and even animal products — like egg whites often used to achieve a certain color, or fish blatter used to filter the wine — none of which they have to list.

The point is, it’s hard to find a wine you can trust. The good news is, there are plenty of transparent and clean-wine brands popping up that promise transparency so you can know you aren’t putting junk in your body. What does clean wine mean? While there is no official or regulated definition of clean wine, we define it with the following criteria:

• Low sulfites: Typically a “low sulfite” wine has less than 100 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur dioxide, whereas regular wine can have up to 350 ppm.
• Organic grapes: Grown with organic farming principles, and pesticide-free, so no nasty chemicals.
• Vegan: No animal products or by-products are used in the winemaking process or added to the wine.
• No synthetic additives.

Not that a “clean wine” is not to be confused with “natural wine,” which typically has no, or very little, sulfites, 10-35 ppm, and follows some other criteria. Below are a few wine brands that meet the above clean-wine criteria and are certainly worthy of your holiday festivities. They’ll likely even earn a place on your wine rack all year round:

Avaline, founded by Cameron Diaz and her partner Katherine Power last year with a promise of a transparent clean wine void of additives and made with organic grapes and low sulfites. Diaz has certainly delivered on her promise. Avaline is also one of the few wines that actually lists nutritional information directly on the label. With white wine and rosé in their initial lineup, the latest addition is a red wine, which is a Grenache and Syrah blend, at an affordable $24 price point.

Made in Rhône, France, it’s light to medium-bodied, with bright red fruit and delicate aromas that will pair perfectly with your veggie-forward holiday meal. For a psychedelic ‘70s-vibe throwback, an organic wine company, Wonderful Wine Co., is also one to consider. While they make red and whites, you’ll most certainly want to try the orange wine.

It’s a perfect way to kick off your meal and have a fun conversation starter for the table since orange wine may be an out-of-this-world concept to your guests: Orange wine is technically a white wine but gets its orange color from grape skins left on during fermentation.

Vodka

Vodka is often considered the overall healthiest choice since it is low in calories, carbs, and sugar. Vodka is said to help increase blood flow and circulation which can aid in preventing clots, strokes, and other heart diseases. Dating back many centuries, vodka was used for its medicinal properties, rather than for enjoyment. (Of course, drinking vodka — or any alcohol for that matter — should always be done so in moderation.)

Vodka is one of the world’s most popular spirits and is perfect for mixing up a cocktail, serving in a martini, or sipping straight up. Vodka can be made from a variety of plant ingredients, from corn to wheat, to olives … and even grapes. Here are a few quality, storied vodkas to consider having on hand and getting creative with this season:

Made in California, Hangar 1 is unique in that its made from grapes and grain to produce a smooth and subtly floral-tasting vodka. It’s a taste of the luxurious California coast wrapped up in a bottle, well worth the $41 splurge. For a do-gooder brand, try Hera the Dog, a triple-distilled vodka — which matters because distillation removes impurities and yields a cleaner flavor. Hera donates a percentage of each bottle sold to animal rescue causes. You can follow Hera’s journey on Instagram for a healthy balance of helping save animals and delectable cocktail recipes.

Finally, for an elegant vodka designed with a martini in mind, try Kate Hudson’s King St. Vodka, made in Santa Barbara and inspired by her time living in NYC’s Greenwich Village, on King St. Non-GMO and crafted with alkaline water, plus distilled 7 times for purity, the vodka goes down smooth with floral notes. The taste is complemented by its beautiful bottle, sure to be the belle of the ball on your at-home bar.

Tequila

Leave it to the friends south of the border to come up with the perfect drink for a sandy palm-lined beach that is both healthy, smooth, and “diet-friendly” since it contains Avagins, a kind of natural sugar that is considered “non-digestible” because it acts like fiber in the body and won’t spike blood sugar levels when you drink it. Of course all the sugary mixes you add with your frozen margarita might, however, so don’t kid yourself that the frozen sweet marg is as healthy as a straight Dos Amigos sipped chilled.

But the sugar in tequila is also known to lower cholesterol and because it acts like fiber, it could even help you lose weight (crazy, we know). So enjoy tequila but make it a good one because the healthiest way is to sip it straight.

For more recommendations, check out The Beet’s Product Reviews. 

The post The 4 Healthiest Alcohol Choices to Drink This Holiday Season appeared first on The Beet.

Welcome to your 2022 plant-based, sustainable, affordable gift guide. We have gifts for the plant-based host or hostess, the climate-conscious consumer, and even your favorite pet. Start your shopping whenever you’d like. The hard part (coming up with gift ideas) is done!

Whether you’re shopping for a foodie friend who hosts the best vegan dinner parties, your sustainably-minded family member who appreciates when a gift gives back to the planet, or your co-worker who just adopted a new furry friend, we’ve got everyone covered. Here are the best gifts for the plant-based foodie, the eco-minded, and the pet lover.

Gifts for the Plant-Based Foodie

Impress the home chef or the dinner party host in your life with these unique gifts and gadgets that will elevate their time in the kitchen.

