What Do You Need for this Easy Gluten Free Vegan Quesadilla?

BFree Wraps
Follow Your Heart Mozzarella (how much do YOU want?)
Follow Your Heart Cheddar (how much do YOU want?)
Refried Black Beans
Green Onions
Vegan Butter (if you need it? I use ceramic pans and they don’t stick)
Follow Your Heart Chipotle Mayo

What Do You Do

Heat up the pan to medium, medium-high.
If using butter, lightly butter one side of two wraps.
Place one wrap in the pan, butter side down.
Spread [as much as you want] of the beans on the tortilla.
Sprinkle the cheeses and chopped green onions on top of the beans.
Place second wrap on top, butter side up.
Flip in about 5 minutes but you can carefully lift the bottom wrap to see if it’s cooked how you like it and decide when to flip based on that. You can also turn down the heat if the wraps are cooked, but the cheese isn’t quite melted. Tinker with it. You’ll get your Gluten Free Vegan Quesadilla just right.

Be sure to check out the 12 Weeks to Vegan Giveaway where you can win ~$100 in FREE vegan products and coupons, including Follow Your Heart and BFree!!

The post Easy Gluten-free Vegan Quesadilla appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

Follow Your Heart is an absolutely phenomenal vegan food brand, on so many levels. All of their foods are non-GMO and responsibly sourced. They run their company with such care and efficiency that only THREE percent of their garbage actually makes it to a legitimate landfill. I can’t say enough about this company, but I do tell you a lot in this video here. Check it out as the Geezer and I sample about 10 of Follow Your Heart’s products, including their Pesto and Parmesan Shreds. Those two products are big players in this Pesto Parmesan Tofu Penne dish.

Jovial Foods is another company I am just in love with. Again, everything is responsibly sourced and NON-GMO. They pride themselves on providing the best of the best organic grains and produce for their products. I have a video in the works about them if you want to check out what I’ve got to say about a lot of their delicious foods. I’ll come back and update this post as soon as it’s done. Their gluten-free penne is the perfect base for this dish.

Together these two brands make one helluva dinner. I’m sure they would make a thousand delicious dinners, to be honest. But here’s something I threw together on a weekday night. It’s super delicious and easy, and an excellent dinner idea for you to try if you’re in a time crunch (or not). It’s Vegan, Gluten Free and Non-GMO. If you can’t find some of these brands/items at your grocery, scroll down to the Amazon links and have them brought to your front door. Check it out:

Let’s Get Cookin’

Follow Your Heart and Jovial Foods are both included in our HUGE giveaway. Head over here to enter and check it out!!

The post Pesto Parmesan Tofu Penne appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

Vegan Mother’s Day

Mom’s sure do come in all shapes and sizes, and with different lifestyles to boot. But one thing that is pretty universal, is that they all want, and ought to be appreciated and pampered on Mother’s Day. So, what do we do for our vegan moms? Well, you cruise on over to Etsy where they literally have everything Vegan Mom never knew she wanted.

Vegan Mother’s Day gifts for Pampering

These beautiful Pink Coconut Handmade Vegan Soap & Shampoo Bars from TheSoapTreeYorkshire can be found on Etsy here and are very reasonably priced. This would be a great gift from the littles to Mom because it’s within their allowance budget ($5), and it’s sure to please (430+ 5 star reviews!). They are cold-processed Coconut Oil Soaps with Coconut Milk, vegan, and cruelty-paraben-SLS free. They are a great way to show Mom that you not only care about her, but the environment as well (and she’ll LOVE that).

Here’s a sad truth- if Vegan Mom is a fan of facials, options are pretty bleak. I’m sure they exist, though none around me so far, but Vegan-friendly Salons are pretty far and few in between. Products are either tested on animals, contain animal byproducts, or if they are vegan and cruelty-free, they often come from a product line or brand that also carries non-vegan or animal-tested products (many vegans choose to steer clear of supporting those companies). Plus, with all the Almond Milking and whatnot that Vegan Mom has to do , facials and pampering often get bumped to the ‘ain’t nobody got time fo dat’ list. Etsy has the solution. Mom can experience the cleansing and refreshment a salon facial offers, twice a day, with this Vegan Spa Facial Beauty Box ($45) from madewithlovebykm. Check it out:

Mom’s pampering can continue with a little mani-pedi time. Perhaps a significant other or the kids can have fun with this too?? EmmaJeanCosmetics has some phenomenal things on Etsy, but this color just spoke to me so here she is. It’s called ‘Girl It’s so Peaceful’ and it’s vegan, has awesome reviews, and is another find that’s totally budget-friendly ($7). Would you like another color? Just click that link and they’ll pop up on the side of the screen and go from there. Oh, and don’t forget the Vegan Top Coat!! It’s scented, there’s over 20 to choose from, and it’s only $3.

What to do After Pampering??

Get dressed, of course!

She’ll need a shirt, and one that doesn’t break the bank ($21). I think this one looks quite nice, don’t you?

I’m almost positive that everyone in the world needs some Sloth Leggings ($39), including Mom. They are absolutely perfect for a Vegan Mother’s Day. BUT, if for some crazy reason sloths aren’t her thing, we know that Avocados ($37) are because, let’s face it, she is vegan.

