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These business owners have been at the vanguard of the vegan movement, and their efforts have had tremendous results. Fortunately, new and creative food and lifestyle-based entrepreneurial activities are a welcome answer for achieving a more sustainable, crisis-resistant, healthier food and environment system.

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Needless to say, Veganism is growing it's mark in India and here to stay. A decade ago, even executive chef's of some of the most prominent restaurants of the country were not aware about Veganism, but now, we see even street vendors aware about vegan foods.

Vegan start- up's are growing and making an impact, not only to the thousands of animals spared every year, but also reducing the carbon footprint not the environment. I am truly proud of the difference we have made as a consumer by promoting these brands and also as a brand owner myself, making Veganism accessible to the everyday public.

So let’s take a look at the startups which are leading the changes in this revolution that the future generation will thank us for.

• GoodDot/ GoodDo

It is a plant-based meat startup founded by Abhishek Sinha, Deepak Parihar, Stephanie Downs, Shruti Sonali and Taranum Bhatia. Good Dot launched India’s first vegan chicken alternative. They make all their products by using plant protein ingredients like soya, wheat protein and pea.

GoodDot also opened a vegan kiosk chain in Udaipur in Mumbaia and Udaipur under the name GoodDo . The main mission of GoodDo is to popularise vegan food by serving dishes that are prepared using Good Dot’s mock meat. Some of their most popular dishes include curry bowls, chicken tikka and biryani.

• Evo Foods

This is India’s leading and first plant-based egg startup founded by Shraddha Bhansali and Kartik Dixit. They make use of plant biochemistry and food science for developing an egg alternative that is vegan.

Evo Food is a Mumbai-based startup that makes 100% plant-based liquid eggs by extracting protein from lentils, which is devoid of any kind of antibiotics or cholesterol. Eva foods egg mix is used in many restaurants across the country.

• Mister Veg

This vegan startup was founded by Rupinder and Simarjeet Singh with its headquarters in Gurgaon. The aim of Mister Veg is to create nutritious plant-based and cruelty-free meat and seafood alternatives. They provide the Indian market with affordable and shelf-stable meat alternatives.

They are also the first ever company to start mock pomfret fish for vegans, something unheard of int he plant- based space. Mister Veg also boasts of using no preservatives at all to make their products.

• Goodmylk

This is a Bangalore based vegan startup founded by Abhay Rangan in 2017. From buttermilk, to cheese, to curds, if you can dream any dairy alternative, this company has it!

With a total $1.4 M in funding, this brand is taking every right step to make its mark globally. You can easily order their products on Big Basket or on their own website. If you are looking for subscription model's, they have that too!

• Soft Spot Food

This vegan startup was founded by Anusha Patel in 2018. It is a creamery brand that produces 100% natural and plant-based cheese.

This Mumbai based startup produces different varieties of cheese made with coconut oil and cashew milk. The product line of Soft Spot Food includes cheddar, parmesan, spread and mozzarella cheese. Soft Spot is making a presence in leading grocery stores across the globe, including Natures Basket and Food Hall.

• PlantByte Foods

Available in your nearest retail store, this startup will get you addicted to vegan sports supplements. Founded in 2017, PlantByte is a Bangalore based startup that aims to prove that plant based and natural foods are suitable for people with an active lifestyle, with a focus on uplifting people’s health while protecting the planet.

Their main product is STRIVE, a vegan protein shake beverage that comes in several flavours, which is made with pea protein as its primary ingredient.

STRIVE is popular around the vegan athlete community in India and ever growing!

• Sain

This Delhi based vegan startup offers fresh almond milk products. The almond milk of Sain is available in different flavours which includes vanilla, cocoa and cardamom. You can order all their products directly from their website.

Sheena and Tarun Jain, founders of Sain started with a simple mission to make plant milk accessible to Indian homes. They commit to only using the highest quality of ingredients.

• Plant made

This vegan startup was founded by Rahul Dewan in 2019. This startup also focuses on providing 100% plant-based alternatives to food items like meat, dairy and egg.

They started their line of products with vegetarian egg powder (that can be mixed with water to make eggs) and have not moved into meat alternatives.

• Greenest Foods

This is a plant-based food brand founded by Kannan Krishnamoorthy, Dinesh Jain and Gaurav Sharma. The product line of GREENEST includes kebabs, burger patties, meatballs and keemas made of soy proteins. All their vegan protein products contain no preservatives, additives or artificial flavours.

The company was founded keeping in mind the protein requirements for people switching to a plant centric diet. They hope to provide a healthy alternative to vegans and vegetarians.

• Vezlay

This startup is based out of Delhi and produces ready to cook vegan meat products. Their meat alternative products are made from wheat and soy protein. You will also find soya kabab and seekh kabab in their product lineup which is amazing.

The company is also a large supplier and distributor of soy products in India. Through their chain of ready- to- eat products, they intend to provide a cost- efficient, yet healthy alternative to their clientele.

• Devigere Biosolutions

This startup is based in Davangere and is dedicated to extracting functional proteins from ancient Indian crops to supply the plant-based companies and also boost the income of farmers. This startup is extracting proteins from a plant called horse gram.

Devigere Biosolutions is also India's first B2B set up, working to popularise extracting plant proteins directly from Indian Pulses.

• ClearMeat

Pawan Dhar and Siddharth Manvati have founded this vegan startup which is India’s cultivated meat company that grows eco-friendly and slaughter-free animal meat. It truly is something from a Si- Fi movie and futuristic. Unlike using plant- based alternatives like wheat, soy or lentils, Clear Meat actually grown their meat in a lab from a single sell.

The first product of this company was lab-grown chicken keema for which it has already received orders from B2B chains in Turkey, Israel and of course India.

• Live Yum Foods

It is a plant-based cheese startup in Bangalore which offers vegan cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese and cheese shreds. They make their products from potato starch, vegan natural flavours and refined coconut oil.

The best product from their line though is vegan ghee. The company has done a good job mimicking the taste and feel of dairy ghee for a cruelty free option.

• Oatmlk

This startup was founded by two lactose intolerant individuals with a dream of providing healthy and tasty alternatives to dairy products.

Their product line is simple, creamy, frothy and delicious oat milk ready to drink out of the bottle. Producing oat milk uses 80% less land, thus, is also an environmental friendly option.

• Imagine Meat

This is a plant-based food tech company that focuses on making meat alternatives that are made from 100% plant proteins. It is also one of the few brands that have vegan mutton in its product lineup. Apart from that you will find vegan chicken, keema and burger patties in Imagine Meat.

Imagine meats was started by the bollywood power duo Ritesh and Genelia. Their product range created quite the buzz in B- Town.

• Vegan Heart

This is a Mumbai-based vegan ice cream brand that uses only natural ingredients in its ice creams. They use dates instead of sugar to sweeten their ice creams. They have eight permanent flavours and some seasonal flavours of ice cream.

You will see this brand pop- up in various vegan food festivals, e- comers sites and even some supermarkets. They have expanded from Mumbai and now serve in various places across the nation. Vegan Heart is all set for national dominance.

• Asa Beauty

This brand is known not just for the organic and eco-friendly ingredients used in the products but also for sustainable practices and plastic-free packaging. As a result, you will find refillable and reusable lipsticks, mascaras, concealers, among other products.

This luxury make- up brand has advisors like Clover Wootton, international make up artist and Anjali Gopalan, animal right's activist. Their philosophy is beauty without cruelty and are growing as we speak.

• Disguise Cosmetics

It is the first Indian makeup brand that challenges the conventional definition of beauty. All their products are made of natural ingredients and are aimed towards the regular people. There is also the option of customising some of their products according to your needs.

Disguise is the brain baby of three scientists, Desiree Pereira, Shivangi Shah and Lakshay Mohendroo, who wish to make beauty affordable and inclusive. They started with a line of lipsticks and have soon grown into eye make- up and even serum oil's for skin.

• Soulflower

It is India's first farm to face beauty brands. They bring you 100% natural, pure and effective hair and skincare solutions. They don't use any chemicals or preservatives to make their products.

The company started with an operating revenue of just under 1 cr, but heir net worth on books has grown by unto 89% as you read this.

• Earth Rhythm

This brand believes in eco-friendly and safe skincare. Because of this reason, all their products are made from ingredients that are personally handpicked so that they retain their natural properties. In addition, they are zero-waste, plastic-free and non-toxic.

The business is valued at 200 cr now, averaging about 25000 orders per month. Earth Rhythm was started by Harini Sivakumar, who was a home maker before wearing her entrepreneurial shoes.

• The Tribe Concepts

This is a modern beauty brand thoroughly inspired by Ayurveda. It's a lineup of beauty products consisting of pure and ayurvedic formulas that are result-driven. All their products are made from handpicked ingredients from Indian soil.

Amrita Varshini, who started The Tribal concept inspired by skincare recipes from her mom has been featured by The Business world and various other prestigious platforms.

Are we missing something? Let us know in comments.

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When I decided to go on a plant- based diet, the last thing I was thinking about was if there is milk and honey in the soap I am using.

Granted my personal reasons to switch to a plant- based diet were health reasons alone, but it was not long after that conscious shopping about my clothes, skin- care and hair care products just followed.

Previously, the market was flooded with animal fats and other animal-derived chemicals in the form of soaps, shower gels, shampoos, and handwashes.

Thankfully, sustainable design is catching up, with plastic being banned in certain Indian regions and recycling also being encouraged elsewhere.

The fats and oils used in soap production can be derived from either animal or plant sources. Many soap manufacturers don't specify if they employ animal or plant fats and oils in their components or packages, which seems to be an issue.

Vegan soap, on the other hand, is not tough to produce. What they only need is to substitute plant-based fats (such as coconut oil or olive oil) from animal fats. Although animal fats would be less costly, soap manufacturers are progressively picking up with ethically sound minded clients who want to know that no animals were harmed as they wash their hands.

• Earthy Sapo

Earthy Sapo is a household and personal maintenance business that sells items that are organic, and free of chemicals and preservatives.

Now the brand shame's against animal testing and is Vegetarian. Though, not all their products are vegan. They do use honey and beeswax. You might want to read the ingredients of products you specifically want to buy.

They are indeed a manufacturer who is registered with the Government of India's Department of AYUSH. Earthy Sapo is a company that produces fully handcrafted goods and was established by Sheetal Kabra.

Being chemical-free and palm oil-free, their products are wonderful for your hands and body.

• Rustic Art

Rustic Art is another vegan brand that creates 100% organic, cold-pressed handcrafted soaps. It is a natural personal and household care line that promotes environmentally friendly processing and a healthy living.

As a result, all of their items are cruelty-free and vegan. They provide several grounds to purchase from them. For example, Rustic Art produces sulphate, paraben, and chemical-free products using only essential oils and organic herbs.

Not only this, taking a step towards sustainability and not just talking about it, this brands manufacturing unit is entirely solar powdered, they are water efficient and only use recycled materials for packaging. It's also a zero liquid-discharge operation, and all of its effluents are processed and utilised for gardening in company site as well.

Besides soap, this brand also makes floor cleaners, detergents and a number of other products.

• Soulflower

Soulflower promises to have been the first Indian Farm to Face Product Line, offering cruelty-free, preservative-free soaps and bath items with excellent effectiveness. Again, this is not a 100% vegan brand, thus, make sure to look through the ingredients while shopping.

Soulflower is most recognised for their extensive line of essential oils, but they make soaps and other products without any additional colours, aromas, or preservatives, as well.

They are committed to ecological sustainability and use eco-friendly packing materials. In addition, with exception of many similar popular companies, this one is accessible both online and offline throughout India.

• Medimix

Medimix is one of the oldest players in the game of natural soaps as it's been a part of people’s lives ever since dawn of time but hasn't missed its allure. Medimix is an accidental vegan brand, but boy, aren't we glad!

Medimix soaps are a traditionally handcrafted range of soaps with a distinctive composition of several herbs. They are also vegan and cruelty free. In fact, clinical studies have shown that its soaps are helpful against a variety of skin disorders. They don't include any animal-derived substances.

The company does not use any animal-derived materials in the production of their products. Animals are also not used in the testing of the soaps in India or elsewhere.

• Omved

Omved Therapies manufactures their soaps and other goods using natural, organic, cruelty-free, and environmentally friendly methods. 'All natural' isn't simply a slogan at Omved; it's a way of life.

This is why their goods are made with only the cleanest wild-crafted, organic produce, and naturally developed components. Omved makes sure that all of its ingredients are not only chemical-free, herbal, and handmade, but further fair-trade, created in India, and bio-degradable.

Omved's goods are also genuine and conscientious, integrating design and sustainability while also restoring old Vedic practises. As a result, their goods are both safe for humans and for the environment. Some of their must try products are the Kamalika Lotus soap and Ananda rose soap.

• Neev

Neev Herbal handcrafted Soaps began mostly as rural women's venture in the village of Hurlung, situated in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, in 2007.

Neev soaps are all eco-friendly with pure fragrance oil and are manufactured entirely of organic ingredients. Vegetable oils and the finest essential oils are used in all Neev products.

Its materials are cultivated in-house or acquired from farmers and organizations that collaborate with farmers. Its products contain a variety of indigenous oils and substances, including Mahua oil.

The brand supports rural workers and also provides work opportunities to underprivileged women. This is truly a unique brand that is not only looking at increasing their revenue, but also make a difference.

• Neemli Naturals

Actress Rameshwari Seth and her son Bhaskara Seth launched Neemli Naturals, a local and handcrafted ecological cosmetics company located in Mumbai. The firm only employs high-quality, plant-based ingredients, and its commodities are only tested on "voluntary beauty enthusiasts" rather than animals.

Neemli Naturals is a vegan brand success story, having grown from selling cold-pressed soap bars in the Saturday night flea market Arpora in Goa to presently serving about 50,000 clients. All their soaps are non comedogenic, so if you are struggling with blackheads and sensitive skin, their products are perfect for you.

Because they care for their animal pals, they made sure the whole line was vegan and cruelty-free. One of their highly recommended soaps is Matcha & Avocado Exfoliating Bathing Bar.

• Nature Therapy

Nature Therapy was born out of a search for natural components that may help relieve sensitive skin and provide long-lasting moisturization. As a result of the discovery of cold pressed oils and their numerous advantages, as well as the potential of aromatherapy to energize or relax the senses, Nature Therapy was created.

Nature Therapy is not a beauty brand alone, but an experience to all the senses. The company's vision is to cater to the emotional wellbeing of their clients through aromatherapy.

All of their products are developed in India and are sulphate-free, paraben-free, toxic-free, and cruelty-free.

• Bare Necessities

Bare Necessities seeks to make zero waste solutions the standard by solely making handmade items that are environmentally friendly.

They want to have a social and environmental effect by providing zero-waste solutions that would empower local communities and shift people's perceptions of environmentalism in India and abroad. As a result, their soaps are cruelty-free, non-polluting, and vegan.

Their orange- cinnamon spa bar (soap bar) is a must try! it truly gives you a feel of a luxurious spa bath.

Are we missing something? Let us know in comments.

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The dairy industry is one of the most primary causes of animal suffering. Animal abuse in the dairy sector is a well-known reality.

But as our generation becomes more aware of the impact of their choices on the environment, and as the business as a whole advances in this area, vegan alternatives have become more accessible.

As our understanding of sustainability has grown, we've all become more conscious of what we consume and the goods we use.

If you live in India, you know our love for kulfi's and desi ice creams in summer. I remember going to my grand parents place during summer holidays and dadi would make us kesar kulfi ice- creams at home. Oh how we would cherish them!

On the other hand, Vegans may find it difficult to locate high-quality, flavourful ice creams. You might also be lactose intolerant, which means you can't consume conventional dairy ice creams.

Endometriosis and PCOS patients are also recommended to avoid dairy and processed sugar. This helps individuals control their symptoms better by reducing inflammation in their bodies.

But does this imply that you cannot eat ice cream's anymore?

For those who avoid dairy products, there is now a wide choice of vegan ice cream companies that are well-known for producing delicious ice creams.

Vegan and dairy-free ice creams are not unusual in India and have also been available for quite some time. In addition, there are several brands with localized roots that appeal to a wide range of clients with a wide range of flavour possibilities.

These 100% vegan products employ fresh non-dairy, plant-based kinds of milk like walnut, almond, or coconut milk, as well as local and seasonal ingredients.

Furthermore, many of them contain sugar replacements to assist those attempting to limit their sugar intake. It also cuts down on average caloric intake, making it suitable for non-vegans as well.

The following are some of those vegan ice cream brands that we think you should definitely give a try.

• White Cub

White Cub, founded in Delhi, was among the first dairy-free ice cream companies to enter the Indian market. It is one of the oldest brands of vegan and dairy-free ice cream in India.

Sonal, the CEO of White Cub, founded the brand in 2012 and opened the first parlour in Gurgaon in 2013. Consumers throughout all major Indian cities, including Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Bombay, Bengaluru, and Chennai, can now choose from 19 popular ice cream flavours.

WhiteCub dairy-free ice creams are devoid of cholesterol, trans fat, and dairy, and have won the PETA Vegan Foods Awards for the last two years.

My personal favourite is their chocobar stick. Truly reminds me of childhood days and having chocobar while walking with my parents.

• Nomou

Nomou, a vegan ice cream company founded by Mumbai-based entrepreneur Samir Pasad, produces artisanal plant-based vegan ice creams devoid of preservatives, artificial colours, stabilisers, or flavours. They challenge to make the creamiest gelatos you have ever tasted.

Nomou has a vegan ice cream with no added sugar called Fig & Walnut. Figs have been used to sweeten Fig & Walnut.

They also use dates to sweeten their Choco Almond flavour. Pistachio, Roasted Almond, Choco Chip Mint, and other flavours where then sweetened using palm sugar instead of refined sugar. It has a total of 17 flavours, with the Paan and salted caramel flavours being particularly popular.

I insist you try their Saffron pistachio nice cream. It will truly leave a mark on your heart.

• Papacream

Papacream by Tanvi Chowdhri is a nutritious and tasty vegan ice cream business that won the PETA Food Awards in 2019.

Now note, Papacream is NOT a vegan brand, but has a range of vegan ice cream flavours. It maintains three locations in Mumbai and serves a variety of low-fat, low-calorie, and diabetic-friendly ice creams.

In fact, among the Indian vegan crowd, Papacream is an absolute favourite. All their ice creams have natural sugars with a low glycaemic index, making them acceptable for people with diabetes and fitness enthusiasts.

Six vegan flavours are available, including 1 sorbets. Nature's Basket, Rare Earth, Foodhall, and other outlets sell their products throughout Mumbai, as well as Coimbatore, Chennai, New Delhi, Haryana, Bangalore, and Pune.

I insist you try Vegan Mango ice cream. With the natural sweetness of mango's and creamy texture of the ice cream, you will not be disappointed.

• Hangyo

Hangyo, a Mangalore-based ice cream company, collaborated with the Government of India to launch two plant-based ice cream varieties during the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR90th )'s Foundation Day event in New Delhi.

Now though the company is not vegan, we sure do appreciate a step in the right direction by such an established brand.

'Hangyo' translates to 'Come Here' in Amchi Konkani. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Goa are among the southern states where they are now available.

Coconut Delicacy and Choconut Delicacy are two flavours of their coconut mylk-based ice cream.

• Vegan Heart

Vegan Heart is a Mumbai-based ice cream company that uses only natural ingredients. They sweeten the ice creams entirely with dates, making them both healthful and diabetic-friendly.

Vegan Heart is a vegan, sugar-free and plant-based ice cream brand created by Kanupriya and Kapil Wadhwa.

Belgian Chocolate, Coffee Walnut, Mawa Malai, Pista Kesar, Salted Caramel, Blueberry, Cookies and Cream, and other flavours are available under this brand.

Across the year, they serve six flavours and add fresh ones as the seasons change. Vegan Heart has stores in Mumbai, Chennai and Goa.

• Minus 30

Minus 30 is a Delhi (NCR)-based company that offers a variety of vegan and sugar-free ice cream flavours. Once again, this is not an exclusive Vegan brand, but has multiple vegan flavours for consumers to enjoy.

It's an ice cream shop that specialises in gourmet ice cream prepared with plant- milk and stevia.

Dark chocolate, expresso, hazelnut, dark chocolate peanut butter, French vanilla, green tea matcha (a popular flavour), and others are just a handful of their flavours.

Their USP is ice cream without the use of any chemicals, emulsifiers or preservatives.

• Belo Pops

Belo Pops makes Keto friendly, sugar-free, and gluten-free pops from scratch using only natural ingredients. They currently have two vegan popsicle flavours on their menu.

They feature exotic fruit flavours like pineapple and chamoy, watermelon and kiwi, as well as local flavours like tamarind, mangoda and chilli; others ranging from gummy bear popsicles to rainbow popsicles.

I would be curious to try their Vanilla Cold brew coffee pop's, however, they since they are currently only located in Mumbai, it's hard to get a hand on them.

• NOTO

This low calories, ice- cream for the health conscious is the new kid not he block. Another company that is not entirely vegan but has a line of vegan ice creams.

This brand has various flavours of vegan ice creams, with zero added sugars and ranging as low as 80 calories per serving! That's less than a handful of nuts!

The brand does use multiple kids of artificial sweeteners and even emulsifiers, so I would try them with caution. Never the less, they do seem to have some interesting Vegan flavours, such as Mocha Almond and Mango+ Raspberry.

• Baskin Robbins

This popular ice cream has realised the importance of dairy-free products because of which it has joined the vegan ice cream club. I was truly the most excited to try their two vegan flavours, launched in India, and honestly was not disappointed.

The have Mississippi Mud and Alphanso Mango on their menu that is completely vegan. Besides this, their waffle cones are also vegan. Thus, if you want to lick your ice cream on the cone, then this is the place to go.

With multiple Baskin Robbin centres nationally, vegan ice creams on the menu is truly a huge step in bringing Veganism to the limelight.

• The Brooklyn Creamery

Started out in Brooklyn, New York, this brand has found its way to the Indian market. You will find a wide range of ice creams in The Brooklyn Creamery including vegan ice creams.

There are over 10 different flavours of vegan ice cream which includes salted peanut butter, chocolate therapy, mango sticky rice, chocolate and coconut among others. The brand also makes low- calorie ice creams for those worried about their waistline going up.

What you will most enjoy is their chocobar sticks! Is there a better way to beat the summer heat than having a chocolate and coconut chocobar in each hand?

• Cold Love

This is an artisanal ice cream brand based in Delhi. Aditya Tripathi, the owner of this brand started his entrepreneurial dream from his kitchen, making ice cream for fun.

Cold Love soon became popular, thanks to their bold experiments with flavour combinations and liberal use of kitchen spices.

The brand refrains form using any artificial colours or preservatives, to let consumers taste nothing but whole clean ingredients. Now they only have one vegan flavour, Coffee in Almond milk, but are curious to expand more as the demand rises.

• Tangelo

A Gurgaon based brand that has multiple flavours of Vegan ice cream. You can order directly or via tomato in the Delhi/ NRC region. They use unrefined raw sugar and muscovado to flavour their ice creams.

Though a little pricy, their ice creams and smooth to the texture and bursting with flavour. Caramel crunch and Vanilla brownie and two flavours popular among vegan consumer.

So if you happen to be around Delhi, do not forget to try their premium and hand crafted vegan ice creams.

• Urban Platter

This brand is set to revolutionise the vegan dessert scene all together. After successfully launching vegan cheese, powdered soy milk and various other health products, Urban Platter has now bring forth vegan gelatos!

The brand has a line of flavours such as mango, strawberry and chocolate. The base of their ice creams is natural fruit and almond butter, making it very creamy and rich in texture.

Now unlike their other products that do not have to be frozen, the ice creams are delivered only to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and can be ordered directly from their website.

• Amore

Another Mumbai based sorbet and gelato brand that is committed to tinkle your tastebuds with their classic, yet twisted flavours. Now this brand is not 100% vegan, but has a line of vegan ice cream's under the name of Good JuJu.

With interesting flavours like Banofee crunch and Peanut butter Jelly swirl, trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Their company Moto is 'spreading good times, one scoop at a time' and once you try their flavours, you are sure to sit with a an entire tub of their gelatos and digging right from the box.

• Waggy Zone

This vegan ice cream brand is only for your fur friends. Meaning, this is a dog food company which have introduced vegan ice creams premixes for dogs. They offer different flavours of vegan ice creams premixes which includes Unicorn Guava, Emerald Apple and Mango Magnifera.

So you order the ice creams online, add water and then freeze it for a few hours before offering this delicious treat to your fur babies.

The beast for their ice creams is coconut milk powder with freeze dried fruits. Sugars and salt are avoided for their premixes, making it pup friendly.

• JusAmazin

Another brand which has a pre- mix ice cream version, but for humans.

This brand provides traditional kulfi pre-mixes that are made using only 5 ingredients and each one of them is 100% natural and plant based. You can prepare homemade vegan kulfi in a jiffy to beat the heat this summer.

JusAmazin started of as a nut butter brand, by a couple desperately trying to find healthy nut butters for their lactose- intolerant son, but has soon grown to various other dairy alternatives.

Their Kulfi premix can be a fun family cooking session, where you can get the kids to participate in making your own ice creams at home.

• Koozies

A Delhi based startup that aimed to provide solutions of making ice creams not only a treat but also healthy. Their motive is simple, high protein ice creams with options for customers who choose to select vegan flavours.

Their vegan ice creams are made from almond milk, natural flavours and even prebiotic fiber for easy digestion. With less than 150 calories per serving and substantial amount of proteins, this brand is not only goof on the lips, but perfect for your hips too.

If you are in Delhi and choose to eat something healthy that is also a little naughty, give this brand a try.

The vegan ice cream business is no longer a small niche as it has grown significantly in the recent years.

With so many alternatives for vegans and non-vegans alike, these initiatives are absolutely certain to spark a dairy-free trend while also encouraging more consumers to try and choose vegan ice cream brands.

Are we missing something? Let us know in comments.

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I switched to a plant- based diet way before I even considered going vegan. Incase you are wondering if there is any difference between the two, then here is an article I wrote to help you understand the same:

• 5 things that make you a plant-based eater instead of vegan.

I did not even think about the horrible ways animals are tortured by the cosmetic industry. In fact, one of the most significant contributors to animal suffering is the cosmetics business.

However, as people becomes more aware of the influence of our decisions on the environment, and as the beauty industry as a whole makes progress in this area, it has grown more mindful. We've all become more careful about what we wear and the goods we use as awareness of sustainability has grown.

Fortunately, we have now reached an era in which ecologically responsible and animal tested free cosmetics and treatments are becoming more popular.

People are becoming increasingly aware of the substances used in cosmetics as well as the technology behind them. We are now seeing vegan cosmetics in th mainstream market.

The finest vegan makeup companies in India take a comprehensive method to skincare, using essential substances that are both efficient and kind on sensitive skin.

Vegan makeup labels avoid using any animal ingredients or by-products while also providing a slew of health advantages for your skin. Many make- up products also customised to Indian skin types, using traditional ingredients and procedures, and they have some of the most effective formulae and treatments on the market.

When it comes to the make up industry, Veganism can get a little bit tricky. For instance, there could be brands like Maybelline and Victoria Secret's, that use 100% vegan ingredients to make their products, but allow animal testing of their products. Raising the question, if the brand is ethical in the first place or not.

Thus, you want to look out for products that are both, vegan, and cruelty free (not tested on animals). Look out for the below logo's on the packaging to make a more informed choice:

Though nearly anyone can put a vegan sign on their products without the need for anyone to verify, products who use the bunny sign must be verified by PETA. Brands have to pay a small fees and fill in a questionnaire with a statement of assurance for PETA to approve.

PETA however does not run routine or random tests to check weather the brands continue to remain cruelty free, but this is the closest you can get to check authentically vegan and cruelty free products.

Let’s find out some of the top most vegan and cruelty free makeup brands available in and from India that you must try out.

1. Plum Goodness

Shankar Prasad, a chemical engineer, founded the prize-winning business in 2013 and claims to be India's sole 100% vegan brand. Plum's cruelty-free cosmetics will leave you looking amazing without harming the environment. They have a product collection that caters to all your skin, hair and body care requirements.

Their green tea variety, in particularly, is a popular choice among consumers. I personally like their all-day wear kohl kajal, which is similar to an eyeliner. It comes with a unique sharpener. It's also smudge-proof. They also have an initiative called #Empties4Good, which collects and recycles your empty Plum bottles and containers. They'll even give you Rs 50 in shopping credits for recycling.

2. Alanna

Rashi Bahel Mehra began her business by making handmade beauty items for her friends and family, tailor-made for Indian skin, but also keeping the environment in mind.

Her brand, Alanna was then launched in 2015, after receiving encouragement from friends and loved once. Essential oils, fruit and nut extracts, and aromas, derived only from natural materials are included in Alanna products. The recipes are all-natural and vegan, including a variety of essential oils and natural ingredients.

Lip balms, moisturisers, hair oils, cold-processed soaps, under-eye gels, toners, scrubs, face packs, and body mists, SLS-free shower gels, and shampoo bars are among the personal care goods available on the website.

3. Soulflower

Soulflower is the solution if you're seeking for an all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty line. Soulflower is well known for its essential oils, but they also provide hair and beauty products such as shampoo bars, bath salts, and massage oils.

The company boasts of using only organic herbs and plants from its very own farm and assembly factory. They use a variety of herbs and medicinal plants in their line of skin and hair products. Ms. Natasha Tuli, the CEO and founder of Sunflower derives her inspiration form Ayurveda and Natural remedies in creating a clean line of products for your body.

It is a popular brand in India for all-natural aromatherapy, spa basics, and skin care. The Soulflower line is carefully crafted and prepared with hand-picked herbs and medicinal plants that are good for both you and the environment.

4. The Nature’s Co.

Natasha Jog founded The Nature's Co. in 2003, and it was inspired by environmental sustainability. It is a PETA Vegan and Cruelty-Free Certified, and it is also recognized because of its natural collection components.

Organic substances of the finest quality are used for the Nature's Co products. Their products too are packed only in glass, PP and PETG containers to ensure sustainability and reduction of environmental carbon footprint. As part of their natural ingredients collection, they also employ natural butter, essential oils, and other powerful herbal extracts.

5. Disguise cosmetics

This Indian business makes fantastic lipsticks that are PETA certified 100% vegan, toxin-free, paraben-free, and lead-free, as well as being reasonably priced.

Disguise is India's first independent cosmetics brand, with the goal of demonstrating to users that they are not so much just a brand for celebrities as they are for ordinary individuals.

