A Vegan Obsession

Healthy Vegan Santa Cruz

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Healthy Vegan Santa Cruz! Veg On The Edge comes to the vegan gluten free rescue.  

To those who followed A Vegan Obsession way back when..hey, hello..It’s my return blog post.  Two years have flown by. I return with Healthy Vegan Santa Cruz.

If you are new..hey, hello, to you, too.

A lot happened in two years.  I married an American…the handsome Mr Devin O’Neill. And I moved my vegan self to the good ole US of A. Yep, that happened.

I’m a two-year-old in America, and sometimes it feels like it.  So much to learn.

We moved to Ojai first, a sweet beautiful mountain town in SoCal and Los Angeles was my vegan mecca.  Then we moved to Santa Cruz..a surfing, University town, you’d think would be bursting at the seams with amazing vegan food..right?!  wrong.  Where was the healthy vegan Santa Cruz contingent? I was disheartened.  I couldn’t blog about yummy healthy vegan food because my husband and I didn’t really find any. Until now…Healthy vegan Santa Cruz. Veg On The Edge Vegan and Gluten Free Food

A week or so ago we were out walking in downtown and stumbled across Abbots Square Market.  A host of eateries and a bar next to the MAH.  Guess what we found?! ..A VEGAN fast food joint.  Gluten-free, too!  Oh, my heart went thumpity thump when we found it. Veg On The Edge. Healthy vegan Santa Cruz.

It’s the brainchild of Akindale, an ex-opera singing Nigerian.  Owned by 5 partners in total, including his son, Deji. Deji left the world of film production behind in Los Angeles to come up to Santa Cruz and join his father in creating Santa Cruz’s ONLY vegan and gluten-free fast food restaurant.

 His Dad turned vegan 2 years ago. He changed his diet for compassionate reasons, to be part of the end of suffering of animals. Deji is a recent convert.  He converted because of health.
 
It took a couple of years to perfect the recipes.  Akindale, who also has a background in catering, got together with a local chef to create and perfect a menu of amazing West African inspired food. 
 
Healthy vegan Santa Cruz. Veg On The Edge Vegan and Gluten Free Food
 
Moin moin is soaked black eye peas, tomato paste, and spices that are blended together to make a kind of tofu. It is silky, gently spiced and slightly tangy. The flavor is quite unique.
 
Sweet potato and spicy peanut soup.  
 
Potato balls took months to perfect just the right chickpea consistency. Oh my gosh, I’d eat these three times a day if I could.  They were almost cheesy.  Delicious.
Veg On The Edge Vegan and Gluten Free Food
Healthy vegan Santa Cruz. Veg On The Edge Vegan and Gluten Free Food
Healthy vegan Santa Cruz. Veg On The Edge Vegan and Gluten Free Food
 
3 years from inception to completion.  
 
We (my husband and I) chatted with Deji and Akindele  Bankole for some time.  They are extremely passionate about what they have created here.  They want to change the world, draw in more compassion by inviting people to dinner.  Don’t you love that?!
 

 

Deji bankole veg on the edge Santa Cruz

Deji Bankole

 
They are open weekdays - 11am - 9pm
 
Weekends they serve breakfast - Plantain waffles and tofu scramble wrap.  Sign me up!!
 
Out of all the items on the menu, the Suya burger is currently the most popular.  Marinated shitake forms the ‘meat’.  Cashew cheese and tomatoes and onions highlight the flavors.  A toasted gluten-free bun houses the melee. 
 
I asked them what their vision is for the future.  They aim to open up 10 more restaurants by 2027.  Concentrating in the Bay Area first and then set their sights on Los Angeles.
 
If you are in the area..I highly recommend a visit.
It’s vegan time!

veg on the edge vegan Santa Cruz healthy vegan Santa Cruz

 
https://www.facebook.com/thevedgeontheedge/videos/857973964361420/

 

 

Low Fat Gluten Free Flours - Giveaway

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reduced fat flours giveaway

I am excited to tell you about a recent discovery. Set to revolutionise your baking, and more. Low Fat Gluten Free Flours. Paleo, too, if that’s your bag. And 0% calorie brown sugar and icing sugar.