Cuisinart Breadmaker

Many of our bread-baking hours peaked in 2020 and have since waned as we returned to workplace jobs. But that doesn’t mean you don’t crave fresh, homemade bread. This Broad & Taylor breadmaking machine will make it easy for your loved one to create artisan-level loaves with minimal effort. With 12 pre-programmed menu options, they’ll be able to craft French, Whole Wheat, and even Gluten-Free breads with the touch of a button and a few simple ingredients. Plus, this sweet present also pretty much guarantees you’ll be gifted a few of these homemade loaves in the future. That’s what we call bread-winning.

Purchase on the Williams Sonoma website.

Price: $199.95

Brooklyn Dehli Sweet and Spicy Gift Set

Perfect for a hostess gift, this trio of sweet, spicy, and savory Indian sauces will transform any dish into an impressive medley of flavor. Great for dipping, dunking, or garnishing, the unique flavors of this kit will delight. If you’ve never tried achaar –– a catchall term for pickle –– before, this tangy, spicy condiment makes bread, rice, or anything else you slather with it twenty times more delicious, and Brooklyn Dehli’s Garlic Achaar and Tomato Achaar are all not to be missed. Rounding out the trio is a Mango Chutney, a sweet condiment that is a delicious accompaniment to any Indian meal.

Purchase on the Brooklyn Dehli website.

Price: $39.95

Sona Sultan’s Garden Serving Bowl

This stunning serving bowl with a hand-painted emerald design is the ultimate gift for someone who loves to cook: It’s not only gorgeous but incredibly functional. Not to mention, it’s one of those items you would likely never splurge on for yourself, so receiving this elegant serving bowl as a gift is a real treat. Check out the entire Sona Home collection, new from Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her partners in the upscale Indian restaurant, Sona, NYC. Make your favorite vegan pasta, salads, and rice dishes even more memorable by serving them in this intricately beautiful bowl.

Purchase on the Sona Home website.

Price: $98

UME Plum Liqueur

This inky purple elixir is just as tasty as it is hypnotizing. Concocted from plums, UME Plum Liqueur changes color from a midnight indigo to a soft lavender depending on what you mix with it. Handcrafted in California, this drink is made from plums, dark cherries, grapes, and a tang of green apple and lemon, striking the perfect balance of sweet and tart, for a memorable cocktail. Instead of a more traditional spirit, opt for this immaculately-packaged plum liqueur for a magical, unexpected gift for the person that already has a crowded bar cart.

Purchase at your local liquor store or on the UME website.

Price: $34.99

The Beet x Rouxbe’s Plant-Based Guide to Meal Prep

Have a loved one who wants to cook more plant-based and get healthy? Give the gift of knowledge with our brand new cooking course made in partnership with Rouxbe which will teach you how to meal prep on a plant-based diet for natural weight loss, disease prevention, and more energy.

Purchase Your Cooking Course Gift Card here, but do it today to save 50% off through Sunday 11/27. The price now is just $19.99, our best deal yet. It goes back to $39.99.

Price: $19.99 Black Friday Special

Graza Olive Drizzle and Sizzle Set

The perfect gift for your friend who can’t stop recreating recipes from viral cooking videos, you’ve likely seen this trendy duo of olive oil bottles all over your feed. These olive oils stand out from competitors thanks to their squeezable nozzle bottles, which allow ease in cooking and make topping a pizza or Foccacia with a healthy drizzle of EVOO simpler than ever. Plus, we can’t ignore how cute the bottles look atop everyone’s counter. Your

Purchase on the Graza website.

Price: $35

Pink Oyster Growing Kit

Gift your plant-crazy friend this grow kit and watch as they sprout beautiful pink oyster mushrooms in just weeks, the perfect meaty, umami addition to any pasta dish. Easy enough for beginners to successfully incubate, this unique kit is a fun hostess present for the person who likes to get creative in the kitchen.

Purchase on the North Spore website.

Price: $30

Sauces By Jrk!

For the spice lovers on your list. JRK is a line of sauces that first appeared at the Jamaican-style restaurant of the same name in Miami. Give these Chef-created sauces to your favorite foodie who brings the heat The Jerk sauce adds more than a dash of spice to your tofu, jackfruit, or chickpeas. Try the Bonnet Hot sauce, made from Jamaican scotch bonnet peppers, but just drizzle it, since it will set off a three-alarm fire in your mouth. Or, use it to host your own game of Hot Ones!

Purchase on the Sauces By Jrk! website.

Price: Packs start at $41.95

Transcendence Coffee Syrups

Liven up your bestie’s morning coffee with these gourmet syrups from Transcendence Coffee. Available in creative flavors like Algerian Baklava and Indian Gulab Jamun, these syrups not only add dimension to a warm drink but are incredibly versatile. Drizzled over dairy-free ice cream or used in festive baked goods, these syrups will take any sweet treat up a level. Transcendence Coffee’s two-pack of mini syrups is the perfect hostess gift for a holiday party, but take note that the Algerian Baklava flavor does contain honey (the Indian Gulab Jamun does not). While you’re buying the syrup bundle, throw a bag of the company’s house blend coffee in your cart for the perfect finishing touch.