Disguise Cosmetics is a business that aims to reinvent beauty products by offering premium cosmetics while avoiding any harm to animals. The brand now boasts a range of stunning lipsticks with creamy and moisturising formulations that are enhanced with avocado and marula oil. They also provide a selection of eye liner pencils, eye shadows, and glow multi-sticks that may be used as a highlighter, eye shadow, or eye liner. My personal favourite is their feather light matt liquid lipstick in mocha colour!

6. Asa Beauty

Asa Beauty is a firm believer in luxury clean cosmetics, which entails using as little trash and plastic as possible. Founded in 2021 by Asha Jindal Khaitan and her daughter-in-law Sukriti Jindal Khaitan, both ardent vegan activists who saw the need to create a holistic perspective to clean beauty.

Clean beauty, according to Asa Beauty, isn't only about the elements but also about sustainable methods, eliminating the use-and-throw cycle, and adopting non-plastic packaging. It is possible to restock all of their stuff. Thus, when you've bought the boxed items, all you would have to do is purchase the refills, whether it's lipsticks, concealers, or mascaras, since they want to make sustainability a standard.

7. Kiro Clean Beauty.

Kiro's cosmetic products are clean, elegant, and most essentially, vegan. They are thoughtfully created and well-balanced. Kiro beauty tries to close the gap between skincare and makeup by using skin-loving ingredients in their products.

Some of the key constituents are jojoba oil, mango seed oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, and shea butter. Their formulation is free of any potentially harmful additives and delivers vibrant colours and rich textures. Their site also has a really useful option where you can enter your approximate skin tone and they will recommend the products which they believe would be ideal for you.

8. Earth Rhythm

Their line of bath, body, and cosmetic products, as the name implies, emphasizes on the benefits of natural ingredients based on empirical research. Earth Rhythm is committed to providing safe, environmentally responsible skincare.

Earth Rhythm was started by Mr. Sivakumar and is now handled by his daughter Harini Sivakumar with the sole purpose of merging science with nature.

To maintain their company ethics, all of their components are hand-picked. Their goods' whole life cycle is modified to make them non-toxic, zero-waste, and plastic-free. Their products are also fragrance-free, making them ideal for anyone with highly sensitive skin or a compromised moisture barrier.

9. BON Organics

BON Organics (also known as Bio-Organic and Natural) is a firm based in Auroville, Tamil Nadu. When it comes to making their goods, they use Ayurvedic formulas and ancient procedures.

Bon Organics' products are completely handcrafted, hand-filled, and prepared in small amounts to maintain the freshness and effectiveness of their contents. The cruelty-free motto adds to the brand's already impressive credentials, which include USDA Organic certification. What's more? They even have shampoos and soaps for your four legged fur- babies!

10. Minimalist

This brand believes in transparency, efficacy and affordability. All their beauty products have full disclosure of the natural ingredients used and their concentration. There are no hidden ingredients in their products, and are also quite affordable.

Besides this, they also test all their skin care products via a third- party testing center and are happy to post their reports in the webpage. Now note, not all their products are 100% vegan, but the company boasts of not testing their products on animals. Most of their products are vegan, however, you might want to check while you shop.

11. The Tribe Concepts

This is a modern beauty brand that Ayurveda thoroughly inspires. It's a lineup of beauty products consisting of pure and ayurvedic formulas that are result-driven. All their products are made from handpicked ingredients from Indian soil.

Not only this, their raw ingredients are picked from soil that has been free from pesticides and chemical fertilisers. The company is 100% vegan, practices sustainability and even ships their products internationally. I strongly recommend their collagen boosting Shilajitadi Thailam face mask!

12. Tinge

This vegan and cruelty-free brand uses natural ingredients suitable for different Indian skin tones. They make sure all their products are toxin-free and even sulphite free.

But not only this, another one of a kind feature of this brand is the ability to customise your very own lipsticks and foundations. Their long lasting liquid lip collars are a must try. My personal favourite is Across The Universe.

13. Paul Penders

It is one of the first vegan beauty brands in the world. Paul Penders, an animal rights activist and environmentalist, started it.

Their USP, is that all Paul Penders products are fortified with LevensESSENTIE Gold™ a 100 year old superblend of natural herbs, vitamins and antioxidants which restores and enriches your natural hair and skin.

He first started with shampoos and then became an award-winning vegan beauty brand. You can easily find Paul Penders' products on Amazon and Flipkart. You can find ingredients like tea tree oil and exotic flower mixes in many of their line of products.

14. Lotus Herbals

You will find this brand prominently sitting on any medical store shelf in India. This is because, it is a well-known vegan and herbal brand which was established in 1993. Making this one of India's oldest, and most affordable cruelty free and vegan beauty products company.

They have their own RnD team, carefully formulating every product from their line, and giving you nothing but the best. The company is also well known to use products from plants that are grown naturally, with our fertilisers. They claim to merge the knowledge available from the ancient Vedas with today's science to formulate their products.

15. Amayra Naturals

This is a beauty brand from the hills of Uttarakhand. This brand's vision is to provide a conscious plant-based and holistic approach to skincare researched and formulated in the Himalayas to provide the healing touch.

The brand itself was created by a natropath, reflexologist and an aroma therapist with over 25 years of experience. Thus, everything about this brand, from their products to their packaging will scream of nature and simplicity to you. I do recommend trying their specially crafted range of winter product range, especially if you live in colder parts of India.

16. Organic Harvest

This brand offers a wide range of skincare products without animal ingredients, toxins or chemicals. Their organic and natural ingredients are certified by global organisations like OneCert, Nature and EcoCert. They even have the vegan bunny mark from PETA.

The company is found by Mr. Rahul Agarwal, a former employee of Ernst and Young, who sought out to bring organic skin care range to the Indian audience. Mr. Agarwal takes pride in his company that takes extra care from sourcing the ingredients to the final products, making sure everything is 100% organic and cruelty free. If you are looking for a birthday gift the next time, make sure to check their gift boxes out.

17. The Switch Fix

This vegan beauty brand is also plastic free, non- toxic, and water saving. In short, a vegan beauty brand that is looking out for the planet. This brand is all about loving mother nature and earth because of which all their products are chemical and toxin-free. They also don't use any kinds of plastic in their packaging.

One unique thing I like about this brand is the use of mushroom's in many of their products. It is widely believed that mushrooms act as an elixir and this brand understands the same. Their principles are rooted in sustainability, and yet, they do not compromise on their product efficiency.

18. Ilana Organics

This brand is a firm believer in transparency because of which they are completely transparent about the ingredients and the technology they use to make their skincare products. Now though the brand claims to be 100% cruelty free, meaning they do not test their products on animals, the bran dis not 100% vegan. Milk and beeswax is used in many of their products.

While the brand does have some good products, you might want to watch out for synthetically derived products too in their ingredient list.

19. Just Herbs

Another Indian cruelty free brand that claims to be cruelty free and mostly plant- based. Now though they do not test their products on animals and also are verified by PETA, some of their products do come from animals, such as beeswax.

The brand has an empowering back story, lead by female entrepreneurs. The brand was started by Dr. Neena Chopra, an award wining biochemist who started preparing skin care products by coming up with her very own combinations of herbs and spices. Just Herbs has grown and come a far way since then, and even supported by the Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India.

20. Ruby Organics

This is a vegetarian brand (meaning dairy products are used in some of their products) that is cruelty free and free from animal testing. All their products are claimed to be natural and made with organically sourced ingredients.

Apart from being 100% natural, they also add bio-active ingredients that benefit the users' skin. For people unsure of what to buy, this company also offers online consultation with a skin expert who hand picks products specially for your skin type. What I did not like about this brand is that they are not 100% transparent about the ingredients in their products. You will have to contact them individually to check for ingredients and if the product you select is in fact vegan.

21. Nyor

This brand is the brainchild of Parineeta Borthakur, who wanted to provide cosmetic users with natural and organic products rather than chemically made products that are harsh on our skin. Therefore, all the products of Nyor are made with ingredients that are beneficial to our skin.

A PETA certified Vegan and Cruelty free brand that offers nothing but luxury at an affordable price. Though vegan, this brand does use some synthetically derived products to make their lipsticks. The good thing however, is that they are transparent about the ingredients used in making their line of lipsticks.

22. Daughter Earth

This brand uses Ayurveda and biochemistry to provide its customers with some of the best products. All their products are plant-based containing Shea, Moringa, Candelilla and Almond.

Just as the name suggests they work towards the betterment of women in society, A portion of profits collected from them goes towards the education of under privileged girls. The brand's vision is simple, clean, yet clinical products that are good for the skin and the environment. In all, this is probably the brand I would recommend amongst others int he list to anyone shopping for make up.

23. Soul Tree

It is the first Indian brand that provides natural products and makeup that has been certified in Europe. All their products are made of natural ingredients and ayurvedic recipes. Their products are skin-friendly and also provide the required nourishment.

Note, however, even though the brand is cruelty free, it is not 100% vegan. Many of their products contain honey and even ghee (clarified butter). Though the bran has vegan options, I would be cautious while shopping from here. in all, their products originate from clean ingredients and natural sources.

These cruelty-free and vegan beauty firms have set a fantastic example of how one may enjoy cosmetics without feeling guilty about harming animals or the environment.

If you know of any other Indian brands that is driven by ethical values to make a difference, please make sure to tag them in the comments below and we will add them to the list.

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Hello, my Hyderabadi Vegans! The vegan restaurants in Hyderabad are calling you. Let's check out the list of the best vegan restaurants in Hyderabad.

Today I have come to the land of Nizams, Hyderabad, which has been recently awarded the 'Creative City of Gastronomy' by UNESCO.

Most of the people visit Hyderabad following the smell of delicious and mouth-watering Biryani. Hyderabad, popularly called the Biryani capital of India and the highest meat-consuming city, has also earned the title of the Most Vegan-Friendly City from PETA India in 2019.

That's no wonder, as some first-class vegan restaurants and an ever growing vegan community is present in Hyderabad. This city is also becoming health conscious and ecologically friendly. As a result, interest in a vegan lifestyle is higher than ever worldwide and surprisingly, Hyderabad is rolling on it. And I will take you through some of my favourite vegan-friendly eateries across the city.

Here's a list of seven best vegan-friendly eating joints in Hyderabad -

1. TERRASSEN CAFE:

Ever since I discovered Terrassen Cafe, a hidden treasure for vegans, I fell in love with it at first sight.

The cafe is very cosy and bright with colourful and straightforward decorations around. It is easy-going and has a pet-friendly restaurant with a chilled ambience.

Terrassen Cafe serves delicious dishes like 'Phoebe & Joey Sandwich' for my FRIENDS lovers, 'Smoked Tofu Pizza' topped with ample amounts of cashew nut cheese and 'Pumpkin Soup' which is tasty and comforting at the same time.

I requested their 'The Vegan Keema Noodles', made with heaps of vegetables and soy granules and it was a warm and mouth-watering dish. With it, I had their 'Almond milk coffee.'

You can bring your pet and go here for a night of tasty food and chill with the other pets.

However, being a biryani fan and coming to nizam's place and leaving without trying out biryani would be a massive disappointment. So guess what I chose? I asked them to parcel the MUTTN-roasted vegetable biryani, obviously vegan.

It was a lovely flavour packed biryani with veggies and a specially created Terrasani flavour of India meat for meaty (vegan) texture. Served with peanut curd raita. I loved it, and it was delicious!

It is an excellent place for students and individuals who want to hang out with friends while devouring delicious vegan meals. But, are you hesitant and not sure about if this café may come under your limited budget? Oh, well, good news! This place is exceptionally reasonable. You will get delicious choices at low as within 200 to 300 bucks.

Address - Plot B, 7, Rd Number 7, Zahara Nagar, Film Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500096

2. FAB CAFE:

Indira Nagar-based Fab Cafe is a North Indian Cuisine restaurant. This place aims to reconnect kids with the arts of our Indian Culture.

The cafe has very minimalistic decor and furniture. The cafe has beautiful paintings drawn all over on the wall. This cafe is not strictly fully vegan, yet they serve fresh and healthy dishes with plenty of vegan options to serve your taste.

I started with a refreshing cooler drink, "Wildberry", a drink by different superfruits blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Then 'Shakarkandi Chaat Salad', which is a tasty and healthy salad. Also had 'Tofu in a Baked Rumali Tokri' where the tofu is topped on rumali roti in canapé style and served with tangy green pudina chutney and then the 'Veggie Chips with Cashew Chips.'

They even have 'Vegan veggie pizza', 'beetroot veggie sliders', and 'peanut butter coffee shake' on their menu. For dessert, I had their famous 'espresso cake.'

The lovely ambience and service of the cafe will elevate your whole mood. The atmosphere in the café is best for a family to hang out. I was in love with the hot flavoured teas. It even had a special tea named 'vegan chai', a hearty cup of Assam black tea steeped with fresh-pressed almond milk, sweetened with jaggery. No, I could not try it out, but I definitely would like to the next time I visit the place!

Address - Indira Nagar, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500032

3. BON APPEDIET:

Situated on the top of Almond House in Banjara Hills, Bon Appediet is one of my favourite spots to dine on a low budget. It is a cosy and warm cafe with calming white walls and minimal decorations. Even the environment around the cafe is very comforting. The restaurant welcomes you with its homely vibes.

They have a variety of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto delicacies. Half of its menu is vegan so that you will get something to suit your taste buds. I recommend you try their 'Quinoa Breakfast Salad' and the 'Peanut Butter Toast.'

I ordered their 'Grilled Tofu Wrap' for myself, a delicious wrap with loads of veggies like capsicum and onions. The 'Quinoa Burger' and the 'Hummus with Pita or tofu' are also an absolute delight.

Address - 8-2-350/3/1/c & d 1st floor, road no 3, Banjara Hills, Hyder, above Almond House, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034

4. SAGE FARM CAFE:

Another beautifully done cafe tucked inside a villa in Jubilee Hills is Sage Farm Cafe, the next-door neighbour to Sage Organics. Sage Organics is a farm to fresh produce and organic store.

This cafe follows a farm-to-table concept where everything served on your plate is fresh farm produce from Sage's farm. With simple decor that lights up the space, the cafe has a warm service and pleasant ambience that will keep you hooked to Sage, for sure. With positivity, Sage welcomes you to their open-air wooden seating arrangement.

Go here to indulge in Jowar Oats Upma, which is super tasty. On most of their main courses, plenty of vegan options are available, and you have to try their 'Feta & Spice pizza.' I have been its absolute fan and would highly recommend you too!

Their must- try's, 'Nachos and mixed green hummus', 'Asian vegetable rice bowl', 'Veg cannelloni' - pasta stuffed with vegetables baked with tangy tomato sauce, and last but not least, vegan ice creams!

Address - 1227, Rd Number 62A, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033

5. AURA CAFE:

Aura Cafe, an exquisite and classy restaurant located in Jubilee Hills, will put their heart and soul on the table when you are a vegan.

They have a fantastic menu, and you can ask for a vegan choice of almost all the dishes. The decor is exquisite and has a vibrant ambience where they serve their food in a stylish exposed-brick space with outdoor seating and greenery all around.

The cafe has an elaborate menu, and they indeed take your word seriously when you say "vegan". From breakfast to dinner, they serve all three meals of the day, and you can find all-day breakfast options available too.

From salads to main courses, they have several vegan options available for you. In addition, the food in this cafe is presented in a very tasteful manner. It is an ideal spot for eating out with friends, family, and with your date.

Address - Plot No, 280-A, Rd Number 10C, Venkatagiri, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500033

6. OAKLEAF:

Oakleaf is a multi-cuisine restaurant in Oakwood Residence with various vegan options. The restaurant has an exquisite touch with classy decor all around. The ambience is very welcoming and homely.

Not everything on their menu is Vegan, but they are happy to customise options for you.

I tried their authentic 'Oriental Munch' in which five different vegetables are spiced in a roll and served with sweet and spicy chilli sauce. Also, their mushroom burger was one of a kind which had the aromatic flavoured fine crispy fried duxelle patty and was served in a legal bun. Finally, I was absolutely in love with the infused tangy tamarind mayo rightly matched through the rich ingredients.

With its exotic vegan menu, food quality, and peaceful ambience, the restaurant is family-friendly and perfect for date nights. And to mention a great place to hang out with your friends too with gossip and yummy food is always a good combo!

Address - Third Floor, Oakwood Residence Kapil Hyderabad Survey No 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Gachibowli, Telangana 500032

7. E'wok – The vegan cafe:

Lastly, With the city having a few vegan cafés to visit, this café is 100% vegan café. The café is simple yet very elegant. Its walls were covered with beautiful modern paintings enhancing its beauty which I loved the most! The café even has an open outdoor setting, and the indoor seating is also quite spacious and beautiful. The overall ambience of the café was peaceful and lovely.

It has pretty many appeasing vegan options and serves European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Italian food. It also has quite an option for deserts. So if you are a fan of burgers, pizza, then this place offers quite a good option in it too!

The cafés name was quite promising in serving the vegan dishes, and to my surprise, I loved the dishes I ordered. I first asked them to bring me an iced drink, "cinnamon and hazelnut", and I wouldn't lie, the drink was refreshing. And on to order crispy tofu, which was tofu coated in crispy flavoured mixtures, perfectly fried yet wasn't greasy like usual oily fried options. It is a must-try! It was as crispy as the name says.

Then I ordered an extremely wholesome Ramen bowl and being an Asian food lover, and it was delicious. It had tofu noodles, some greens, seeds and super delicious sauces too!

This place has a bonus menu of deserts. Since I ended my course meal with one, I ordered Wild rice pudding. It was one of the unique deserts I so heartily enjoyed!

Conclusion:

Veganism is a lifestyle change that leads to healthier living. Being a vegan means you are environmentally friendly and healthy at the same time.

Vegan food is not something as bizarre as most people make it out to be. Looking back at our food chain, our staple foods like Dosa, Upma, Pappu, Annam, Idli, and Bendakaya fry is rice and dal with ladies finger fry are vegan.

Do you know any South Indian dishes that can be made vegan with the removal of ghee and butter? Even our famous breakfast paratha is vegan, without butter or ghee. Samosa, the favourite Indian evening snack, is vegan too.

Still, if you think being a vegan is expensive, then think again! The seven best restaurants in Hyderabad, as described above, are a must-visit for you.

First, however, do let me know in the comments below which one you like the most.

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Are you looking for the best Vegan food in Goa? Don't worry! I have come up with a list of my favourite Vegan Restaurants in Goa for you.

Located on the western coast of India, Goa is popularly known as the 'Pearl of the Orient.' It is that place where Indians go to relax, kick back, and soak in the sun.

Although it is seafood heaven for many, PETA India has recently crowned Goa as country's most vegan-friendly state in the World Vegan Month 2020.

This place has always been a favourite place for me. The ultimate destination for culture and carnivals has always made me choose this place for trips repeatedly. And I must admit that this place has indeed become a vegan paradise in recent years.

Whether you live here or visit to enjoy the lovely weather and romantic beaches, the Goan vegan food scene has something for every taste.

Here's a list of 9 vegan-friendly dining places in the Beach State of India-

1. Cafe Le Boheme:

Tashi Tamang and his wife Jasmine Brison run Cafe La Boheme.

The bistro in Agonda is a comfortable little space with a variety of vegan dishes. The ambience is also very bright and warm. You can even listen to music that uplifts your vibes. Cafe La Boheme serves you the best vegan food in an excellent and creative palate.

From 'Vegan Omelette,' to 'Salads and Bowls,' and 'Glass Noodles Salad,' you will fall in love with their vegan menu. I ordered their 'Pasta Al Pomodoro' for myself. This wonderful dish is made with a classic tomato, olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil sauce, and the pasta is gluten-free and topped with vegan parmesan. Lastly, I must say that the staff is accommodating and friendly.

Address - Agonda Beach Rd, South end, Agonda, Goa 403702

2. Bean me up:

In addition to offering you a diverse selection of healthy foods, Bean Me Up Cafe is known among locals and tourists alike for its one-of-a-kind authentic menu.

The menu here is designed keeping in mind the ideological traveller. The restaurant offers mouth-watering, organic, vegan dishes created using fresh, local ingredients and seasonal produce. Do you know the restaurant makes in-house tempeh and tofu from scratch? These two must-try items are on the menu. I will highly recommend the Middle Eastern Platter at this restaurant. The 'Smoothie Boosters' and the 'Baba Ganoush' are to die for!

I tried their 'Raw Rainbow Kale Salad' for myself. The bowl is rich in nutrients and fibres and is tasty. And frosty basil lemonade, which was very refreshing after a very sunny day. This place also has a great nachos supreme platter with homemade corn chips, creamy vegan cheese, beans, veggies, and olives jalapeno. They serve it with pineapple salsa. And this combination is flavorful! With its great ambience and high-quality food, this place is perfect to come with family and friends.

Address - 1639/2 Devulvaddo, Ozran Beach Rd, Vagator, Goa 403509

3. Baba Au Rhum:

Baba Au Rhum is a multi-cuisine bakery and French café. The famous love garden cafe, which has a seating arrangement under trees, is primarily known for its delicious pizza. The cafe does not have a separate vegan section on the menu, but the staff are super helpful and recommend vegan foods.

This cafe has a vegan 'Tofu thin-crust pizza' on their menu, which was pretty delicious. Also, most of the vegetarian salads could be made vegan with the omission of cheese. Another vegan item you can get here is hummus. Finally, for all my coffee lovers, they even have an add-on soy milk option.

Address- House No. 1054, Sim Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa 403509

4. Kefi-Café And Bistro:

This place is really simple and peaceful. It is known for being the best Arabian restaurant in Goa. And has a great vegan option. Also, the drinks are refreshing with a tropical twist in them. Its menu is mostly vegetarian or vegan. The vegan food includes falafel, salads, hummus, and soft homemade bread.

It has some delicious options for soups, of which I tried Lebanese carrot soup. It is a simple carrot soup infused with amazing Lebanese herbs and served with house-baked bread.

And I also tried their dish named 'Mujadara', soul-warming spiced black lentils, caramelised onions in aromatic basmati rice, served with a side of spicy cilantro sauce. If you happen to visit this place, it is a must-try dish!

Address: H 460, Bounta Vaddo, Assagao Goa.

5. Go with the Flow:

Located on Baga Beach, the restaurant Go With The Flow stands out for its undisturbed beach view. The ambience of this restaurant is dreamy, and it has an uplifting seating arrangement.

The restaurant features international dining with various menus for lunch and dinner with clearly marked vegan options, always great to discover. They have a wide range of vegan options, from 'Korean Style Cauliflower Popcorn' to 'Classic Spanish Potatoes Bravas,' to 'Caponata', and many more for starters. For the main course, they have 'Vegan Platter' and 'Moroccan Style Pumpkin Tagine.' Even most of the vegetarian items can be made vegan.

I tried their 'Spicy Mushroom Momos' - tasty momos served with ginger and soy sauce. The restaurant focuses on good quality and fresh ingredients, and its service is warm and welcoming. A must-visit restaurant for Goans or even travellers!

Address- No. 614, Calangute - Baga Rd, Baga, Goa 403516

6. Blue planet cafe:

Located in Canacona, Blue Planet Cafe is an open-fronted, relaxed vegan restaurant with woody furniture at an eco-resort. The restaurant balcony overlooks the rice fields and hills, offering a quiet and relaxing atmosphere in the pleasant hours.

All their dishes use occasional, locally-grown, homemade ingredients and are cooked with a thoughtful mix of international recipes and desi tadka. This hidden gem kind of a place boasts diverse vegan and gluten-free options.

The lunch menu offers delicious soups with herbs, vegan salads, and dishes such as vegetarian burgers, spinach lasagne, etc. The diner menu has an Indian twist with delicious curries and vegetable dishes. In addition, it offers tempting vegan pies, cakes, smoothies, shakes, organic juices, and teas.

The atmosphere is calming and peaceful, with yoga classes taking place regularly at the cafe itself. Blue Planet Cafe is heaven for all vegans out there.

Address - Agonda, Canacona, Goa 403702

7. Jardin D'Ulysse:

Best beach restaurant alert! Yes, the restaurant is best known for its calm, peaceful, serene ambience, great food, and superb view. Though this restaurant is also famous for its seafood options, it has a different vegan menu dedicated only for vegans! This place even serves excellent options for vegan breakfast.

I tried the chickpea omelette, which was served with whole wheat bread. And yes! You can even choose between whole wheat bread and grain bread. And for a change, I wanted to try out something light yet a bit filling, so I tried their Fresh spring rolls. It was flavorful! They also serve tasty vegan burgers. So if you are searching for a place to start your day with a filling, healthy and yet delicious vegan breakfast, this is a go-to place! Lovely place to hang out with friends on Friday evening!

Address: 1283, Temb Vaddo, Morjim Goa.

8. The Mill:

The small, simple yet beautiful café! The mill has excellent vegan food options on the menu. It also provides both indoor and outdoor seating and free wifi. Yes, it is an excellent place for workaholic travellers to visit while they have urgent work to cover up during the trip. And lastly, it is insta-worthy!

The food menu covers extensive vegan options.

And their coconut chia is a must-try! Chia seeds are soaked in coconut milk and served in a coconut with mango, coconut flakes, cacao nibs and cashew butter. You can look it up in the brunch menu. It also has other brunch vegan options, yummy and healthy!

They even give options between vegan and non-vegan ingredients. All you need to do is ask them to make the change. I was in love with this place, and it will be my 1st go-to place for brunch whenever I am in Goa! Recommend this place to you, my vegan mate.

Address: Dr Pundalik Gaitonde Road, Palolem Goa.

9. Bibhitaki Vegan & Vegetarian Café:

The Bibhitaki Vegan & Vegetarian café, located in Palolem, is a very cosy and old school café. However, this open-front café had my heart with its lovely ambience.

The café being nearby Palolem beach serves some lip-smacking vegan food. They have relished veganism with an Indian Ayurvedic twist. This café is a heaven for vegan/vegetarians having the finest vegan/vegetarian options to choose from. I tried their Fresca lemonade is a must try and be very refreshing.

My craving was for a yummy burger and landed myself to choose Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger. It was cooked in true teriyaki style and made with Chickpea, Vegan meat, Barley, Grilled pineapple, cucumber, tomatoes, and olive served with Hummus, salad and fries.

In addition, I fell in love with their Tropicana Rican colana bowl. This smoothie bowl touched my soul, especially in the scorching heat in the afternoon.

Well, I can write an essay on this café, but I think you should visit and experience it yourself! And while you visit, please try their smoothie bowl and cheer out burgers with your group, enjoying the ambience!

Address: Patnem Main road, Palolem, Canacona, Goa 403702, India.

10. Zest Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant:

Open front lovely café alert!! This wooden furniture themed cafe located at Agonda Beach Rd is absolute heaven for vegans/Vegetarians. The restaurant offers a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere in pleasant hours, giving out good vibes.

The menu serves quite a variety of vegan food and some lip-smacking dishes for breakfast. And that’s the fundamental reason the café landed itself on this list. I mean, who doesn’t want a filling, tasty breakfast?

So I chose a dish from the menu called “Vege Breakfast”, a breakfast platter of scrambled tofu, roasted cherry tomatoes, avocado, herbs & garlic mushrooms, baked beans and toasted sourdough. I loved it!

The day after, I asked them to get me a pink smoothie bowl served with seasonal fruit like strawberries, raspberries, banana, coconut milk, granola, hemp seed, and cacao nibs. It was delicious and nutritious!

And the coconut chia pudding is to die for!

For vegan's, this place won’t make you miss dairy options at all. And even if you are not a vegan or a vegetarian, this place is a must-visit. They even have the yummiest vegan desserts and pizzas.

This place gives a great vibe, and you can spend hours sitting with your group while devouring the delicious served meal!

Address: Agonda Beach Rd, Agonda, Goa 403702

11. Shantaram Raw Vegan Café:

Oh my God, what a lovely ambience! Yes, that’s what was my first reaction when I visited this place. A lovely open space rooftop café, where you sit on the floor in the stuffed cushions, chill and enjoy your meal!

Shantaram Raw Vegan Café in Arambol serves anything vegan which is fresh, organic and locally sourced. They have a vision of serving only healthy options produced and preserved with care to nurture our life. And the menu only focuses on seasonal raw food. Sounds healthy, right? And you know what it is!

I tried their Pasta a La Arrabiata, which had zucchini, tomato, chilli and lime. It tasted so fresh, delicious and decent. And also, Shantaram special salad had a lot of greens, herbs, and about eight different toppings of seeds, sprouts and sauce. And I enjoyed the flavour of the sauce and everything in the salad complimented each other well.

If you want to enjoy and relish the earthly taste of food, then this is it; this is your place to go!

Address: Khalchawada, Arambol, Goa

12. Gratitude Café:

Yes, this café did boost my soul!

First of all, the café itself is such a lovely place like heaven on Earth, as it is set in an old Goan house. The ambience was quite chill, and the hosts were charming! The vibe created by the café is reflected in the dishes as well. They have a wide and unique variety of vegan options.

I ordered a quinoa bowl and Korean ramen bowl, and both the dishes were exploding with flavours. It was simply delicious! The quantity of the food served was also really satisfying; it was filling. I am always a fan of desserts, so I even ordered Choco mousse cake. It was yummy!

They even have gluten-free options as well and an excellent value for delicious and healthy food. This place has carved a place not just in my tummy but also in my heart! I had my share of peace of mind in this place with some delicious snacks. Highly recommend this place if you want to have a soulful time with some excellent vegan food!

Address: house number 958, Pequeno Peddem, Monteiro Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa 403509

Conclusion:

Veganism is not just a sound direction for living, and it will surely assist you with getting more fit a lot quicker. It is the right choice for the environment and your health. Veganism has so many potential medical advantages like lower risk of heart diseases and cancer.

Let me know in the comments below if I have missed any restaurants and which one is your favourite.

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Are you bored with the same vegan food?

Here’s a list of mouth-watering Top 10 Vegan Restaurants in Mumbai you must try right now.

You will fall in love with Mumbai, irrespective of the reason you are here. Maybe just for a glimpse into the glamorous Bollywood industry, hopping the beautiful and enchanting Elephanta Island, visiting the Gateway of India, or simply enjoying the chaos of city life, it is simply a mesmerizing city or, as you call it, “a city of dreams”.

A few years ago, finding vegan-friendly restaurants would have been nearly impossible, but that has now changed with the growing vegan trend and conscious eating habits.

Presently, we have a few cafés reclassifying the idea of eating tasty and vibrant vegan food, which are surprisingly also healthy. So, if you are a vegan living or visiting Mumbai, there’s much to cheer for.

