Innholdsfortegnelse for Wellness 2024 i VegNews Magazine

Over the years, I’ve done some deep dives into the vast and ever-evolving world of wellness, both for fun and with VegNews. From mindfulness apps and subscription food services to state-of-the-art skincare gadgets and adaptogenic superfood supplements, I’ve tried them all. And while many deliver on their promises to support our well-being, the strategies I keep coming back to aren’t the kind you track with tech or buy from a trendy, celebrity-backed wellness brand. My personal wellness philosophy is, of course, rooted in veganism (fueled by lots of healthy food!), but has expanded to include habits I stumbled upon throughout my globetrotting adventures. From my au pair days in France (where I learned to slow down and savor every meal) to my travels throughout Asia (where I’ve had some of…

When I first started my animal activism in Chicago during the 1990s, there was always a group of fellow activists who were reliably at every protest and event. No advocacy gathering was complete without them. This core group was comprised of women in their 60s and upward, always donning the official vegan footwear (canvas shoes), sporting coats festooned with buttons bearing animal-rights slogans, and hands full of literature to try to make the world a more compassionate place. The women, whom I referred to in my mind as The Gray Brigade, were longtime friends who shared histories and passions, and they were happy to mentor younger activists like me, seeming to also benefit from our enthusiasm. They also easily outnumbered those of us in our 20s and 30s. These pioneers…

July 15–27, 2024 Imagine gently-swaying palm trees, postcard-perfect beaches, emerald green rice paddies, rich local culture, undiscovered villages, and divine vegan cuisine. Join VegNews for a magical getaway to Bali, one of the most serene and breathtakingly beautiful islands in the world. Trip highlights… • Savor incredible vegan island cuisine • Sample an array of local fresh fruit • Ride bicycles through lush rice terraces • Trek up an active volcano with stunning views • Stroll through colorful bazaars and markets • Visit picturesque beaches and rural villages • Snorkel pristine coral reefs • Participate in an ancient Hindu ceremony • Visit an amazing animal sanctuary • Take two Balinese cooking classes • Enjoy traditional music and dance • Island hop to Java to hike a national park • Dine…

New York City isn’t exactly wanting for vegan options. One 2022 survey crowned New York as the most vegan-friendly city in America, thanks to its more than 1,400 restaurants offering quality plant-based menu items. Another in 2023 dubbed New York the most vegan-obsessed city in the country—with 595 vegan-related Google searches per 100,000 residents. And this passion for all-things plant-based can be felt in just about any swath of the city. Take the East Village’s Tompkins Square Park, for example. Within one block’s walk from the historic, 10-acre green space, you can find a bite everywhere from a Michelin-recognized, fine-dining vegan restaurant to an iconic New York bagel shop with mountains of tofu cream cheese behind the deli case glass. Another find, nestled on a quiet street stretching from the…

Scrolling through the #wellness hashtag on Instagram or TikTok will result in more content than we could ever possibly need. But for the sheer quantity, it is all eerily similar: countless videos promoting perfect lifestyles that hinge on early morning wake-ups, green juice, and expensive pilates classes. Ultimately, we’re being fed a clean, relatively bland way of living that leaves little room for the inevitable messiness of life. Unfortunately, this brand of wellness is often just a thin shroud for fatphobic diet culture reframed as self-care—a form of restriction that has a quick-fix answer for everything but why a way of living “well” can feel so exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can reclaim wellness to help us live a full life with room to indulge,…

HIGH STYLE Matea Benedetti began her career designing costumes for opera houses and theaters, so it’s no surprise that emotion and passion are at the core of each of BENEDETTI LIFE’s unique garments. Combining her knowledge of luxury aesthetics with environmental consciousness and ethical business practices, Benedetti ensures her eponymous label meets the highest standards of slow fashion. Expect animal-free, Italian-made designs utilizing innovative materials like pineapple leather, plant-based silk, and biodegradable wood pulp. IN THE BAG Wanting to blend her love of animals and fashion, NYU Gallatin graduate and former Oscar de la Renta intern Mikaila Roncevich focused her studies on plant-based textiles throughout her undergraduate career. A long-time vegan, Roncevich knew she could find a better, non-toxic alternative to animal leather, which she believes is “an unnecessary evil…