We absolutely cannot forget the shoes though, can we? These simply elegant simple beauties are $50, completely vegan, and quite clearly very well thought of. They have 5 star reviews from over 2700+ customers. Can you believe they’re handmade too?? I really want a pair!

Speaking of Yoga…

This is a pretty amazing find for Mom. In fact, I sent this to my daughter with a little winky wink face, if you know what I mean. These yoga mats are vegan, completely recyclable, washable, double-sided, and made out of organic hemp. And who said healthy is always expensive?? I’ve seen yoga mats over twice the price of these that aren’t nearly as eco-friendly or versatile. These beauties are only $50!

Treats, tho

Dinner is a very popular way to show Mom some love on this special day. If you’re going that route, check out Happy Cow to find some vegan-friendly places for grub, or maybe even make her a homemade dish yourself! Pinterest is a one-stop-shop for vegan recipes. Either way, some treats are definitely in order and I highly recommend this awesome Vegan Chocolate Variety Pack for a few reasons. 1. It’s super reasonably priced ($20 for 5 bars!), 2. If you don’t know her favorite, you’re bound to get it right with this, 3. IF she doesn’t like a flavor (IKR?!), you’re probably going to score a bar for yourself .

Is your Vegan Mom even more ‘non-traditional’??

Because, let’s face it, while Veganism is growing by leaps and bounds in comparison to not-so-distant times, it’s still a little off the beaten path, right? Lots of people see it as non-traditional [right now]. But, what if your Vegan Mom isn’t a traditional ‘Mom’ on top of being a veg-head?? What if your Vegan Mother’s Day gifts are truly for your Vegan Dad, or one of your Vegan Dads for example, who lovingly took on the role as your Mom?? We’ve got him (or them) covered too, because anyone who takes on such difficult, amazing work deserves to be appreciated on this day.

The Vegan Mother’s Day gifts above are certainly excellent gifts for anyone, so if you’re in love with any of those for your non-traditional Vegan Mom, definitely grab them NOW. I say this because many are handmade and take time, and you don’t want to miss the big day if you can help it. These artists undoubtedly put their best in each and every order and they need time to make sure things are just perfect for you and loved ones. With that said, check out some of these other things I found and see what speaks to you to get for your Vegan Mom.

This is a classic and I absolutely love it. TopCrownClothing sells this hat on Etsy for only $15! It comes in black if you like that better, and you can feel good about your purchase because they have very good reviews.

How totally cool is this coffee mug? It kinda tricks ya at first glance, doesn’t it? This vegan coffee mug would go really well with some Teecino Coffee (this Vegan Mom’s faves) as a Vegan Mother’s Day gift for anyone you call Mom. Did you see that it’s personalized??

This delicious smelling Soy Candle is a perfect Vegan Mother’s Day gift for anyone, and everyone can enjoy it! It’s only $13 from LightOnMe.

Last but not least of the cool things I found while shopping- if Vegan Mom is growing a little seedling herself, or awaiting the arrival of a darling wee one via stork, wouldn’t this Vegan Bib be the cutest gift ever?? Yeah, duh!

BUT, if I completely suck at recommendations…

…then at least let me recommend this. Head over to Etsy and take a look at their Mother’s Day Jewelry & Accessory selection. You won’t find a better collection of talented artists than there. They’ve got something for every Mom, Dad, Grandparent, Kid, Friend, or otherwise. so for Vegan Mother’s Day. or any other occasion, this would certainly be a one-stop-shop.

So, which ones do you think your Mom would like the best for a Vegan Mother’s Day present??

P.S. You know what would go great with any one (or all) these amazing Etsy finds. Winning your Vegan Mom ~$100 in FREE plant-based foods and coupons to try all kinds of good, yummy things. Head over here to enter the giveaway

The post Vegan Mother’s Day Gifts | Etsy Has EVERYthing! appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

I’ve been so wrapped up in [my versions] of activism lately, I’ve totally neglected my blog. I do have this awesomeness to share with you though- a really big Vegan Product Giveaway! I’ve teamed up with a vegan YouTuber, Ashley Nicole Rice, to bring you guys what we’re calling- 12 Weeks to Vegan. It’s kind of a big deal, if I say so myself

The Lowdown on The Showdown

Ashley and I have contacted more vegan companies than we can count over the past few months, asking for coupons/educational materials/company swag so that we could make a really cool, unique Vegan Product Giveaway. Our goal was to show folks just how unrestrictive a vegan diet can be, and that there are truly more plant-based options out there than we could ever imagine. Well, we successfully collected enough coupons and products from some of our very favorite brands, to give away just about $100 in products and coupons TWELVE times! That’s right, there will be 12 lucky winners over the next few months. Awesome sauce

How Does it Work?

Each week Ashley and I will review at least one brand of the products on our YouTube channels: The Vegan Zebra and Ashley Nicole Rice. We aim to review completely different products than the other so that we can get as much information out there about each brand. For example, if a brand offers potato chips, protein bars, and chocolate chips, I would review the potato chips and Ashley would review the protein bars and/or the chocolate chips. We will announce last week’s winner during that video as well.

