As a restaurant guide and worldwide resource serving millions online, HappyCow considers businesses to be more than just listings on a map. They are the entire foundation of our community – the spirit of HappyCow and of what brings our members together worldwide. Amidst the restrictions and temporary shutdowns brought about by COVID-19, we’re on the forefront of the struggle for businesses to survive through this time. We know how…
In the 1980’s the low-fat trend boomed. Fat became the enemy and grocery stores saw low-fat yogurt and fat-free crackers flying off the shelves (https://academic.oup.com/jhmas/article/63/2/139/772615). Initially thought to have weight loss benefits and help with heart disease, this fear of fat didn’t translate into helping with the impending obesity epidemic. Thankfully this trend is reversing and people are starting to see the importance of fat in the diet. Used as…
A few weeks ago, I ended up racing a friend of mine who thought he could beat me in a footrace. Yes, it was as ridiculous and childish as it sounds, but bear with me a second. During the race, I remember hearing my other friend, who was umpiring the race, yell ‘vegan for the win!’ as I crossed the finished line. We all laughed, of course, but that proclamation…
We are excited to share VegReady, a vegan meal delivery service. A lot of people want to make a change to a plant-based lifestyle, but give up because they find it too hard. VegReady wants to make that lifestyle easier, and more exciting. VegReady carefully sources ingredients, cooks them to perfection, and delivers meals right to your door. Every meal is ready to eat, and easy to travel with. Great…
Definition of Hunger: “Not consuming enough calories to maintain good health”. In prior blog posts focused on the 4 COS4S initiative, we have learned that moving toward a whole food, plant-based lifestyle is good for our bodies, the health of the Earth, and animal welfare. In today’s post, we explore the effect of what we eat on world hunger. If you have not yet seen the film PlantPure Nation, do…
By Kathryn Hayward, M.D. and Elle Stetson-Dibble One of the most emotionally charged subjects concerning our food choices involves animal welfare. As we embarked on understanding and writing about this often-polarizing topic, we made a commitment to discover a way to discuss it with balance, openness and curiosity, and to find areas of common ground among all concerned. We both felt eager to learn about this theme from a variety…
International Integrators Facilitator Caty Genestra Villalonga has started a movement in Spain around the common expression “4 COS4S” or “four things” to increase awareness about the benefits of eating whole, plant-based foods. As discussed in the January 25th blog, the 4 COS4S Project started by inviting restaurants on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca to add “4 things” (“4 cosas”) to their menus whose ingredients are whole food, plant-based and do…
Our Mallorcan friend Caty is the inspiring leader of the International Integrators project 4 COS4S. When Caty became involved with International Integrators, she read El Estudio de China (The China Study), which immediately affected her awareness of her own eating patterns and those of her two school-aged nephews and their schoolmates. “It’s nothing like the Mediterranean diet that I grew up with,” she says. The more Caty learns about whole…
As a registered dietitian for 25 years, I know a thing or two about nutrition. And not so long ago, a vegan diet was cause for concern among the health care community because of concern regarding potential nutrient risks. Flash forward to today, and growing research points out that a well-planned vegan diet can not only meet your nutrient needs, it can offer a range of benefits, such as a…
Southern California’s new fast casual plant-based cafe of renowned Chef Matthew Kenney is turning heads with its cold-pressed juices, salads, wraps, and raw vegan cuisine. The vegan cuisine at MAKE OUT is a welcome addition to the culinary diverse downtown Culver City. And it aims to open more locations in the region over the next five years. MAKE OUT provides accessible, crafted juices and nutritious food to the health-conscious consumer…
Nestled between hip art galleries and coffee shops is a 13,500 square foot vegan paradise in downtown Los Angeles called The Springs. This vegan café and juice bar* meets yoga studio and state-of-the-art spa would make any West-sider brave the 10. The holistically assembled desert oasis theme reminds one a bit of the oh-so-cool Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Every dish is so elegantly prepared and served, boasting the freshest…
I’ve noticed that whenever I drink fresh, organic vegetable juice my energy levels go through the ceiling. I feel energised and vibrant; so much so, that I’ve incorporated vegetable juicing into my weekly rhythm as a general health and wellness tonic. Juicing fresh vegetables, herbs and spices like ginger, can be an excellent way to reset your system and cleanse. It’s perfect to help yourself recover from illness and disease.…
Guatemala is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. There are over 30 volcanos dotted around the country’s rugged highlands, some of which are active. Marshmallow roasting on molten hot lava is permitted (not for the faint hearted) so make sure you pack some vegan marshmallows. I absolutely love volcanos. There is something magical about all that energy, even when they’re dormant. I’ve hiked across many old lava fields in Guatemala and beyond.…