Purchase on the Transcendence website.

Price: Mini Founder’s Flavor Bundle is $15

Eco-Friendly Gifts

You can feel good about gifting these planet-friendly presents to your eco-minded friends and family. Okay, so the e-bike isn’t exactly inexpensive but think of all the money it will save on gas!

Beaumont Rev Electric City Bike

Calling all city dwellers, this e-bike is the perfect gift so that your loved one can skip texting Lyft or Uber and make a more sustainable choice while getting to work in style. With speeds up to 20 miles per hour, they’ll be looking chic while doing good for the planet. This e-bike is not only chic but it’s like riding on a magic carpet. You go flying through the streets, uphill, and long distances with barely a tap on the pedal.

Purchase on the Retrospec website.

Price: $699

Five Two Down-to-Earth Compost Bin

This handy countertop companion will help anyone with a green thumb reduce kitchen waste and nourish the garden. This chic, compact tabletop composting bin allows easy recycling of peels, stems, and roots, turning them into something that will help give back to the earth. Plus, its odor-blocking carbon filter means that none of the scraps will stink up the kitchen. The gardener in your live will absolutely love this sustainable gadget.

Purchase on the Food52 website.

Price: $49

Bearaby Tree Napper Tencel Weighted Blanket

Like gifting a hug, this fully-biodegradable blanket is made from TENCEL, a material derived from the wood pulp of trees. Giving your loved one a weighted blanket can offer comfort and better sleep. The fabric in this Bearaby one is naturally cool, which means it will be perfect for summer nights. Plus, it’s fully vegan and hand-knitted for a little extra love.

Purchase on the Bearaby website.

Price: $269+

Ida Vegan Soy Candle and Planter

We don’t have to convince you that candles are a delightful gift, but this year, gift a loved one an ensuring present with this vegan soy wax candle that doubles as a plant. Here’s how: Once all of the candle wax has been burned, fill the ceramic container which doubles as a planter with soil, and plant the paper label which is filled with wildflower seeds. Then, watch as the gift grows and fills your home with a different sort of beauty come spring.

Purchase on the Earth Hero website.

Price: $33.99

Zero Waste Kit: Meals on the Go

This package-free kit is the perfect gift for the commuter who’s trying to go green. With a stainless steel food container, a reusable sandwich bag, a bamboo cutlery set, and a reusable napkin, this gift set makes it easy to bring lunch to work without wasting a bunch of single-use plastics. It all comes complete in a cute reusable canvas tote. Throw in a gift card to their favorite grocery store so they can stock up on their favorite ingredients for on-the-go meals.

Purchase on the Package Free Shop’s online store.

Price: $65

Adopt a Honeybee

What’s better than a gift that helps save the bees? Donate to World Wildlife Foundation on behalf of a loved one and they’ll send you an adorable bee plushie, an adoption certificate, a gift bag, and a photo of the bee you’re helping. When someone asks if you adopted a pet during the pandemic tell them, yes! Actually, I have my favorite honeybee!

Purchase on the World Wildlife Foundation website.

Price: $25-100

Gifts for the Pet Lover

Don’t forget your favorite furry family member and their adoring caretaker! Shower them both with these fun goodies. They may not have a list to share, but if they did, this would be it.

Vegan Leather Pet Waste Bag Dispenser

Gift this vegan leather waste bag dispenser to a new dog parent so they can clean up in style while on a walk. Bonus: Give them a pack of compostable waste bags for a truly sustainable and useful gift. The Compostable bags made from plant-based fabric are available here for $8.99. Not only are you reducing plastic waste but if you’re hiking and need to clear the trail these will become part of Mother Nature’s circle of life so you can dispose of them guilt-free.

Purchase on the West Elm website.

Price: $40

Cervical Spine Protection Pet Bowls

Did you know that low-to-the-ground food and water bowls can strain your pet’s posture? Especially for taller animals, the best way for them to eat or drink is on raised up bowls and dishes. These chic raised dishes and bowls are perfect for small dogs or cats and come in a bunch of cute, punchy colors to match everyone’s home decor.

Purchase on the Happy and Polly website.

Price: $35.99 each

Travel Carrier

Elevate your typical dog carrier with these chic portable pooch homes in vibrant colors and durable mesh fabrics (not leather). Airline compliant and made with breathable mesh walls, the padded interior cushion folds out into a travel mat when your small dog wants to take a break.

Purchase on the Wild Ones website.

Price: $87.50

Not Pot CBD Pet Oil

Sadly, anxious pets are all too common now, especially since many of us spent the entire pandemic working from home, within easy petting distance of our furry friends. As most of us had to return to offices and leave our four-legged companions home alone, pet anxiety is a new national epidemic. That’s why Not Pot’s CBD pet oil is so great: This vet-approved formula naturally soothes anxious cats and dogs with just a few drops. Use it for thunderstorms, flights, or any other circumstances where your best friend is likely to get anxious.