Well, How do I Become a Winner??

Excellent question! Firstly, you have to meet/agree to these rules:
1. Must be 13 years of age or older, live in the US or Canada.
2. Winners will be notified via email.
3. We are not affiliated with youtube or any of the brands we are giving away. YouTube is not affiliated with the brands. The brands are not affiliated with YouTube.
4. We are not responsible for lost mailings.
5. You may choose to PayPal us for 1st class with insurance/tracking, otherwise, it will be parcel post.
6. No Purchase Necessary.
7. When a winner is chosen, we will double check to make sure the parameters have been met and if not, another winner will be selected.

Secondly, you must follow these steps:
1. We ask that you subscribe to each channel (The Vegan Zebra and Ashley Nicole Rice)
2. Each week, we ask that you watch both of the videos for the week (one on each channel)
3. Click the link the description of the videos and head over to where you register to win (you’ll be asked for your email address so that we can contact you if you win, not so that we can add you to our mailing lists- those please feel free to do that here )
4. Grab some extra entries there if you’d like
5. We ask that you head back to one of the videos and comment that you’re done, and perhaps let us know what your favorite vegan foods are so that if we do this again, we can aim to please.

That’s it! Easy like Sunday morning!

What Can I Win with this Vegan Product Giveaway??

Another very good question! Below are some of the brands we are reviewing in the videos. They really are some of our faves. So, in no particular order:

Navitas
Free2B
Method Soaps
Silk
Follow Your Heart
Good Karma
Teecino
Herbaland
Savory Wild
Jovial Foods
Bionaturae
Feel Energy Drinks
Tasty Bite
Hilary’s
BFree
Solero
Made In Nature
Lundberg
Unisoy Foods

Seriously, don’t miss out on this. Head on over to The Vegan Zebra and Ashley Nicole Rice YouTube Channels and enter to win this awesome Vegan Product Giveaway stash each and every week for the next 12 weeks. Good Luck!! And, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family!!

Wanna see one of the products in action? Check out this recipe post using a delicious, vegan, gluten free wrap from BFree!

The post Vegan Product Giveaway | Don’t Miss Out!! appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

I’ve perfected Mixed Berry Cream Cheese. Vegan or not. And it’s, like, the most versatile thing ever. Okay, maybe not, but I’ve put it on so many things now that it should probably have its own commercial. If you want, skip down to the video and recipe below. Or, check out a few things I did with it first.

I have become somewhat addicted to Mauk Family Farms raw vegan, sprouted crisps. They are extremely healthy, and delicious with any spread (cream cheese, hummus, pate’, etc.). I also had some of this delicious cream cheese as a dip for fruit after dinner one night. I just added a tablespoon of coconut milk to make it just a little less thick, and more like a ‘fruit dip’, so be sure to give that a try too! But, the coolest thing I did with this mixed berry cream cheese was this really, really tasty wrap below. Check it out!

Mixed Berry Cream Cheese Lunch Wrap

So all I did here was grab a BFree Wrap (vegan, gluten free, soy free, non-GMO, no added sugar, etc.), spread some mixed berry cream cheese, added some colorful kale, fresh blueberries, 2 TB of Hemp Hearts, and some leftover acorn squash from another night’s dinner. Just roll, roll, roll your wrap… I used Follow Your Heart’s Honey Mustard dressing to dip it in. Absolutely delicious!

But, back to the recipe at hand- Vegan Mixed Berry Cream Cheese

Please let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, check out these deals from Amazon that you’ll need for this recipe. Have that stuff delivered right to your front door! Oh, and did you notice there’s no sugar in this recipe?? Well, it doesn’t need it because it is seriously perfect, but check out this list of 130+ sugars and sweeteners so you can choose your sweets as wisely as possible.

The post Mixed Berry Cream Cheese appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

People are easily confused by my family. I’m vegan, my husband omniverous, and my daughter vegetarian. It surprises me how often somebody asks me ‘But can vegans date non-vegans?’ The strict answer is of course, YES! It’s absolutely possible to be in a relationship with a non-vegan, but it really all depends on the vegan’s preference. Veganism is a whole lifestyle for many, so elements of it will naturally drip feed into your relationship, such as cooking, eating out, buying ethical clothing. Some vegans therefore find it easier to only date like-minded people, yet others can make a ‘mixed household’ work long-term. It really does depend on your compatibility with your partner, and if you understand and respect each others’ choices.

So what can help you settle into a loving, understanding relationship with a non-vegan?

Respect- a Requirement for Being in ANY Relationship

Any long-term relationship requires respect. Whilst your partner may not understand veganism, they can at least support your choice. That means no bacon jokes, mocking veganism to the family, or moaning about your food (well, unless it tastes really bad). It does mean being open to meeting halfway on topics and decisions. This could be trying a vegan ‘faux meat’ meal so you can eat and cook together once per week. What’s important to you, should at the very least gather respect and acceptance from them.