Even non-veg lovers should accept that delicious vegan food prepared at these vegan restaurants would be more satisfying than ‘Chicken Biryani’ or kebabs. So if you are a vegan or want to try vegan food, here is the list of my favourite top 12 vegan restaurants across the cosmopolitan city. So here I am with a long list of the top 12 vegan restaurants in Mumbai.

1. EARTHLINGS CAFE:

I love how it is named! Earthlings Cafe had been crowned with ‘India’s Best Vegan Restaurant’ by none other than PETA India. This cafe is a 100% vegan eatery for all earthlings. They offer a variety of dishes from American and Italian cuisines. The café has a very cosy vibe, and its menu is full of mock meat and dairy-free cheese.

Their food items vary from salads to nuggets to pizzas with dairy-free ingredients and many mock meat options. Their best-selling items are ‘Shawarma salad,’ ‘basil pesto,’ and many more. It is a great place to satisfy your vegan soul with great ambience and food.

Address - 12 Sterlings CHS, Sundervan Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053

2. IMAGINE CAFE:

Located in the Central suburbs, Imagine Cafe is another 100% vegan restaurant. This cafe is a quaint little all-vegan restaurant in Central Mumbai with Lebanese, Italian cuisines and fast foods.

The Imagine Cafe has a simple decoration with minimal yet bright colour-blocked walls, booths, and tables. Then they have a vertical garden that brings life to the decor. If you are a curious non-vegetarian, then this is the chance you have to try their mock meats, namely the ‘unMutton.’

After many trials and errors in the kitchen, they have come up with their own tasty and healthy version of vegan dairy products!

Imagine Cafe is famous for its pasta, salads, pizzas, hot chocolate, burgers, and mozzarella sticks! So if you are looking for an authentic and delicious vegan experience, this is the ideal place!

Address - Bhandup Village Rd Industrial Area Bhandup West Shop G61 at R Galleria Runwal Greens, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400078

3. RARE EARTH CAFE:

Located in Khar, Rare Earth is a multicuisine restaurant and one of the first vegan restaurants in the city. But, do you know the best part? It is also known to be one of the first all-vegan stores! So, it is like a vegan paradise in Mumbai.

This cafe is a precious open space with cosy and positive vibes. Do you know it’s a celebs favourite spot, too! I’m sure you will love this little cafe to spend some quality time and enjoy a hearty vegan meal.

‘Avocado Sandwich,’ ‘Vegan Burger,’ and ‘Vegan Keema pav’ are some of the dishes on their extensive menu. It sounds like a perfect place for all vegans to satisfy hunger pangs and do some organic shopping.

Address - Sethi Nivas, Opp. Bharat co-op bank, behind Parmar tailors, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052

4. BOMBAY SALAD:

Another healthy eating place in Bandra West for vegans is Bombay Salad Co. The menu ranges from fresh salads, wraps, smoothies, sandwiches, and an excellent variety of juices. They are even aware of vegan food and will customize your plate according to your needs.

I tried their ‘Yogi Salad’ and their ‘Vegan Chocolate Sorbet’ that tasted fine. Bombay Salad brags a lot about its super healthy menu and has gained popularity for its ‘Breakfast Salad,’ ‘Cinnamon Hot Chocolate,’ and ‘Coconut Smoothie.’

Address - 1, 16th Rd, near Mini Punjab Hotel, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

5. EARTH CAFE:

Another 100% vegan eating joint in Bandra West is Earth Cafe. Its menu has loads of other healthy choices as well, namely gluten-free and keto. With its soothing pastel interiors, Earth Café ensures to make you feel warm and cosy.

I enjoyed their delicious ‘Veggie Shawarma’ and ‘Macaroni with Vegan Cheese.’ Earth Cafe welcomes you with a substantial vegan menu and can make you feel at home in this all-day Café.

Address - Durga Chambers, Waterfield Road, Above Pernia’s Pop Up, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

6. BIRDSONG CAFE:

Situated in a quiet corner in Bandra’s Pali Hill, Birdsong is another organic cafe that has changed the eating habits of the city people. Birdsong Cafe believes in the farm-to-fork concept and has ample vegan options on its menu.

The menu is full of Continental, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Indian cuisines. Visit this place for delicious vegan food, from small plates like quinoa to a healthy and nutritious southern meal. To uplift your mood for a relaxed meal, the vast windows in the cafe play a key role other than its chilled ambience.

Their ‘Creamy Quinoa Salad’ is loaded with goodness, including dried cranberries, microgreens, and a tangy lemon mustard dressing.

Address - Jenu Jenai, Off. Hill Road, Shop No. 1-5, Waroda Rd, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

7. KITCHEN GARDEN:

Another well-known restaurant in Bandra is Kitchen Garden by Suzette, a European-inspired cafe with delightful outdoor seating with greenery and chic indoor seating.

With its farm-to-table concept, vegan lovers can customize food items off the menu. For example, their menu has a rabbit sign next to vegan items. Try their falafel with yummy hummus with tons of fresh vegetables. Kitchen Garden even promotes mindful eating by making salads and exchanging vegan substitutes in sandwiches. This cute café has outposts in BKC and Juhu as well.

Address - Gaspar Enclave, Saint John Street, Pali Mala Rd, Bandra West, W, Maharashtra 400050

8. FARMER’S CAFE:

Another romantic cafe in Khar that promises to serve only healthy meals, Farmer’s Cafe, has loads of vegan options. Dishes here are customizable according to your taste buds so that you can pick from vegan salads to sandwiches and desserts. You must try their vegan ‘Beetroot Hummus,’

The menu is a blend of dishes like the farmer’s pancake, served with vegan cilantro mayo and granola, tofu akuri, and filling smoothie bowls. ‘Hello, Sunrise,’ ‘Rainbow Pizza’, and ‘Raspberry Almond Butter Chocolate Brownie’ are a few vegan items from their vast vegan menu.

Address - Celeste Bldg, Plot No. 470, Kinchin CHS, 14th Rd, Khar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052

9. SEQUEL BISTRO:

Sequel Bistro is one of the game-changing restaurants in Bandra West, which has an outpost at Kala Ghoda. They serve perfect guilt-free food with a variety of farm-fresh, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Their nutritious smoothie bowls use substitutes like coconut yoghurt, and almond milk is everyone’s favourite. You can try their ‘Peruvian cacao smoothie’ made with sunflower seeds, almond milk, and oats.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, they have options like ‘Almond & coconut pancakes,’ ‘sweet potato waffles,’ and ‘Cacao avo mousse.’. We Indians love quirky things which are healthy and tasty. For that, we all love Sequel as it has a selected menu that revolves around organic items across the world.

Address - Solace, 33rd Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

10. AHARVEDA:

A hidden gem situated in the lanes of Andheri, Aharveda serves some authentic vegan delicacies. They believe in the concept of eating clean and balanced meals.

A warm, cosy restaurant with bright yellow walls and elegant decor, Aharveda welcomes everyone with homely vibes. The dishes they present here are not just vegan but also gluten-free and sugar-free. With a multi-cuisine menu, you have lots of options. Their thalis, such as the Mexican thali or the Aharveda thali, are very popular among Mumbaikers.

Pizza with cashew cheese, tacos, thalis, Mexican dishes, and many more items are available on their mouth-watering menu.

Address - Viral Apartments, Behind Hotel Radhakrishna, Next to Hotel Golden Chariot, Swami Vivekananda Rd, Opp. Shoppers Stop, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400058

11. Garde Manger Café

While talking about veganism, we can’t deny that going to a vegan café or restaurant can make a hole in the pocket. But what if I told you that you could enjoy the Vegan delicious options, which is quite economical with a lovely ambience space.

This sweet tiny, simple, pretty corner café has convinced me to give it a shout out here in my list of going vegan cafes and restaurants. The space is full of modest yet exquisite corners, being absolute instagramable worthy!

If you visit this café, then the soya keema pav, an all-day breakfast, is a must to devour. From having unique options for salad lovers to pasta, the menu leaves you with many options to choose from. And to add the cherry on top, you need to know that it even has bakery included in the menu and vegan options to look out for!

Address: Near Mahila Sangh School, Parmar CHS, Paranjape B Scheme, 1st Road, Vile Parle East, Mumbai go-conclusion

12. GoodDo:

As the name suggests, GoodDo is another good restaurant serving yummy vegan options. This vegan eatery has several branches in the city.

While I visited the outlet in Bandra, I ordered “Vegan keema Pao” and cold coffee. Before I ordered it, I was a bit sceptical about how vegan keema pao would turn out to be. But damn! The texture of the keema was meaty, and it was beyond my expectations. For meat lovers, this is a must try!

The one thing that I loved most about this eatery is that they made veganism convenient and accessible to everyone by maintaining a reasonable price. So hey, if you are planning on budget snacking and are craving a delicious vegan meal outside, then this is a place to go; it won’t leave a hole in your pocket. And I recommend you to try out their burger and keema pao!

Address:

• 1^st outlet: 13, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Opposite Peninsula Corporate Park, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
• 2^nd outlet: Carter Road, Bandra West, Mumbai.
• 3^rd outlet: Chowpatty, Mumbai

13. Nara Thai:

Nara Thai is an Asian restaurant that also serves some fantastic Thai options. This place is partially vegan, and you can opt for vegan options while ordering from the menu.

I tried their Tom Yum soup which consisted of spicy lemongrass and lime, with vegetables in it. And then ordered an appetiser named ‘Mieng Taohu”, this main dish ingredient was fried tofu with added cashew nuts, roasted coconut flakes, chilli, and betel leaf served with sweet tamarind sauce in andam cup.

And also try the 'Khanom Nung Sai Tao Hu Lae Broccoli' which is broccoli and tofu dumplings. Honestly, I loved it all!

It is an authentic space with a lovely interior, flavorful dishes and excellent service from their staff. I left this place with the best Thai experiences! I would rate this place as a perfect space to hang out with your friends and family.

Address: B-1, Amarchand Mansion, 16 Madame Cama Road, Colaba, Mumbai.

14. Plural:

The plural is a beautiful café midst of the crowd of the city. The place has a lovely ambience, and the vibe is comfortable and is the best place to visit with your family.

The café serves some excellent Asian, continental food and also has a variety of dessert options. The staff is very proactive and takes thorough care of you. And sometimes, even the owner personally gives recommendations for the dishes to try out. So don’t worry, if you have no idea of what will suit your palette and are confused with what to order, then they will assist in explaining the dishes. Such a courteous staff they are!

This café serves some fantastic Vietnamese food which is very vibrant and flavorful.

I tried edamame dimsums, seared Brussels sprouts, and Vietnamese pizza. The restaurant sets itself apart from the same old pan Asian restaurants. I loved all the dishes I ordered, especially the pizza!

Everything was precisely well cooked, and the balance of flavours in the dishes is exceptional. The restaurant also has a variety of options for the beverage menu. I loved the Moroccan mint.

If you ever visit this place, I recommend you to try out their dimsums too. It’s delicious!

Address: 108, Ground Floor, Jaihind building, Kala Ghoda, Nagidas Master Road, Fort, Mumbai.

15. Shake maku:

This Lebanese café partially also serves some delicious vegan options. Firstly, let me ask you if you have ever been to a restaurant that states the nutritional value of the dishes they serve? Well, this café does that, and I loved the concept. It’s incredibly creative and transparent on how healthy the dishes on their menu are.

I tried their falafel wrap, which is made by the staple middle eastern chickpeas, and the filling was seasoned with cumin, coriander powder and sunflower oil in the wrap, which was served with tahina sauce and some yummy crispy fries.

It was flavorful and delicious. But, I wanted to try out something more, so I found their “DIY Salad bowl” on their menu and asked them to bring the customised salad bowl I wanted. And the ingredients I had to choose from was a lot, and some section was categorised according to the protein quantity the ingredient contained. Amazing right!

After I got the bowl, this place had my heart. The bowl looked healthy and was beautifully presented. The taste? It was the a delicious and healthy salad.

This place serves dishes worth every penny, and the portion size of the dishes are fantastic, and their service was excellent. So now, whenever I crave some great Lebanese yummy food, this place is my to-go place! I will highly recommend this place if you fan Lebanese food and have decided on veganism!

Address: Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai.

16. Vegan bites:

This place is known for its comprehensive option of desserts and bakery stuff. But they also have a sweet little corner for snacking and serve the healthiest options of salad jar!

This place had my heart with their date walnut ice cream. It was sugar-free and had decent fibre for ice cream. Yep! Ice Cream is healthy in this place.

However, I also parcelled chocolate chips ice cream. Well, it tasted even better than the traditional ice cream. I loved it! If you are also a fan of desserts and ice cream like me, then trust me, this place will never disappoint you. I highly recommend it!

Address: Shop 5, Khatijabai Chawl, N.M Joshi Marg, Opposite Deepak Talkies, Elphinstone, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Conclusion:

With the rise of conscious eating habits and veganism gaining popularity worldwide today, many vegan restaurants in Mumbai offer delectable vegan meals.

The consciousness towards a healthy lifestyle and reconsidering the climatic effect of people are rapidly turning people towards veganism in India. It feels extraordinary to see this growth of veganism!

Let me know in the comments if you have any favourites we have missed listing!

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Having trouble finding the best vegan restaurants in Ahmedabad? Reading through this curated list will certainly make you say 'Shu vaat che'...

The incredible aroma of colourful and yummy Gujarati cuisine just blow your mind. Ahmedabad famous for being the economic capital of Gujarat, is one of the reliable vegetarian states in India.

With the awareness of veganism worldwide, the Land of Ahimsa is also not too far behind. Vegan cafes and restaurants are booming slowly and adding vegan options to their menu more than ever.

Here I present to you the 8 best restaurants to experience exquisite vegan food.

Veganism is still growing in Ahmedabad, it is still a slight shift for many Gujarati vegetarians to lead a vegan lifestyle. The state that embraces the Gandhian life and the birthplace of Amul, loves ghee, butter, milk, buttermilk and curd. So it does seem a long way before they move towards a completely dairy-free diet.

However, with countless vegan recipes, Gujarati cuisines is easily customisable. It is effortless to make vegan Gujarati dishes. Read this for a customised meal plan:

• Gujarati Diet Plan for Weight Loss

Any who, in the land of milk cooperatives and the flourishing dairy industry, I have come with my favourite Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Ahmedabad to satisfy your cravings!

1. THE VEGAN KITCHEN :

Located at Gurukul, the Vegan Kitchen is the only 100% vegan restaurant in Ahmedabad.

The place welcomes everyone with its positive and homely vibes. The interior is absolutely fuss-free yet has an elegant look with hanging bright lights all around. You can sit, read your favourite novel, write, listen to music or enjoy yourself with your group.

Some tempting vegan items on their menu are ‘quinoa tabbouleh,’ ‘tofu butter masala,’ and ‘soya bhurji wrap.’

The menu is a medly of Indian dishes with multiple global cuisine options. Other vegan delicacies like ‘Vegan Hummus with pitta bread,’ ‘Vegan Khichdi,’ ‘Malabari Paratha,’ ‘Vegan tea,’ ‘Vegan Chhas,’ ‘Vegan Rose Pista cake’ and ‘Vegan Chocolate strawberry pudding’. So you see, something to tingle everyone's taste buds.

Address - Yogi Complex, Ground Floor, Drive In Rd, near Reliance Smart, Gurukul, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054

2. SANTE SPA CUISINE :

Gandhinagar-based restaurant Sante Spa Cuisine has branches in six different cities in India, one being in Ahmedabad. Sante Spa is a paradise for vegans in Ahmedabad.

The place has beautifully themed walls, interiors with shimmering golden hanging stars, brass cutlery, banana leaf straws, and wholesome fresh organic vegan food. The hues of green and white are immensely appealing.

Sante Spa cuisine will not disappoint you with its exotic vegan menu and the best quality, wholesome food. From salads to sushi, pizza to buckwheat cake and smoothie bowls, they have it all. A must-visit place if you want something healthy with a twist of naughty.

For you to take pleasure in I have highlighted few items from their menu to try ‘Vegan farm-fresh pizza,’ ‘Vegan Raw Buddha Bowl,’ ‘Upma of Quinoa and Broccoli,’ ‘Chilled avocado soup,’ and vegan desserts like ‘Chocolate Pie’ are heavenly in taste.

Address - LLP White crow building 2nd floor, block B, Navratna Business Park Sindhubhavan road, off, Sarkhej - Gandhinagar Highway, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054

3. LOLLO ROSSO :

A multi-cuisine restaurant, Lollo Rosso offers Lebanese, Japanese, Mexican, and Asian cuisines. Lollo Rosso offers a variety of finger-licking vegan items.

The restaurant has elegant interiors with green and white walls. With a warm and cosy ambience, the bright bulbs hanging from the ceiling are so beautiful.

The vegan options are marked with green dots on their menu. This restaurant has several vegan bowls like ‘Pesto Quinoa’, ‘Miso Ramen Bowl’ ‘Japanese Donburi’ ‘Greek bowl’, and Burmese bowl’.

I ordered their ‘Korean Bibimbap bowl’, which is served with jasmine rice, barbequed silken tofu, mixed mushroom, pickled zucchini and cucumber, garlic, spinach with chilli sesame.

Address - 3, ground floor, one world capital, Besides la Renon, Off Rajpath Rangoli Rd, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054

4. CAFE TILLA :

Situated in Paldi, Central Ahmedabad, Cafe Tilla is a friendly cafe to relax and kick start the weekdays. The cafe has a premium menu that serves Continental, Mexican, fast food, vegan dishes in addition to beverages which you can savour.

The decorations of the cafe are simple yet elegant, and the ambience is cosy and homely.

Vegan items like Vitamin Bhel, red sauce ,Mini Idlis are a must try. I am enjoyed their Gujrati dishes like Methi na Pudla and Sattu Paratha.

I ordered their ‘Onion mushroom soup’ and ‘Methi na pudla’, pancakes made from chickpeas seasoned with spices and methi. They even have a wide vegan variety for coffees and beverages like Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Caffe latte, Mocha, Adrak chai and Hot chocolate.

The polite behaviour of the staff will make your entire experience worth remembering.

Address - Narayan Nagar Road, opposite Union Bank, Rajpath Society, Paldi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380007

5. THE SHAKA CAFE :

Multi-cuisine restaurant The Shaka Cafe offers North Indian, continental, Thai, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and Japanese. The cafe has a variety of vegan delicacies which are exquisite in taste.

After a monotonous lockdown, this cafe with a soothing and mellow ambience will make it a perfect getaway to match your taste bud.

I tried their ‘Chimichurri’, an Argentinian dish with herbs, olive oil and garlic, and classic Mexican salsa. Many other vegan options on their menu are ‘Dim Sum Sushi’ with many varieties like ‘the white dumpling’, and ‘orange and peppermint dim sum.’

To conclude, an excellent place for a family brunch and an uber-cool spot for hanging out with your friends. Adding to that, home delivery and takeaway are also available.

Address - AMC Garden Prahladnagar, Pushpak Complex, The Shakahari by Awadhpuri 101, opp. Prahlad Nagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380015

6. THE GREEN HOUSE:

The Green House is a relaxing and casual cafe set in the middle of greenery that serves Gujarati, South Indian, Street Food, North Indian cuisines. The Green House Cafe is a covered courtyard garden, and a former ‘buggy room mansion' turned into a hotel.

Well themed decor with elegant interiors, relaxed ambience and bright lights. They even have an outdoor seating arrangement.

It is a perfect place for eating freshly cooked traditional Indian and International comfort vegan food, snacks, and cold-pressed fresh juices. They have an open kitchen where you can see your food cooked in front of you.

I requested their ‘Kacha Kela karela kaju’ - crispy chips of raw banana bitter gourd cashews seasoned with fresh green masala. Other vegan items like ‘Panchkuti dal - 5 mixed dal seasoned with Indian spices,’ Idli, dosa, uttapam, and salads are also available.

Address - The House of MG, Opp. Sidi Saiyed Jali, Nr. Relief Road, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001

7. THE JUNGLE BHOOKH:

A multi-cuisine restaurant with a Jungle theme. With a lot of vegan delicacies, they have an excellent ambience for families, especially for kids. Their menu is exceptionally designed and arranged in a very funky way.

From soups to pasta where you can choose your toppings,. Sher Khan See’s Red Chinese starter is a must-try! You can also get ‘Vegetable Manchurian,’ ‘Veg spring roll,’ ‘Baby corn chilli dry’ and many more vegan options.

If you are in mood for some good Chinese, your search will end here.

Address - 103/B, Wall Street -1, Ellisbridge, opp. Orient Club, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380006

8. TERRA:

Terra Cafe is one of the many restaurants in Ahmedabad offering authentic vegan food. The restaurant offers Mexican, Lebanese, and Continental cuisines.

It is a cute little cafe with white walls and bright lights with a cosy warm ambience.

Vegan items available on their menu are soups, salads, small and big plates, pasta and burgers. Their ‘Mexican salad,’ ‘Nacho grande,’ ‘Vegan patatas bravas,’ ‘Red Thai curry’ and ‘Spaghetti bolognese’ are some highlights from the menu.

Address- Ground floor No. 15, Shivalik Shilp, Iskcon Cross Rd, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054

By eating more plants over animal-derived foods, we can fight many diseases and even reduce our carbon footprint. Let's leave Earth behind a little better than we found it.

Let me know in the comments below which restaurant you liked the most across the city.

If I missed any of your favourite vegan restaurants, do let me know in the comments below so I can add it to the list!

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Kolkata, the City of Joy, is calling all vegans! The 8 Vegan Restaurants in the city are a must-visit. Let's check them out.

Kolkata has earned its sweet nickname because of its soulful embodiment of culture, love, respect, enthusiasm, and unique sweet delicacies and delicious foods.

In the previous few years, there has been a rapid change in Kolkata's vegan food scenario. Apart from rapid growth in vegetarian restaurants in Kolkata, there are also many vegan restaurants that have opened up.

While it is easier to find vegetarian places all over Kolkata, discovering food joints that serve vegan-friendly dishes is a bit difficult. That's why I have hunted for the city's most amazing vegan-friendly places to hit up with your friends or family the next time you are dining out. Added bonus? They are pretty affordable.

In a city known for its rich and mouth-watering non-veg choices, where the most widely recognized lunch is machh-bhat, I will guide you through some of my favourites and the best vegan restaurants that we have across the metropolis.

1. UBUNTU COMMUNITY:

Located in Lake Gardens, Ubuntu Community is the city's first 100% Vegan café founded by two environmentalists.

An all-in-one space where you can eat and share, Ubuntu Community, is a simple and a cosy place with a beautiful concept. It focuses on mindfulness and a healthier lifestyle for a better tomorrow.

The first eco-friendly community café in Kolkata, Ubuntu, is a space where you can fly in for a meal, host meetups, and retreat with like-minded people.

The menu is filling and super healthy. They have 'Sahi Vada', which is Dahi Vada, made with peanut milk. The mini burgers made use beetroot and spinach with soya and a wheat patty, presented with their special in-house dip. Ubuntu offers everything from black coffee and healthy smoothie bowls to burgers, pasta, and home-baked pizza. You will not get disappointed by choosing this place.

So next time you visit Kolkata or want to host a meetup, you know where to head for great ambience and food.

Address - 188, 85, Prince Anwar Shah Rd, Jodhpur Colony, Lake Gardens, Kolkata, West Bengal 700045

2. URBAN MASALA :

Another prime spot for vegans, Urban Masala, is the latest addition to the veg restaurant scenario in Kolkata. The place has an elegant décor with a comforting ambience.

The pure veg restaurant offers North Indian and South Indian cuisines as well as fast food with a wide range of vegan food options. Isn't that great?

The Agli olio pasta here is a must try. if you are in a mood for some Indian food, do not hesitate to ask the waiter to Veganize some options for you. They will be more than glad to assist.

Being pocket-friendly, this vegetarian restaurant promises to serve you some good vegan dishes.

Address – 882, Lake Town Road, Block A, Lake Town, Kolkata, West Bengal 700089

3. THE ON CAFÉ:

The ON Café is a multi-cuisine café located in Bhowanipore. The ON (Only Nutrition) Cafe serves a wide variation of Chinese, North Indian, Italian, and Continental food with healthy variants to enjoy every bit of the meal guilt-free.

This place has vegan and gluten-free food on its menu. They have brown noodles, vegan pizzas, tofu wraps, rice noodles, gluten-free rajma chawal and special meals for diabetic people.

The ON Cafe, one of the new additions to the list of vegan restaurants in Kolkata, serves many vegan food options, including the Protein Punch, Fruit Platter, Watermelon Mojito, and so much more.

With a relaxed ambience, they have an open kitchen where you can go and see the food getting prepared in front of your eyes! A perfect eating spot with the whole family.

Address – 7B, Justice Dwarakanath Road, Northern Park, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020

4. FLY KOUZINA:

If you are missing the airport scene this lockdown, then this place is nostalgic!

The City of Joy has brought another innovative multicuisine aeroplane themed vegetarian restaurant with various vegan options. If you are looking for amusement for your eyes as well as your taste buds, then this is the place for you!

Situated in the heart of Salt lake, Cafe Fly Kouzina invites you with a whole aeroplane experience; they even give you a boarding pass!

I ordered their 'Broccoli Dumplings' and 'Khao Suey' for myself and was not disappointed. The taste of the food here is decent. The presentation of the meals in this restaurant is unique. An ideal place for a date with bae, hanging out with friends, and even for a family get together.

Address – AD 73, AD Block, Sector 1, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700064

5. THE DAILY CAFÉ:

Located in Deshopriyo Park, The Daily Café radiates a millennial vibe the second you enter the space. With minimal décoration and simple furniture, the café is gorgeously done in dazzling neon pink with flamingo cushions.

From hummus platters to salads, the Daily offers a variety of vegan food options as well. Health enthusiasts can try the 'Keen-Waah' salad made of quinoa, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, olives, leaves, a lemon dressing, and fresh herbs.

Also try the salad named 'Avo' made of avocado, kale, tomatoes, almonds, lemon mint dressing, and olives.

For dessert, they have berry cakes made using vegan almond milk and whipped cream.

I ordered their 'Sweet Potato and Avo Taco' for myself. It was a warm and delicious platter consisting of chipotle, homemade tortilla, slaw and peppers.

A perfect place if you want to enjoy garden vibes or even work.

Address - 5, Satyen Dutta Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029

6. KAIDI KITCHEN:

Have you ever been to jail? This might be as close to it as it gets. Kaidi Kitchen is a multi-cuisine restaurant and another innovative restaurant in the city. It is a jail-themed veg restaurant with ample vegan options.

The restaurant resembles prison cells, and the diner literally becomes a prisoner. The ambience is funny here. Do you know the fun part? The waiters are dressed like kaidis.

Coming to the meals, the food options here are abundant if you are not shy to customise your order with the manager. Try the Mexican corn soup without the parmesan or even their fajitas.

If you want some Mexican in the city, try this place.

Address - 1st Floor, 4/1, Camac Street, Kankaria Estates, Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016

7. THE FLAMING BOWL:

Located on Harish Mukherjee Road, The Flaming Bowl serves food influenced by nine countries across Asia, mainly Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Burmese.

The décor and ambience are exquisite. If you are a fan of Asian cuisine, this is your one-stop for mouth-watering dishes.

Almost half of the menu in this restaurant is vegan. The 'Thai Basil Fried Rice', 'Phad Stew', and 'Buddha's Delight', are some of the suggested dishes. Besides, there are several other options too.

I also tried their exotic Dimsum 'Exotic Veg Sui Mai.' This item is an open-faced dumpling presented with homemade black beans, spicy chilli, coriander, and spring onion dips. The fantastic taste has still not faded from my mouth.

Another must-visit spot for extraordinary food for my vegan friends.

Address - 30, Harish Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700025

8. INDIES:

Last but not least, here I come to another vegan restaurant in Kolkata. A multi-cuisine pure veg restaurant that serves North Indian, Italian, Continental, Mexican, and Chinese.

This is a fine dining place with a wide menu and ample options. You are sure to find something for your taste here. Their waiters are aware about Veganism and glad to omit the ghee and cream from Indian curries.

The place is super cosy, and the ambience is enjoyable.

Address - 24A, Shakespeare Sarani Rd, Elgin, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017

Though there are few all vegan restaurants in Kolkata, there are options available in vegetarian eateries. With regard to the growing Vegan scene in India, Kolkata still is behind.

Comment if I missed any of your favourite vegan restaurants in Kolkata! You must explore the restaurants I mentioned earlier. Do share these 8 restaurants with your vegan friend!

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The ethical and cruelty-free alternative to typical leather is vegan leather. Artificial leather, synthetic leather, and imitation leather are some of the terms used to describe it. However, it is designed to appear and feel like genuine leather without the ethical issues that come with it.

Given that the leather and tanning business is one of the most damaging in the world, the vegan alternative is mostly a more environmentally friendly option.

The substitutes are constructed from a variety of materials, including cannabis, cork fabric, and even temple trash flowers. With a surge in demand for eco-friendly clothing, the Indian vegan leather market now offers a slew of manufacturers to choose from.

You will be amazed to know how one can make Leather just out of anything and everything. And, the disclaimer that comes along : “NO ANIMALS WERE HURT DURING THIS PROCESS” is even more satisfying.

5 Benefits of Using Vegan Leather

Today, substantial study into the material and its qualities has aided in the development of synthetic leather in many forms.

In terms of breathability, weatherproofing, uniformity, and weight, synthetic (or "vegan") leather is not far from its animal counterparts.

1. Animal friendly:

Vegan leather is an essential step toward environmental sustainability and preservation. It is critical that we encourage the well-being of all living things on this earth, and the use of vegan leather is a great place to start.

2. Ecological impact:

Genuine leather necessitates considerable treatment prior to manufacture, and these hazardous chemicals damage the environment while also reducing the leather's biocompatibility.

Vegan leather, on the other hand, uses a combination of fabrics and polyurethane to create a more genuine leather feel that is also less harmful to the environment.

3. Better sustained:

Vegan leather is particularly long-lasting since it is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and weather-resistant.

Vegan leather items can withstand harsh weather conditions and show little wear and tear over time.

4. Artistry:

Vegan leather research and development gives us complete control over the look and feel of our products. Vegan leather gives us a greater aesthetic scope, from aspect modifications to composition adjustments.

5. Cost effective:

The different costs associated with the treatment and preparation of genuine leather necessitate a higher price.

Vegan leather is clearly the easier to produce and more cost-effective option when all costs are considered, from the breeding of cattle to the final manufacturing phases.

Top Vegan Leather Bag Brands in India

If you're seeking vegan leather bags in India, then you've come to the right place. We've done the research for you and created a list of animal leather alternatives so you can pick and choose what you like most.