Purchase on the Not Pot website.

Price: $35

Pet Monitoring Treat Dispenser Camera

Can’t be there to see what’s going on? When you need eyes on the homefront, whether it’s because your pooch is well-behaved and you love watching, or they go berzerk when the delivery person shows up at your door (or the landscapers in the neighborhood fire up the leaf blowers) you can now have a way of watching and even rewarding good behavior, even if you’re at work. This camera-and-treat dispenser is the perfect way to give both of you peace of mind.

Purchase on the Chewy website.

Price: $87.95

Aesop Animal Shampoo

Gift this to your favorite pet owner so that they can treat their cat or dog to a little at-home spa luxury with this cruelty-free animal wash. You can splurge and buy the shampoo and conditioner set, for that very special dog niece in your life. With a vegan formula and recycled packaging, this fancy shampoo is also better for the planet. Plus it smells divine, something the pet parent will thank you for on cold winter days when the pup is stuck inside and the windows are closed.

Purchase on the Nordstrom website.

Price: $40

For more plant-based recommendations, visit The Beet’s Product Reviews. 

The post Your 2022 Plant-Based & Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on The Beet.

Want to sit down for a meal? Check out our Restaurant Guides to learn how to order vegan at popular chains.

The Best Vegan Road Trip Snacks

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1. Bare Snacks

Bare Snacks offers an assortment of healthy vegan-friendly snacks that are available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. The fruit-forward snacks will help give you some much-needed energy while on the road and prevent you from going for more sugary treats. The Fuji & Reds Apple Chips, Cinnamon Apple Chips, Toasted Coconut Chips, and Simply Banana Chips are all vegan.

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2. PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds

If you’re looking for something salty to nosh on while you drive you’re in luck. 7-Eleven stores sell PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds in many flavors including Hella Hot, Nacho Cheese, Original, Salt and Vinegar, and Texas BBQ. The vegan rinds are the latest foodie innovation from Beyond Burger creator, Chef Dave Anderson. PigOut is high in protein with 25 grams in each full-size bag. The snack is baked and free from gluten, soy, GMOs, cholesterol, and trans fats.

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3. Lenny & Larry’s Cookies

For a filling snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth pick up The Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie. The 4-oz cookie has up to 16g of plant-based proteins and 10g of fiber. It’s dairy-free, no egg, vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Treat yourself to a few of the delicious renditions including Birthday Cake, Chocolate Donut, Apple Pie, and more.

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4. Quinn Pretzels

Need something with a crunch? Quinn Snacks’ Pretzels are all vegan (except for the honey pretzels) and available at 7-Elevens. As a bonus, Quinn pretzels are made from natural gluten-free whole-grain sorghum. The pretzels are non-GMO, certified gluten-free, grain-free, paleo-friendly, vegan, and dairy-free. This salty snack hits the spot for those salty cravings.

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5. Accidentally Vegan Gas Station Snacks

Fortunately, many road trip snacks are accidentally vegan. If you can’t find the above products at your pit stop lookout for nuts and seeds for a healthy snack. If you want to indulge in a less healthy snack pick up Oreos, Cliff bars, Lays barbecue chips, original Fritos, original Ritz crackers, traditional Chex Mix, Takis Fuego, Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, Swedish Fish, original Pringles, original Sun Chips, Chick-O-Sticks, or Gardetto’s original recipe.

For more plant-based recommendations, visit The Beet’s Product Reviews.

The post 5 Delicious Vegan Snacks to Pack for Your Road Trip appeared first on The Beet.

Chili’s serves approximately 281 million customers every year, dishing up millions of pounds of meat every single year. Even though the menu highlights its ribs and burgers, Chili’s menu features several plant-based meals including salads and one fajita entree. Also, there’s nothing wrong with ordering a full dinner plate made up of the fast-casual restaurant’s tasty side items. Unfortunately, the black bean burger contains egg and dairy ingredients, making it not friendly for vegan diners.

Although ordering vegan at Chili’s seems tricky at first, there are plenty of filling menu items to choose from. And with competitors including Applebee’s and Panera releasing plant-based menu items, Chili’s could follow suit, to truly welcome its plant-based customers to the restaurant.

Everything That’s Vegan at Chili’s

Similar to other fast-casual restaurants, Chili’s notes that some menu items may be subject to cross-contamination from using the same kitchen appliances for animal-based products.

Vegan Appetizers at Chili’s

• Bottomless Chips & Salsa: Enjoy endless chips and salsa over affordable happy hour cocktails!
• Guacamole & Chips: When chips & salsa won’t cut it, Chili’s offers an addicting guacamole dip made fresh daily!
• Fried Pickles: These fried pickles make a perfect gameday snack or appetizer for the family!

Fajita Plate

• Black Bean & Veggie Fajita with Avocado: This fajita plate can be ordered vegan with a few slight substitutions. Order without chipotle butter, cream, cheese, or the black bean patty. Instead ask your server to add Mexican rice, black beans, and veggies. The fajita plate comes with black beans, Mexican rice, pico de Gallo, salsa, avocado, and flour tortillas. Pro tip: Add some guacamole!