But, respect goes both ways. While you may not approve of people eating meat (I feel your pain), you have to be able to accept the fact that your significant other may go vegan in 1 months time, 10 years time, or maybe even never. But it doesn’t prevent you from being a positive influence on them, introducing them to different vegan meals so that you can eat together, and maybe even reduce their meat intake. If you can’t handle the thought that your partner may never go vegan, it may be time to have a frank conversation about your future.

Setting Boundaries; a Key Component to Being in a Relationship With a Non-Vegan 

Living with a non-vegan partner definitely requires a few boundaries. Think firstly about kitchen space. Some couples will agree to have solely vegan products in the house, others have a designated meat area. You can even consider a separate mini-fridge if it helps!

My husband has his own shelf in the fridge away from my products and eye-level so i don’t even have to look at them. It’s great to see that this shelf is actually often empty, as he eats so much of my vegan food now. Just recently he has decided to do vegan weekends, resulting in much less non-vegan produce in the house. This has certainly made weekend meals a lot easier to navigate.

You also need to think about your willingness to buy meat/dairy from the supermarket for them, and then prepare it. If doing this upsets you and feels like a huge ethical compromise, explain this to your other half. You should never feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do. They will need to arrange this themselves, or join you in a vegan feast! It is much easier to agree on this in advance than have your partner open the fridge and wonder why you forgot all of their favourites. Or worse, feel like you’ve made an important decision behind their back.

But, setting boundaries isn’t just for those that live together. If you go out for meals, will your partner happily avoid their favourite steakhouse, and dine at an eatery with vegan options? How about a completely vegan restaurant? It goes both ways – if your partner has never eaten a vegan meal before, expecting them to go to a fully vegan restaurant on a second date may be a tad too far! Will they also support you if their family makes jibes at your lifestyle, or will they join in? These are things that can be good to discuss in advance, to avoid any disagreements. Find your own comfort zone as a couple.

Adapt Meals To Suit 

Dating a non-vegan doesn’t have to mean cooking two different meals every night. Ask your partner what their favourite meals, ingredients and vegan foods are. You can make more of these so you can both enjoy a dish together. If your partner loves a good curry, try making their favourite with marinated vegan Quorn pieces. They may be pleasantly surprised. If they’re a big steak fan, try them with Vivera vegan steaks, or have a go at making seitan. Dished up with some lovely homemade chips, mushrooms and grilled tomatoes, even meat-lovers should be impressed!

It all relies on communication. If you both work full-time or are extremely busy, there may not be time to make several different dishes at 6pm every evening. While a vegan won’t eat any meat, a non-vegan can morally eat a vegan dish, so you could agree that your main meal is vegan on those hectic days. That way, they know what to expect on the table when they come home. Or if they’re cooking for you, leave out an easy recipe for them to follow! It will save your sanity and time.

You may have days when your partner insists on a non-vegan meal. If this is the case, these are the days when they should cook. If this isn’t an option, think about the simplest way of doing a meal for you both. Starting off with a vegan base is a great idea. For example, when making a stir fry, you can cook the veg, noodles, sauce first – all vegan. Then simply add tofu for you, and meat for your partner, on the individual plates at the end. This will save the hassle of making completely different dishes in different pots. You can apply the same concept to roast dinners, curries and casseroles.

Communication is Essential in Being in a Relationship with a Non-Vegan

Constant communication is really important in a multi-lifestyle relationship. Even with the points above discussed, feelings and stances can change. One of you may want to move the boundary lines on a specific issue, or become uncomfortable with a certain aspect of your lives. It’s important to always talk things through honestly (each of you stating an opinion) before you come to a decision that you’re both happy with.

It’s also easier for your partner to accept and understand veganism, if you explain why you went vegan, and what you enjoy about it. This shouldn’t be a guilt trip on your part. If expressed in the wrong way, it could make your partner defensive. If approached in a calm and tactful manner, it’s a useful tool in understanding your choices. Explain that this is right for YOU, but you don’t necessarily expect them to follow. Well, at least right away! A conversation isn’t an argument to win, it’s an opportunity to learn from each other.

Think Long-Term

If your relationship is just starting out, you may not yet need to consider this. But if you see children as part of your future, it is worth having a serious discussion.  Because it goes beyond just being in a relationship with a non-vegan at this point.  Will you raise your child vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous  And why? How will you explain mummy and daddy’s different eating habits when they get older? Will you tell them where meat comes from, and at what age? These questions should all be given thought. You should also research the topic together so you can decide what is best for your values, and child’s health.

Our daughter is vegetarian, which is a compromise between me and the husband. Of course, I would much rather her be vegan, and believe this is the healthiest, kindest way to live. When she’s at home with me, she eats vegan. I don’t keep eggs or dairy in the fridge for her, unless they are brought into the house by someone else. She has plant milk to drink and on cereals. I regularly introduce her to vegan foods such as tofu, and she loves houmous! The vegetarianism tends to creep in outside of the home, when others take her out. This is where I have to be more relaxed and relinquish control.

Don’t Take Things To Heart

Deep down, we probably all want our significant others to be vegan, and truly feel that the plant-based lifestyle is the best way of living for the animals, environment and health. It can feel frustrating when you can’t ‘make’ others view life the same way you do.

