🍔 Plant vs. Meat: The Ultimate Showdown (Plus Local Vegan Eats!)

Welcome to this week's plant-powered roundup! Whether you're a long-time vegan, plant-curious, or just looking for some delicious and healthy options, we've got you covered. From mouthwatering local events to the latest in plant-based nutrition, we're serving up a feast of information to nourish your mind and body.

This week, we're diving into the great burger debate, exploring upcoming community events, and even sprinkling in some fertility-boosting nut knowledge. Plus, don't miss our recipe of the week – it's seedy in all the right ways! So grab your favorite non-dairy beverage, get comfy, and let's explore the vibrant world of plant-based living together.

Events for the upcoming week

• Neitly Vegan Sweets will be at Go Texan Pavilion General Store at State Fair of TX at 3921 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas TX from 10am-8pm Sunday-Thursday and 10am-9pm on Saturday and Sunday until 10/20/24.

• On Sunday October 13th, Animal Equality will protest Aldi’s support of cage for animals from 11 am to 12:30 pm at 13548 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75240-5212, United States.

• vegan_heat is offering Sunday brunch from 1-3pm including Honey jerk lambchops with cabbage, yellow rice, plantain and sweet potato waffles. Order cut off on Saturday.

• Washington Post has a very good article where they compare meat vs plant based meat. The article is behind a paywall so here are the main points and comparison that have written about.

  • Environmental impact: Plant-based meat alternatives generally have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to animal-based meats.

  • Processing: Plant-based meats are often ultra-processed, containing various additives, while real meat is less processed.

  • Saturated fat: Plant-based meats typically contain less saturated fat than real meat, which can lead to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

  • Fiber: Plant-based meats contain fiber, which is not present in real meat.

  • Protein: Some plant-based meats (like Beyond Meat) can have more protein than their real meat counterparts.

  • Sodium: Plant-based meats often contain more sodium than real meat.

  • Taste and texture: Plant-based meats are designed to mimic the flavor, texture, and appearance of real meat.

  • Health effects: Studies show mixed results, with some indicating improvements in cholesterol levels and body weight when switching to plant-based meats, while others show no significant changes.

  • Variability between brands: The nutritional content and health effects can vary widely between different brands of plant-based meats.

  • Whole food alternative: While plant-based meats can be a good alternative to real meat, whole plant foods (like beans, lentils, and nuts) are considered the best sources of plant protein.

• Plant based chicken nuggets outperform meat in a blind taste test.

• Austin based dairy free brand Malk, is launching pumpkin spice flavored almond milk.

Nutty for Baby: The Surprising Snack That's Revolutionizing Fertility

Hold onto your nuts, folks! It turns out these tiny powerhouses might just be the secret weapon in your fertility arsenal. From Brazil nuts playing thyroid superhero to walnuts whipping sperm into shape, these crunchy little marvels are nature's fertility boosters. And it's not just about the fellas - ladies, these nutrient-packed nibbles are working overtime for your reproductive health too. So, whether you're team almond or crazy for cashews, it's time to go nuts for fertility. Who knew baby-making could be so deliciously simple?

You can read the original article here.

Fun Fact:

One fun fact about vegan culture that many people may not know is that the term "vegan" itself is less than 100 years old. It was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, a British animal rights activist, who founded The Vegan Society. The name "vegan" was derived by taking the first and last letters of "vegetarian," reflecting a philosophy that seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals in diet and lifestyle choices.

Recipe of the week

Super-seedy power bars

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups whole rolled oats

• ½ cup raw walnuts – roughly chopped

• 1 very packed cup of medjool dates – pitted

• 3Tbs chia seeds

• 3 Tbs sunflower seeds

• 2 Tbs Hemp Seeds

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup natural or lightly salted peanut butter (other nut butters like almond butter would work well too!)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to ~180 degrees

2. Start by toasting your oats and walnuts in the oven until slightly brown – check on them after 10 minutes but may take a couple more minutes.

3. In a food processor, process your dates for about a minute – until it forms a “dough-like” consistency

4. Add your oats, walnuts, dates and all of the seeds to a large mixing bowl.

5. Now heat your peanut butter and honey in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring to mix together and then pour over the oats, walnuts, dates and seeds. Mix thoroughly and ensure you disperse the dates evenly throughout the mixture.

6. Transfer your mixture to a lined pan – Make sure you press the mixture down firmly/ flatten as much as you can (you can cover with baking paper etc and then press down with a book or something heavy to really pack it in tightly)

7. Chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes to firm up

8. Slice into bars and Enjoy mindfully!

Recipe source