Plant-Based Salads at Chili’s

• Caribbean Salad: This salad is packed with greens, pineapple, mandarin orange, cranberries, red bell peppers, green onion, and cilantro. Make sure you order with Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette. Ask for no chicken or shrimp!
• House Salad with Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette: Order this salad with no croutons or cheese. Add avocado instead to complete this salad featuring greens, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and Chili’s Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette.
• Sante Fe Salad: Make sure to order without the chicken and ranch dressing. This salad contains avocado, cilantro, tortilla strips, pico de Gallo, and greens. Add Mexican rice and black beans for a little extra protein!

Dairy-Free Dressings at Chili’s

• Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette

Vegan Sides at Chili’s

Even though most of Chili’s vegan food is found in the side section, these small plates can be ordered together to create a filling meal. Mix and match these side items to your liking and you won’t be disappointed!

• All-Natural Corn Tortilla
• Avocado
• Black Beans
• Corn on the Cob
• Flour Tortilla
• French Fries
• Garlic Dill Pickles
• Guacamole
• Mandarin Oranges
• Mexican Rice & Beans
• Pineapple
• Roasted Asparagus
• Side Salad
• Steamed Broccoli

Dairy-Free Sauces at Chili’s

• Housemade BBQ Sauce
• BBQ Sauce
• Pico de Gallo

Eating Plant-Based to Improve Your Health

Even though ordering vegan at Chili’s might seem hard, the health benefits of choosing plant-based are substantial. Eating a plant-based diet at an early age can prolong your life expectancy by over 10 years, whereas those who eat red or processed meat are at a higher risk of early death.

Eating more plant-based––especially a diet high in lentils, beans, and legumes––helps improve your gut microbiome, lowering your risk of disease and improving your general well-being. Picking out a few plant-based substitutions can offer a cascade of health benefits, leaving you feeling better for longer.

Next time you find yourself at Chili’s, try eating a little plant-based. Ask for one of the fast-casual restaurant’s specialty salads. Eating a little plant-based is better than not eating plant-based at all. And chains such as Chili’s and its fast-casual competitors make substituting easy so that vegan and plant-based customers can choose to eat a little healthier.

For more plant-based fare near you, visit The Beet’s Find Vegan Near Me articles. 

The post Everything That’s Vegan at Chili’s: Hacks for Plant-Based Diners appeared first on The Beet.

Until recently, however, the Johnny Rockets menu offered minimal plant-based options (pretty much exclusively side items). Now, the company is attempting to expand its vegan offerings with several partnerships with major plant-based brands including Craig’s Vegan and Impossible Foods. Last May, the company debuted its first selection of dairy-free milkshakes and a fully plant-based cheeseburger that also feature Daiya’s vegan cheese.

Johnny Rockets’ menu is more vegan-friendly than ever, but ordering fully plant-based at this burger chain can be tricky. It is important to double-check with the staff that the burger bun is vegan because the gluten-free bun contains dairy and egg ingredients. Here’s everything that’s vegan-friendly at Johnny Rockets.

Everything That’s Vegan at Johnny Rockets

Similar to several other fast food chains, Johnny Rockets can not guarantee a 100 percent vegan kitchen. While the ingredients of these menu items are plant-based, there is a chance for cross-contamination.

Vegan Burgers at Johnny Rockets

The traditional Johnny Rockets burger bun contains egg, so to order any burger fully vegan, you must request a plant-based burger bun or bread. Some locations might not offer a plant-based bun, so we suggest ordering as a lettuce wrap. Also, some locations no longer served the Impossible Burger, but the company could potentially release it as a permanent menu item following the trial period.

• Impossible Orginal: This burger features the Impossible Foods signature plant-based patty topped with lettuce, tomato, chopped onion, relish pickles, and Daiya’s vegan Cheddar Style Slices.
• Streamliner Burger: This burger features a 100 percent soy-based Boca Burger patty topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard.

Salads and Dressings at Johnny Rockets

• Garden Salad: This simple salad comes with diced tomatoes and seasonal greens. Ask for no cheese and choose a plant-based dressing.

Dairy-Free Dressings at Johnny Rockets

• Fat-Free Italian
• Balsamic Vinaigrette

Plant-Based Side Items at Johnny Rockets

• French Fries
• Tater Tots
• Sweet Potato Potato Fries

Dairy-Free Sauces at Johnny Rockets

• Regular BBQ
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Rockin Red Sauce

Dairy-Free Milkshakes at Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets teamed up with Hollywood-based Craig’s Vegan to feature a non-dairy milkshake selection designed to fulfill the classic Califonia drive-in experience without any animal ingredients. The initial selection feature three flavors of cashew-based shakes that are perfectly paired with one of Johnny Rockets’ plant-based burgers.