But there is a line between sharing parts of your lifestyle with your partner, and projecting your feelings onto them, forcing guilt. Putting on the documentary Cowspiracy as your partner sits down to a big burger, is probably not the way to have a healthy relationship, or inspire any change! It only creates arguments, rifts and resistance. If you are serious about this relationship, instead focus on what you love about them, and the things that they do that you’re grateful for. It may sounds cheesy, but it does work. If they eat vegan with you, support you, do little things that make you smile – cherish that. There has to be a reason you’re together outside of veganism. Remember – you are not here to change them, but accept and support them. Think about the person you were before you became vegan, and try to understand, while still sharing aspects of veganism with them.

Being in a relationship with a non-vegan can be tricky without putting any thought into it. My husband and I have had some difficult conversations, but some great shared vegan times too! With these tools, a little navigation and communication, having this kind of partnership can just be a simple part of everyday life. And you never know, you may be able to open the mind of even the most die-hard steak fan!

About the author of Being in a Relationship With a Non-Vegan– Katy Malkin is an adventurous writer, sweet-toothed foodie, and the creator of Learner Vegan. She is passionate about making veganism accessible for all.

New to plant-based living and need some more tips? Check out what 14 Vegan Bloggers have to say about how to make it the most fun and easy transition possible! 

The post Being In a Relationship With a Non-Vegan appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

So, I’m cruising around the interwebz trying to find the best detox recipes out there. I wanted to add them to this post of mine that I recently published. I won’t lie- my article on detoxifying the body is quite the read, but definitely worth it if you’re truly wanting to get the job done. No products, cash, or crazy fad required, I promise.

Anyway, I came across a blog called Nutriplanet. Honestly, everything in that blog is the exact depiction of what nutrition should look like. Detoxing would hardly even be a thing. Suffice it to say, I stopped searching for the best detox recipes at that point and decided to just showcase some of the things this blog has to offer, as it’s already a one-stop-shop. Everything on Nutriplanet is WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) and therefore has zero added sugars, zero oils, and ALL the tastes!

The Best Detox Breakfast Recipes

You know someone is cool when they serve brownies for breakfast. Here are just two ideas of the pages upon pages of delicious breakfast recipes she’s cooked up.

Vegan Gluten Free Brownies

Chocolate Mint Brownies (AKA- Greenies)

Best Detox Lunch Recipes

These lunches are great for sharing, kid-friendly, gluten free, and perfect to pack and go.

Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Mushrooms

Vegan Salad with Roasted Veggies and Tahini Dressing

The Best Detox Dinner Recipes

Dinner can be an excellent meal to focus on when detoxing the body. This is what is going to sit in your belly, nourishing your body, all night long. Make great choices here to wake up feeling fantastic and ready to embrace the next day.

Potato-Barley Sausages

Vegan Loaf

The Best Detox Recipes for Dessert

There is absolutely no reason you can’t have your cake and eat it too with this phenomenal, delicious, uber healthy desserts. Check them out! (And, there’s more on their blog! Pages more!)

Vegan Carrot Cake with Cashew Frosting

Vegan Lemon Cake with Poppy Seeds

I’m totally interested to see what you guys did with these delicious, super healthy recipes. Drop me a comment and a picture! And don’t forget to check out How to Detox the BARE Minimum Way to learn what else you can do to help detox your way to your best health ever!

The post The Best Detox Recipes (And Where to Get More!) appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

You guys seriously need to check out this FREE online Vegan magazine. It’s called Little Green Seedling Magazine. I mean, who doesn’t like free stuff for one? Two- free stuff that is actually useful and entertaining is just icing on the raw vegan carrot cake, now isn’t it? You should definitely put it on your regular reading list, and here’s why:

Seedling Magazine Covers it All

Little Green Seedling Magazine is a new online periodical that covers all things vegan. From how plant-based living improves the body and soul, to the impact it makes on the planet and our cultures. It truly is a comprehensive news and education tool for vegan and minimalist living. This unique magazine has an eclectic array of topics from very talented authors, healthcare professionals, and vegan chefs. I mean, it really touches on a little of everything.

This is the magazine’s 3rd publication. It is steadily gaining in popularity for sure, undoubtedly due to the quality of the content and editing (performed by Bethany, a dedicated and knowledgeable minimalist-living vegan from the UK). The mission of the E-zine is to inspire and empower people to live compassionate, mindful lives. Bethany certainly brings these ideals to fruition via careful selection of helpful, sensible articles on veganism and plant-based living, positive medical and scientific research articles backed by sound resources and data, and delicious tried and true recipes for readers to enjoy making and sharing at home.

What Kind of Things Can You Find in this Free Online Vegan Magazine?