CHOCOLATE BARK WITH BLACK BEANS Incorporating chocolate into my lifestyle is totally doable with health-forward vegan treats like this super-simple dark chocolate bark by Remix Snacks made with just three ingredients: chocolate, black beans (yup!), and upcycled fruit (my fave is cranberry). PROTEIN-INFUSED PANCAKE MIX Breakfast is my favorite meal, especially when I can stack these fava-and-oat Flourish pancakes on my plate after an intense, early Muay Thai class. They’re made with fava bean and oat flours so they’re satiating, and they even come in a chocolate chip flavor I love. CLASSIC HIGH TOPS Made of cotton canvas and rubber, these vegan staples from Converse are my go-to shoes for strength training because of their flexibility and light weight—plus, all the cool gym rats wear them. WHITE TRUFFLE PROTEIN POPCORN…

VEGAN FOODS MAY HAVE THE POWER TO HELP ALLEVIATE PTSD, according to a new study. The research explored the gut-brain axis and identified a potential link between plant-forward Mediterranean diets and reduced PTSD symptoms, offering hope for dietary interventions in mental health. Additional studies suggest benefits of plant-based diets in improving mental health, particularly walnuts. A handful of nuts daily may reduce depression risk, while walnuts improved self-reported mental health in test subjects.…

THE BRITISH ARE EATING LESS MEAT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, according to new information released by the British government. In the year leading up to March 2022, the average person in the UK ate 1.9 pounds of meat, compared to 2.2 pounds the previous year—a near 13-percent decrease. The current cost of living, effects of the pandemic, and a recent embrace of plant-based and flexitarian lifestyle changes were listed as reasons for the drop. But the downward trend extends past 2020, and the numbers don’t look great for the meat industry. • AVERAGE MEAT CONSUMPTION IS DOWN 14% OVER THE LAST DECADE • BEEF, LAMB, AND PORK CONSUMPTION PLUMMETED 26% SINCE 2012 • CHICKEN CONSUMPTION FELL 11% AND FISH CONSUMPTION WAS DOWN 9% DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD…

ENTREPRENEUR, community organizer, and mother are all titles Jessica Cruz holds proudly. They are the culmination of years of work—networking, pooling resources, and trying all the vegan food known to human-kind. A passionate advocate for sustainable living and eating, Jessica’s dream has been to create a platform where veganism is celebrated, accessible, and delectable. Vegan Street Fair has not just been an event to achieve all that; it’s a testament to her dedication, drive, and belief that plant-based living could be both joyful and mainstream. But as the ebb and flow of life would have it, Cruz was confronted with a chapter she hadn’t written into her story: a breast cancer diagnosis. Always keen on finding silver linings, she transformed this personal battle into a broader message. Her platform now…

Oyster Mushroom Noodle Soup Meaty king oyster mushrooms take the place of shredded chicken in this plant-based rendition of the classic noodle soup. —by Chad & Derek Sarno SERVES 4 8 king oyster mushrooms, wiped clean with a damp cloth1 tablespoon vegan butter3 carrots, peeled and diced3 celery stalks, diced1 large onion, diced5 cloves garlic, minced1½ teaspoons smoked paprika½ teaspoon ground turmeric½ teaspoon salt2 teaspoons black pepper1½ teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoon garlic powder½ teaspoon dried thyme1 cup uncooked egg-free noodles, such as farfalle or ditalini1 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed8½ cups water6 teaspoons vegan bouillon powder1 bay leaf2 cups baby spinach½ cup chopped fresh parsley 1. Holding the king oyster mushroom cap, run a fork along the length of stem to create shreds. Break shreds apart with hands.…

December 22, 2024–January 2, 2025 Join VegNews for the ultimate holiday getaway to the fascinating country of India. Celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with lavish Indian feasts, stay in royal palaces, see spectacular sites, and take in the wonders of this captivating nation. Trip highlights… • Dine at the best veg eateries in India • Explore streets and back alleys of Delhi • Meander through colorful bazaars • Take a rickshaw through bustling cities • Learn Indian history and culture • Bicycle in a national park teeming with wildlife • Visit an animal sanctuary • Have dinner with a local family • Toast the New Year with a Tandoori Rajput Feast • Savor traditional snacks, desserts, and teas • Stay in a picturesque village • Take a vegan cooking class…