• Craig’s Vegan Chocolate Shake
• Craig’s Vegan Vanilla Shake
• Craig’s Vegan Strawberry Shake

Vegan Chain Takes Over Flagship Johnny Rockets

The original Johnny Rockets on Melrose Avenue closed down near the beginning of 2020, and soon after, the vegan burger chain Noomo took over the space. This June, the vegan burger chain revealed that it partnered with the franchising firm Fransmart to bring vegan burgers to Americans everywhere. The franchising agency is responsible for expanding major chains including QDOBA and Five Guys.

Plant-Based Fast Food is on the Rise

Approximately 84.8 million American adults eat fast food at least once a day, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. That’s a ton of fast-food burgers every single day! But American customers are looking for healthier, more sustainable options, and the fast food market is adapting to a customer base that’s hungry for plant-based options. Major brands such as McDonald’s and Burger King have introduced fully plant-based alternatives to their beloved menu items such as the Impossible Whopper.

Even though meat and dairy products only provide 18 percent of the world’s calories, these foods require 83 percent of the total global farmland. And now, customers are looking for more sustainable options than ever before, especially among younger consumers. Right now, about 87.5 percent of Gen Z consumers are worried about the environment, motivating them to choose a plant-based burger over a conventional beef burger. Overall, the vegan fast food market is expected to reach $40 billion by 2028.

For more delicious plant-based fare, visit The Beet’s Find Vegan Near Me articles. 

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post Everything That’s Vegan at Johnny Rockets: Burgers, Shakes, and More appeared first on The Beet.

American most infamous fast-casual chain is well-aware of its limited vegan and vegetarian options. Applebee’s offers its customers a full guide to its vegetarian and vegan options, providing tips and tricks on how to optimize your plant-based meal. Despite its slim vegan offerings, there’s a secret to ordering your plant-based dinner at Applebee’s, and we are here to help.

Take note that the menu at every Applebee’s is slightly different, but no matter where you are, the fast-casual chain will have a few plant-based options. Currently, Applebee’s operates about 1,700 storefronts across 44 states, and with new partnerships and menu updates, it is getting easier for customers to order vegan. Here’s how to order vegan at Applebee’s.

Applebee’s Impossible Burger

This March, Applebee’s revealed a game-changing menu item when it debuted the Impossible Cheeseburger nationwide, becoming the company’s first permanent plant-based item. The Impossible Cheeseburger will feature a meatless burger patty topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and two slices of American cheese. For fully plant-based customers, the Impossible Cheeseburger can be ordered without dairy-based cheese. The Impossible patty can also be added to several other menu items when you substitute animal-based protein.

“We’re always looking to bring options to our menu for our guests who crave variety,” Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer at Applebee’s, said at the time. “With the introduction of the Impossible Cheeseburger, we’re giving our guests more delicious combinations to choose from when dining with us. And whether you’re craving one of our classic fresh, never frozen, Handcrafted Burgers, or the new Impossible Cheeseburger, you can’t go wrong. Come on by – we’ll save you a booth!”

Everything That’s Vegan at Applebee’s

Even though Applebee’s will cater to your dietary preferences, note that the company cannot promise to avoid cross-contamination from animal-based products in the kitchen.

Order Vegan Appetizers at Applebee’s With Easy Swaps

• Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip: When you order these fluffy, savory pretzels, order without honey mustard or cheese dip. Instead, you can ask for marinara sauce or regular mustard.
• Chips & Dip: Replace the white queso dip with either chipotle lime salsa or guacamole!

Vegan Entrees at Applebee’s

• Impossible Burger: A classic vegan burger made with an Impossible Burger patty and topped with lettuce, pickles, tomato, and onion. Make sure to ask for no cheese to make it fully vegan.
• Southwest Chicken Bowl: This filling entree features healthy mixed greens, cilantro rice, house-made pico de gallo, black bean corn salsa, and guacamole, topped with tortilla strips and chimichurri. Order without the chicken and choose one of the vegan dressings.
• Text-Mex Lime Shrimp Bowl: When you order this entree without shrimp, it comes with mixed greens, cilantro rice, house-made pico de gallo, black bean corn salsa, guacamole, chimichurri, and tortilla strips.
• Pasta Noodles with Marinara: This is not on the menu, but you can ask for a classic Spaghetti Marinara with pasta noodles and marinara sauce.
• Breadsticks with Alfredo Sauce: While the breadsticks are fully vegan, the alfredo sauce and butter are not. Ask for no dairy and grab a side of marinara instead.

Plant-Based Salads at Applebee’s

• Strawberry Balsamic Chicken Salad: This salad comes on a bed of spring mix and romaine lettuce topped with red onions and strawberries. Request no chicken and order with Italian Dressing or Lemon Olive Oil Vinaigrette. Add an Impossible patty for protein!
• Oriental Chicken Salad: This Asian-inspired dish comes with a blend of Asian greens, rice noodles, and a specialty Oriental vinaigrette. Make sure to order without chicken.

Vegan Sides at Applebee’s

• French Fries: The perfect side to complete your Impossible Burger meal.
• Waffle Fries: Order with your favorite Applebee’s sauce.
• Baked Potato: A classic, hearty baked potato. Instead of butter and sour cream, order with black bean corn salsa.
• Steamed Broccoli: Order with no butter!
• House Side Salad: Order with Italian Dressing or Lemon Olive Oil Vinaigrette. Make sure to ask for no cheese.