… 

Read More »

Sign Up To Viva! 30 Day Vegan Challenge

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Go Vegan with Viva! at Vegfest

Sign up to Viva! 30 Day Vegan Pledge now!

Do you wish to eat healthily and start loving your greens and pulses, but stuck on exciting culinary ideas or lasting ways to sustain a lifestyle change? The brand new Viva! 30 Day Vegan Pledge is perfect for you!

Set up earlier this year to follow up the hugely successful Veganuary campaign, the Viva! 30 Day Pledge gives you all the tools and information that you need to successfully transition to a wondrously healthy 100% plant-based diet and stay on it for 30 days. Better still, once you sign up to this scheme, you get free tickets to VegfestUK London – one of Europe’s hottest vegan lifestyle shows – where you can sample a full range of delicious global vegan cuisines and absorb potentially life-changing information from many active vegan role models.Highlights of VegfestUK London include a prominent exhibition area for Viva!, where you can sign up to the Viva! pledge and peruse Viva!’s well-researched literature on plant-based lifestyles as well as their full range of cool merchandise. Four of the Viva! team will be giving the following highly informative talks to help you go and stay vegan:

  • Why you don’t need Dairy, by Viva! founder and director Juliet Gellatley
  • The Dark Side of Dairy, by Juliet Gellatley
  • Is Soya a Superfood or a Health Risk?, by Viva! nutritionist and health campaigner
  • Live Demonstrations of Recipes from the Viva! cookbook, by Viva! food and cookery coordinator Jane Easton
  • 30 Day Vegan Workshop: Improve your Life in Just One Month!, by Viva! deputy director Justin Kerswell together with Jane Easton

To sign up for Viva!’s 30 Day Vegan pledge, visit www.viva.org.uk/30dayvegan To find out more about Viva!, visit www.viva.org.uk or email [email protected]

VegfestUK London takes place on September 27th 28th at Olympia West and is expected to attract around 10,000 visitors over 2 days. For full info visitwww.london.vegfest.co.uk, or email [email protected]

Other press materials for VegfestUK London are here:

  • Press releases www.london.vegfest.co.uk/press-releases
  • Posters and flyers www.london.vegfest.co.uk/posters-and-flyers
  • Facebook images www.london.vegfest.co.uk/facebook-posters
  • Banners www.london.vegfest.co.uk/banners

Copyright © 2014 VegfestUK, All rights reserved

Latest From VegFest. It’s A Mock Meat Fest!

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Haven for carnivores at Europe’s biggest veggie festival on Bristol Harbourside

One of Europe’s prime foodie event VegfestUK Bristol will feature a number of high-quality meatless meat products that will have even committed carnivores not only enjoying the new textures and sensations that meat-free products provide, but also maybe even being tempted to think about replacing some of their favourite animal products with plant-based alternatives.
The festival, which enters its 12th year on May 23rd 24th 25th at the Amphitheatre and is set to attract around 20,000 visitors, aims to showcase the crème de la crème of following a plant-based lifestyle. ‘Meat’ plays centre stage in the myriad of products on show, and this year the UK public have the chance of sampling the following brands of plant-based meats at this event:
 
Bute Island Foods are the producers of their “Vegandeli” range of mock meats which include 7 delicious varieties of meat-free continental sausages, from original/spicy/smoked/Italian gourmet Mortadela, Chorizo sausages, Mock Ham, Gourmet Morcilla - all highly versatile besides being very tasty, giving the meat-based counterparts a good run for their money.
Gillie Food are one of the Oriental Vegan and Vegetarian meat-substitute alternatives food manufacturers & importers in UK. Their products range are based in Textured Soya Protein and Wheat Protein, which is a nutritious member of the protein family, is entirely meat free. Their products are NON-MSG with no GMO nor preservatives.
Grano e Vita (a.k.a Muscolo di Grano) offers superb plant-based meats based on wheat and legumes that have a nutritional value similar to meat while remaining totally plant-based. It’s the ideal food for those who wish to eat a healthy and nourishing meal and still enjoy all the flavours of the Mediterranean cuisine.
Vegusto produces a range of meat free alternatives made from only the highest quality ingredients. Options include: farmhouse sausages, Wiener sausages, festive roasts, schnitzels, etc. They’ll be serving freshly made hot dogs at the show alongside their impressive array of meats.
 