ON ONE HAND, California’s fabled, beachy Orange County is seen as a land of excess, glamorized for years by primetime TV. On the other, this suburbian cousin of Los Angeles is often seen as a bit sleepy—a place where people go to retire or raise a family. The truth is, Orange County has it all (except true seasons—expect high 60s even in January). The area is defined by 42 miles of pristine, relatively uncrowded coastline as well as mountainous hiking trails, laid-back beach towns, Disneyland, and a burgeoning vegan scene that Southern California visitors would be foolish to miss. For those who love to do (and eat) it all, welcome to the OC. 1/Coffee, Filipino-style Planted just off the Orange Circle—a community hub of vintage shops, restaurants, and long-standing dive bars…

1 FAD DIETS Keto, Atkins, high-carb, low-fat, raw, paleo … the list goes on. As soon as one diet fizzles out, another pops up. And these fleeting trends can have long-lasting effects, like anxiety, guilt, food obsession, yo-yo dieting (which negatively impacts metabolism and overall health), and feelings of deprivation. Try this: Remember: “everything in moderation.” Allowing room for indulgences while prioritizing whole grains, plant protein, fruit, and vegetables is the best, most balanced approach. It may not be as sexy or intriguing, but it will help you feel good, enjoy your life, and sustain a mostly healthful diet. 2 DETOXES Unless you’ve been exposed to a specific toxin that you are being treated for, detox products are likely doing nothing for you. Products like detox teas, colon cleanses, or…

WHEN A SEEMINGLY insatiable craving strikes, it’s time to dig into the deepest crevice of your pantry in search of just the right snack. But what do you do when nothing is hitting the spot? It’s time to turn to social media sensation Sam Turnbull, creator and recipe developer behind the fan-favorite blog It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. In her third cookbook, Turnbull satisfies your cravings for all-things cheesy, carby, eggy, creamy, spicy, crunchy, meaty, chocolaty, and sugary with 101 plant-based recipes. When basic snacks, mains, and sides just won’t do, take it up a notch with Turnbull as your cooking maestro. Kickstart your morning with crusty bread dipped in silky egg yolk dip; find comfort in extra-garlicky, creamy soup; and host the ultimate dinner party complete with melty fondue. It’s…

HERE’S A SECRET: Chasing the fountain of youth is futile. We’re all going to age, but some among us just seem to do it better. So we asked some of our favorite vegans about the privilege of getting older, how they stay healthy, and why it’s true that life just gets better with age. Tracye McQuirter Public health nutritionist and author Age: 57 Location: Washington, DC Vegan for: 37 years How has veganism affected how you’ve aged? Being vegan has paid off! I truly thank my 20-year-old self for going vegan 37 years ago. It’s led to so much freedom and goodness in my life—including my favorite thing about being my age: putting myself first. And more is still unfolding all of the time. Babette Davis Chef, restaurant owner, and…

A NEW YEAR is the perfect opportunity for new beginnings. For some, this means New Year’s resolutions to keep personal goals on track. For others, it’s taking part in Veganuary and committing to a month (and hopefully more) of plant-based eating. And for us, Dry January is just what we need to reset after a long string of holiday festivities. Luckily, there are more super-premium, non-alcoholic, vegan options than ever that can help us cut back without feeling like we’re cut off from all the fun. Here’s where we’re starting. OUR FAVORITE WINE:Surely Premium California grapes go through the traditional winemaking process to craft these sparkling rosés, bubbly bruts, citrusy Sauvignon Blancs, and complex-and-smoky reds. The wines are then treated with state-of-the-art technology that utilizes steam and vacuum pressure to…

Amanda Bankert Indulge Like A Parisian, p.48 Where I live: Paris, France Veg for: 25 years My go-to breakfast: An oat milk flat white and tofu scramble on toast Always in my fridge: Tahini, Dijon mustard, and cornichons Dream winter getaway: Christmas market in Salzburg, Austria Tanya Flink California, Here We Come, p.63 Where I live: Newport Beach, CA Veg for: 11 years My go-to breakfast: A good pour-over coffee made with beans from a local roaster Always in my fridge: Vegan kimchi, almond milk, and carrots Dream winter getaway: Island hopping in Hawai’i Joe Baur Gourmand’s Guide to Germany, p.66 Where I live: Berlin, Germany Veg for: 4 years My go-to breakfast: Can’t go wrong with oatmeal Always in my fridge: Smoked tofu, hummus, and leftovers Dream winter getaway:…