1. AULIVE

The vegan label, which is based on the outskirts of Delhi, creates clever, fashionable, and high-quality products that are low-impact on the environment.

Pineapple leaf fibre and pleather—a plastic fabric that looks like leather—come from Italy as replacements to real leather.

Aulive's Pina collection, which is manufactured from pineapple leaf fibres, is 100% compostable, but the rest of the company's products are recyclable. The company boasts about its a wide range of products, including messenger bags, trunks, backpacks, and handbags in a variety of colours.

2. BROKE MATE

A women run entrepreneurship, this is a Cruelty-free brand, produced in India. There are many compelling reasons to choose Broke Mate's vegan bags, which combine fashion and functionality.

It's a PETA-approved vegan-certified firm that's passionate about using cruelty-free materials to appeal to ethical consumers.

3. ARTURE

Arture is the result of combining art with nature. So it's no surprise that it's a leader in vegan leather goods. Arture's catalogue, which was launched in 2015, is developed using clean and green procedures at every stage.

It uses 100% natural cork fabrics to replace traditional leather in our wardrobes. Cork is a leather alternative that is exceptionally durable, water-resistant, anti-fungal, lightweight, flexible, and strong. Arture is another PETA-approved brand with a wallet, purse, laptop sleeve, and travel accessory collection.

4. MALAI

Zuzana Gombosova and Susmith C Suseelan founded this vegan leather firm in Kerala in 2017.

Coming from Kerala, it's no wonder that the label makes a supple, robust biocompatible substance that feels like leather or paper out of scrap coconut. Wallets, bags, footwear, and accessories are all part of the range.

5. ZOUK

On its website, the bag label advises users to "carry responsibly." All of Zouk's items are distinctively Indian and 100 % vegan, from laptop bags to sling and messenger bags to backpacks and more.

Disha Singh, a Mumbai-based designer, founded the business in 2016 with the goal of fusing Indian craftsmanship with modern usefulness through designs like Ikat.

6. THE ALTERNATE

This footwear brand, which is aimed at eco-conscious guys, combines luxury with practical elegance, promoting a cruelty-free lifestyle.

The Alternate is inspired by the ideas of cruelty-free design and convenience, and is affiliated with PETEA India. Its products are created with faux leather that has been tested and authorised by the Central Leather Research Institute.

7. HAMELIN

Hamelin's goods are all cruelty-free, handwoven, and ethically sourced from India.

Vegan leather, also known as Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU) leather, is used by the firm to give its merchandise the appearance of animal leather. Hamelin collaborates with local craftsmen from all across the country, in addition to being environmentally responsible.

8. MOON RABBIT LIFESTYLE

Moon Rabbit is a cruelty-free vegan leather brand. Through all of its operations, it generates items that are environmentally friendly. Moon Rabbit offers quality, utilitarian products that are expertly handcrafted, ranging from laptop covers and luggage tags to travel pouches and various types of bags.

9. A BIG INDIAN STORY

At A Big Indian Story, it's all about ethical fashion. The label collaborates with traditional Indian craftspeople, incorporating current design ideas to create stunning clothes, purses, jewellery, art, and other accessories.

Natural textiles, vegetable colours, and animal cruelty-free components are all used.

10. VRAJ BHOOMI

Vraj Bhoomi is a PETA-approved brand with a bags, purse, home decor, clothing and travel accessory collection. All their collections are based on the traditional craft of Ajrakh.

The craft has been practised by this community who migrated from the Sindh to the Kutch, since the 16th century! The craftsmen work in total harmony with their environment, where the sun, river, animals, trees and mud are all part of widespread industrialization. The traditional craft of Ajrakh, its long and skilled process and complex geometric patterns have still survived.

11. 2 AM BY ANJALI MEHTA

We're not kidding when we say that 2AM By Anjali Mehta is one ethical company you'll ever come across.

This brand's bags are vegan and clearly cruelty-free, and they come in a variety of funny motifs as well as basic designs. 2AM provides wonderful selections for you to swoon over, whether you're shopping for fanny packs or backpacks. In terms of design, we enjoy that they're a little different from ordinary vegan leather bags.

12. MENSXP

MENSXP is India’s Largest Men’s Lifestyle Destination. So, they basically connect with millions of guys on a variety of themes that assist them in their social life.

Additionally, work at the unique intersection of content, community, and commerce. But, you must check out their elegant pieces of vegan leather bags from different brands. There are Laptop Bags, Messenger Bags, Duffle Bags, Backpack and Briefcase.

13. FAB INDIA

Fab India is the largest private marketplace for products manufactured with traditional techniques, skills, and manual labour.

With over 55,000 craft-based rural producers connected to modern metropolitan markets, India's traditional handicrafts are being preserved while also building a platform for skilled, long-term rural employment. Their products are organic, handcrafted, modern, and affordable.

14. THE JUNE SHOP

It is a sustainable brand, and they have started selling vegan leather bags.

The June Shop is a vegan brand that has been approved by PETA. They have a large selection of vegan leather bags. Their laptop bags are made of thin paper and are quite light. They're waterproof, tear-resistant, recyclable, and come in a variety of unique and edgy designs.

15. WABASTA

With the help of trendy handbag patterns that speak for themselves, 'WABASTA' delivers handwoven artistry from the heart of Indian villages to our everyday life!

They have a large selection of vegan leather bags. Their sling bags, in particular, are light and fashionable. They're waterproof, tear-resistant, recyclable, and come in a variety of unique and stylish designs.

16. THE HOUSE OF GANGES

The House of Ganges has Vegan leather handbags and purses in a wide variety of styles.

Their sling bags, in particular, are fashionable and light. They are waterproof, tear-resistant, recyclable, and come in a variety of unique and edgy designs. The House of Ganges products are eclectic, modern, and functional, and they reflect the peak of Indian craftsmanship. The brand aims to provide a vegan premium product at a reasonable price to a wide range of customers. The majority of these pieces are manufactured with repurposed imitation leather and environmentally friendly processes that treat people, the ecosystem, and animals fairly.

17. ENTIRELY INDIA

The brand's goal is to offer a high-quality vegan product at an affordable price to a wide spectrum of customers. The bulk of these products are made with reused imitation leather and eco-friendly procedures that are kind to people, the environment, and animals.

18. GOWMA

Gowma's founders have one goal in mind: to prevent animals from torture and to provide consumers with high-quality replacements that are better in appearance and performance than leather. Gowma offers a wide choice of vegan bags for men and women that are both fashionable and practical.

So the next time you are out for accessories shopping, make sure to give the above brands a click!

Know any other vegan leather bag brand? Comment below.

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'But where do you get your proteins from'? If you are on a plant-based diet and tired of hearing the same, sign up for my nutrition program ;). I do not often suggest people to take a protein powder, especially if your goal is maintenance or fat loss. But if you are consciously looking to gain muscle mass and looking for a good protein powder to invest in, here is the unbiased (non-promotional) directory of protein brands in India.

A supplement is just a supplement to the lack of bad nutrition. The protein industry is booming and while there are a ton of options available today, we will talk about vegan protein supplements.

As the world recognises the priority of staying fit, India is not far behind. If you are one such individual and are searching for vegan supplements, this article is for you.

Why do we need protein powder?

Every gym trainer and fitness enthusiast will recommend protein powders. It is one of the most common supplements used today. Let's take a look at some of the health benefits associated with using the product.

• Proteins help with appetite control. Also, unlike fat, proteins are low in calories.
• If you lift weights regularly, adequate-protein intake improves your muscle growth and overall strength.
• Protein powder helps in muscle repair as well. Amina acids (the compound proteins breakdown into) are literally the building blocks of the body.

Everyone requires a steady intake of protein. For instance, an adult woman needs 46gm protein. For men, the daily amount is around 56gms.

Now while it is not challenging for vegans to meet this amount daily, your requirements might be slightly higher if you are looking to gain muscle mass. This is where vegan protein powder comes in handy. Now, let's take a look at the brands that manufacture this product.

Please note the following brands are not ranked in any order.

1. MyFitFuel

MyFitFuel has a variety of vegan protein powders including pea, brown rice and soy isolates. Though the brand is not entirely Vegan, they have some fantastic vegan options.

The product is entirely gluten and sugar-free. The chocolate delight flavor adds a unique taste to each scoop. The product comes in handy for weight gain, muscle strengthening, and boosting immunity. The brand is cost-effective if you are looking for something in the budget.

What makes it different: This 100% Plant Vegan Protein is preferable for people who look for a protein supplement from non-
animal sources. The product sources protein from peas and is completely gluten and sugar-free.

2. HealthOxide

HealthOxide’s protein powder comes in a 500gm pack with a 25gm blend of bioavailable protein. Protein isolates from organic pea and brown rice are the main constituents of the product. They also have a soy isolate which I would not suggest you try.

Being rich in herbs and digestive enzymes from papaya and pineapple, this is more of a micronutrient mix than just being a protein powder alone.

What makes it different: HealthOxide' s protein supplement comes in 3 flavours - Vegan Plant Protein, Brown Rice Protein and Pea Protein Isolate. All the products of HealthOxide are 100% Vegan, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free and Sugar-Free.

3. Nutrilite

Nutrilite’s all plant protein powder has pea protein isolates and soy as primary constituents. The product is available in a pack of 1kg and is completely lactose-free.

I did not find any USP in this product, but coming from the brand Nutrilite, you can expect clean ingredients and a strong formula.

What makes it different: The all plant protein powder from Nutralite supplies nine essential amino acids to the body. These amino acids can't be produced in the body and hence supplements are necessary. It also has plenty of phyto-nutrients like soy isoflavones.

4. Ace Blend

Ace Blend’s completely vegan protein powder has a multi-grain blend along with natural oxidants. Each 35gm scoop has 20gm protein extracts from spinach, barley grass, amla juice, ashwagandha, etc.

Furthermore, this sugar, gluten, and soy-free product is globally certified. The brand promises higher energy levels, good muscle recovery, and an improved immune system. And let's not forget the three distinct flavors, vanilla, raw chocolate, and green lime.

What makes it different: Ace Blend's completely vegan protein powder is naturally cholesterol-free & heart-friendly. It is basically from Non-GMO trusted sources and has no ill effects on hormones.

5. Plix

Pea protein isolates and brown rice are Plix’s vegan protein powder's main constituents. Add to these antioxidants from grape seed extracts, and you have one healthy product.

Each scoop has 25gm protein helping you in muscle building and recovery. The product is entirely sugar and gluten-free, with no added colors or preservatives. Watch out for flash sale's on their webpage, making this quality product affordable.

What makes it different: Plix's EVOLVE Performance Plant Protein helps in decreasing muscle soreness and improves recovery post-exercise. The products are entirely vegan and gluten and sugar-free.

6. Unived

With hypoallergenic and certified organic pea protein isolates, this product tick's a lot of boxes for elite athletes. Each serving provides you with 25gm protein along with natural enzymes.

This dairy, sugar, and the gluten-free product has no added preservatives or colors. Each pack provides around 15 to 30 servings in chocolate or vanilla flavor. Blend it into your smoothies, and enjoy improved muscles and a lean figure.

What makes it different: Unived's Pea Protein Isolate contains natural digestive enzymes. It is free of soy, gluten, sugar, dairy and cholesterol.

7. Myprotein vegan protein

Myprotein’s vegan protein powder has 90% protein in its composition. This product has protein isolates from pea, brown rice, and soy. The zero fat and sugar aspect add to its good quality.

You can select your ideal flavor from a range of available options. This protein supplement is designed for use after your workout and helps in muscle building and relaxation.

What makes it different: It's a protein powder sourced from 100% pea protein isolate. It comprises of all nine important amino acids that occur naturally in protein, which helps build and repair new muscle.

8. Strive

Strive excels in bringing forth daily vegan protein shakes. These shakes have protein isolates from pea, almonds, and flax seeds. Additionally, two flavors, namely vanilla and chocolate, appeal to the customers more.

Regular intake of the shake helps in a healthy immune system and smooth muscle building. Also, the shakes are entirely sugar and gluten-free.

What makes it different: Strive's daily protein shake is for people who look for a good alternative for whey protein and grow a healthy habit of consuming plant-based protein. It contains no sugar, no colour, no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners and is available in Chocolate Almond and Vanilla Almond flavours.

9. Boheco hemp protein

In terms of constituents, Boheco’s protein powder is unique. Protein extracts from hemp seed are present in this supplement. Many physicians recommend this product for its medicinal values and benefits.

With proper intake, you can expect improved metabolism, immunity, and digestive health. The supplement helps in muscle repair and lean muscle growth as well.

What makes it different: The protein-rich Hemp seed powder is excellent for heart health and metabolism. In addition, many physicians recommend this product for its medicinal values and benefits.

10. QNT vegan protein

QNT provides customers vegan protein powder with 77% pure protein constituent. The product is entirely sugar, lactose, and fat-free and designed to help in maintenance.

Protein isolates from pea and brown rice help make up the supplement. As a customer, you have three flavors to choose from and two different packaging options as well.

What makes it different: Vegan Protein is suitable for vegans who want a large quantity of certified soy-free, lactose-free, and sugar-free protein. The high-quality pea and rice protein in this supplement contain all the essential amino acids and are absorbed quickly by the intestine.

11. Plant Power

Plant Power promotes its products as "naked," and the company is transparent with the products. This product has soy protein isolates as its primary constituent.

You can have this supplement with your regular meals. This product is designed to keep your heart healthy and has 27gm protein in each 30gm scoop.

What makes it different: The protein supplement from Plant Power has soy protein isolates as its primary constituent. The company vows to offer the best, to uplift the performance without compromising taste and quality.

12. Olena-

Olena’s EVOLVE vegan protein powder is one of the most popular ones in the market. The product is entirely gluten and grain-free and completely plant protein.The supplement has pea protein along with brown rice.

Six different flavors are available for the protein powder. These include vanilla, chocolate, wild berry, tropical mango, etc. Additionally, three packs of 500gm, 1kg, and 2kg are available.

What makes it different: The post-workout protein supplement is great for muscle recovery and also provides good taste. With added Vitamin B12, acai berries and turmeric extract, it is ensured with complete safety and quality.

13. Urban Platter pure pea protein

Like the name suggests, this supplement has protein isolates from pea and brown rice. With an 85% protein amount, this product is popular among the masses.

The supplement is 100% vegan and gluten-free. Additionally, its unflavored nature allows you to mix it easily with smoothies and shakes. The supplement is best for post-workout and helps your muscles grow better and recover better with regular intake.

What makes it different: Urban Platter Pure Pea Protein Powder is 100% natural, pure pea protein concentrate – it is totally plant-based and vegan. The supplement apt to take post-workout and enhances the muscles to grow better and recover better.

14. Flex Protein premium European pea protein isolate

When it comes to vegan protein supplements, Flex Protein is a reputed name. This product made using pea protein isolates is no exception.

The supplement is very low in fats and carbs and completely gluten and sugar-free. Every 30gm scoop has around 24.5 gms protein in it. Use the supplement post-workout and enjoy steady and healthy muscle growth and weight loss.

What makes it different: An ultra-grade and natural protein source is the Flex Protein Raw Pea Protein Isolate. With maximum solubility, it is a perfect protein source for vegans and vegetarians.

15. OZiva organic plant protein

This protein supplement from OZiva is a purely organic and vegan product. Protein isolates from pea and brown rice along with quinoa are the primary constituents.

Every serving has around 30gm protein in it. The supplement is made such that individuals of all ages can use it for the benefits. This gluten and sugar-free product improves your immunity and helps in a speedier recovery.

What makes it different: OZiva Organic Plant Protein contains all vital amino nutrients. It can be consumed by the entire family irrespective of age.

16. Muscle Blaze Plant Protein

Considering the demand in the market for Vegan protein over whey, a lot of nonvegan brands have considered getting into the plant protein as well. Muscle blaze also launched their vegan protein this year which is made up of pea protein and rice protein with 25g of protein per scoop.

What makes it different: This vegan protein supplement is 100% vegan made with peas and brown rice protein blend. In addition, it comprises of plant-based papain along with bromelain enzymes that facilitate rapid protein absorption and healthier digestion.

17. Healthkart 100% plant protein

Healthkart is one brand that needs little to no introduction. Their vegan protein powder has protein isolates from pea and brown rice as primary constituents.

The product is entirely soy, gluten, and lactose-free, with 27 different vitamins and minerals. Each serving has around 50% protein and helps in boosting your energy and immunity levels.

What makes it different: Healthkart protein supplement contains a blend of high-quality plant-based proteins derived from pea, rice, and wheat with essential amino acid supplies. A HACCP certified facility manufactures this product.

18. Oxin nutrition vegan plant protein

This is a Canadian protein blend with multiple different plant-based products. Each 33gm of the supplement has 25gm protein in it. Furthermore, you can mix the flavorless supplement with any smoothie or shake of your choice.

You will benefit from better muscle growth and recovery. Other noticeable changes include decreased muscle loss and increased energy levels.

What makes it different: Oxin Nutrition Vegan Plant Protein flavoured with premium cocoa powder from Indonesia. Free from dairy, soy and gluten ingredients and contains 100% amino acid profile.

19. Fitspire

Fitspire’s 100% vegan protein powder has a lot of constituents. These include protein isolates from pea, brown rice, spinach, beetroot, blueberry, barley seeds, etc.

The product improves your digestion process. You can enjoy better metabolism, good health, immunity, and better healing of wounds with proper intake. The smooth texture and the easy taste helps it blend effortlessly with your drinks.

What makes it different: It provides essential amino profile, is purely vegan, and gluten-free.

20. Organic India

Much like the other products in this list, Organic India's vegan protein gets made of pea and rice protein isolates. The product has a low concentration of fat and carbohydrates.

The supplement being rich in calcium helps improve the health of your bones. It further controls hair loss, strengthens muscles, and helps in speedy recovery.

What makes it different: Organic India protein balance provides high-quality vitamins and minerals essential for skin nourishment. It also prevents hair fall and boosts hair growth.

21. Cure By Design hemp protein powder

This hemp protein powder is ideal for muscle growth and easing PMS symptoms. This product is known as a superfood and is 100% gluten and sugar-free.

No heat gets used during the production of this supplement. This allows the protein to retain its enzyme-like nature. Improved immunity and protection of the brain are some of the added benefits of using the product.

What makes it different: The popular hemp protein powder is apt for growing muscles and easing out PMS symptoms. In addition, it is known for Improving immunity and protection of the brain.

22. AS-IT-IS Nutrition

AS-IT-IS nutrition’s vegan protein supplement has soy protein isolates as its primary constituent. You can easily mix the supplement with batters and benefit from your regular meals.

The soy protein composition helps you in muscle growth. You can also use the product to gain weight. It is best when you use the supplement post your workout sessions.

What makes it different: Pea Protein's primary benefit is it contains a high amount of BCAAs. As a result, Pea Protein supports reaching overall protein intake, and aids in muscle building, recovery of muscle, reduced calorie intake, helps in weight loss, boosts immunity, energy, and general health.

23. Nutrazee

Nutrazee’s vegan protein powder has pea protein extracts with brown rice as primary constituents. Antioxidants from grape seed, blueberry, and beetroot are also present.

The supplement has a natural flavor that allows you to mix it easily with solvents. Every serving has around 25gm protein and helps in muscle growth and recovery.

What makes it different: Nutrazee's protein supplement contains has antioxidants, and digestive enzymes. In addition, it has no sucralose, added sugar, is dairy-free, with no preservatives. It is gluten-free and lactose-free. There is no soy, or Carageenan/Maltodextrin, NON-GMO.

24. Fast & Up

The protein powder manufactured by FAST & UP is entirely vegan. The chocolate-flavored supplement gives the best results when taken post-workout. A single bottle has 30 servings.

Protein isolates from pea and brown rice are present in the powder. Additionally, beetroot extracts that provide energy are also present.

The supplement helps in muscle recovery and strengthening. You can also enjoy a more robust immune system and overall well-being. Just add one scoop of the
powder in 500ml of water.

What makes it different: Fast & Up have protein supplements extracted from Peas and brown rice. In addition, it comes with a special Ghana and Mango flavour.

25. Kapiva green superfoods

Kapiva’s protein powder is 100% vegan in composition. The gluten-free
supplement has amino acids and has zero sugar, preservatives, or artificial colors.
Rice and yellow pea protein are the primary constituents.

Regular and proper intake of the powder improves your metabolism and appetite.
You can also expect your immune system to strengthen up. The supplement is
available in two flavors, namely berry, and choco-orange. Just and two scoops of
in 250ml chilled water and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

What makes it different: Kapila Vegan Protein comes in different flavours, and chocolate is one of the popular ones. It has plenty of nutrients like iron, arginine and amino acids. It aids in muscle growth, giving a feel of fullness to the body and boosts heart health.

26. Big Muscles Vegan Protein

Bigmuscles’s vegan protein powder constitutes proteins form four different sources. This aspect caters to muscle building and recovery, improving energy levels, and boosting immunity at the same time.

Protein isolates from more than 15 fruits and vegetables are part of this product. Furthermore, the product's natural taste allows you to mix it with any shake of your type or even water.

If you are searching for a protein supplement solely for muscle building, this is the one for you. Let the results do the remaining talking.

What makes it different: This vegan protein is 100% vegan made with pure green veggies. It promotes Faster Recovery with Organic High Antioxidant Blend.

27. Boldfit Vegan Plant Protein

Boldfit Vegan Plant Protein has a high content of protein that helps to recover from a gruelling workout and build some serious muscle. One of the benefits is that consuming plant-based protein powder is a good way of keeping the body as alkaline as possible.

28. Develo Soy Protein Isolate

Develo Soy Protein is a 100% vegan lactose and sugar-free plant-based supplement with prebiotics for digestive health.

29. Supply6 Premium Plant Protein

Supply6 Premium Plant Protein is a pea-based protein for strict vegans. It contains vital amino acids and is available in a unique Belgian Chocolate flavour.

30. PRO2FIT diva

As the name suggests, it is a plant-based protein supplement specially made for women. It has a low environmental impact and is available in two delicious flavours - Coffee Mocha and Banana.

31. MuscleXP

MuscleXP provides a unique combination of herbal and vegetable blends in its protein supplements. It consists of internationally imported high-quality raw materials and is free from banned substances.

32. Habit Green

It derives from hand-selected organic yellow peas. It is the creamiest and the most flavourful protein supplement on the market.

33. Garden of Life

This 100% vegan protein supplement is rich in raw Protein and Greens with Probiotics/Enzymes. It is available in different flavours and is known to have medicinal benefits.

34. Healthyhey

Healthyhey's Raw Pea & Brown Rice Protein is Non-GMO and Gluten-free. It is made from rich yellow split pea protein mixed with the brown rice protein. This mixture makes the product easier to digest and is also vegan friendly.

35. Origin Nutrition

Origin Vegan Protein creates from a blend of rich European golden peas and cold pressed pumpkin seeds. It is easier to digest and delicious. It is a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids.

36. Nouriza

The products from Nouriza are free from any artificial preservatives or any other
harmful additives and are fibre-rich. It promises to deliver healthy ingredients without compromising the taste.

Finale!!

Going vegan is a practice that is still new in most parts of the world. However, India has warmed up for the idea. Today ample vegan options are available if you know where to shop from. Be it protein powders or vegan ice creams, it's all out there ;)

(Co-Authored by SEO Singh.)

Know of a brand that I have not mentioned above? Comment below and let me know.

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Love Leather products, but feel guilty of all the animal harm? Just one world Vegan Leather.

Leather shoes were once considered a status symbol. It is today considered animal abuse, and the world is changing toward a cruelty-free, vegan lifestyle.

The footwear industry is no exception, and it's time to retire those beautiful leather boots, or at the very least refrain from purchasing new ones.

As industry standards evolve, fresh technologies emerge, making it easier to identify alternatives. Vegan leather has been on the market for a long time, and Indian Vegan footwear brands are beginning to adapt to it. Here's a look at some of the vegan footwear options available on the Indian market.

Vegan Leather

Vegan Leather is mostly made from a polymer named Polyurethane. This is just perfect for any designer’s desire. It can be produced from integrated and efficient materials like pineapple leaves, cork, apple peels, other fruit debris, and recyclable materials to create items that the "real" leather industry made from animal skins.

Basically, Vegan Leather is a part of Sustainable Fashion. Fashion that is both ecologically friendly and ethical is referred to as sustainable fashion.

Ethical fashion is defined as clothing that is created with conscience by people who are treated decently and with respect.

Animal-free fashion is defined as clothing that is not manufactured from the skins or bodies of animals.

The other day, I was reading this quote, “Clothes could have more meaning and longevity if we think less about owning the latest or cheapest thing and develop more of a relationship with the things we wear” -Elizabeth L. Cline.

In this 21st century, this is so apt. We have adopted the practice of e-waste recycling, sustainable farming, terrace gardening, rain water harvesting, installing solar panels in houses and what not! You name it, sustainability is EVERYWHERE.

I think Vegan Leather is more than a trend. We consumers have become conscious. We check the laws and compliances even before buying real Leather. But, what to do with the GUILT?

You remember, how Phoebe from F.R.I.E.N.D.S was feeling guilty of a Mink Overcoat, that at the end of the episode she gave it to a passerby. Somewhere, I feel this is what happens with us too. Thanks to Vegan Leather for existing!

You know what fits perfectly in the equation- The Affordability of Vegan Leather Products.

It’s simple - Choose Wisely.

What is Vegan Leather made from?

Vegan leather has seen a technical and commercial growth in the last decade, fueled by customer demand for more ethical and environmentally friendly fashion alternatives. Synthetic leather, which is composed of PVC or polyurethane, is the most frequently accessible form of imitation leather today (PU).

However, as the appeal of vegan fashion has risen, more and more natural vegan leathers that are good for both animals and the environment are being offered by entrepreneurs and researchers.

Natural Vegan Leather:

• Paper

The concept of paper leather may appear fragile, but don't be fooled by the term. Washable paper is another name for this sort of vegan leather.

Paper leather was formerly just used for the outer labels of trousers, but today it's seen in everything from home décor to purses. Paper leather is a delicate yet tough material that may be made to seem smooth or distressed.

• Cork Leather

Cork is an excellent eco-friendly substitute for leather. This sustainable material is made from the bark of cork trees, which grows back over the years, and is used to produce elegant vegan bags, wallets, and even shoes.

• Pinatex

The leaf fibres of PINEAPPLES are used to make this sort of fake leather. That's correct. Pineapples. Dr. Carmen Hijosa created Pinatex after learning about the detrimental ecological consequences of genuine leather on our world.

• Waxed Cotton

Cotton fibres can be “waxed” by soaking them in paraffin wax or beeswax (though we prefer to use paraffin and leave our bee friends alone). Waxed cotton, a prominent fashion option from the 1920s through the 1950s, has resurfaced in vegan design since it has a comparable look to leather while avoiding animal cruelty.

• Recycled Rubber

Recycled rubber may be manufactured from a variety of rubber items, including rubber hoses, tyres, and inner tubes. Rubber has a similar solidity to leather, making it ideal for vegan purses and accessories.

• Mushroom Leather

Muskin is Piatex's veggie sibling. It's created from mushroom cap extracts, which are subsequently processed into vegetable-tanned leather. Muskin is produced in a similar fashion to animal hide leather, but without the use of harmful chemicals. Plus, a Muskin “leather” sheet the size of an animal hide may be grown in just two months!

• Ligneah

The Ligneah company in Italy produces a promising new vegan leather substance called Ligneah. Ligneah extracts wood and creates flexible patterns using micro laser incisions, which are then combined with cotton for usage in fashion and home design. Ligneah exclusively utilises wood from responsibly managed forests and is affiliated with Tree Nation, a nonprofit that plants a new tree for every product sold in Niger, Africa.

Non-Natural Vegan Leather:

Despite the recent growth in the accessibility of real vegan leathers, synthetic leather remains the most popular material for vegan leather totes, purses, and other accessories.

• PVC

PVC leather (also known as vinyl) was the first synthetic leather to hit the market, produced from polyvinyl chloride.

PVC leather fabric is created by mixing polyvinyl chloride with stabilisers, plasticizers, and lubricants, then adhering it to a base material. Polyester, cotton, nylon, and rayon are common foundation materials.

PVC leather is an older synthetic leather that is also a very inexpensive fabric. It's manufactured with (and includes) a lot of hazardous chemicals that are bad for the environment - and even bad for human health - making it a less attractive option when compared to more contemporary synthetic leathers like PU leather and microfiber leather.

• Polyurethane

PU leather is created by coating various textiles (such as cotton, nylon, polyester, and microfiber) with PU, which makes them water resistant, anti-bacterial, and gives them a leather-like appearance.

Texture, strength, flexibility, and durability of PU leathers vary, and different production techniques provide varied results. Premium PU leather may appear very stunning and have a luxury feel to it. When it comes to durability, good PU leather may endure a long period if properly cared for.

• Microfiber Leather

Microfiber leather, on the other hand, is produced using a polyamide fibre basis and then covered with a polyurethane resin.

Microfiber leather is a more durable option because of its robust microfibre basis, although it comes at a greater price. Microfiber leather has long been utilised in airline seats, sports equipment, and high-end couches and shoes because of its incredible resilience.

The Future of Vegan Leather Products

Boy Oh Boy! They are here to STAY!

Leather is one of the most widely traded products on the planet. The leather goods sector contributes significantly to the global economy.

Vegan leather is becoming more popular throughout the world since it is used in a variety of applications such as purses, bags, apparel, furnishings, automobiles, and accessories.

A variety of factors contribute to the need for fake or vegan leather, including changing client preferences, expanding demand for animal-free items, and increased awareness of the benefits of vegan leather, among others.

Research and development work in the vegan leather sector has been critical in differentiating the overall characteristics of vegan leather from regular leather.

Investors in the vegan leather business are spending in research and development to create vegan leather with superior properties. Vegan leather is produced in a variety of colours, patterns, functions, and textures by both new and experienced competitors in the present market environment.

Various firms are forming strategic collaborations to manufacture innovative and long-lasting vegan leather in line with industry trends. Furthermore, the majority of the firms are declaring alliances with other companies in order to ease the development of new models for commercialising various applications.

Vendors are needed to coordinate their product innovation, according to the needs of each of their sectors, due to the increasing demand for vegan leather in different industries such as furniture, apparel, footwear, automobile, accessories, and so on.

Top 14 Vegan Leather Shoe Brands in India
Are you looking for vegan leather shoes in India? We've done all the legwork for you and compiled a list of multiple choices of animal leather so you can pick and select what appeals to you the most.

1. A Big Indian Story

A Big Indian Story is a PETA-approved sustainable fashion business that employs eco-friendly materials to create its goods. This start-up is cruelty-free and authentically Indian, wonderfully portrays the Indian spirit via its designs, which will quickly capture your attention!