Like I said, this magazine has it all and I continue to be impressed with each new release. So far, there are recipes for delicious vegan treats like Toffee Cake, Vegan Rice Pudding, and Pumpkin & Pepper Soup. Very sensible and well-written articles such as How/Why to Detox from Electronics, the use of Meditation for Depression, and What Meat Cravings Really Mean. Not only does the magazine contain a wealth of knowledge for the newb or seasoned vegan alike, but the website and associated Facebook page has even more!! I’m definitely a subscriber and certainly wouldn’t be recommending it to you if I thought it was inbox garbage, so check out Little Green Seedling Magazine when you get a minute or two. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

The post Free Online Vegan Magazine | Little Green Seedling Magazine appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

The Skinny on The Sweets

The following is a list of 130 names of sugars, sweeteners, substitute sugars, and everything in between.  Bookmark this page and bring in up on your phone for easy access in the grocery or in the kitchen. A printable list will follow soon, and I’ll link that here when it’s complete. Not only will this list tell you whether those ingredients are actually sneaking in sugars and chemical shitstorm sweeteners, it will tell you which ones are animal-friendly or not.

Not Vegan

Some sugars/sweeteners are actual animal products, or are made using the bones of animals. Those will be identified as “NOT vegan” (i.e. Honey).

Ehh….

Others may have had considerable laboratory/factory processing, and extensively tested on animals, but are not derived from animal products (i.e. Maltitol). Those will be identified with “CHEMICAL/NOT vegan“. I, personally, do not treat these as vegan products, but I cannot make that decision for everyone. These should all be avoided anyway as research has demonstrated in an overwhelming amount of studies that they can cause a whole host of adverse health conditions (cancer, Alzheimers, Autoimmune Diseases, ADHD, Autism, and much, much more). See Announcement above.

Vegan

Sweeteners made purely from plant products without chemical additives or manipulation (i.e. Licorice Root) will be labeled “IS vegan“. This will be the case whether animal testing has been performed or not. These plants are natural occurrences in their habitats and have been used for sometimes thousands of years. While animal exploitation is wrong in all circumstances, we cannot dismiss the therapeutic value of something we could lean over and pick from the ground ourselves, just because some asshat wanted to see if he could make money off of it.

Maybes

There are some sugars that can be made with/without animals (for example cane sugar) so I have noted next to their name to always double check the label. Ones that I was not able to find whether or not animal research has been extensively performed, or just very little information in general, will also be yellow (though this was not common).

A

Acesulfame Potassium: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().
Aclame: See Alitame.
Advantame: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().
Aspartame: NOT vegan though it is sourced from CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals (). Dr. Mercola coins it ‘by far, the most dangerous substance added to foods’.
Agave nectar: IS vegan ().
Alitame: NOT vegan though it is sourced from CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().
Amazake: IS vegan ().
Arabinose: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().

B

Barbados sugar: See Muscovado and it IS vegan ().
Barley malt syrup, barley malt: IS vegan ().
Barley sugar: IS vegan (see above).
Beet sugar: IS vegan ().
Birch syrup: IS vegan ().
Brazzein: by itself IS vegan but it is very rarely by itself so, no, it’s typically NOT vegan ().
Brown sugar: may or may not be vegan; check the labels ().
Buttered syrup: is NOT vegan- it either has butter, or it has chemicals for butter flavoring, of which have been tested on animals. Make your own.

C

Cane sugar: Some are vegan and some are not (). Check the labels to be sure.
Caramel: is NOT vegan but you can certainly find Vegan versions ().
Carob or Carob Syrup: IS vegan ().
Castor sugar: is simply finely ground cane sugar so it may/may not be vegan. Check the label or make your own with your favorite vegan granulated sugar.
Coconut sugar: IS vegan ().
Confectioner’s sugar: may or may not be vegan, just as cane sugar. Check the labels ().
Corn syrup, corn sweetener: is typically of vegan origin but is used extensively as a testing agent on animals, especially in obesity studies. Furthermore, it’s virtually always GMO (genetically modified). Also see High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Curculin: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals. It’s also made from E.Coli in many circumstances .
Cyclamate: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().

D

Date sugar: IS vegan ().
Dehydrated cane juice: IS vegan .
Demerara sugar: IS vegan .
Dextrin: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals .
Dextrose: may or may not be vegan () so be sure to check the label.
Disaccharide: may or may not be vegan () so be sure to check the label.

E

Erythritol: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().
Evaporated cane juice: IS vegan .

F

Florida Crystals: IS vegan though they’ve recently been doing some shady shit. See here, here , and here , for why I am on the fence about their claims of being vegan (because vegan is much more than just ingredients in foods).
Free sugar: (all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to food and naturally present sugars in honey, syrups, and fruit juices (sugars inside cells, as in raw fruit, are not included)). May or may not be Vegan; check the label.
Fructooligosaccharide: IS vegan.
Fructose: directly from a fruit or vegetable IS vegan; processed fructose may/may not be so check the label.
Fruit juice, Fruit juice concentrate: believe it or not, may or may not be vegan (depending upon shellac, pesticides, etc.)
Fucose: can come from animals or it can be laboratory-sourced form non-animal products but still be tested on animals. Best to check the label on this one.

G

Galactose: may/may not be vegan as it can come from animals or plants. Please check your labels.
Glucose, glucose solids: may/may not be vegan . Please check your labels to be sure.
Glycerol: May or may not be vegan;. Please check your labels.
Glycyrrhizin: IS vegan if simply extracted from licorice root after boiling and maceration .
Golden syrup, golden sugar: IS vegan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_syrup
Grape sugar, grape juice: may/may not be vegan. See Cane Sugar and please check your labels.