Puerto Rico Finca Victoria Vieques, Puerto Rico Tucked away in the mountains of the Caribbean island of Vieques—east of the Puerto Rican mainland—Finca Victoria is a bona fide hidden paradise. Accommodations at this adults-only, queer-friendly, vegetarian hotel include a range of stunning and playful two-story treehouse suites surrounded by a magical tropical oasis. Its eco-footprint inches near zero-impact thanks to its use of solar power, recycled water, and plant-based foods. After waking up with daily yoga classes and tropical chia pudding or vegan waffles, guests can explore the nearby town or take advantage of the near-zero light pollution on the island with some of the best stargazing imaginable. For a deeper wellness dive, indulge in Finca Victoria’s full-service spa, including herbal facials and baths, Chinese medicinal treatments, and tailored massages.…

Dark Chocolate Cake With Dark Chocolate Ganache Chocoholics, look no further. This fudgy, indulgent cake gets its sweetness and chocolate flavor intensified with the addition of coffee, making this dessert a pure celebration of cocoa. MAKES 1 CAKE For the cake: 1 cup soy milk1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar2 cups all-purpose flour1 cup cocoa powder1½ cups sugar1 teaspoon fine salt2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1 cup coffee, cooled½ cup vegetable oil⅔ cup unsweetened applesauce2 teaspoons vanilla extract For the chocolate ganache: 1½ cups chopped dark chocolate1 cup coconut cream1 tablespoon vegan butter, at room temperature For garnish: Fresh berries or toasted nutsVegan ice cream or whipped cream 1. For the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper. 2. In…

Berlin is the beating heart of plant-based eating in Europe. Everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to corner bakeries account for the city’s estimated 80,000 vegans in a country with reportedly 8.1 million vegetarians. In most cities worldwide, vegans and vegetarians have to look up restaurants that cater exclusively to them. Not so in Berlin, where you’d be hard-pressed to find a menu that doesn’t have something delicious for meat-free diners. That said, you certainly can find a plethora of vegan restaurants and bakeries in case you would rather take the guesswork out of the equation. Berlin’s vegan heart Generally speaking, there are two Berlins, and I’m not referring to the scars left by the infamous Berlin Wall. One Berlin lies inside “the ring”—or the Ringbahn, a train that wraps itself…

Follow: @foodsciencebabe Run by a chemical engineer and food scientist who has worked in the food industry for more than 10 years, this account debunks viral wellness claims and fear-mongering videos by explaining the science behind it all. Listen to: Maintenance Phase Podcast Tune in to journalist Michael Hobbes and author Aubrey Gordon as they debunk the junk science behind the health fads and wellness scams of the moment (hint: 10,000 steps a day is bogus). Read: The Wellness Trap Dietician, journalist, and author Christy Harrison deep-dives into the ugly underbelly of the wellness industry in this self-help book, while offering compassion for people who fall for ever-pervasive wellness myths. SARAH MCLAUGHLIN (@sarahmclaughlin) is a VegNews editor inspired by the growing conversations and developments around wellness.…

1 THE OFFICIAL VEGANUARY COOKBOOK Calling all veg-curious eaters! For the last decade, UK nonprofit Veganuary has helped legions around the world go—and stay—vegan. And now, it’s making it easier than ever. Commit to cruelty-free living with Veganuary’s first official cookbook equipped with 100 recipes for every meal of the day, plus sample meal plans, shopping lists, and even no-waste tips. We’re calling it: 2024 is the year of vegan. Must-makes: Mushroom Bolognese, Quince Tart, Peanut Butter Breakfast Sundaes 2 GIRLS GONE VEG When Ali Riley and Toni Pressley aren’t scoring game-winning goals, the professional soccer players are in the kitchen, cooking up a medley of plant-forward meals to keep them fueled both on and off the field. In their debut cookbook, the World Cup footballers are sharing the healthful,…