Dairy-Free Sauces and Dressings at Applebee’s

• Balsamic Glaze
• Black Bean Corn Salsa
• Champagne Vinaigrette
• Chimichurri Sauce
• Chunky Red Pepper Relish
• Fat-Free Italian Dressing
• Lemon Olive Oil Vinaigrette
• Pico de Gallo
• Salsa
• Sweet & Spicy Sauce

Eating Plant-Based for Your Health

Even though it seems difficult to order vegan at Applebee’s, choosing plant-based foods can have significant health benefits in the long run. Eating a mostly plant-based diet earlier in life can prolong life expectancy by over 10 years, whereas those who regularly eat red or processed meats have a 13 or 9 percent high risk of early death, respectively. Giving plant-based a try might seem intimidating at first, but the benefits are long-lasting.

One recent study also found that eating plant-based protein can protect your gut health, improving your overall well-being. So next time you visit Applebee’s for an affordable family outing, try the Impossible Burger over the conventional cheeseburger because even the smallest plant-based change can help your overall health.

The post Everything Vegan at Applebee’s: Burgers, Bowls, and More appeared first on The Beet.

This year, my town was having a Halloween Parade and pumpkin carving party before Halloween, so it was a perfect chance to test passing out vegan candy to kids. I expected scrunched-up noses and rolled eyes and even some “No, thank you’s” especially from the bigger kids. After all, they had plenty of treats to choose from, so why spend precious space in their plastic pumpkins filling up on plant-based or dairy-free, or allergen-free candy?

In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that the vegan candy was met with the same enthusiasm, and more, as the old traditional ones I used to buy. I also discovered that no fewer than 20 candy brands that kids already know and love are vegan, made without any dairy, whey protein, animal byproducts, or other ingredients that are disturbingly derived from animals.

I Gave Out Allergen-Friendly Vegan Halloween Candy

The first mom I approached, who has two boys ages 4 and 7 (who were thrilled to be dressing as a Mignon and Gru, and made their mom go as a Mignon too), happened to be the wife of a doctor. Since his specialty is pediatrics, this mom-in-the-know immediately saw the value of giving out vegan, dairy-free candy at Halloween to kids who might not even know they were allergic to certain things.

“You mean they are allergen-free and not made with gelatin?” she asked. I was blown back! “Why yes!” I said, somewhat stunned at her knowledge about what is not vegan in many types of candy.

So much familiar Halloween candy has additives you’d probably rather have your kids avoid, like gelatin. Gelatin is a beef byproduct and is used to add texture and as a binding agent in most candy that is not vegan, like Starbursts. Dairy is added in the form of milk, whey, and cream, so check all labels if your child is allergic.

Because this woman’s pediatrician husband has treated kids who have had violent and life-threatening allergic reactions to dairy, she was fully on board with the idea of vegan candy. She added that another idea was to skip all the nuts and nut butter like Almond Joy, Reese’s, and M&M’s, for good measure.

More than just looking at the labels and avoiding dairy, parents should know that candy can contain ross-contamination when made in manufacturing plants that use those ingredients. There are also hidden animal products that vegans and plant-based people want to stay away from. Vegan candy companies avoid all of these (except nuts and nut butter so parents must be vigilant when out trick or treating.)

Why is Candy Not Vegan?

Candy such as gummies and sour worms or fish can include many non-vegan ingredients, including gelatin, a protein derived from the collagen in cow or pig bones, skin, and connective tissues, informs Tree Hugger, which adds: It’s often used as a thickening or stabilizing agent in a variety of candies, including Altoids, gummy candies and Starburst, among others.

Other non-vegan ingredients can include honey, carmine, and shellac, according to the site OutrageousBaking.com. “Most of these ingredients should sound familiar,” according to the blog. “Shellac is a “confectioner’s glaze” and a varnish, the same as used on floors. It comes from the exudate of the female Indian “lac” bug. Shellac resin sometimes has the color extracted for use in dyes due to its red color,” it informs us. To which I say: Gross!

Another source we trust on the subject, PETA, tells us that Carmine (often listed as cochineal extract or Natural Red 4), is a red coloring made from crushed insects.

PETA’s List of Surprisingly Vegan Candy

• Airheads
• Atomic Fireballs
• Big League Chew
• Bottle Caps
• Brach’s Lemon Drops
• Brach’s Root Beer Barrels
• Charms Blow Pops
• Chick-O-Stick
• Cocomels
• Cry Baby
• DOTS
• Dum Dums
• Fun Dip
• Hubba Bubba
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
• Jujubes
• Jujyfruits
• Mamba
• Mary Jane and Mary Jane Peter Butter Kisses
• Nerds
• Now & Later
• Pixy Stix
• Red Vines
• Skittles
• Smarties
• Sour Patch Kids
• Super Bubble
• Surf Sweet Gummies
• Sweet TARTS
• Twizzlers
• Zotz

Another list from The Food Network has many of the above vegan candies and includes:

• Fruit By The Foot
• Swedish Fish
• Enjoy Life

So other than dairy allergies that can be fatal –– not to be confused with lactose intolerance which causes gastro distress –– I was nervous about giving out candy to kids who might have nut allergies or any other aversions to animal products (they are more aware than ever of what happens to cows on factory farms), so I figured: go with vegan candy to be safe.