H

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS): may or may not be made with animal products; check the labels. It has, and continues to be, extensively tested on animals.
High maltose corn syrup: is NOT vegan though it is sourced from plants and CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals .
Honey: is NOT VEGAN ().
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysates: are a blend of sugar alcohols and have been extensively studied on animals . It is NOT VEGAN.

I

Icing sugar: may/may not be Vegan. Please check the labels. See Cane Sugar.
Inositol: may/may not be vegan and has been extensively studied on animals . Even when derived from plants, it is highly processed.
Inulin: IS vegan .
Inverted sugar syrup: is glucose and fructose chemically or enzymatically rendered to sucrose. It may/may not be Vegan. Please check labels or make your own.
Isomalt: has no animal products in it but is extensively tested on animals .
Isomaltooligosaccharide: is made from starches but is extensively tested on animals .
Isomaltulose: see Isomalt and Isomaltooligosaccharide.

J

Jaggery: IS vegan .
Jiaogulan: IS vegan .

L

Lactitol: is NOT vegan as it comes from cow’s milk .
Lactose: is NOT vegan as it comes from cow’s milk.
Lead Acetate: should not be listed in any food products because it will kill you. Funny how the FDA dropped the ball on that one…
Licorice Root: IS Vegan .

M

Mabinlins: are sweet-tasting proteins extracted from the seed of Mabinlang, a plant native to China. It IS vegan.
Mahua syrup: IS vegan .
Maize Sugar: see High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Malt extract, malt sugar: IS vegan ().
Maltitol: is derived of plant products but requires considerable processing. It has been extensively tested on animals .
Maltose: IS vegan ().
Maltobiose: is also Maltose, and IS vegan ().
Maltodextrin, maltol: IS vegan but it is highly processed, has an insane glycemic index, and has been extensively tested on animals. It is also used as a pesticide .
Maltotriose:IS vegan .
Mannose (D-Mannose): IS vegan as it is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in both cranberries and pineapples, and the manna tree (humans even make it), but it has been extensively researched on animals . I should not say ‘simple sugar’, as it requires a bit of processing.
Maple syrup: IS Vegan ().
Mexican Sugar: IS vegan (though make sure it is not associated with cheese- I’m finding different variations).
Miraculin: IS vegan if directly from the berry .
Mogrosides: there are so many variations of this , though they all appear to be from plants, and all appear to be highly processed. I’ll have to err on the side of caution with regard to animal testing.
Molasses or Syrup (from sugar beets): IS vegan .
Molasses (from sugar cane): IS vegan .
Monatin: IS vegan , but apparently smells like poop .
Monellin: is a sweet protein from the fruit of the West African shrub known as serendipity berry. It’s not legal or illegal in the US and UK, but has been deemed harmless and legal in Japan. It IS vegan .
Monosaccharide: this may/may not be vegan as this term encompasses several types of sugars . Be sure to check the label.
Muscovado: IS vegan ().

N

Nectar: IS vegan (as all of the searches return “agave nectar” when searching “nectar”).
Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone: it is derived from citrus plants but seriously, with a name like that do you really want to eat it? It has been extensively tested on animals .
Neotame: is a CHEMICAL and has been extensively tested on animals . It is made by NutraSweet.
Non-centrifugal cane sugar (made by the simple evaporation of sugar cane juice): IS VEGAN (see dehydrated cane juice).
NutraSweet: NOT vegan though it is sourced from CHEMICALS, not animal ingredients, it has been extensively tested on animals ().

O

Organic sugars: ARE vegan .
Osladin: IS vegan .

P

Palm sugar: IS vegan ().
Panela: IS vegan .
Pentadin: IS vegan and is a sweet tasting protein from the fruit of a shrub called Oubli in Africa. is a sweet tasting protein from the fruit of a shrub called Oubli in Africa.
Piloncillo: IS vegan .
Polydextrose: IS vegan but is a CHEMICAL and has been extensively tested on animals .
Powdered sugar: may/may not be vegan, please check the label .
Psicose: does come from plants (wheat) but is highly chemically processed and has been extensively tested on animals .

R

Rapadura: IS vegan .
Raw sugar: IS vegan .
Refiner’s sugar, refiner’s syrup: may/may not be vegan .
Rice syrup: IS vegan
Rhamnose: this is a weird one- this sugar is from a plant but is used in foods and in cosmetics, being marketed as an anti-wrinkle agent (by L’oreal, for example) and is extensively tested on animals.