Get your hands on their gorgeous leather footwear and accessories, including purses, that will keep you guilt-free and fashionable!

2. Malai

Malai is a vegan leather business based in Kerala that uses coconut to create a robust biocompatible material that feels akin to leather or paper.

The company is completely sustainable, moral, and organic, and it collaborates with local farmers and processing facilities. Check out their wonderful selection of purses, wallets, shoes, furniture, and more here, and you'll be sure to fall in love with them!

3. The Alternate

The Alternate is a cruelty-free, all-company men's for gentlemen who want highly fashionable, luxury, and cruelty-free shoes and bags.

They are affiliated with PETA India, and all of their items are vegan and handmade! If you want to explore sustainable fashion, this brand is a must try.

4. Happy Sole

Ladies and Gentlemen, Happy Sole has a trendy range of vegan footwear that also scores well on fashion for your Feet to be Happy. PETA-approved, the brand has been gaining popularity for its intriguing range of footwear, which includes heels, flats, and more!

5. Senso

Senso was one of the first Indian businesses to get into the vegan leather market! They name themselves a "vegetarian shoes" firm, and they cater to all men and women who like pampering their feet with cruelty-free, ecological footwear!

Women may get their hands on party shoes, heels, flats, and flip flops, while men can soothe their feet with formal shoes, sneakers, sandals, and slippers! You may also choose from a variety of stylish wallets, belts, buckles, and other accessories from the company.

6. Paio

Paio is a Mumbai-based business that creates some very wonderful pairs of shoes for individuals who want to be "responsible" while yet looking gorgeous! Handcrafted, PETA-certified, vegan, and oh-so-beautiful, their items are a must-have!

Since its beginning in 2016, the business has been experimenting with various sorts of textiles, plant-based leathers, mushroom leather, and other natural forms of leather to ensure that anything you wear or flaunt is cruelty-free and fashionable.

7. Monkstory

Monkstory is the place to go for excellent vegan footwear, whether you're looking for Loafers, Slip-ons, or conventional Oxford Lace-ups.

These are made of synthetic leather, which is not only cruelty-free but also utilises less chemicals than real leather and is more resilient. This PETA-approved brand is located in Chennai.

8. The Cai Store

If you want a modern look, The Cai Store is the right place for you. This women's footwear line not only creates high-quality handcrafted shoes, but also avoids using leather. These stylish yet practical shoes are a must-have addition to any outfit.

9. Achille’s Heel

The brand is named after a Greek hero, and it uses his power to create premium footwear that is tailored to your preferences. Nirali Ruparel, a Mumbai-based designer, has created a brand that allows you to personalise your shoe by choosing the style, material, sole, and other features.

10. Nopelle

The name practically shouts "I'm a vegan." Nopelle is a mixture of the words No and Pelle, with Pelle denoting animal skin. Their footwear is surely something you would want in your wardrobe, combining top-quality vegan leather with time-honored workmanship and contemporary styles.

11. Ethik

Ethik is a leather-free men's fashion label located in Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley. Ethik has been the brand of choice for individuals who believe in creating sustainable, conscientious, and cruelty-free fashion choices since its launch in 2012. Their shoes, belts, wallets, and accessories are high-quality, ethically made, and long-lasting.

They have built the groundwork for a sustainable future with an outstanding range of luxury fashion items, armed with these historical lessons.

12. Marche

The Marche brand is the place to go if you want a trendy or traditional style. This women's footwear business produces high-quality handcrafted shoes while avoiding the use of leather. These fashionable yet functional footwear are a must-have for every ensemble.

13. Marcus Tauras

Marcus Tauras is PETA approved. This women's footwear company makes high-quality handmade shoes without using any leather. They specialize in flats as of now, and it’s affordable too.

14. Juju

JUJU is an Indian fashion company that strives to produce art for your feet without sacrificing quality or comfort. Their shoes are beautifully handcrafted, ethically sourced, and vegan-friendly.

Their concept became the foundation for a footwear line that would combine age-old traditions with sustainable, mindful consumerism.

15. Lusso Lifestyle

Lusso Lifestyle is synonymous with opulence. They strive to be cruelty-free while providing a satisfying product for our clients. They have created items utilising vegan leather as a substitute to leather because of their belief in animal welfare and enthusiasm for design. Their items are meticulously hand-stitched to ensure our customers' comfort.

Lusso Lifestyle creates high-end designs that meet the demands of elegance, sleekness, and urbanity.

16. Paaduks

One thing I absolutely love about this brand is the name and the essence of it. They have maintained every true sense of sustainable fashion trends. Paaduks was founded in the year 2013 and since then it has not turned back.

They upcycle used tyres, conveyor belts, and rubber matting into soles for our footwear without using any chemical procedures. They've also dabbled in upcycling cork, and we combine it with locally and ethically obtained raw materials like jute and cotton to make exceptionally comfortable and sustainable footwear.

17. Mondarro

Mondarro is one of India's first vegan fashion businesses, specialising in cruelty-free, environmentally responsible, and handcrafted footwear with the option of customisation.

Mondarro was founded in early 2018 with the goal of educating India about the devastating effects of leather use on the environment and the number of animals injured in the process. They emphasised how we seek to use our privileges to contribute to larger change while refusing to do so at the expense of comfort, quality, or our moral convictions.

They do not use or plan to utilise leather, feathers, silk, or furs in any of our goods as a vegan brand. They are currently engaged in R&D in order to improve their manufacturing techniques and materials.

I truly hope that some of the above brands resonate with your taste in fashion. Leave a comment below with any other brand that you have personally tried and love.

On your next shoe spree, maybe it is time to try Vegan alternatives.

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Located along the southeast coast of India, Chennai is a metropolis like no other.

Full of rich cultural heritage, literature, and architecture, it also offers various dining options to locals and travellers. This urban hub has a lot to offer to everybody, including vegans!

Indeed Chennai is on its way to becoming a hotspot for vegetarians and vegan-friendly people. This is possible on account of lots of delicious vegan restaurants where you can ditch the 'paneer' and cheese with yummier alternatives.

In Chennai, veganism has gained popularity in the last couple of years. The city even witnessed a totally eco-friendly vegan wedding as of late!

Being a vegan in Chennai is super easy and affordable. Moreover, South Indian cuisine, with its incredible aroma, has vegan dishes mainly. I will guide you through some of the top plant-based restaurants across the beautiful city of Chennai.

1. LYFE by SOUL GARDEN BISTRO:

Multicuisine restaurant LYFE is located at Alwarpet. A sweet and welcoming eatery with white walls and green everywhere else, LYFE by Soul Garden Bistro exudes light.

Even its food aptly reflects light. The robust flavour and fresh ingredients are the revamped LYFE menu by Soul Garden Bistro.

"LYFE" means to Live Your Food Everyday. I am very attracted to the philosophy of this restaurant. LYFE by Soul Garden Bistro visions to display fresh and nutritious produce to cook dishes packed with taste and character.

The restaurant has 16 fresh signature salads with global tastes, with different cuisines, vegan options made with coconut milk and vegan cheese.

I ordered their Vegan plant- based chick'n pizzalo for myself, which comes with gooey vegan cheese. Perfect for having dinner or evening hangouts.

Address – 14, Ananda Road, Alwarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600018

2. FLOWER DRUM:

Flower Drum offers authentic Chinese and Thai cuisine with vegan alternatives with visually appealing interiors and a cosy ambience. The restaurant has a perfect atmosphere for dining out with friends and family.

I requested their 'Stir fried tofu with broccoli and chilly sauce' beautifully decorated cauliflowers, sauteed and fried with minced spicy green chillies, garlic and soy sauce. This pairs perfectly with their manchow fried rice.

The quality of the food is worth every penny you pay. I must admit that this place is a heaven for vegetarians and vegans.

Address – 2nd Floor, Prince Plaza, 46, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008

3. PUMPKIN TALES:

Pumpkin Tales is a restaurant run by three incredible women entrepreneurs. One of Chennai's most buzzed spaces for food and drinks. Pumpkin Tales is a cheerful eatery with an all-women service crew.

Pumpkin Tales has an exotic menu that finds a judicious blend of taste and health. The menu has various options for vegetarians and vegans, even for health-conscious customers with dietary restrictions.

'Morning Glory Bowl' is Pumpkin Tales' extravagant breakfast menu. The menu also has vegan breakfast like 'Mexican Breakfast Bowl' – with loads of colourful veggies, avocado, beans, vegan cheddar and salsa.

Pumpkin Tales even has a range of vegan toasts, sandwiches and vegan bagels for a wholesome breakfast. I ordered their 'Thai Noodle Soup Bowl' for myself. A delicious bowl of rice noodles, Thai spice, coconut milk, broccoli and Chinese cabbage with tofu. I ended my lunch with a delightful and warm'Chocolate Cake.'

With its fantastic ambience and high-quality food, this place is family-friendly and welcomes you with good vibes. A must-visit place.

Address - 37, 20, Bheemanna Garden St, Alwarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600018

4. MURUGAN IDLI SHOP:

Murugan Idli Shop is a casual dining restaurant offering mind-blowing South Indian cuisine and warm hospitality in a historically preserved place. A beautiful place for vegetarians and vegans which serves relish authentic South Indian cuisine.

As the name suggests, this place undoubtedly serves mouth-watering Idli and fresh hot Dosa with sambar.

Do you know if you remove ghee and butter, you can make any South Indian dish vegan? This place is full of vegan options starting from 'Uthappam', 'Idlippam', Lemon Rice', ' Tomato Rice' and many more.

A perfect place to enjoy delicious and authentic South Indian cuisine that suits your tastebuds.

Address – 2,5, Gopathi Narayanaswami Chetty Road, Parthasarathi Puram, T.Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017

5. SPICE KLUB:

Located in Nungambakkam, Spice Klub is a multicuisine restaurant pioneer in modern-day North Indian Cuisine. The restaurant has a calm and tranquil environment with elegant interiors and modern furniture.

With high-quality food and presentation, the chefs pay very keen attention to every detail. This restaurant is pure vegetarian and has a lot of vegan options. A highly recommended delicacy will be ' Soy chaap haara masala'– Oh all the flavours of the tandoor, without the tandoor! .

They were also nice enough to customise my main course to be made all vegan.

Spice Klub is one of the highest-rated restaurants in the city. A beautiful place to have dinner with loved ones.

Address – HM Centre, No 29, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034

6. TAMU TAMU:

Tamu Tamu is a Vegan Bistro in Chennai. A cosy little café that serves up Falafel, hummus, other Middle Eastern Greek, and Lebanese cuisines. The entire menu consists of gluten-free options.

A must-visit restaurant for you in Chennai. With high-quality food, the restaurant has bright and simple interiors in addition to its great ambience.

If you crave spicy food, you can pair their ‘Zaatar Pita’ with their ‘Naga King Chilli’ that comes with a bowl of hummus, sauces, jalapenos and paprika. This dish will leave you requesting more.

A café perfect for those lunch dates, or even you can come with your family to enjoy a guilt-free meal.

Address – 21/36, Thiruveendian Street, Cathedral Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

7. MEARTH CAFÉ:

Mearth simply means it refers to “Mother Earth.” Mearth café is a warm and cosy,vegan-friendly restaurant run by a 27- year old entrepreneur.

Their conscious kitchen serves food made of unrefined ingredients. The ambience is excellent, with brightly lit and sustainable interiors. You can even work here in addition to having a quality meal.

The ‘Sweet Potato Wedges’ with ‘Chipotle aioli dip’ are crunchy and yum. This is a highly recommended.

Then I moved on to try their ‘Vegan Taco’ topped with homemade ‘guacamole’ and sour cream. A beautifully balanced mixture with soft taco, crunchy zucchini and fresh lettuce.

In Mearth’s menu, you can see the variety- from soups to Mexican cuisine, Italian cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine, and so on. They even serve various beverages, coffee and mojito.

Address - 58, 2nd Road, RA Puram, Trustpakkam, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028

8. SARVANA BHAVAN:

Hotel Sarvana Bhavan is the largest South Indian restaurant network in the world. It has its branches in the USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, Singapore, and Australia. With Indian and different Asian cuisines, the restaurant has a lot of vegan options.

The interiors are local and authentic. The atmosphere is also relaxed and fun.

Here you will definitely find the most scrumptious food with a superior grade. I had their popular ‘ Mendu Vadai.’ Fresh, hot, and delicious are the words I can think of for this item. Sarvana Bhavan is a place that will never disappoint you. An ideal breakfast spot.

Address - 21, Kenneth Lane, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008

CONCLUSION:-

Veganism is honestly not very hard. Especially in a city like Chennai.

Thus you must explore those, as mentioned earlier, top 8 vegan restaurants in Chennai with a miss. Do let me know in the comments below which one is your favourite.

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Bangalore is one of those cities that you will instantly fall in love with. The South Indian cuisine will blow your mind with its incredible aromas.

You will always discover something to match your taste buds in Bangalore – delicious ragi dosa, fresh Idli, or Upma with loads of veggies. Being a vegan in Bangalore is relatively easy.

If you think being a vegan is expensive, then think twice. Yes, you heard me correct. Bangalore has various vegan options that are readily available and affordable. From India's first plant-based restaurant to high-end pubs, I will take you through some of my favorite plant-based restaurants across the metropolis.

Top 10 Vegan Restaurants in Bangalore

1. THE LONDON CURRY HOUSE:

I have recently visited London! Yes, I mean The London Curry House at Kumara Krupa Road.

Let's talk about what The London Curry House offers when it comes to modern cuisines and innovative dishes. Though vegan options are minimal, the staff here will help you with something to suit your palate.

For the main course, I ordered their 'Allahabadi Tahiri.' A delicious one-pot green garlic veggie Biryani. Sounds delicious right? Trust me, the flavour it has is impressive with an extraordinary taste.

I am sure you will fall in love with the rustic barn-like ambience, innovative fan, sleeper wood floors, fancy dim lights, and wooden tables with open-air seating. They have a fantastic kitchen and a great bar.

This place is perfect for a family get-together or even some parties. The London Curry House is a must-visit for you.

Address - 19/3, Kumara Krupa Road, Race Course Road, Seshadripuram, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560001

2. JUSTBE CAFÉ:

A tastefully done-up plant-based whole food restaurant is JustBe Café. Their conscious kitchen serves food made of unrefined ingredients. JustBe's menu offers you fuss-free options like a whillet pizza (wheat and millet) or a wholesome tofu sandwich.

I was not very hungry, so I requested a simple, decadent chocolate and chia pudding. It is the perfect combination of chocolatey goodness and guilt-free indulgence.

All in all, JustBe Café welcomes you with homely positive energy.

Address – 383/31, 13th Cross Road, Sadashiva Nagar, Armane Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560080

3. GO NATIVE:

Go Native provides a perfect balance of authentic Indian recipes while being ecologically conscious. I love their farm-to-table philosophy. In addition, Go Native has some amazing vegan, gluten-free, and Jain-friendly dishes like millet pizza and pumpkin soup, and many more.

Out of so many courses, I ordered my all-time favourite South Indian dish, Paddu or Paniyaram: crispy and fresh rice dumplings with a stuffing of corn and grated carrots, presented with seasoned tomato chutney and the delicious sambar.

I enjoyed 'The Metabolism Booster,' a tasty blend of beetroot, ginger, and watermelon. They even served a variety of cold-pressed juices.

Other than food options, you can do some shopping as well. You can even enjoy their wide range of 100% handloom, handwoven sarees, and apparel. Thus, this café hits all the right feels in terms of ambience and meals.

Address – 64, 10th Main Road, 4th Block, 5th Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560041

4. YOGISTHAAN CAFÉ:

Yogisthaan Café is a perfect health-conscious treat for vegans. The café replicates a small library, a lifestyle, and a wellness store with organic products. The store even serves healthy and tasty meals with a soulful living ambience. Café's detoxifying shakes and blends are the most popular item.

On my visit, I requested their Chila made with chickpea and loaded veggies, paired with fresh mint chutney. A light meal packed with organic goodness perfect for breakfast.

I would recommend you to sign up for their signature Quinoa Burger. It features quinoa mixed with watermelon seeds, spring onions, and homemade hummus.

Moreover, the café gives yoga lessons and is popular among foreign tourists for its guesthouse.

Address - 89, 11th Cross Rd, Stage 2, Hoysala Nagar, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038

5. SANTE:

Indira Nagar-based Sante Spa Cuisine is located inside a Bungalow. The Victorian furniture style interiors with the shimmering golden hanging stars are beautiful and deserve a special mention. The hues of green and white are immensely appealing.

When it comes to Vegan options: Dumplings, crisp lettuce, spicy California Uramaki rolls, and Smoothie bowls are the restaurant's speciality.

With an exotic vegan menu, children's corner, reader's nook, and pet-friendly area, Sante really knows how to bring you in!

On your visit, I would recommend you seat yourself outdoors with the light breeze and the warmth. A serene ambience with a vertical garden is just the cherry on the cake to enjoy your vegan-friendly meal.

Address - 151 2nd Stage Cross, Domlur, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560071

6. BURMA BURMA:

As the name suggests, Burma Burma is all about creating awareness of Burmese cuisine. Burma Burma dishes up exciting vegetarian and vegan-friendly food. They even have Jain-friendly and gluten-free options.

Try the 'Mock meat skewers,' and 'Samosa Soup' are delectable. 'Khao Suey' is their signature item loved by everyone. I also absolutely love the Red chilly fried rice here!

Burma Burma exudes an attractive decor with its low-hanging lamps and a dreamy backdrop. The framed photographs in the textured walls illustrate the Burmese society, which is an instant eye-catcher. This family-friendly authentic Burmese restaurant is a gem.

Address - 607, 12th Main Road, 7th Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560038

7. HABIBI FALAFEL:

Are you thinking about the quirky name? Let me tell you a bit of history. Falafel is similar to Indian' vada' but made from chickpeas and a secret masala, wrapped in a Saj flatbread and layered with hummus, vegetables, and tahini sauce. Habibi means "my love" in Arabic and "buddy" in the Levant region.

With Habibi Falafel, Bangalore will spark its love of Middle Eastern street food with its 100% authentic, fresh, affordable, quick, healthy falafel rolls and sandwiches.

Habibi Falafel offers an exotic menu of Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Israeli and Arabic cuisine. I tried their Falafel Burger consisting of falafel patty and Eggplant Mutabbal roasted with garlic, lemon, and tahini along with fries. I must admit the meal was a warm bowl of goodness.

This warm and cosy place is for you if you love simplicity and uniqueness. I am sure you will enjoy the ambience with a guilt-free vegan meal.

Address - 969, 1st Main Road, S.T. Bed, 1st Block Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034

8. CHINITA REAL MEXICAN FOOD:

Hey, my Mexican lovers! Chinita is maybe the only place in Bangalore that serves authentic Mexican fare. It is an absolute delight for all Mexican lovers out there. The site has an elegant ambience with cosy vibes.

They offer an affordable menu that serves a variety of delicious vegan Mexican dishes to choose from. I started my meals with 'Almond Horchata,' an almond and rice-based beverage with a hint of cinnamon.

Then, their lovely staff suggested I go for a 'Soyrizo and Potato Tostada and Roasted Zucchini and Corn Taco.' Both are made with excellent yummy cashew cheese and pico de gallo. Besides this, I even ordered the vegan corn nachos with super fresh seasoned guacamole. Finally, I will recommend you to have their vegan-friendly 'Burrito bowls' and 'Tacos.'

Address – 25, 5th Cross Road, 5th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095

9. GREEN THEORY:

Green Theory caters to the section of foodies who are born with a love for veggies. However, this place is heaven for the vegetarians and vegans out there. Their pure vegetarian menu has a plethora of options to choose from.

Green Theory serves Continental and Italian cuisines, and it will perfectly match your every mood and taste buds. I ordered a 'Kiwi Lemonade' for myself: a refreshing mix of tangy kiwi and lemon, along with the goodness of sparkling water. This recipe is perfect for summer to beat the scorching heat.

The meals here are made with utmost care and are economical at the same time. The icing on the cake is the splendid outdoor seating, making the surroundings more green

and beautiful.

Address – 15, Convent Road, Residency Road, Near Bishop Cotton Girl's School, Central Bangaluru, 560025

10. CAFÉ FELIX:

Last but not least, Café Felix is one of my favourite places to hang out with friends. The ambience is lavish and chic, along with the beautiful outdoor seating. The café offers exotic Continental, American, and European cuisines, which serve a wide variety of mouthwatering delicacies.

Though the vegan options are limited, the quality and taste of the food will not disappoint you. On my visit, I ordered 'Cauliflower Bezule,’ which is inspired by Mangalorean street food. It is bright red with a spicy, lemony flavor to match its visual and palate appealing. The cauliflower is cooked in coconut milk, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, and quinoa pilaf.

In addition, I should say the staff here was very kind and helpful. I would recommend Café Felix as a must-visit if you want to enjoy vegan delicacies with a mesmerizing view.

Address – Trinity Circle, 1 MG Lido Mall, Level 5, Swami Vivekananda Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008

CONCLUSION

Veganism is not only a healthy lifestyle choice, but a healthier one. Do let me know in the comments below which restaurant you liked the most.

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Feel’s like every time I log onto Instagram, a new health company is trying to sell me collagen. With claims of luscious and glowing hair within just weeks of taking their supplement, it is sure hard to stay away from marketing cues.

What is this collagen anyways?

In the most layman terms, collagen is really a combination of three specific amino acids (type of protein). Namely, glycine, proline and hydroxyproline.

Collagen is an essential requirement for optimal bodily functioning. It aids in several essential body functions, like skin repairing, bone strengthening, maintaining bone density, and taking care of the heart.

Collagen’s potential to regenerate the skin has made it an appealing topic of discussion amongst fitness, health, and skincare gurus.

The body’s capacity to develop collagen reduces as it ages. The structural integrity of the skin deteriorates- wrinkles grow, and joint cartilage deteriorates. As a result, people fall to the marketing gimmicks of collagen supplements and skin care products.

However, the three specific amino acids that make up collagen are found in abundance in food too.

Another thing to note is that the body is completely capable of making its own collagen, provided you adopt certain nutritional and lifestyle changes.

A well planned plant-based diet, accompanied by physical exercise and adequate sleep, can help boost your natural collagen level.

Before we discuss foods to boost the bodies collagen production, lets discuss a few lifestyle changes that will help:

• The most crucial factor to consider before jumping on a skincare routine for vegan collagen growth is to keep away from the sun and apply sunscreen to prevent cellular damage. Long hours of exposure to the sun produce ‘free radicals’ that damage the skin’s top layer.

• Eat all the colourful greens: The two vitamins A and C (also Vitamin E) work together to assist the body in producing natural collagen. Food such as almonds, papaya, broccoli, berries, almonds, spinach, citrus fruit, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, and carrots contain these three elements.

• Avoid processed meat: Cured and processed meats are often treated with sodium nitride. This is to prevent them from going grey, because dead things go grey ;). But also to prevent the formation of toxic bacterial growth. The problem with sodium nitride though is the same with cigarettes. It damages the structure of collagen.

• Stay away from AGE's: AGE’s or advanced glycation end products are toxic animal proteins that have been exposed to heat. Excess AGE levels in the body are associated with decreasing collagen activity, hampering not only skin health, but also stiffening blood vessels. This simple answer is to stay away from animal proteins such as dairy and meat.

Plant-based foods are high in phytochemicals, including the potent antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, which could help reduce the depletion of collagen from the body.

Consuming food with natural antioxidants can amplify the production of natural collagen in your body as well.

One specific fruit that tops the list is Amla. Aim to add one whole amla or 1 tsp of amla powder to your diet daily.

The body prioritizes natural collagen protein development because it serves such a vital role. While collagen levels development slows as we age, it never ceases, and if you give your body the nutrients it needs to make healthy collagen, the age-related decline will be less noticeable.

Trying to take a collagen supplement or pill is like trying to eat someone's hair to help you grow your own hair. Wouldn't you rather power yourself with base ingredients (minerals and vitamins) to grow your own hair naturally?

So what are the food sources of the three amino acids?

• Proline: Proline and hydroxyproline fall in the category of amino acids that make up 23% of collagen. They play an essential role in collagen breakdown and stability. Asparagus, rice, buckwheat, cabbage, chives, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, peanuts, soy, and watercress are vegetarian proline sources. Adding a watercress salad few times to your weekly menu is enough proline for the body.

• Glycine: Glycine is essential to the creating strands of DNA and RNA in human body. It is the abundant component of collagen and helps to stabilize the collagen quotient in the body. It also facilitates the bonding of hydrogen and to form inter-molecular cross-links. Glycine is produced by the body, but high protein foods such as animal meat have some glycine. Beans and lentils have some glycine too, but if you are restricting calories, you might want to supplement glycine. Seaweed has some glycine. Adding a few servings of wakame or nori sheets in per week is a great idea.

• Hydroxyproline: The hydroxyproline component of collagen is another important amino acid to consider. An increase in the hydroxyproline amount leads to degradation on body’s connective tissues. Alfaalfa sprouts contain more hydroxyproline than any other plant- based sources. Hydroxyproline is naturally produced in the body from Proline in the presence of Vitamin C.

Like mentioned above, Vitamin C acts as a cofactor in the production of hydroxyproline. So it becomes essential to consume enough Vitamin C rich foods. But there are a few other nutrients too that play an important role in the synthesis of collagen. Here is the list:

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C allows amino acids to absorb oxygen and hydrogen, allowing them to participate in collagen production. Collagen development slows down if you don't get enough Vitamin C. Many fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, sprouts, cauliflower, citrus fruits, kale, kiwi, mango, papaya, tomatoes, pineapple, and strawberries, have a high quotient of vitamin C.

• Vitamin A: Vitamin A, also referred to as retinol alternatively, is only present in animal-derived foods and assists in collagen production. Fruits and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients known as carotenoids (vitamin A precursors). The body converts these carotenoids to vitamin A. Apricots, broccoli, carrots, kale, squash, and sweet potatoes are great Vitamin A sources. Make sure to eat one carrot a day to get your daily dose.

• Zinc: Just like Vitamin C, Zinc is a cofactor in the production of collagen as well. Seeds, nuts, and beans are the most popular vegetarian sources of zinc. A good way is to ensure you eat a handful of nuts daily.

• Anthocyanin: This is a type of antioxidant that gives the bright blue colour to berries. Its capacity to inhibit inflammation and stabilize collagen is one of their most notable characteristics (shown in rat studies). Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries all contain anthocyanin.

• Copper: Another vital nutrient is copper, which boosts collagen and elastin development or utilisation while also assisting in forming the fibril structure of these collagens. Some of the essential sources of copper include sunflower seeds, lentils, almonds, apricots, dark chocolate, mushrooms, greens, and blackstrap molasses. Drinking water out of copper bottles also helps.

When we look at nutrients, we rarely look at one particular thing they are rich in, but rather look at food as a whole. If you are eating enough calories per day and choose from vibrant fruits and vegetables, you will reach your daily requirements of all of the above micronutrients.

However, if you are following a restrictive calorie diet and neglecting essential food groups for whatever reason, you will be deficient in one or many micro nutrients, leading to collagen deficiency. We will discuss supplementation below, but for now, remember that individual micronutrients rarely act by themselves and are codependent on other nutrients.

It is important to note here that it is still possible to lose weight on a restricted calorie diet and ensure you are reaching your micro- nutrient stores. On a well designed meal- plan, you will gain health as you lose weight. Your skin and hair should only improve as you get fitter. Work with a nutritionist to help you customise a meal plan that is dense in micro- nutrients and essential minerals.

Collagen- Forms and its Sources.

In addition to natural collagen, collagen is also found in different forms in varied constituents. Animal collagen is the collagen found in animals like cows, pigs and marine species.

Fish Collagen

The fish collagen is present everywhere in the body of the fish, except for in the cartilaginous tissues. The same collagen is found in the human body around 70% of the skin. Fish collagen is also known as marine collagen as it is derived from the fish skin.

However, fish or marine collagen is more harmful to the body as compared to the plant-based collagen due to the high mercury content in fish species. Mercury toxicity has been linked to Alzheimer's and depression. The below blog details the harmful effects of fish tot he body:

• Is Miley Cyrus no longer Vegan?

Bovine Collagen

The collagen found in cow is also referred to as bovine collagen. It is derived from boiling the bones of the cow and from other cattle-based products. Bovine collagen helps to prevent the loss of bone in cattle.

Though bovine collagen is also derived from species including yak, bison, and buffalo, it is primarily referred to the collagen found in cows. There are not enough studies to prove its effectiveness in humans yet.

What is Marine collagen?

Marine collagen is the other name for fish collagen, found primarily in fish. The marine collagen supposedly helps to slow down the aging process of the skin and also make it firm. More research is needed for the same.

Some studies show participants complaining of digestive issues after consuming marine collagen.

Is there a Vegan source of Collagen?

Yes, vegan collagen supplements have recently started taking the front stage in mainstream media. Plant-based vegan sources of collagen are healthier alternatives and easy on the digestive system.

Getting your collagen requirements through food sources would still be a preferred source, but people can explore supplements if needed.

Additionally researchers are now making plant- based collagen from genetically tempered bacteria and yeast species.

Vegan collagen supplements come with fewer allergic reactions and are cruelty free.

The Best Plant-Based Foods to Naturally Build Collagen.

The below list consists of specific food and food groups that should make a weekly (if not daily) appearance on your dining table.

• Green leafy vegetables.
• Alfa alfa sprouts.
• Seeds of hemp, pumpkin, sunflower and chia.
• All types of berries.
• Goji berries.
• Nuts like walnuts, brazil nuts and pecans.
• Beans- primarily kidney and black beans.
• Ginseng Tea
  
  

How to Increase Collagen Production Without Eating Animals?

Aim for plant- diversity and stick to whole- food and organic produce. As we saw, collagen production in the body depends on multiple micronutrients acting together in synchrony.

Make sure to include all food groups like fruits, vegetables, grains, lentils, pulses, nuts, seeds and spices.

Is collagen protein worth the hype?

Protein is a crucial component of the body and is essential for muscle and tissue repair. Although the human body has certain amount of collagen in the muscles, there has been hype about increasing collagen protein through supplements.

There are not enough unbiased research studies proving the effects of collagen supplements to the body.

That being said, it is absolutely essential to work with a nutritionist and ensure you are eating enough proteins and covering all the amino acids required.

Are there vegan collagen supplements?

Yes! multiple brands are now exploring vegan collagen supplements.