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What Does Vegan Candy Taste Like?

I was also aware that the word vegan before candy could be a buzzkill. Are there delicious ones? It turns out that more and more vegan candy bars are hitting the market. For the best vegan chocolate bars, check out this taste test that ranks vegan chocolate for taste and health, called The Beet Meter. But it’s a little ungainly to give out full-sized chocolate bars. For Halloween, I prefer the mini candy that is individually wrapped for sanitation and safety.

Why Buy a Vegan Candy Brand?

First I tried the best-known vegan candy company, Enjoy Life. But when those were all sold out, I went on a hunt. Not because I couldn’t just go buy some other vegan candy but because I wanted to support a vegan candy brand.

So I went and found YumEarth Vegan Candy, in a prepackaged Halloween variety pack, which offers a selection of gummies in fruit flavors, a type of candy that most kids adore.

I also gave out Free2Be Halloween Treats, a bag of individually wrapped Sunflower Seed Butter cups in Dark Chocolate. These look just like regular chocolate peanut butter cups but made with allergen-friendly ingredients so kids can enjoy even if they have food allergies.

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The very fact that many of these vegan candy items were selling out quickly told me that parents are more aware than ever of what’s in their food, and watching out for allergens. They are also becoming more conscious about consuming foods that are terrible for the environment, and our food systems’ impact on climate change (since animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions). Most parents just hope the kids have a fun, safe time and don’t eat so much candy that it makes them sick. Staying away from dairy and additives is a bonus, but if your kids are not allergic, you start to look at the nuts in M&Ms and Reece’s peanut butter cups as a relative health food when it comes to Halloween options!

Allergies are another story, however. If you have a kid with a nut or dairy allergy, these organic allergy-friendly candies are a must. Since even if your candy does not contain dairy and nuts on the label it could have been formulated with equipment and containers that did contain those allergens, so anyone allergic to nuts and dairy is better off buying a vegan candy from a vegan candy company.

Giving Out Vegan Halloween Candy

I showed up at the parade early, when the kids were walking to the starting spot at the fire station. They were about 4 to 8 in age and a little shy so I made sure to tell the moms and dads that I was giving out “healthier Halloween candy, that’s organic, gluten-free, and allergen-free, as well as vegan.” Because the packages didn’t look like the usual brands they were so familiar with I showed the moms and dads the bags, to be reassuring that this wasn’t some fentanyl substitute (which had been widely reported as a cautionary tale in the news this year).

Most of the kids and moms were into it. Reactions ranged from:” I didn’t know candy wasn’t vegan!” To “Candy is candy!” The kids shrugged, looked at the cheerful packaging, said thanks, and moved on to the next generous trick-or-treat giver. They were more concerned with their costumes, which were falling off or the masks had gotten hot and were worn perched on their heads, up above their faces, the way a major league baseball catcher pushes up his catcher’s mask when he needs to see.

Juju, my favorite 4-year-old, in a low-key Minion outfit (essentially yellow hoodie and overalls) dug in first, and then his big brother Oliver, dressed as Gru, also enthusiastically dug into the bags. They both taste-tested the lollipops from YumEarth and the chocolate cups with sunflower seeds. “Delicious!” Juju announced when eating the pop. “Just like the other peanut butter cups,” said Oliver. They were sold.

Moms were excited to hear I had “healthier Halloween candy” for the kids. One said: Oh, they’re used to my keto candies, so they won’t be picky.”

Only one little princess was not a taker. “Are these peanut butter cups?” she asked. “Actually they are sunflower seed cups, which taste just like that,” I answered. She had moved on by the time she heart the word sunflower seed … “Just tell them YES! said another parent, a dad walking behind the picky princess who had watched her disdain at the idea of a sunflower seed chocolate cup. “Okay, but, I am trying to be honest here,” I told the helpful dad making this suggestion. “To kids, candy is candy,” he said and took a sample to try. Note taken!

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I never thought about it before, either, the need for allergy-friendly, organic candy for kids and adults. But now that vegan candy is just “candy” without all the whey and dairy, beef byproducts like gelatin, and beetle bug juice, it makes me wonder why more companies don’t just leave out all the stuff that makes kids sick or makes our planet heat up faster than it has to.

My head-scratching extended to Why can’t Almond Joy be made without milk and whey (it’s just dark chocolate and coconut, for the most part)? So note to candy companies: Make your formulations vegan. If companies like Lindt can do it, replacing dairy with oat milk in its vegan dairy-free milk chocolate bars, then anyone can. And you’ll have a lot more takers come Halloween!

For more plant-based recommendations, visit The Beet’s Product Reviews. 

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