S

Saccharin: is highly chemically processed and extensively tested on animals, NOT vegan
Saccharose: is another simple ‘table sugar’ term so check the label to ensure it is vegan .
Saccharum: comprises an entire species of plants, including sugar cane, so there is no telling how this would be used on labels. I’ll go with it IS vegan but advise you to inspect the labels further .
Sorbitol: is made from plants and highly chemically processed, and extensively tested on animals so- not vegan .
Splenda: is NOT vegan and are responsible for over 12000 animal deaths according to Vegan First .
Sorghum syrup: IS vegan .
Sugarbag: this can come from plants or animals, please check the label .
Stevia: has had significant animal testing BUT can be plucked out of nature (if you’re into that type of bitterness) ()
Sucanat: IS vegan .
Sucrose: IS vegan when it is naturally found in fruits though it can be highly processed and added to processed foods, so check the labels to be sure
Sucralose: comes from plants but is highly chemically processed and has been extensively tested on animals .
Sugar (granulated): Some are vegan and some are not (). Check the labels to be sure.
Sugar Beet Syrup/Molasses: IS vegan .
Sugar Pine Sugarcane: (contains a high concentration of sucrose) if naturally extracted and minimally processed, it IS vegan .
Sweet N Low: if children and pregnant folk are discouraged by the lax organization known as the FDA, why would you want it anyway? It IS made of plant products, but also extremely chemically processed, and extensively tested on animals.
Sweet Cicely root: IS vegan .
Sweet sorghum syrup: IS vegan .
Syrup: most syrups appear to be vegan, but some are not and many are highly processed depending on the source/brand- check labels and be conscientious of chemicals .

T

Tagatose: is NOT vegan as it is produced from whey .
Tequila Agave: IS vegan .
Thalin: is plant-derived and genetically modified, and has been extensively tested on animals .
Thaumatin: is plant-derived and genetically modified, and has been extensively tested on animals .
Toffee: is traditionally NOT vegan , though can be veganized very nicely.
Treacle: I cannot locate very much on this item other than it is made from sugar cane thus I would treat it as a may/may not be, please check the label .
Trehalose: it can be plant or animal sourced, please check your label .
Turbinado sugar: IS vegan .

Y

Yacon Syrup: IS vegan

X

Xylitol: is of plant origin and is a sugar alcohol/chemical, and has been extensively tested on animals .
Xylose: is of plant origin and is a sugar alcohol/chemical, and has been extensively tested on animals .

So, why is this even important?

Especially the products that don’t have any animal products in and none were used to make it? There are some very good reasons to avoid those products as well.

1. If you take a look at the completely vegan products you’ll find that most, if not all, are:
A. Whole Foods
B. Unprocessed/raw, or very minimally processed
C. Have lower glycemic indexes and greater digestibility
D. Have very little, if any, chemicals or other dangerous substances involved in getting them to our tables
For your own personal health, these are the best choices.

2. Testing on animals is wrong. The shit that they do to them is so terrible that even virtually all non-vegans will turn their heads and cover their ears if exposed to witnessing it. Do you really want to support companies that have participated in such horror?

3. The chemicals associated with the products that are created without animal products, but rather with the use of chemicals, additives, preservatives, colorants, etc. ARE NOT FOOD. They have ALL been linked to cancers, Alzheimers, autoimmune disorders, learning disabilities, and much, much more. You don’t want this garbage in your body. And, we need you to stick around to help see us to our vegan future. We aren’t perfect but omitting these awful things from your diet is an easy choice to make.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unrefined_sweeteners
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sugars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_substitute

The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications, including The Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company employees or company statements.Information does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research or confirmation may be warranted.

Zulka – an Ordinary Vegan favorite and available at most mainstream grocery stores!
Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Sugar
Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Light Brown Sugar
Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Dark Brown Sugar
Now Foods Beet Sugar
Trader Joe’s Organic Sugar Evaporated Cane Juice
Sugar In The Raw
Rapunzel Rapadura
Woodstock Farms Organic Pure Cane Sugar
Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar
Red Path Sugar
Billingtons
The Raw Cane
Sprouts Sugar

** It has been brought to my attention that Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar may be responsible for pollution problems in Florida. Here are some articles regarding it**
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/angry-about-floridas-ruined-waters-fishermen-unite-against-big-sugar-8475700
https://www.floridacrystals.com/algae-facts-response
https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/06/06/florida-sugar-industry-backs-adam-putnam-governor/651146002/

Did we miss any? Please let us know in the comments below! Sharing is caring- enable others to vote with their dollars by empowering them with the knowledge to do so.

Do you like to learn about your foods and health-related things? Check out this article on Food Cravings and why they really aren’t a thing, How to Reduce Inflammation, and how to Detox the Right Way.

The post The ULTIMATE List of Sugars & Sweeteners appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.

I’m a little bit of a foodie. In fact, I think if someone who knew me was asked what one of my top 5 favorite things to do, they’d tell you ‘try new foods’. There’s no helping it. I can’t change it. It is what it is. And, don’t you judge me. Anyway, here are one of my food adventures- The Geezer and I did a Wink Frozen Dessert review. Tune in to see how ridiculous we are, and hear our thoughts on this ‘ice cream’. We had a blast doing the review and will surely do some more vegan product reviews soon. Check it out here:

This is not an affiliate or sponsored post.

You can purchase Wink Frozen Desserts here: or find a store near you.

Here is their blog where you can find tons of recipes, and a pop-up to provide your email address for a collection of 50 recipes.

More about Project Air.

When you’re done with the Wink Frozen Dessert Review, check out our thoughts on some other vegan goodies, like Raw Food Central! They have some reallllly good stuff.

My Chocolate Chip Cookies might make for a good Wink sundae base too

The post Wink Frozen Dessert Review (Wink Ice Cream) appeared first on The Vegan Zebra.