Plant-based Collagen vs. Animal Collagen: What Works

Leading research organisations have stated that taking marine or bovine collagen leaves tangible effects on the skin. The animal-based collagen has three primary issues which makes it detrimental for health than the plant-based collagen. These are:

• Contaminants in animals (Pesticides and herbicides that end up in the body of bovine animals).
• Allergic reactions caused by consuming marine collagen.
• Not enough research to prove its effectiveness when compared to whole food sources.
  
  

Do You Really Need to Supplement Collagen?

A supplement is really just a supplement to a bad nutrition plan. If you are eating well and making sure to cover multiple food groups, your body holds the capacity to make its own collagen.

If for some reason though your body demands are higher than normal, like in the case of athletes or people recovering from sickness, you might consider adding in a supplement.

Once again, working with a nutritionist will provide you insights on this topic.

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India is a foodie's paradise. And when I say a haven for foodies, I mean that it is the dream destination for any eater, vegans included. Though Indian vegetarian dishes are heavy on dairy products - curd, ghee-laden curries, lassis, and paneer dishes, India is a vegan’s mecca. When you come to India, you realise how easy it is to customise meatless dishes that are vegan. That is because meat-free diets existed since time immemorial.

It should not come as a surprise to you when I say that there is extensive use of desi ghee in Indian cooking. However, coconut oil and mustard oil are perfect vegan replacements and ubiquitous in every Indian household. Besides, most street side vendors will happily avoid the ghee tadka or spoonful of cream on top of your dish, making it automatically vegan friendly.

Let's explore some of the reason this country is so vegan friendly.

1. Food diversity in every state.

India's diversity not only reflects in its multi-lingual and multi-religious people but also in the wide variety of cuisines that all Indians relish. Thus vegan food in India is no exception because it is equally diverse. You will find no flavour homogeneity when you travel from the north to the south or from the west to the east. But, the staggering wealth of flavours will surprise you. Checkout this blog I wrote about 51 different types of vegan foods:

• 51 Vegan Indian- Street Food.

When in the northern part of India, you can gorge on rajma chawal, aloo dum, chana masala with kulcha, mooli paratha, baigan bharta, and aloo paratha. Veganism is hardly a hassle in the southern part of India because pulses, cereals, and greens dominate the dishes. South India is itself a vegan paradise. Think sambar rice, idlis, appams, puttus, and the crispy masala dosas with coconut-based chutneys.

A good vegan meal in the western part of India comes with a touch of culture in it. The food options are unlimited and sumptuous. For instance Rajasthani cuisine, boasts of a never-ending platter of spicy starters, tangy drinks, and mouth-watering sabzis. You cannot miss out on the pyaaz ki kachori, the daal baati churma, the spicy gatte, and the Mirchi ke bade when in the desert state.

In Gujarat, you will come across the oldest Indian culinary treasures. The state has a unique cooking style and offers a variety of vegan dishes like chutneys, farsans, samosas, and undhiyus. You cannot miss out on the spongy dhoklas and the flavorful methi theplas.

Eastern and central India has equally popular vegan dishes to impress you. When in Bihar, you can try the sattu ke parathe, litti chokha, and daal pitha. And, if you are in the central part of India, then you cannot get enough of the deliciously delightful daal bafla and namkeen poha.

2. Ample street- side Vegan options.

Most people sigh at the scarcity of vegan options when dining out or at restaurants. In that case, it is high time that you acquaint yourself with everything from chole bhature to chaat. The Indian desi street food scene is commendable because there is an elaborate spread on offer every time. And, the good news- most of them are vegan by default besides being mostly nutritious. Try the inherently vegan puffed hollows called gol gappas filled with aloo, chana, sweet and sour tamarind water. You cannot go wrong with the spicy-sour-sweet bhel puri or the crunchy-crispy Sev puri. There are choices galore from the parathas to the aloo chaat, tikkis, kachori, and veg momos. You can greedily dig into any of the street-side foods without worrying about consuming milk solids.

3. India is the spice capital of the world.

Every Indian dish is a small flavour bubble because the spices used in the dishes have overriding importance. These spices have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-proliferative effects. Thus they prevent you from cancer, arthritis, and other cardio-vascular diseases. For instance, turmeric (Haldi) is a universal ingredient that is added to every dish and is a source of curcumin. This spice is power-packed with anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant properties of turmeric destroy cell-damaging free radicals.

Peppercorn (also called kali mirch or black pepper) is widely used in any vegan dish. It is known to balance your blood pressure, aid weight loss, and benefits diabetic people. Fenugreek is used in vegan Indian curries for the mild aroma it has. But, the spice helps improve eating disorders and reduces inflammation.

Saffron is used in many cashew-based gravies in Indian dishes. You must know that Kesar brings about a bright yellow color in your sauces and a mild aroma helps manage asthma. Nutmeg is used as one of the popular spices in Indian cuisine that detox liver and improves its texture.

Cinnamon is a part of the garam masala mix. It is quintessential in many dishes and is known for the anti-inflammatory properties. The spice mix also comprises cloves, cardamom, and bay leaves.

Meat by itself has no flavor, but get's its flavour from the spices added to marinate meat in. Marinating vegetables and dairy alternatives (such as seitan and tofu) is spices brings about authentic flavour and bold taste to Indian food without the need to include meat and dairy.

4. Traditional roots of India emphasises on a plant- based diet.

There is no other cuisine in the world that is so intricately associated with veganism as the Indian cuisine. The origin of vegan cuisine in India traces back to the time of Ayurveda that stressed on sattvic, rajasic and tamasic foods. The sattvic diet comprised pure foods high in energy or prana. And as per the yogis that practiced Ayurveda, only foods that had medicinal benefit and healing properties were to be consumed. Therefore, they advocated a vegan diet
that would keep the body’s constitution balanced.

Another important thing to note about the Indian cuisine is that religion had a big role to play in it being vegan. That is because Hinduism along with its offshoots Jainism and Buddhism advocate non-violence (ahimsa). Jains follow an extremely strict code of diet. Check the below blog to know more:

• Fasting tips for 2020 Paryushan- Plus Jain recipes.
• Jain Diet Plan for Weight Gain and Muscle Gain

This code also involves not eating vegetables with roots or bulbs because these two keep the plants alive. Most Buddhists consider killing animals as a wrong deed hence vegan food made its way. The Brahmins also did not eat meat because it was believed that Goddess Saraswati resided on the tongues. And that eating meat will drive her away. Hindus have shunned beef mainly because they revere cows. Hence, most Hindus are vegetarians by choice and mostly vegans by default. They ingest a balanced diet of grains, vegetables, and seasonal fruits.

5. Lot of South Indian food is vegan by default.

The savory specialties from South India are the various lentil delights and fermented rice. Therefore, the south Indian cuisine is called the global favourite with its sambhar rice, dosas idli, and puttus. A significant section of the south Indian cuisine is effortlessly vegan. This could be due to the abundant importance given to agriculture in this area or traditional vegetarian roots of the natives living in this area.

Try the podi idly's in Chennai or Mysore dosa's from Karnataka. You might have to request the server to avoid Ghee, but most of the dishes are vegan by default. Costal regions such as Kerela and Mangalore might be dominated with pescatarians, but you can still find coconut milk based curries and flavoured rice dishes that are vegan by default.

The southern Indian food is made from fermented batter, and you must know that fermentation boosts your gut health. It can be easily digested and also has a higher value of nutrition.

6. Availability of tropical fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

The ever so lovely tropical climate here permits the growth of exotic fruits. Prepare to find an impressive variety of citrus fruits, pineapples, bananas, and mangoes. Not only fresh fruits, but fruit chaat and coconut water stalls are a common sight on Indian streets.

If you crave snacks, you can easily snack on the deliciously crispy banana chips made from plantains and bananas. Another fruit that is popular as mock-meat in the world has to be the jackfruit that is eaten ripe, semi-ripe, or raw in vegetable curries. This fruit can be eaten dried, fried, and pickled. It is packed with minerals, Vitamin C, A, dietary fibers, and protein.

Coconut is another tropical fruit that is regarded as the vegan community’s miracle food. They have the power to replace animal-based essentials like cream and butter in numerous recipes. The fruit is an eco-friendly and highly sustainable ingredient because people use all its parts. Refined oil from coconut is used for cooking because of its neutral aroma and taste. Coconut kernels are used to make coconut yogurt, and the milk from coconut is thickened to make the cream. This cream is added to desserts and traditional curries.

Prepare to be spoilt for choice when it comes to varieties of mangoes, plum's, custard apples and chikko (chocolate fruits!). I have been raised in India and am yet never surprised when I come across tropical fruits here that I have never before tried in my life. You will also find different types of fruits based on the part of India you are travelling in.

7. Number of growing startups investing in vegan business.

Many food-tech startups are investing in vegan businesses. More than sixty percent of Indian consumers are purchasing non-meat based alternatives regularly. Wegan Foods, for example, manufactures vegan cheese for commercial uses.

SAIN is another Delhi-based vegan startup that presents dairy-free almond milk while purecoindia. In has been making tandoori sausages made with mock meat, vegetables, and soy.

With an increased focus on wellness and health, veganism makes a bold mark into the Indian market scene. And several startups like Vegan Bites, Veganarke, and Cowvathi are cashing in on this grand opportunity.

Checkout my vegan fitness plan over here.

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In all honesty, I live to eat! Food has always been central to my happiness, like most of us. Food is an emotion and much more than just nourishment. Overtime though, I have managed to reduce my cravings and distant myself from eating too much junk. But I still indulge in street food every once in a while. Who says you have to give up eating outdoors when you transition to a plant- based diet? Here is a list of 51 (among 100's) of food choices that have made its way to the Indian streets and cruelty free.

Comment below your favourite from the list or something I have missed so I can add it in!

Full disclosure, some of these items might have ghee/ butter, but can very well be customised to be made vegan. I have travelled a lot across the country and never have I had a problem customising vegan food. The local vendors are more than willing to ditch the ghee or cheese from top of my food and charge me the same cost for the dish.

1. Gol Gappa/Pani Puri.

It is known by different names in different places. However they're indisputable – puffed hollows loaded up with khatta-meetha tamarind water, channa and aloo. This dish is characteristically vegan and you can delve into it voraciously without agonising over milk solids!

2. Tikki Puri.

3. Sev Puri.

4. Bhel Puri.

5. Bhutta.

6. Samosa Chaat.

7. Dabeli.

8. Vada Pav.

9. Aloo Tikki.

10. Chole Bhature.

11. Paratha.

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There are so many myth's when it comes to a plant- based diet. As a consumer, it can be challenging and even a cause for anxiety when you see mixed messages online. Everyday we see a new advertise of a 'must have vegan supplement'. But do we really need them?

I insist you read through these points, especially if you are considering switching to a plant-based diet to help you clear some doubts. Though each of these point's can be a blog by itself, I have tried to give as much information as possible in a few words. Do not hesitate to comment below if you have further questions.

Book A Free Consultation With Our Disease Reversal Expert

1. Vegans are deficit in nutrients

Fact- Nutritional deficiency and a vegan diet are often associated. If anything, the very opposite is true. Animals do not make their own micro nutrients. They depend on plant's to get their optimal dose of nutrients. Including calcium, omega's and proteins, animals are just a carrier, but all of these nutrients are found in plants. A plant- based diet is not only sufficient, but the only source of micronutrients.

2. Vegans Are Devoid of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fact- A plant- based diet is certainly an excellent source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Unlike meat based omega- 3 sources such as fish, the omega's coming in from plant- based food are not high in toxins such as mercury and lead. Here are a few omega- 3 sources on a plant based diet.

1. Chia Seeds
2. Brussels Sprouts
3. Algal Oil
4. Hemp Seeds
5. Flaxseeds
6. Perilla Oil
7. Walnuts

3. Meat Iron is Better

Fact - Ever heard family members say that real men eat meat? TBH Vegans actually consume more Iron than meat-eaters and vegetarians. Meat eaters get less than 20% of their iron from meat and more than 45% of their iron from cereals, dried fruits, green leafy vegetables, seeds and nuts.

But iron coming in from meat, known as hema iron has been linked with brain degenerative diseases and certain types of cancer. The same effect is not seen with plant- based iron sources (non- hema iron). Plant- based iron in fact only has health benefit's to offer.

4. Pets Can't be Vegan

Fact - This statement is half untrue. Yes, cats are carnivores and need meat over a vegan diet. Dogs are omnivores. However, both cats and dogs can survive adequately on a well planned vegan diet. One needs to ensure their pets are consuming a well-balanced diet inclusive of all necessary nutrients. There are many vegan pet foods available in the market that are sufficiently well-equipped in the nutrition value chart. That being said, find a vet that understands your ethical choices and helps you make the best decision for your fur baby.

5. Turning Vegan Means Bidding Farewell to Yum Food.

Fact- Well meat by itself has no taste at all. Meat is cooked using 'vegan' spices to bring in taste. Consuming yum food depends on the way you cook and not the ingredients you choose. Vegetables and fruits have a lot of flavor and you can use vegan meat alternatives like Tofu, Seitan, Tempeh to mimic the taste of meat if you want. One just needs to experiment with different ingredients and the different methods of cooking to achieve a masterpiece dish!

6. "Plant-based" and "Vegan-based" are Synonymous.

Fact - A vegan diet is simply a diet that rejects all animal products inclusive of honey, dairy and its byproducts. It focuses on completely doing away with anything that comes from an animal. A vegan diet is an ethical choice, keeping in mind the suffering of animals. However, a plant-based diet focuses on switching to healthier food choices for personal well being. It is also devoid of all animal products but comes from a different point of view.

7. Vegans Miss Out on All the "Fun" Foods (Cream Cheese, Chocolate, Ice Cream, etc.)

8. Vegans Need a Lot of Supplements.

9. A Vegan Diet is a Healthy Diet.

10. Vegans are Arrogant and Hell-Bent on Converting the Whole World.

11. Cow Milk is the Only Source for Calcium.

Fact- Apart from a little bit of calcium, your dairy products coming from the cow also gift you with excess cow estrogen (sex hormones), saturated fats and cholestrol. There should be a policy to mention all this on your carton of dairy milk. These causes hormonal imbalance in the body. Especially in women, this can lead to complications like PCOS and PCOD. It can also be a harbinger of painful periods and intolerable PMS symptoms. Here are 5 foods that are safer and better sources of calcium, with higher absorption capacity:

Broccoli - 100mg per cup

Kale - 179mg per cup

Collard greens - 266mg per cup

Bok Choy - 160mg per cup

Soybeans - 175mg per cup

12. PETA is Not Vegan.

Fact- PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a non-profit organisation that stands up for the animals being mistreated in laboratories, in the clothing trade, in the entertainment industry and the food industry. I don't think any other body could be any more vegan than PETA!

13. You will Get Sick and Die if You're on a Vegan Diet.

Fact- To be precise, becoming sick or weak is completely dependant on what you are eating. If you are not eating adequate calories, you are not getting adequate nutrition. A vegan diet is naturally anti- inflammatory and immunity boosting in general. Vegetarians and vegans have fewer cases of heart diseases, diabetes and cancer.

14. Animal Protein is More Important than Plant Protein.

Fact- Our system was never built to digest animal protein. We are herbivores by hardware. The saturated fats and sulphur containing amino acids coming in animals are seldom digested effectively by our system. Our kidneys and liver have to work extra hard to get rid of the toxins coming into our body in the name of animal proteins. Plants provide all essential proteins when compared to their meaty counterparts. In fact, animals also get their proteins from plants. Plant's have all the essential amino acids (in significantly higher quantities) needed for the body.

I also insist you watch the below video for more details about plant- based proteins:

15. Vegans Hate Humans.

Fact- LOL. I guess we just love animals more! We love humans too, and that's why we like spreading awareness about opting for a healthy lifestyle. To be good to your own system is the agenda!

16. Vegan Foods Are Expensive.

Fact- Veganism is not for the elite. Infact, if you look at the blue zones around the world (nations where people live the longest), their diet is predominantly vegan, because they cannot afford meat. Look at any restaurant menu, meat is always more expensive than potatoes. Prepackaged foods are on the expensive side of the spectrum. However, opting for staple foods like beans, lentils, oats and vegetable like carrots and cabbage are inexpensive.

17. Veganism is the Cause for "Deforestation".

Fact- I am bawling with laughter tears right now! :'D

Did you know that grazing of cows, in horticulture, loosens soil particles and is the root cause for soil erosion? On the other hand, growing fields of paddy, wheat and vegetables strengthen the soil and improve the soil profile by a drastic margin. Soil erosion and deforestation to expand animal agriculture is the biggest reason for the disappearing of forests and global warming. More water is used to make a single beef burger than the amount you use to shower for the entire year!

18. Veganism is an Eating Disorder.

Fact- Veganism is a healthy lifestyle disorder! :P

Studies show that, compared to omnivores, vegans have a lesser risk of developing eating disorders. They are more healthy in their ways of eating as all you'll ever find them eating is fruits, veggies and nuts! A plant- based diet is high in volume, naturally filling you up faster and helping you maintain an ideal body weight without calorie counting. Food obsession and calorie counting is a sign of an eating disorder.

19. Vegan Diets are Not Suitable for Children.

Fact- A growing child's nutritional requirements are going to be different from an adult. A vegan or non- vegan diet has nothing to do with this fact. As long as parents are monitoring the key nutrients that are entering their kids' systems, children thrive on a vegan diet. Human body cannot digest the sugars coming from milk. This is also a leading cause for type 1 diabetes. Kids on a vegan diet do better in terms of preventing lifestyle diseases than their counterparts. In fact, it is the best diet for children as their developing digestive systems might not be able to take the load of animal foods.
Watch Amy from the Big Bang Theory talk about raising her children vegan:

20. Veganism is a Myth.

Fact- Veganism is a concept that is trending in the 21st century. People with clear head-space and who know what they want are opting for this healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy and fresh food becomes a way of life after getting into veganism and there is no going back from that. You begin to feel lighter and healthier. So no, we aren't mythical creatures, we exist.

21. Veganism is a Diet.

Fact- Sure it can be a dietary choice alone for some, but for most, Veganism is a lifestyle. We live a life based on the ethics of Veganism which roots for animal rights and is against the exploitation and harming animals.

22. All Vegans are Animal Lovers and Environmentalists.

Fact- Most vegans are animal lovers and environmentalists. Not all. But we all believe in healthy living and believe that this can be achieved through veganism.

23. ONLY Vegans Need Supplements.

Fact- Vegans are probably the only people who do not need supplements. Every single nutrient required by human beings is found in plants. How meat-eaters get these nutrients is by eating animals that consume those plants. Hence, the whole idea of vegans needing supplements is false!

24. Veganism is "White-Culture"

Fact- Opting for a cruelty-free lifestyle is not a white concept. In India, Jains, Hindus and Buddhists have always vouched for animal rights and fair treatment. They are ardent vegetarians. In China, Taoists are vegan and are known to have invented Tofu! If anything, the west is learning from the east!

25. Turning Vegan is Hard.

Fact- Meat and dairy is a condiment to your main dish. Just get rid of that and your plate is filled with vegetables, fruits, lentils, pulses and legumes. Turning vegan is not as hard as one would think. Once you turn vegan for a substantial period of time though, you cannot go back to your earlier ways of eating. A vegan diet comes with good skin, good hair, improved bodily functions and a lean figure. Moreover, this lifestyle is too fresh and neat to go back to consuming saturated fats!

26. Vegans Don't Like People Who Eat Meat.

Fact- Vegans just don't like meat! We like telling people what we know and what they don't about animal consumption. We just like spreading awareness. This is misunderstood as hate. Compassion is the underlying motto and that is the very reason we reject meat-eating and embrace veganism. At the end of the day, to each their own.

27. Vegan Food Doesn't Fill You Up.

Fact- Fruits and vegetables have high dietary fibre content. Nuts and seeds too. High fibre content means more volume and slower digestion process. These foods are thus known to keep you fuller for a longer period of time. This is the reason why fitness trainers and weight loss programs inculcate diets with foods that are high in fibre. They prevent binge eating and promote weight loss.

28. Pregnant Women Should Not Be Vegan.

Fact- Did you know? Disorders like PCOS and PCOD which make it difficult for women to get pregnant and even make them infertile can be reversed by merely adopting a vegan diet. So I don't see why one must do away with this lifestyle after getting pregnant. If anything, a vegan diet will keep hormone levels at a check, keep type 2 diabetes at bay and check cholesterol and heart health! All of the above are regular grievances of pregnant women. That being said, working with a nutritionist who understands your food choices is the best option.

29. Eating Soy Can Cause Cancer.

Fact- Soy contains high fibre, proteins and antioxidants. The isoflavones present in soy is misunderstood to mimic the human hormone estrogen in the body. This is where the misconception of soy causing breast cancer arises. Isoflavones actually bind to estrogen receptors differently and function differently. Multiple studies prove that these isoflavones actually INHIBIT the growth of cancer cells and stimulate apoptosis (self-destruction of cancer cells.) They support the body's antioxidant defences and DNA repair which also prevents cancer.

Please watch the below:

30. Vegans Don't Get Sick

Fact- Surely not as often as someone following an inflammatory diet high in animal protein and hema iron. But vegan's are also at risk of infections like Swine Flu and Covid-19. However, vegan's do have a better immune systems owing to anti- inflammatory and anti- oxidant food choices. Have you noticed how doctors advise vegetarian diets when you're down with a fever? This is because a vegetarian diet supplies you with the necessary nutrients in building antibodies and fighting pathogens.

31. Going Vegan Will Guarantee Weight Loss.

Fact- Weight loss is subjective to body type. While going vegan will definitely help speed up the process in numerous ways, weight loss depends on the kind of lifestyle you live. Plant- based food is naturally high in volume and lower in calories. It is also loaded in micronutrients, thus helping you keep the body fat percentage down.

32. All Vegans Are Hippies.

Fact- Hippie culture rejects all conventional societal ethics (the way they dress, the way they put their hair, etc) They advocate non-violent ethics and might also indulge in hallucinogens. They may or may not be vegan. However, vegans merely reject the consumption of meat. The might or might not support narcotics and do not strive to reject all societal practices. They only reject meat-eating and animal killing practices.

33. If everybody went vegan, cows and pigs would go extinct.

Fact- It is important to understand that most of these animals are raised in slaughterhouses due to forceful impregnation for human consumption. For example, a dairy cow is impregnated every nine months (as soon as she gives birth), to keep the production of milk high and constant supply of veil (baby calf skin). Naturally, cows don't conceive as often. It is the same case with chicken and pigs. Research about animal agriculture and you will understand how much of natural resources (water/ food) is wasted to raise this animals, thus depleting forests. This allows an elite few to enjoy their meat while millions across the globe die due to hunger. It is untrue to say that the food cycle would be disrupted. In fact, the cycle change is so trivial that everything would eventually balance out.

34. "Plants Also Feel Pain so Quit Killing 'Em."

Fact- Let us go back to school now, shall we? Plants DO NOT have a central nervous system. So it is safe to say that plucking fruits, nuts and veggies would merely "feel" like the clipping of a nail to them. Even if they do as per baseless logic, more plants are used to feed the animals raised to be eaten by humans. Might as well cut the middle man and at least spare them.

35. If Men Eat Tofu, They Will Grow Man Boo-bs (breasts).

Fact- The isoflavones present in tofu are mistaken to behave as animal estrogen. This phytoestrogen are actually cancer combating and does not behave as the estrogen found in female human beings. The fact is that they play no role in the depletion of testosterone and do not affect your manhood. Look at Asian populations that consume soy beans in huge quantities. Will you see a single man bo-ob on a Japanese beach? Compare that to a beach in Goa. Walk upto any obese individual in Goa and ask him if he has ever tasted tofu in his life. Chances are he will say no but still be familiar with paneer. Dairy cows are literally pumped with estrogen to boost milk production. This makes its way into the human body.

36. We Need Animals to Convert Feed into a Protein that Can be Processed by the Human System.

Fact- All protein needs are easily procured from plants. The simplest form is found in plants. When animals eat plants, they get nutrients. Meat-eaters get their nutrition from this reduced source. Humans also consume unwanted elements like saturated fats and cholesterol by eating these animals. It makes more sense if you consume concentrated and undigested nutrients. Might as well get your proteins from the source- plants.

37. Avocados are Causing Droughts in Places.

Fact- Avocados produce 33% of the emanations of chicken, a fourth of those of pork, and a twentieth of meat. On the off chance that you are as yet stressed over avocados, you can obviously decide not to eat them. Yet, it is anything but the motivation to eat meat rather, which has a lot greater water and deforestation impression.

38. Fruits and Vegetables are Not Vegan Because They Use Animal Manure as Fertilisers.

Fact- Most vegans would express it's only senseless to state leafy foods are animal items owing to the usage of manure as fertilisers. Manufactured compost is effectively produced using the nitrogen noticeable all around and there is a lot of natural manure accessible. Over-utilisation of compost causes water contamination issues in numerous pieces of the world. Yet, that applies to both engineered compost and fertiliser and results from awful administration.

39. Vegan Diets Create Mass Murder of Bugs and Insects.

Fact- The facts demonstrate that creepy crawlies are in an awful decay over the planet. However, the greatest drivers of this are the decimation of the wild environment, generally for meat creation, and far-reaching pesticide use. On the off chance that it is bugs that you are truly stressed over, eating a plant-based natural eating routine is the alternative to pick.

40. All farmers who raise livestock would go broke and unemployed if the world went meat-free.

Fact- Animal cultivating is hugely sponsored with citizens cash far and wide – in contrast to vegetables and natural product. That cash could be utilized to help more manageable nourishments, for example, beans and nuts rather, and to pay for other significant administrations, for example, catching carbon in forests and wetlands, reestablishing untamed life, cleaning water and decreasing flood hazards. Shouldn't your expenses be utilized to give public merchandise as opposed to damages?

41. Eating Too Much Fruit is Bad for You Because of The Sugar.

Fact- While fruit contains sugar, this is a natural sugar (fructose) and is contained inside the fibrous lattice of the organic product. This type of sugar is essential for the body unlike the sugar found in milk, dairy products (lactose) and processed table sugar. Sugars from the fruits also come in with fibre, helping keep your blood glucose in control. Fruits are natures desserts and extremely essential for you.

42. Grass-fed beef is Low in Carbon Emission.

Fact- Grass-fed beef utilizes more land and delivers more emissions that hormone pumped, factory produced beef. In any case, the outflows from even the best meat are as yet usually more than that from beans and pulses.

43. A vegan diet makes you depressed.

This is far from true. Brain degenerative diseases such as alzimers, dementia and even depression have been strongly linked to consuming excess fish and sea creatures. Heavily toxic produce from the sea with chemicals such as mercury is one of the reasons for the same. A plant- based diet on the contrary is high in fibre, helping rid the body of excess hormonal fluctuations and mood swings.

44. Vegan Food is Boring.

Fact- Food is possibly boring in the event that you make it boring. Veggie lovers shockingly can get extremely inventive in the kitchen, for example, utilizing one element for a wide range of dinners. For instance, you can have mixed tofu for breakfast, stacked fresh tofu tacos for lunch, tofu lasagna for supper, and chocolate pie made of tofu for dessert. You can utilize various flavors, various marinades, and various surfaces to make your taste buds energized during each supper. Vegan food is extraordinary. Try it yourself.

45. Veganism and Vegetarian is the Same.

Fact- Unlike vegetarians, who only abstain from consuming meat, vegans abstain from using any animal product. This can be in food, clothing, make up, cosmetics etc. They also abstain from the use of animal byproducts like milk, honey, cheese, etc. Animals used in the entertainment industry such as circuses and zoo's are also shunned down by vegan's.

46. Honey is Healthy and Vegan.

Fact- Honey, a byproduct by bees is not vegan. It is high in sugar which can be detrimental to your health. High-sugar diets may be linked to obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, liver issues, and heart disease.

47. Soy Milk is the Only Alternative to Cow Milk.

Fact- To be honest, there are a plethora of alternatives to cow milk. Infact, all of these alternatives are healthier. Here are 5 alternatives to cow milk apart from soy milk:

1. Almond Mylk
2. Rice Mylk
3. Oats Mylk
4. Cashew Mylk
5. Walnut Mylk
   
   

48. Veganism Applies Only to Food.

Fact- Veganism is widely related to food consumption but not limited to it. Vegans reject ALL animal products because our motto is that of compassion and cruelty-free nature. We reject animal products in clothes, shows, belts, make up, cosmetics, hats. You name an animal byproduct and we reject it.

49. It is Impossible to be Vegan Because Animal Products Exist in Literally Everything!

Fact- This is like saying it's impossible not to do drugs because they are available everywhere!

It all boils down to choice. With Vegan culture gaining a fast forward in the 21st century, more and more people are becoming aware and more cruelty-free products are being invented. One merely has to make the choice. That being said, no one can be 'the perfect vegan' and that is ok. Do the best you can.

50. Vegans Don't Get Enough B12.

Fact- So can't non- vegans. This is because b12 is made by microorganisms who live in the soil. Animals feed on the soil, thus, some b12 might make its way into their meat, but hardly in enough quantity that it matters. The best way to get your daily doze of b12 is to live close to a farm or using a supplement.

51. Butter is Better Than Margarine.

Fact- In terms of taste, its really the same. In terms of health, its really also the same. Both are saturated fats and cholesterol, equally bad for the body. Your best bet is to avoid both.

I truly hope the above helps you see veganism through a new perspective. you do not have ot get everything right to transcition to a plant- based diet. But taking your first few steps is important for your health and the health of the planet.

Reach out to me for customised meal and fitness plan's when in doubt.

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Are you vegetarian looking for a meat substitute in your diet? The term "wheat meat" has been around for a very long. However, it is only recently that wheat meat acquired the term of Seitan.

Despite being made from wheat, Seitan is nothing like bread or other wheat products. It consists of pure gluten and water, and therefore, it is low on carbs and fats and very high in protein. The usage of Seitan has allowed vegetarians and vegans to prepare meat-based dishes without actually using it.

In this article, you will learn what Seitan is, where it originated, its benefits, and how you can make it at your home.

Seitan

Seitan is the term used to describe wheat gluten in vegetarian, vegan, whole- food, and macrobiotic circles.

Wheat Gluten consists of gluten, the main protein present in wheat. It is prepared by washing wheat flour dough using water to remove all the starch particles. The result of this process is an insoluble elastic mass, the gluten. In the next step, gluten is cooked well to make it ready for consumption.

People are now well aware about the health benefits of soybean-based meat alternatives such as Tofu for a while now. Many people call Tofu vegetarian meat due to its texture and feel. However, some varieties of Seitan have a better texture and chewy nature as compared to Tofu. As a result of this property, you will find that many Asian restaurants use Seitan to provide that meat-like dishes. Mock Duck is a popular dish that is made using Seitan.

