Earlier this year, Public School 244, an elementary school in Queens, New York City, announced that its cafeteria is now 100 percent meatless — and it just turned in its own report card to reflect how its 400 students are responding to and benefiting from the all-vegetarians meals.
Recently, the Economic Times of India ran their own story on the rise of “power vegans”−which has already been noticed here in the U.S.−focusing specifically on what would motivate these business leaders to pursue a plant-based diet.
Last year, we shared the news about Subway’s vegan test menu in eight DC-area locations that was so popular, stores ran out of the vegan patties within a few short weeks. Several of the restaurant managers told us the vegan menu was tremendously successful, and they’ve been eager to satisfy customer demand by putting heartier and healthier plant-based option back on the menu.
Hundreds of Americans in over a dozen states – from California to North Carolina – have been sickened by the latest chicken meat salmonella outbreak. Over 40 percent of those infected have been hospitalized, and it’s been reported that some of detected strains of Salmonella may be resistant to many antibiotics. Time will tell how severe, or perhaps even life-threatening, these illnesses will be.
Pre-vegans might want to read this study before biting into another chicken nugget. Researchers at the University of Mississippi medical center dissected fast food chicken nuggets and found that they contained 50 percent or less chicken muscle tissue, with the rest being a mix of fat, blood vessels, cartilage, nerves, and pieces of bone.
Many successful athletes are discovering the benefits of dropping animal products — from decreasing their recovery times to increasing their energy. Veg athletes are reaching the top of their game, and football players are no exception. Just ask Tony Gonzalez, Joe Namath, Ricky Williams, Deuce Lutui, Tony Fiammetta, or Arian Foster — all players who have significantly reduced or eliminated animal foods from their diets.
From Britain’s horsemeat scandal to salmonella or E. Coli outbreaks to debates over GMO labeling, food safety concerns have taken center stage and garnered international headlines this summer. These issues have also shed light on the difference in food safety regulations from country to country. And which products seem to be the most controversial? Meat and dairy.
Whether you’re a student, raising a family on a low-income budget, or just trying to make ends meet, choosing to buy vegan foods doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. While there may be a lingering misconception that eating vegan — or eating healthy for that matter — is expensive, this isn’t necessarily the case.
There has been a lot of news this summer touting the benefits of eating vegan for an athletic edge. Whether it’s ultra runners like Scott Jurek who have been winning races as a dedicated vegan for years or professional NFL players eager to improve their health and their performance, these athletes help build a simple yet powerful narrative: removing animal products from your diet not only improves health but can also give you an athletic boost.