Origin of Seitan.

The history of Seitan, or wheat gluten, goes back to the 6th century AD. The followers of Buddhism began using wheat gluten as a meat substitute in various dishes. The earliest mention of wheat gluten dates back to 535 AD. Jia Sixie wrote about gluten in his encyclopedia about agriculture. In his encyclopedia, Sixie describes how people use wheat gluten to prepare a special kind of noodles called Bo duo.

Talking about Seitan, this term is a lot more recent than the ingredient used in Chinese noodles. George Ohsawa, a Japanese advocate of the macrobiotic diet, coined this term in 1961. He used this term to describe a wheat gluten product created by his student, Kiyoshi Mokutani.

The American firm, Erewhon, began importing this product to the US in 1969, and thus, Seitan became popular in the western world.

Benefits of Eating Seitan

People who advocate vegan food talk about the numerous benefits of Seitan. It is rich in protein and low on carbs. However, eating food that is made entirely of gluten has some downsides, especially if you have any auto- immune diseases. For most people (including me) though, gluten has no effects on the body.

Some key benefits of Seitan are;

Highest protein content when compared to any food on the planet (including meat)

Consuming one ounce, i.e., 28g of Seitan, provides you with 104 calories and 21g protein. As you can see, protein makes 75 percent of Seitan. If you want a protein-rich vegetarian diet, including Seitan to your list of foods would be a good idea.

It has Other Essential Minerals

You will notice that Seitan contains traces of copper, selenium, iron, phosphorus, and calcium. These minerals are needed in our bodies in limited quantities for the proper functioning of our system.

Low on Carbs and Fats

Seitan has just 4g of carbs and 0.5g of fat, making it a must include for people trying to balance macros.

This nutritional data is for pure Seitan. The product that you buy from stores may have different nutritional value as Seitan-makers add other ingredients to enhance its flavour and texture.

Who Should Avoid Seitan?

Seitan might be extremely beneficial for people who are allergic to soy products. However, it would be best to consider the following things before making Seitan an integral part of your diet.

If you avoid processed food:

First of all, Seitan is a highly processed food item. Starch from kneaded wheat flour is thoroughly washed to make Seitan. However, Seitan doesn't contain high amount of saturated fat's or preservatives. As a result, it is not as harmful as other kinds of processed food.

If your diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and other similar products, you will find that including Seitan in your diet is a good idea. But, if you consume a lot of processed food, you might want to consider alternatives to Seitan.

People Who Are Allergic to Gluten

The second issue with Seitan is that it is basically pure gluten. As a result, people with gluten allergies cannot eat Seitan. If you suffers from Celiac disease, you should avoid the consumption of Seitan. Pre packaged Seitan also consists of high quantities of sodium.

People Who Suffer from “Leaky” Gut

Seitan might also be bad for your gut if consumed in large quantities. People who don't suffer from any disease related to the gut have properly regulated intestinal permeability. This regulated permeability allows food particles to pass through to the bloodstream without any issues. However, some people have a "leaky" gut, a condition where intestinal permeability isn't appropriately regulated. As a result, the consumption of certain food items, including Seitan, can lead to complications. Work alongside your nutritionist or look up this plan if you might have a leaky gut or irritable bowl movement.

Where to Get Seitan in India and What are the Popular Seitan Dishes?

If you live in Bangalore or near Bangalore, you will find that the House of Seitan is the best place to get raw Seitan or Seitan-based delicacies.

If you live in any other major city in India, your best bet at finding Seitan-based food items would be the popular restaurants and stores that cater to vegan food and mock meat. Burma Burma, a popular chain of Burmese restaurant across India has some fantastic mock meat dishes made from Seitan on their menu.

Popular Dishes Made using Seitan

In Asia, you will find that different cultures prepare Seitan-based dishes in different manners. Here are some of the popular ways to serve Seitan around the world.

In China, wheat gluten is called miàn jīn. The Buddhist created this ancient product as a substitute for meat in traditional Chinese dishes. You will find that people in China prepare a fried version of Seitan.

This dish involves tearing Seitan into small pieces and deep-frying it in the form of a fluffy ball. These balls are golden-brown in color and are served in a stew or a soup dish. You will notice that many dishes include black mushrooms with Seitan balls.

People who want a healthier version of Seitan might want to try steamed gluten. In China, you will find long sausage-like pieces of Seitan at various places. This Seitan features a dense texture and is slightly murky-whitish to greenish-grey in color. This sausage-shaped Seitan is usually torn open into strips before being used in various dishes. kǎo fū is another variant of Seitan where people bake it into a sponge-like product. You can make it by leavening raw gluten followed by baking or steaming. The sponge-like structure of kǎo fū helps it absorb juices and gives it different tastes based on the ingredients or soup you used to serve it.

Making Seitan at Home

There is a high chance that you won't find any stores or restaurants that serve Seitan in your city. In this situation, you can opt to either buy Seitan from online stores or prepare it at home. There are multiple ways to make your own Seitan, here is one video to get you started:

If you chose the latter option, you would need a Seitan starter kit that you can get from Amazon.

To make Seitan at home, you would need the starter kit and a few other ingredients.

The first thing that you need is vital wheat gluten that will be present in the starter kit. It usually comes in a powdered form, and you need to add 1/4 cups of chickpea flour or soy flour to give it a better taste and texture.

Add 1 cup water to the mixture and knead the resultant mixture properly to get a dough with a trademark Seitan texture. It involves kneading the dough until it begins to develop strands of gluten.

Once you get a meaty texture, you are ready to prepare your dish. You can bake Seitan if you are health conscious or even fry the Seitan balls.

In the end, you can either serve the Seitan as it is with a bit of garnishing or put it in a soup or a stew to add a flavor to the Seitan. i love just marinating bite size balls for a few hours in any stir fry sauce before popping them in the air fryer for 8- 10 minutes on 180 degrees.

Conclusion

It doesn't really matter how you cook or serve your Seitan unless you plan to avoid oily food. Adding Seitan to your diet has lots of benefits, and it might be a key ingredient to your healthy diet. But before you start making Seitan and try different recipes, check if you are allergic to gluten. If you are gluten intolerant, there are other products that provide the same benefits as Seitan. Have you tried Tempeh? Check this blog out:

Where can I get Tempeh in India?

In case you don't have a gluten allergy, enjoy your savoury Seitan dish to its fullest.

Have further questions or want me to help plan your nutrition? Contact me here and I will be happy to help.

If you are seitan provider in India and we miss to mention you in the blog, do feel free to reach out to us.

(Co-Authored by SEO Singh.)

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With changing times, many people are switching to authentic and nutritious food because of the many benefits it offers. Tempeh is one such item that is gaining rapid popularity in the present time.

Tempeh, an Indonesian dish made from fermenting beans is well known for it's high-protein content and is the perfect choice for the ones looking to incorporate plant- based proteins.

I was thrilled to find Tempeh in India and have been a huge fan of the same since I found it. Let's together explore a little bit about what this is and how to make your own Tempeh at home!

What Is Tempeh?

Tempeh is an Indonesian food made using fermented beans (mostly soybeans). To make Tempeh, soybeans are fermented using a fungus called Rhizopus oligosporus or Tempeh starter. This fungus helps bind the soybeans together and gives it a cake-like structure.

If you visit the island of Java, you will find that people have Tempeh as a crucial part of their diet. It is one of the essential sources of protein for the Javan population.

Many people tend to compare Tempeh with Tofu as both the products are made using soybeans. However, they are not the same in terms of nutritional values and texture. The nutrients in Tempeh are slightly more than in Tofu due to its fermentation process. This process allows the retention of the full beans and thus higher proteins, dietary fibre and vitamin content. People who consume Tempeh say that it has an earthy flavour that becomes stronger as the product ages. If you compare Tempeh with Tofu, you will notice that Tempeh has a firmer and grainer texture than Tofu. It took me sometime to develop a taste for Tempeh and I am a huge tofu lover.

Origin of Tempeh

As mentioned before, Tempeh is an Indonesian dish and is popular in the eastern part of Java. There is not an accurate description of when and how the dish came about, and some people believe that Tempeh originated thousands of years ago.

However, the earliest reference to a dish called Tempeh goes back to 1815, in the Serat Centhini. It originated as a byproduct of the Tofu production. According to historians, leftover soybeans caught spores of the whitish fungus, and people found the resulting product to be edible. The flavour and texture of this accidental dish were unique, and people of Java started to make this dish deliberately ever since.

Benefits of Tempeh

Tempeh gained popularity worldwide because of the high protein and dietary fibre content of the dish. Here are some of it's benefits:

• Easy to digest - First of all, the soy carbohydrates in Tempeh become easy to digest thanks to the fermentation process. The Rhizopus culture used to produce Tempeh helps in reducing the concentration of oligosaccharides associated with gas and indigestion.

• Rich in vitamin B12 - Vitamin B12 is an essential element required in our body; however, our bodies cannot produce this nutrient on this own. Tempeh is an excellent source of the vitamin and hence, the perfect supplement for it. If you visit a traditional Tempeh-making shop, you will see that the culture used to produce the dish contains bacteria that produce vitamin B12 in adequate quantities.

• Easy absorption of minerals - The fermentation process used to create Tempeh reduces the phytic acid content of the soybeans. This reduction in phytic acid allows our bodies to absorb the minerals present in soy easily.

• Reduced cholesterol levels - Isoflavones derived from soybeans are a plant compound that help reduce bad cholesterol levels. Since Tempeh is traditionally prepared from soybeans, it is believed to aid people with high cholesterol levels. Isoflavone, on the other hand, may also help in managing oxidative stress (prevent ageing).

• Promotes bone health - With high levels of calcium, Tempeh may promote bone health by keeping them strong and dense.

Nutrition Chart: 100g of Tempeh provides you with approximately 192 Kcal of energy

Where to Get Tempeh In India?

Owing to its increase in popularity and health benefits, you can buy Tempeh in major cities across India.

• TempehWala - If you are looking for organic versions of Tempeh, you can reach out to Tempewala, Bangalore. They emphasise on keeping Java's heritage alive with their Tempeh which is delivered in eco-friendly packaging.
• Tempedimumbai -This place is run by a lovely Indonesian family who commit to keep their culture alive through the food they serve. This is the first place to also offer mung beans tempeh and deliver in and around Mumbai. Their product is very reasonable and extremely delicious.

Apart from the above, you will find tempeh in various vegan restaurants such as The Real Green Cafe in Pune, The Philosophy Club in Ahmedabad, Farmer’s Cafe in Mumbai, Bean Me Up in Goa, The Holy Tree in Ludhiana. Ask them nicely and most of them will gladly pack some raw tempeh for you to take home and experiment your own recipes.

How to Make Tempeh at home Yourself?

Creating your own Tempeh from scratch is a tricky process. Indonesian people prepare a variety of Tempeh using different processes. The regular Tempeh only involves fermentation, whereas Tempeh Semangi, a delicacy in Java involves a longer fermentation and the use of a unique blend of spices.

People prepare Tempeh Kedelai using soy pulp or Tofu to prepare an inferior variety of Tempeh. Similarly, Oncom is a type of Tempeh that you can make using peanut press cakes. Oncom is quite popular in West Java.

There are several ways to make Tempeh, and they involve different processes. It won't be possible to discuss all the methods to prepare this dish, so will we stick to the common Tempeh.

It is actully really simple to make Tempeh at home, but sure takes time. Refer to the below recipe video for details:

• The first step in preparing common Tempeh involves soaking the soybeans. Once this process is complete, you need to de-hull the resultant product and then cook it partially.
• Traditionally, Javans make Tempeh using soybeans, but you can also use other beans, wheat and a mixture of whole grains to prepare Tempeh.
• Post the soaking and cooking process, you need to ferment the soybeans to help it turn into Tempeh. The fermentation process involves Rhizopus spp. moulds. It is a type of filamentous fungus that people use to make Tempeh.
• You can get a tempeh starter from Amazon and use it to start making your Tempeh. Mix this starter with the base product that you got after soaking and partially cooking soybeans. Once you mix the ingredients thoroughly, you need to spread it out in a thin layer and let it ferment anywhere between two to three days at a temperature around 30 degrees celsius.
• As the soybean and spore mixture cools down, the fungus starts to grow over the mixture. After a day or two, the temperature of the mixture will start increasing and moulds will multiply. This increase in temperature and mould growth would last for about three to four hours.
• Once the mould growth subsides, the mycelium will bind the soybeans into a solid mass. During this stage, if you have followed the instructions correctly, you will notice that the mycelium has bound the soybeans in a whitish blanket like structure.
• When you harvest the Tempeh after 48 hours, the product would have a unique whitish colour and a firm texture, along with a nutty flavour. Be sure to harvest Tempeh within three to four days to avoid over fermentation that gives the Tempeh a higher pH and dark colour.

What to Look for While Making Tempeh at Home?

• Setting an optimum temperature, oxygen, humidity level, and pH is a crucial process to get the best results. You should also consider the time you let the soybean and starter mixture to ferment.
• To make good-quality Tempeh, you need a pH level of 3 to 5. You can change the pH by adding vinegar or lactic acid to the mix. This pH level helps in killing the undesirable microbes present in the starter kit. Plenty of Oxygen is also crucial for fungal growth, so keep the mixture in a nicely-ventilated space. 30 degrees Celsius is also needed for the best result.
• If you don't ensure proper ventilation and temperature for the Tempeh, you will notice a darker colour growth on the surface. It is not harmful, and it only means that you allow excess fermentation. Still, you can consume this Tempeh without worrying about any health issues.
• Properly fermented Tempeh should have a slight ammonia-like smell that is not overpowering.

Once you the process is completed, you can use this Tempeh to create your dishes that are healthy and tasty and derive the best of health benefits right from the land of Java!

To checkout vegan high protein fitness plan, click here.

Comment your experience with tempeh below and I will reply back with a tempeh recipe you can try!

Also, comment below if you are selling tempeh in India and we have missed mentioning you in the blog.

(Co-Authored by SEO Singh.)

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After Miley Cyrus, it is now Mike Tyson who confessed falling off the vegan wagon on The Joe Rogan Podcast (and no we aren't talking about his ear-eating habits). Mike, who has been on a plant-based diet for five years now says how his vegan diet was not healthy for his 'blood- type'. He confesses to enjoying Byson and other wild-caught red- meat.

Mike Tyson, the 'heavyweight champion' who explained feeling 'great' and the 'best shape of his life' on a vegan diet explained how he might have taken his diet too far.

While I will discuss how some of the points Mike made in the podcast are really non- scientific and what could have gone wrong with his diet, let's first discuss the impact this has on the vegan movement in general.

On a macro level, nothing really. The vegan movement is growing faster than ever and more and more people across the globe are seeing the impacts a plant-based diet has on their health, the environment, and of course the animals. Leading pioneer doctors and nutritionists such as Dr. Michael Greger, Neal Barnard, and many more are working relentlessly and selflessly to help people keep up to date with the latest research and science.

On a micro-level though, Mike Tyson is a brand. He has a huge following and young kids aspire to grow up like him. Though he confessed about eating red meat and eggs for a year now, oddly articles quote him talking about Veganism as early as a few months ago? When a celebrity is living a dual life like this, it makes people question about everyone else. Not only that, Mike claimed his reason for falling off the wagon for his 'health' and 'sport' and linked being Vegan to being weak. This will make a lot of young athletes question their food choices.

Here are snit- bits from the podcast:

'Kale, blueberries are poisonous to my blood- type'

Mike here is referring to the 'blood- type diet'. The blood- type diet theory that claims that people of a certain blood type should eat a certain way. For example, people with blood group A (in Mike Tyson's case) should consume more red meat.

Since its origin, the blood type diet has been extensively researched and disproven to lack any kind of merit or benefits what so ever. Read this systemic review study comparing 1415 references that clearly disproves any benefits from the blood type diet.

Mike could have a food sensitivity or food allergy towards blueberries and Kale, but this has nothing to do with his blood type.

'I go on 30-day fasts'

As an athlete to build self- discipline, I think fasting is a great tool when done under medical supervision. Even for a non- athlete whose nutritional requirements are not extreme, fasting is only suggested under supervision and no longer than a couple of days. But Mike claims to have taken things to the extreme on his vegan diet and would last for up to 30 days at a time! With his nutritional requirements, it is but obvious he felt week and lacked energy for his sport.

This has nothing to do with a vegan diet lacking nutrients to support an athlete. If anything, vegetarian and vegan athletes outperform meat eating athletes on multiple levels. Mike also mentions not having enough vegan recipes to try, well I wish he checked the below link out:

Whole- food Vegan recipes.

'I stopped being vegan because of my training and the way I wanted my body to look and the strength I wanted to perform'

Tell that to the gladiators ;)

High animal protein diets are extremely acidic to the body and actually break down lean muscle mass. Older adults who stick to a plant-based diet have more lean muscle growth as they age VS their counterparts who eat a meat-based diet. Besides this, a single high- animal protein meal may boost the bodies stress hormone to double about the normal level. If Mike is referring to just strength, stamina and better athletic performance, a plant-based diet is much better than a diet heavy in animal protein.

A meal plan needs to be catered specifically keeping in mind an individual's needs. Mike mentions not eating 'anything' on a vegan diet. With his caloric requirements and nutritional needs, he should be consuming enough calories.

For all those who are questioning your nutrition choices after Mike's big revelation, I highly insist you listen to another one of Joe Rogan's podcast I am tagging below:

I truly hope more celebrities realize how a plant-based diet is not only preventive when it comes to lifestyle diseases but also helps in the reversal of the same.

Let us know if you need a customised vegan nutrition plan as per your body type.

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Time to Read: 6 Minutes

Veganism is a way of living that aims to avoid animal harm for ethical reasons. It has expanded to include people who make dietary and lifestyle choices to minimize harm to the environment and their health.

Vegan diet completely eliminated animal derived products including diary products. Plant based diet is filled with nutrients derived by all plant sources including fruits, veggies, seeds, grains, pulses etc.

Environmentalists, fitness experts and nutritionists supporting veganism are constantly making efforts for masses to adopt veganism. A study published by the journal of hunger and environment nutrition found that eating a plant based is much cheaper and better for the environment than a meat centric diet. Eating a diet that uses plant-based proteins instead of lean animal protein will save us as average of INR 50,000 every year.

But most people switching to a plant- based diet are often complaining on how it is more expensive. Let us take a closer look at the same.

Let's compare

Have you ever noticed how in a restaurant menu the highest cost of any vegetarian dish (mostly cottage cheese based) is still lower than the cost of any meat based dish. Vegan is still better than vegetarian, i.e, aalo palak is cheaper than palak paneer.

A meat based dish costs at least 1.2 times higher than a vegan or a vegetarian dish. A casserole platter of animal derived products would vary according to the animal rarity or quantity, however these dishes are almost twice the cost of a nutrient rich vegetable and whole grains platter.

Lets breakdown an average day’s cost of eating based on different diet’s.

Note- the above mentioned costs are on the higher range considering I have calculated only for one person. Buying products in bulk is of course cheeper.

But why do people on a plant- based diet still complain about speeding $$ on food?

Well based on my personal experience and research, many people unconsciously also start thinking about health when switching to a plant- based diet. This might mean going pesticide free, buying more superfoods than usual, trying organically sourced fruits and vegetables etc.This is not to be confused with a plant- based diet itself. It is true that organic produce is much more expensive than non- organic.

Making switches like this could be helpful on a long run. It seems expensive at first, but will save you multiple hospital trips.

So how to make your plant- based diet cheap yet healthy?

1. You do not always have to shop organic.

Organic veggies are not exposed to harmful pesticides. However, there are many vegetables that inevitably are not exposed to a lot of pesticides. Eg: Avocados, Sweet corn, Pineapples, Frozen sweet peas, Onions, Papayas, Eggplants, Asparagus, Kiwis, Cabbages, Cauliflower, Cantaloupes (musk melon), Broccoli.

2. Buying bulk and meal prepping for a week ahead.

It is not a hidden secret that buying in bulk can save you a big amount on overall purchase. It saves you from more trips to the store and being environment friendly.Meal prepping is a time and cost saving. Preparing partially cooked meals in advance is something you might want to look into. Preparing sauce and salsa at once, chopping veggies and soaking peas and lentils for the week and storing them. This activity takes care of healthy eating and prevent you from unplanned junk binging. This could even mean making hummus and salsa or some choc nut butter in advance to enjoy with fresh cut fruits, salads and chips.

3. Cheap superfoods.

The term ‘superfood’ enforces a believe that these maybe quite expensive and only for the privileged. That’s not the truth, many of these superfoods are right in front of our eyes and we keep avoiding it. Ginger, turmeric, sabja seeds, amla, ragi etc. these are available and affordable.Berries and broccoli are better frozen than fresh (cheaper too), as all the richness gets locked in handpicked produce. Fresh once are often sprayed with pesticides to keep them looking healthy.

Red, black, green, or brown, all lentils are high in nutritional value and inexpensive per serving. Lentils are one of the best sources of iron you can consume of all legumes, and they’re one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.

Go for saunf instead of flaxseeds if you want some digestive to munch on post meals.

By including these affordable superfoods into your daily routine, you’ll get an incredibly balanced intake of nutrients including muscle-building protein, digestive and heart-friendly fiber, protective antioxidants, health-supporting vitamins, energizing complex carbohydrates and valuable minerals for optimal energy. All this without burning a hole in your pocket.

4. Sticking to local seasonal foods.

Consuming local proximity produced food is the best option for multiple reasons. For once, it is economically cheaper since the food has not travelled a distance. But also natures has its way of growing produce based as per season. Barley for instance is a summer crop and great option to help cool the body.

Opting for imported and non-seasoned foods is like opting for wax coated, preservatives and ripening agents which cannot be even compared to nutrient packed fresh local produce. Also, the longer the food stays unconsumed, the more nutrients it will lose.

5. Supplements on a plant- based diet:

• B12 –One nutrient all diet’s lack is vit b12. B12 is found in the soil and our current lifestyle is such that we do not play outdoors in the soil any longer, thus do not get enough b12. For just a few rupees, you can get your month’s worth of necessary dosage form any medical store.
• Omega3 is another important supplement. Watch the below video to understand more and if you need to supplement it at all.
• Vitamin d3 – This is the sunshine vitamin and just like we don’t get enough sand anymore, we don’t get enough sunshine anymore. Once again, a bare minimum investment, but consider supplementing the same.

Its worth mentioning

With the obsession over proteins we justify eating animal derived products. However, animal derived proteins do more harm to the body that good including leading to cancer.

Even considered to healthy omnivores eaters, plant- based eaters have lower chances of cancer and other metabolic diseases. When looking at the bigger picture, even if you do not shop organic or go for superfoods, you are still saving $$ (and your life) on a long run.

That being said, certain nutrients and supplements are important for our body to function in longevity. Hence, investing in supplements or good quality produce should not be up for negotiations. Consult a nutrition or fitness coach and opt for an absolute change with the family, as it gets less expensive and more sustainable.

Its better to stay ahead of the time and plan for medical uncertainties, rather than waiting for a sudden shock.

A well planned plant- based diet customised by a nutritionist to help you get the maximum benefits need not be expensive or require a lot of planning. Especially in India, where we emphasise eating fibrous lentils (daal), grains and whole food's anyways. Sure going to an expensive restaurant and ordering a vegan dish can sometimes become expensive but this is not because the base ingredients by themselves are expensive, it is because Veganism is not mainstream yet and companies take advantage of the lack of competition. On the contrary, there are also some fabulous companies working day and night to make Veganism more affordable.

Taking the next step ahead and going organic/ natural is a personal choice but not mandatory. Weigh your pro's and con's depending on your lifestyle, health goals and priorities.

Share your thought or counter argue mine in the comments below. Checkout my customised vegan bodybuilding meal plan if you want to get your diet fixed.

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Time to Read: 7 Minutes

Both terms ‘vegan’ and ‘plant- based diet’s’ have made headlines for their health benefits in recent years and while they are similar, there are some key differences:

When it comes to food choices, vegan diets eliminate all animal products, while plant-based diets do not necessarily eliminate all animal products, but focus on eating mostly plants- based food, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Although, the term ‘plant based’ is specific to one’s food choices alone. The word vegan reaches beyond just diet and also describes the lifestyle that one chooses to lead. Being Vegan indicates that any conscious harm to animals is completely excluded from their diet, merchandise and lifestyle decisions.

A growing number of people are choosing to reduce or eliminate animal products in their diet. No matter what word you relate to, both types of individuals aim to reduce the suffering of animals for their taste buds and thus minimise their carbon footprint on the environment. Each one is contributing in their own way, and there is to be no judgement when it comes to one making lifestyle choices.

That being said, let’s explore some ways how a vegan is different from a plant- based eater:

Food choices

A plant-based diet revolves around healthy, whole food choices, and vegan diet is a product born out of ethics. Vegan food can be high in calories and low in nutrition, however a plant-based diet is mostly filled with highly nutritious whole foods and plant sources.

Honey, for instances is not used by vegans due to bees being hurt in the making of the same. Although, there maybe some benefits from consuming honey. A plant- based dieter would not mind consuming small quantities of honey. A vegan might opt for some other sweetener like like Agave syrup, maple syrup, jaggery, etc. producing which does not harm animals.

We currently are in world of confusions when it comes to our food choices. Though all of us are trying my make the best decision based on our current maturity level, for a vegan those decisions are born out of ethics vs for a plant- based eater they are born out of concern for health.

Vegan & cruelty free makeup brands have gained popularity in recent times. With the rise of awareness of animal cruelty and revolution of Veganism, it comes to no surprise that consumer being the king has managed to change systems.

Basically, a brand is cruelty free or Vegan if they do not test their products on animals anywhere in the world. England completely prohibits animal testing. The contents in the products also need to be animal free. Vegan’s are conscious about choosing only cruelty free brands though a plant- based eater might overlook the same.

Like food, makeup can also be confusing. Consider a popular makeup brand like MAC. If you walk into a MAC store and ask for a vegan lipstick, they will handle you one. MAC has a line of products that are vegan and not tested on animals. MAC also supports the environment through their recycling program called ‘Back 2 MAC’. But many of their products are derived from animals and even tested on animals. A vegan might pick up a lipstick that is vegan from MAC, but might still unconsciously pay to a company supporting animal cruelty.

Small scale all vegan brands however have gained popularity in recent times and will make it easier for consumers to make the right choice with time.

The cruelty that goes behind our clothing has implications on environment, animals and even humans. The facts are that anything you buy that’s made of leather directly contributes to the meat industry. 51% or more of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, according to report published by Worldwatch Institute.

Multiple religious communities such as Buddhists at large refrains from using leather and fur, and now, Vegan's avoid it to. Killing other lives to make a piece of possession is just not acceptable for some, including vegan’s. A plant- based eater though would not mind indulging in some leather shopping or a fur coat. There is also the concept of ‘ahimsa leather’ where the skin of the animal is only taken once the animal dies naturally. Like any other global industry, how much can you really trust a company to be ‘ahimsa (non violence)’ though.

Vegan leather technology is in progress but not mainstream yet. Though people are making conscious choices (vegans and non- vegan’s), due to lack of supply and choices, shoppers also give in to some animal cruelty. Like all other things, this too is confusing. As a vegan, one might refrain from using leather, but what about sitting in airplanes made of leather seats? Or shopping from brands that support fur trade?

• Animals feet and hooves rendered for gelatine, glue, pet food, handles, lubricants, the foam in fire extinguishers, fertilisers, etc
• A cow’s heart and the surrounding membrane are a source for medical materials and often used in cardiovascular surgery.
• Even nasal septum of the animal is used to make a drug used for the treatment of arthritis.
• Isinglass is a product employed by the brewing industry as a fining agent for some beers - helping to ensure the final pint is clear rather than cloudy. This substance that’s helped to satisfy eyes of the drinkers is extracted from an organ in some species of fish.
• Letting alone the Industrial and cosmetic purpose, medical drugs and procedures are highly inclined towards use of animal body parts. From the least bothered death floss to significant pill of one’s life like blood thinner, intestinal lubricants, heart membrane protector, insulin stabilizers, gall/kidney stone dissolver,

The list is endless. And its humanistically impossible for us to curb and track down every possible thing we have been using while unknowingly disrespecting innocent lives. Vegan’s might indulge in research and consciously do their best to stay away from as much as possible. A plant- based eater might not give this a second thought.

Let’s be real though, it is not black and white when it comes to replacing allopathic medicine and procedure. When it comes to life threatening situation for a family member, nothing might seems a crime.

All we can do is aim to live a healthy life and minimise our exposure to hospitals and medical procedures.

This comes across as easiest thing to refrain from for vegans. And can easily be implemented by others, however a plant based eater can go back to enjoy them once a while.

The truth

Caught for a lifetime behind bars for animals, birds and sea animals is a far cry from the lush forests, spacious savannas, and rolling hills, endless oceans where they belong. Deprived from everything they were born with the right to receive; they develop resilience to deal with all the pains to bring smiles on human faces.

To make some animals “manageable,” trainers may drug them or remove their teeth and claws, causing acute and chronic pain. Often, the barbaric abuse begins when the animals are still babies. Young elephants are forcibly removed from their mothers so their spirits can be forever broken.

A vegan refrains and may even protest the use of animals for entertainment. This feeling is born out of ethical reasons. For a plant- based eater though, this is seen for what it is shown- entertainment.

In conclusion.

Most of us are in- between the two world’s and I wish there was a word for that. I believe everyone strives to live their lives to their personal best based n their current maturity level’s. Your maturity might say it is bad to wear leather but ok to sit in a leather seated car because it is ‘unavoidable’. Is a zoo keeper who loves his animals with all his heart really different when it comes to ethics from a vegan activist? The activist has made the connection between bacon and pig while the zoo keeper is yet to make the connection. That connection is really the only difference.

Whether it is a meat eater taking a small step to not eat meat one day or the week or child who vow’ed to never touch meat again, every step in the right direction is still a step. Plant- based eater or vegan is just a term for others to relate you. Don’t let a 'term' cause judgement for someone in your mind. So much of it is confusing and knowing everyone has to answer themselves before they go to bed, I know that all human’s are trying to live their lives with their current best maturity level.

What are your thoughts? Pin them down in the comments below.

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Time to Read: 8 Minutes

Before we dive into what these super humans ate, let's discuss about who they were.

Who were the Gladiators?

Admired by men and adored by women, gladiators were trained fighters in Ancient Rome. The most famous gladiators had large followings of loyal fans, just like football stars today. Dressed to impress in shining metals, with rippling muscles on show, gladiators fought in the arena of Roman Empire and Hollywood.

Risking their life and limb they fought bravely with different fighting styles, to keep the spectators glued to their seats. Women also fought as gladiators. Successful gladiators could win fight after fight and were richly rewarded with prize money and admiration, but not all fights were to the death.

Gladiators were trained to be fighting machines, in special schools called ludi. Colosseum was the stadium for gladiators, which became the symbol of Rome itself. It was said that “When colosseum falls, Rome will fall, When Rome will fall, world will fall…” but, while Rome fell, Colosseum still stands to be masterpiece of world architecture.

Shaolin Monks – Monks of the Shaolin Temple, Buddhist monastery in China. The monks developed various styles or schools of Chinese Martial Arts.

Is there even a place where one can find peace and at the same time be in the peak of physical fitness? One possibility is ancient and mystical Shaolin temple. Shaolin Temple, a UNESCO world heritage has become a million-dollar industry. Shaolin Warrior Monks have no interest in fame. Its hard to see from the heart of myth and fog of mystery, what Shaolin really is, but surely these monks carry a legendary skill and wisdom of a Shaolin Warrior.

Superhero strength is mostly seen in fiction and mythology. However, humans are actually attempting to gain strength portrayed in Ironman or Wonder women for real life purposes. Shaolin Monks are able to hon in superpower like abilities after years of mediation and practice.

Technically its already being done by the athletes who may be using Shaolin steroids or blood doping to better enhance their strength. But what the shaolin monks possess is different. Shaolin monks living by "When the Buddha is in your heart, meat and wine are nothing."

Gladiators in history and Shaolin monks in the current age have incredible abilities that appear impossible. They have simply developed their minds and bodies in ways that allow them to perform extraordinary feats of mental and physical strength by tapping into their internal energy and through physical conditioning. What gives them these superhuman powers? Is it their years of metal and physical training alone? Does food play any part in this? Let’s walk through one day of each of their lives.

A Day in Life of a Shaolin Monk

A Shaolin monk is up at 5:30 am for chanting. At 6 am they break the fast with Eight Treasures, a soup made of beans. The next five hours are consumed by Kung Fu training and Chanting, with an half hour break in between.

Lunchtime at 11:30 am, consists of five to six different vegetables, tofu and rice. They do not drink tea or liquids with meals to aid in easy digestion. Lunch finishes at approximately 12:30. Chanting and mediation, relaxation or a nap may occupy the next two hours.

Kung Fu Practise sessions begins by approximately 3 pm and wraps up by 5 pm. Noodles are served with black or yellow wheat bread for dinner at 5:30 pm.

At 6:30 pm Heart Sutra chanting, heart is called the centre of the Universe. A quiet time for meditation is allotted at 8 pm; retire for some sleep at 10 pm to do it all over again.

Kung fu practise causes injuries all the time, Shaolin Temple has it’s very own hospital, only western technology is used and not medicines. The monks go every two weeks to monitor the progress in the brain that meditation produces by using EEG testing.

They never seem to get tired even with the demanding training schedule, as their heads don’t have draining and meaningless thoughts running through the day.

‘Do daily acts of kindness. Be nice. Pray a lot. Practice a lot. With practice comes wisdom. Wisdom brings advancement each day. And pain brings growth’ -- that's how they roll.

Eating habits of Monks and their approach to consumption.

Their eating habits are nothing short of fascinating with the strict laws of Buddhism, they have a meek but mighty diet. One of the principles they should abide by is to abstain from killing. Typical staples of a monk’s diet include salads, beans, lentils, noodle soups, and stir-fried or steamed vegetable dishes. Simple and always seasonal, as they believe that which is presently growing on this earth is the exact food we are meant to be eating at this time of year for optimal nourishment.

Their first meal of the day usually consists of porridge, bread, tea, tsampa (roasted barley flour mixed with some liquid).

They are served with fresh veg for most meals including cauliflower, bitter melon, spinach, tomatoes an daikon. Solid foods are usually prohibited after evening. The process of digestion requires energy from the body, the monks are careful not to feed themselves late in the day. Sneaking food between meals when one is alone is simply not mindful and therefore not done.

The monks often spend chunks of time eating just one type of food as a type of cleansing practice. This utterly simple approach to feeding oneself is found to be easier on the stomach because it ensures there is no clash in terms of digestion. The more work our teeth do, the less your stomach has to. So for less bloat, chew, chew.

Oodles of noodles, are enjoyed regularly with veggies. And it probably comes as no surprise that monks don’t drink alcohol. It’s a clear case of further abstinence.

Tea Daily

There are 287,654 different plant species on the planet that we know of, and billion on the planet have hooked on to one plant for a beverage, Tea. Even Monks Consume it. When plugging in to an EEG testing, it’s essentially seen that humans have 4 brain waves. Two of them are sleeping and two while awake, out of which Alpha wave is where we want to be, awake and relaxed. This stage is easily reached by religious meditators in about 90 minutes and possibly be sustained for longer. For common man, one can either meditate everyday or just drink some tea to reach there. L- theanine that enters your brain after you drink about two cups of tea is sufficient for brain wave activity to reach Alpha state.

The side effects to so dramatically altering your brain daily by drinking tea from tea plant, lower cholesterol level and living a significantly longer life.

What kept the Gladiators fighting fit?

Gladiators also owed their condition to the Glad school’s kitchen, the smell of dinner simmering in fire would signal a welcome break for the hungry gladiators fighting in arena. Their gruelling schedule was lived with exclusively plant based diet. Its estimated that there’s one in nine chance of being killed each time they fought, in order to survive it was vital for them to be incredibly strong and powerful.

Gladiators also called “hordearii” or ‘barley man’

Unlike the monks, it is impossible to exactly live a day in the life of a gladiators because they existed centuries back. However, recently, the remains of gladiators were used to reconstruct their diet filled with barley and beans and did not reflect any intake of animal protein. The best athletes of the ancient world ate largely plant based diet. They believed to have eaten mostly barley, wheat, beans, oatmeal, dried fruit.

Why did theory choose this diet? Did it help them get stronger?

Diets rich in vegetables contained high amount of strontium might actually be the secret to their strength. Researches have shown that administrating strontium instead of calcium in bones, will actually build strong bones. Recovery takes place faster and bones become more stable with strontium. Therefore, gladiators are less likely to receive crippling injuries and wounds.

The examination of gladiator bones also found evidence they drank a drink made from plant ashes. This ash drink was a form of health-boosting tonic to help gladiators recover after fighting and training.

Probably not since the day of the ancient Spartans has a person achieved such high physical conditioning, and what did they eat? Plant based foods, the same kind of 75% to 80% starch diet based on beans, corn and squash.

There is little science saying that a meat based is superior for athletes or contributes to exceptional strength. If you put it to the test actually, plant- based athletes compared to their omnivorous counterparts demonstrate higher cardio vascular fitness. Check out this article to read more.

Yale in fact tested meat eating and non meat eating athletes with a test group (sedentary non meat eating non athletes). The sedentary non meat eating athletes proved to have better endurance than the meat eating athletes.. WHATT! Click here to read more.

If we are to learn from our past and ancestors, a plant- based diet works exceptionally well (if not better) to help athletes achieve superhuman strength; On a long- term, a plant based diet can be conducive to far greater endurance, performance and health. Athletes are constantly concerned with performance, well adherence to plant-based diet reduces risk of chronic diseases.

We have tremendous power over our health, destiny and longevity, that’s been proven by Shaolin Monks and their legacy. Gladiators were predominantly vegan whilst harnessing exclusive powers.

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Time to Read: 10 minutes 20 seconds

I wish I could go back to my old self and read this article! But moreover, I have seen people get very excited about the concept of veganism after my seminars/ workshops and decide to switch overnight to last for exactly 24 hours later before they fall of the wagon.

Its not their fault, because in the sway of emotions, intelligence does not work ;). But these steps could make your transitions easy, surprisingly quick and stay consistent.

Now you could choose going vegan for a number of reasons, your health, losing weight, the animals or the environment. Irrespective of your reasons, know that it will be the best decision you will make. Trust me this is true, because before anything else your body will thank you for it. You will see a huge difference in your energy levels, your immunity boosts up and you stay more fresh and connected to your body.

But before you jump into opening your vegan Instagram page or make declarations on Facebook, consider the following points:

1) Do not freak about getting it all right in the first go:

Especially when you make a public announcement about going on a plant- based diet, people around you will suddenly become critics and point out every single thing you cannot eat.

Till you explore food options and experiment with cooking, give yourself the freedom to be imperfect once in a while. Its ok if you eat a cookie or are unsure if your favourite vada pav joint has bread that might or might not contain milk. Going on a plant- based diet from a meat/ dairy eating lifestyle is a huge change in itself. Give yourself some credit for that and do not try to get everything right in one go.

You will have family dinner’s sometimes where you might be obliged to eat something or a cake at some birthday party. People will get used to you being on a plant- based diet soon and make arrangements in the future but don’t freek out if you have to dig into something not- so vegan in the first few weeks/ or even months if thats how long it takes you to switch.

The key is to make sustainable long term changes and not chase a 30 day challenge.

2) Plant- based food is more than just carrots:

I have actually met a client who used to have only carrots for breakfast because he could not think of any other food options that were plant- based! Who says vegan’s eat only fruits and vegetables! If you follow my Instagram stories, you have seen me post pictures of everything from pizza’s to smoothies.

NO, you do not have to survive only on ghaas- phuus. Prepare to explore food options more than every before. Plant- based diet is never about limiting your food options but instead expanding it. In fact, if you are not eating delicious, yummy and colourful food on a plant- based diet, you are probably doing it wrong.

Explore using spices and herbs and pretty much everything you used for cooking when not vegan, just keep the dairy/ meat out. Over time, you will realise that its not that hard to cook vegan and most food falls under the ‘accidentally vegan’ category anyways.

3) Get comfortable with customising menu’s at the restaurant:

Most restaurants will be glad to customise dishes for you. If you wnat to be extra careful, just tell them that you are allergic to certain food items and they will not add those to your food.

I have learnt that most asian vegetarian food is vegan by default. If you for for Mexican or Indian, it is easily customisable. Ask them to not put cream on top of Indian curries or skip the cheese on the burrito. You will eventually learn about vegan restaurants in your area or even restaurants that are vegan friendly with plant- based cheese and dessert options. Till then, get used to customising and do not shy away from the same.

4) Supplement:

Honestly, I stopped taking multi- vitamins, flaxseed oil’s, calcium and a bunch of other supplements when I switched to a 100% plant- based diet. Supplements are only necessary when you are not getting enough micro- nutrients and vitamins from your regular diet. Plants and have more than enough micro- nutrients and taking a multi- vitamin when you are already eating healthy becomes an overdose and too toxic for the system.

There are however a few things to consider:

• Vitamin B12 and D! Get yourself checked for these two and only supplement if necessary. If not, make sure you are eating enough food fortified with these so you do not go deficient. B12 is derived from a bacteria that lives in the soil. Unless you are getting enough exposure walking/playing in the soil or eating unwashed root veggies, you are probably not getting enough B12. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin and unless you get enough exposure to sunlight (sometimes even with enough exposure) you are deficient.
• Watch this video to understand more about iron and calcium.
• Make sure you get enough healthy fats in your diet. Plant based food is mostly carbs unless you consciously include fat sources. Take in nuts, nut butter, seeds, avocados etc to make sure you are getting enough.
• Protein is really not a major concern but try and consume at least one portion of protein per meal. Lentils, beans, pulses, green leafy veggies are all great sources.

5) Be brave to try dairy/ meal alternatives!

Now when you switch from a vegetarian to a vegan diet, mock meat such as vegan fish/ chicken might not sound all that appetising. But give it a try and who knows you might end up falling in love with it!

Tofu is a great alternative for anything paneer and it took me months before actually trying it. I know a friend who actually buys his tofu and asks his favourite restaurant to cook chilly panner, (except with his tofu) instead of paneer. I though it was genius! If you get fresh and good quality soft tofu, you cannot even differentiate between the taste of the dairy version.

Meat also has no flavour to it. It takes up the flavour of whatever you marinate and cook it in. So might as well use the spices and herbs to get the flavour of whatever your favourite non- vegan dish is. Checkout my Amazon store to see a bunch of mock meat options I use often in my cooking.

Tempeh and seitan is not very common in India, but when you get an opportunity, experiment with these dishes and you will find a whole new culinary love!

6) No need to go all fancy:

So you have decided to go vegan and follow a bunch of famous vegan celebs/ influencers. But when they cook and make their pinterest perfect dishes, you see the ingredients and recognise one out of the twelve mentioned there. This could be over- whelming and even confusing. You could make an effort to find these items online but nutritional yeast or quinoa could get expensive!

But there really is not need to go all fancy. Sure get fancy if you would like, but indian cooked food is more than enough to stay healthy and fit. A good idea would also be to follow some indian vegan influencers who upload food cooked with desi ingredients. I have a few recipes on my Instagram, do check them out.

Experiment with what’s in your kitchen. Get inspired by the fancy smoothie bowls you see online, but trust me you can make similar once with whatever is available in your kitchen.

7) Get help:

I was not even aware of vegan communities and groups online for six months till I went vegan. If you live in India, trust me your city has a vegan group. In fact, I was not even aware that vegan people exist around me till months after going vegan. I thought I was the only one (In Russell Peters accent ) It was thrilling to go for my first vegan potluck and meet other Vegan’s. Explore the community and you will learn so much.

Plus you have someone to reach out to when you need help figuring stuff out. Having a vegan mentor is even better. Get online and make a post on the group Vegans In India and more than enough people will be happy to help. Don’t be too shy, no one will judge you for not getting everything right the very first time. No matter what part of the world you live in, there are vegan’s everywhere!

8) Find an alternative instead of ‘giving up’:

Ok so just because you chose to go on a plant- based diet, you do not have to give up on cheese, milk, ice creams or cakes! Once you connect with the vegan community around your location, you will be exposed to so many dairy alternatives and where to find them.

It is also really simple to make plant- based curds, mylk and cheese at home. Watch this video for a couple of ideas! Experiment with cooking or explore options available in super markets. White Cub makes excellent vegan ice creams available in most metro cities in india. Goodmylk is currently local to Bangalore but growing for milk/ curds alternatives in India. Unived is great for vegan supplements/ protein powders. Almost all major cities have countless home bakers, business owners that run all vegan businesses.

Giving up on something might lead to temptations and maybe even lead to you falling of the wagon. You want to find enough alternative options at least in the first year of going on a plant- based diet to make sure your you stick to it for long.

9) Eat enough!

Plant- based food is high in fibre so will fill you up fast. You might be eating high in terms of volume but not necessary calorically dense. Thus, people who switch to a plant- based diet might start losing weight instantly and fast. Eat apricots, dry fruits, avocados, dairy alternatives, dates, banana’s etc. All of these are high in calories and not as dense as having to eat the same calories worth of salads or soups.

If your goal is fat loss, great! get to your desired goal and then consciously work towards building muscle mass to maintain your weight. But if your goal is muscle gain, work with a nutritionist who understands or (even better) practices a plant- based diet to make sure you are getting enough calories in and in the right macros!

People too often switch back too soon thinking they will fall sick by not getting enough nutrients in on a plant- based diet. But darling its not as much about the nutrients (and trust me you are getting plenty of that!), but about just getting in enough calories.

10) Don’t expect everyone to understand you:

Especially in India where we worship cow and have been sold the dairy story from very early in our lives, people will not always understand you. In fact they will question your choices and decisions more often than ever.

Avoid getting into social media arguments with people trying to prove you are point. Trust me, a lot of the times the response simply is ‘you need to try it to know it’. In my seminars I have had people make statements such as ‘iv been drinking milk all my life and my health is absolutely fine’. Well that’s exactly how I felt before going vegan. Going on a plant- based diet and performing at my peak level now, I have a new best to compare it with. Sometimes, there is really no response to stupid arguments such as ‘plant’s have feelings too’. So do not waste your time and mental peace on stupid arguments.

I truly hope some of these tips do help you out! Remember to take your time and make the switch at a pace you are comfortable. There is no point in rushing too fast and then falling of the wagon. If you go on a plant- based diet but still cannot leave your cheese pizza, have cheese pizza and go vegan with regard to oother aspects of your diet. It is still better than not taking any steps at all!

Do reach out to me here for customised meal and fitness plan.

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Time to Read: 4 Minutes

Farzi Cafe at UB City, Bangalore (and branches in other cites) is a very cozy yet live place to sit and enjoy the Bangalore weather. This was my 4th or 5th visit here and I have had a fantastic experience every single time. Their cocktail menu is creative and very fancy, just like their food menu.

The chef’s mostly will customise the menu to get you vegan options, but the last time I went, we ordered items from the menu which were ‘accidentally vegan’. The chef’s are well aware of the concept of veganism, so make sure to call the chef from the kitchen to take your order instead of trying to explain the steward’s to veganize your food.

Ok lets just get to what we ordered. We literally told the chef to get us any two appetizers of his choice and one entrée. I love doing this at new places because

1) Its vegan food, duh! everything tastes good ;).

2) Mostly when you leave it to the chef’s, he will get the best dish because he wants you to like his choice.

The first appetizer he got was the Vada Pav #farzified.

This is sort of an inside- out take on the regular vada pav where the pav is inside the vada. We made sure the bread used to make the pav was vegan in case you are wondering. Honestly, if you like vada pav, this tastes exactly the same. Nothing fancy but very creative. The serving size is also very filling for two people. The vada’s are huge and filling. Spice level was moderate. But the garlic powder bed on top of which the vada’s sat was pretty spicy. A good start if you want something chatpata.

The next thing we got was the Karela Calamari.

This was literally deep fried bitter gourd sauted in sweet and sour mango sauce. Can I just say that bitter gourd has never tasted this good! Ok in retrospect we should not have got two deep fried apperizers because we were full by the end of this! But hey, what are cheat meal’s for ;). It would probably also be a good idea to gulp a good cocktail with your aperizers. Their Chai- Pani (cocktail) is amazing! We had a race the next day so we could not drink :(.

Ok moving on, our entrée was Wok tossed vegetables with peanut and tamarind salan- served with a side of dhaniya kulcha.

The curry was the yummiest! And surprisingly not very heavy on the stomach. This could be because it was vegan and made without cream/ ghee etc. Once again, the quantity was enough for two people. Its served with a side of fresh and warm dhaniya kulcha. I have tried the appams in asparagus sauce also here and that is very light and delicious too! Overall, I would rate the entrée a 7/10.

The only drawback literally of going to Farzi as a vegan is their lack of dessert options for someone on a plant- based diet :(. But then again, that’s just a in general problem at non- vegan restaurants in India. They have an exceptional dessert menu but none of them can be veganized. We left the place craving for something sweet.

Overall, UB city has some fantastic options like Sanchos (mexican), Srirache (pan- asian) and even Rasovara (Gujrati/ Rajesthani). I have tried them all and its really easy to veganize options in all of them. If in a mood for some desi- street style food served fancy, try Farzi. Else there are ample vegan options available for whatever your taste buds demand. Also, yeah none of them have dairy- free desserts :(. Maybe I will do a blog on only top 10 best vegan- desserts available in Bangalore! Imagine all the desserts I will have to try for that. For work of course ;).

Cost at Farzi: Approx 1400/- for two. No alcohol or desserts included.

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Time to Read: 4 Minutes

Happy world vegan day!!!!

You might want to read my article on 'Top ten things to consider before going vegan in India' before diving into this one.

One of the best decisions I made for my body was to go on a plant- based diet. Do I ever think about going back or ‘miss’ any food that is non- vegan, you bet I don’t. And this comes from a hardcore food lover and an ex cheese pizza addict. If you have met me in person, you have seen how my eyes spark up at even the talk of food. For me, if something does not taste like unicorns in your mouth then its not part of my diet. My entire career is built on making people fall in love with food and building a healthy relationship with food. Trust me, you cannot meet any other person who loves food as much as I do. The first thing I do when I am booking flights to visit a new place is research the best food out there.

So how did an addict like me give up cheese, paneer, ice creams, ghee, butter, milkshakes forever? I have always said, do not “give up” anything but instead find an alternative that you love more than what is currently causing harm to your health. I have delicious food just like you do. No, wait, I lied. My food tastes better ;). And I am not talking about baked chips tasting better than deep fried or anything. Remove the health aspect out, plant- based food actually tastes better! Meat has no flavour. Try eating raw meat and you will know what I am talking about. Plants have a distinct taste to them. Meat has to be cooked using herbs and spices (plants!) to make it flavourful. I attended a talk today where the speaker said that if you had raw meat and a juicy mango in front of you, which one would you choose? Think about it.

So now that I have convinced you that plant- based food is flavourful, let's talk about how you can start making a switch to a plant- based lifestyle.

1. Give yourself enough time to fall in love with it. Give your taste buds time to transition and be consistent with small changes you make. Do it long enough for you to start enjoying the taste of vegan food. Trust me, you will.
2. Make only one change at a time. Maybe starting your day with a smoothie like this . And no, these are NOT only for your post workout but can be had anytime. Or maybe switching just your lunch into dairy/ meat free?
3. Find an alternative you like! Now do not expect to fall in love with almond mylk and soy curds from the very first time you try it. If you make curds at home, even store bought curds will not taste good enough for you. So obviously try multiple alternatives and choose one you like the best. Why only cow titty milk when you can have hemp mylk, soy mylk, cashew mylk, almond mylk, rice mylk, peanut mylk, oats mylk and the list goes on and on.
4. Be ready for some trial and error cooking at home. Soy curds clicked the very first time I made it at home. Check out my recipe link here but almond curds made at home was a disaster. Hey you live and learn.
5. Reach out! Follow some inspirational vegans on facebook and Instagram. Trust me the recipes and pictures they upload will make anyone want to turn vegan.
6. Try a rainbow of fruits and veggies. Especially if you travel and see something exotic that grows on trees, EAT IT! Colours excite us and the plant kingdom has such a wide range of flavours to offer. An apple tastes so different from an orange or a papaya. Try them all!
7. Go spice shopping- actually. I love Food Hall for this but if you find a cheaper alternative please comment below. Spices add the excitement to your food. Go shop for spices and experiment with it. I just made a herbal tea with cut apples, cinnamon and cloves and it was like magic early cold- rainy Bangalore morning.
8. Explore all the vegan restaurants in your town and eat from each one of them, twice. This will open up your mind to the kind of options available. Restaurants also cook for the best taste and you will learn how to make your food tasty.
9. Try at least one new recipe per week. This way you are constantly learning new flavours and keeps food fun. I love the youtube page 'Hot for food' if you want to try new recipes.

Hope these steps help you to take your first step!

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Time to Read: 4 Minutes

Yes! I found vegan cheese nachos in Bangalore! Where you ask, well then read on!

Name of restaurant: Chinita Real Mexican Food.

Address: No.218, BDA Complex, 50, Indiranagar Double Road, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038

Phone number: 096865 51896

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinitaTaqueria/

I have been to this place even before the offered vegan cheese and the food has always been great. I’d probably say among the top five mexican places I have come across in Bangalore. They understand veganism and even have some items with soy on their menu like the Soyrizo and Potato tacos. The vegan cheese was a new addition and boy could we be any happier!

We started with the Almond Horchata, a very cinnamon- ey and almond- ey drink that is traditional to mexican culture. It is not as sweet as one of the ice- tea’s nor pungent like a mojito which was great actually because it went very well with our flavourful meal.

Ok next up obviously was their fully loaded veggie bean tacos made vegan–so no sour cream or cheese. BUT, we added a generous dose of vegan cheese on top.

Now though the quantity was huge, it was over in seconds among two people and did not leave us feeling sick and greesy because it was cashew cheese. The cheese did taste quite ‘cheesy’ and the texture was very similar to dairy cheese. Guac was served on the side. They probably serve the best guac in town! The only thing I can think about that I did not enjoy was that the dish was served to us at room temperature and I would have liked the chips a little warm. Also, the way it was layered made the chips in the centre very gooey and soggy by the time we got to it but I kind of liked it that way.

Overall, my dish had cheese in it so hey no complaints!

Ok so the next thing we got was the Tofu Mole.

Some very soft, very fresh tofu swimming in this spicy Mexican flavoured sauce with cilantro- lime rice bed on the side. The sauce was very spicy and delicious. Warning, if spicy is not your thing, don’t go for this. If you want something crunchy in your dish, go for the tacos or tostadas instead. Though the dish overall tasted well, in retrospect I would have probably tried their soy tacos just because is has that bit of a crunch.

Oh well, gives me a reason to go back ;). There was however a very generous amount of raw tofu in this dish and too much for even two people! And trust me when I say this, I can eat! I was also slightly disappointed this dish did not come with cheese on top but thats just me being greedy now.

Though Bangalore has like SO SO SO many vegan options, very few places actually have vegan desserts on their menu. Guess what, this one did!

The have vegan churros! The churros were freshly fried and still warm when served. They came with the most yummy coconut- chocolate sauce! I have not had churros in a very very long time but I don’t even remember them ever being so delicious. We (actually just I) had to get a second serving as a take- away because hey! Vegan desserts!

This place is located on the first floor and sort of hard to locate. Just follow the google maps directions and when you get there look for Bridestone car- fixing- place- thinge. Its located right above that.

Also warning: No street or valet parking available. You will have to hunt for a spot in one of the lanes surrounding.

It cost us 1800/- for two people so I would say thats good for some amazing Mexican food. Definitely would say must try!

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If you are taking your first steps towards veganism but not sure what protein sources to choose from, then read on. For anyone transitioning to eating vegan protein sources, it might be confusing finding the right sources and quantity. We will explore together if vegan protein's are actually expensive or not.

Plant- based diet has various benefits on the human body including better performance and digestion. Athletes thrive on a plant- based diet and in fact, many athletes choose this over meat/ dairy. Especially during peak season for athletes, a plant- based diet proves beneficial because it is naturally higher in low GL carbs and packed with nutrients.

Coming from someone who at one point drank 4 Whey protein shakes a day, I have seen both diet extremes and know what I am talking about here. Much like all of you, I was always told that proteins are very important and all problems I had, such as bad recovery post workout, cramps during menstrual cycle, fat gain, muscle loss, bad sleep etc were because I did not have enough proteins in my diet. Every time a gym trainer would do my BCA or body measurements and not find a difference from last time, it was because I did not eat chicken and eggs. My ethics were very strong when it came to eating anything that could once walk, so I resorted to Whey protein shakes, the vegetarian alternative.

Was my recovery better? Heck no, but I did eat less though. I mean after drinking 4 shakes a day you really are not that hungry. I was taking 140-150 grams of protein per day on a 55 kg body weight. My digestive track was a total havoc because I was unaware at that time that I was mildly lactose intolerant. In fact, as per this study, about 65% of the world is lactose intolerant with upto 90% in certain ethnicities. In fact upto 86% people in India are lactose intolerant! The problem is, most of us consume dairy in the name of health and won't even know that it is making us sicker.

Besides Whey, I was taking lots of curds, cottage cheese and even tofu. I woke up always feeling bloated and my otherwise good skin, got really bad (consequences of which I still face today. It was not until a much later HongKong/ China trip where I binge ate pizza’s and ice creams that I started becoming conscious about going vegan. I am not sure what caused me to switch (maybe a desperate attempt to clear my skin), but I decided to go 8 weeks vegan and even switched my Whey for Sunwarrior vegan protein. At that time, not many brands in India produced vegan proteins. Now of course we have some fantastic brands such as Plix and Olena.

Stop looking for low- carb options.

One major myth that you need to break while on a plant- based diet is to look for low- carb protein options. Unless you are eating a lot of processed food such as mock meat and protein bars, you will not be able to find vegan protein sources that fit your budget. Even vegan athletes eat a high- carb diet. Carb's ALONG with proteins make up your muscles. Besides, a whole food plant- based diet is very low in high GI carbs so you wont gain fat either.

Stick to basics of what is available around you! Rice and beans/ legumes/ pulses are huge in India and loaded with carbs and proteins! No you do not need chia seeds, alfa alfa seeds, adzuki beans, seatin, tempeh etc. I mean its awesome if you can afford it, plus requires less meal planning, but you do not really need it. Especially if you are consuming 15-20% calories coming from proteins per day (enough for fat loss). Even for muscle gain I consume no more than 25% overall calories from proteins. Protein powders are also not required, even vegan once. I love the taste and use them to make my post workout desserts though!

Options to choose from.

Spinach (Rs. 15/- for 200 grams) is excellent and better alternative to broccoli as it is easily available in India. Has almost as much proteins as 2 egg whites (I believe organic eggs are Rs. 100/- for only 6). Green peas are loaded in proteins, and so are sprouts. Having rice and one type of pulse/ beans for lunch with some boiled or raw veggies is enough protein for one meal. Either rajma and rice or chana and rice, Amaranth or wheat roti’s with soy bean sabzi or tur daal/ red lentil etc will give you close to 30 grams on proteins in one meal only.

One kg of millets is about Rs. 160/- and lasts you close to 8 servings if you are making a smoothie bowl. Thats Rs. 20/- per serving! A home made breakfast smoothie bowl with boiled millets, blended fruits and topped with nuts, dry fruits, raisins is about 15-18 grams of proteins. Even if you do not want to add nuts, get seeds such as sunflower seeds. Amazon sells them in bulk for 200 grams costing less than Rs. 150/-. That is Rs. 7/- or less per serving. Homemade nut butter, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc will only add in more proteins. Seeds could have as much as 21 gram s of protein per 100 grams. That is more than dairy milk. These also taste exceptionally good. I also enjoy besan pancakes and boiled mung beans for my breakfast. These staples are often in all households.

Having Buckwheat, Ragi, Amaranth, Jowar, Bajra, Quinoa for dinner with tofu or more beans is a good way to end the day. Buckwheat is a little expensive but still nothing compared to meat or protein powders. Also think long term, all the cardio vascular and heart diseases you will catch from consuming meat and dairy will end up costing you much more than the money you spend on a vegan diet. Not to mention the time wasted in the hospital and more over you life!

I love to snack on veggies, peanuts, roasted chickpeas, homemade oats cookies, black beans, rice crisps. These are all great to add some more proteins at low cost.

It is however very important to give up your fear of carbs. Carbs alone wont make you fat, lack of activity, late night binge eating rice, no exercise, sedentary lifestyle, too much sugar, dairy and dairy products however will.

Listen to your body signals, eat when hungry and stop when you feel full. Exercise 45-60 minutes (literally anything but walking!) 4 times per week and avoid eating anything not cooked by you. That literally is the cheapest way to lose weight. Off course if you have competitive goals or want to get into a bikini you will have to measure your macros etc, but not otherwise.

Do get in touch with me by clicking here for customised meal and fitness plans.