The show organisers added, “It’s an absolute pleasure to witness the rise of these top-notch plant-based meat brands in the upward trend of healthier, more eco-friendly and sustainable living, given the huge toll that livestock farming has on the environment and animal products have on our health. Arguably the biggest obstacle for many in going veggie or eating healthily is the sumptuous taste of their meat. Those heroic producers of vegan meat substitutes have really made plant-based living both convenient and more than palatable for many souls out there, and we’re honoured to showcase these products to the public.”
 
These ‘meats’ come in conjunction with many vegan milks, cheeses, chocolates and other substitutes for animal produce which can be found at the 140 stalls including 5 all day bars at the show – and with numerous special offers available, make sure to bring plenty of cash and shopping bags with you! If you wish to learn more about plant-based lifestyles, don’t miss the dozens of talks, cookery demos, workshops and short films.
 
There’s still time for a variety of entertainment from kids cookery classes, hoola hoops, comedians and musicians during the day. Focus shifts to headline music in the evenings with Boney M ft. Maizie Williams, Gwen Dickey’s Rose Royce, Abba Gold, Peter Hook and the Light, Ruts DC, Goldblade, Zion Train and Black Roots gracing the Amphitheatre stage.
 
Admission from 11am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday is £3 (on the gate) and free for kids under 16. Full admission info and advance tickets for the evening events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is available at www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/ticket-information, with a BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE offer running till April 30th.

All press materials are available here:

  • Event programme www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/programme
  • Press releases www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/press-releases
  • Posters and flyers www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/posters-and-flyers
  • Banners www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/banners
  • Facebook posters www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/facebook-posters

VegfestUK Bristol is sponsored by: Fry’s Vegetarian UK, Yaoh, JASON Natural Care, Bute Island Foods, Nakd Wholefoods, Lavera, Suma Wholefoods, Living Naturally, Koko Dairy Free, Vegfund, Out of Hand and Viva!

VegfestUK organise 2 other events this year – London on September 27th 28th at Olympia West Halls, and Brighton on March 29th 30th. The Brighton event attracted a large crowd of over 5,000 visitors, and the London event is set to draw around 10,000 people. All products displayed at VegfestUK events are 100% plant-based. Seewww.vegfest.co.uk or email [email protected] for full details.
 



This blog post is a guest post by VegFest

VegFEST Bristol 2014 - Free Tickets To Giveaway

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Preparations for one of Europe’s biggest and most unique vegan lifestyle and music festival VegfestUK Bristol 23-25th May, are gathering pace, with headliners announced and tickets now on sale.
This festival traditionally features a vegan food fayre during the day and lets it’s hair down with headline music in the evenings.  25,000 visited past 2 years.

This year’s headliners are:

- Boney M ft. Maizie Williams, Gwen Dickey’s Rose Royce, Abba Gold on Friday May 23rd
- Peter Hook and the Light, Ruts D.C., Goldblade on Saturday May 24th
- Zion Train, Black Roots on Sunday May 25th

Full admission info and advance tickets for the evening part of the show are at  www.bristol.vegfest.co.uk/ticket-information

Of course you want to be there!  We have 2 pairs of tickets to giveaway.  1 pair for Friday and 1 pair for Saturday. Each pair is worth £25!

Enter below for your chance to win.  Winners to be announced 1st week in May.

Meanwhile, the daytime events feature 140 stalls & caterers, dozens of talks and cookery demos, clay modelling workshops, hoola-hoops, kids cookery classes, art and craft tent, comedy hours, short films, 5 all-day bars and more!

Admission for daytime events is £3 (pay on gate) and free for kids under 16, with no advance tickets available.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway

5000 People Descend On VegFest Brighton 2014

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VegFest 2014 announced that over 5,000 visitors attended the Brighton annual veggie festival.  One of Europe’s biggest veggie lifestyle shows.  I was astounded to see the people continually (and eagerly) pouring in through the doors.  The warmest day of the year so far and the festival was no match for Brighton’s pebble beach. 

125 stalls and caterers stocked with some great-tasting vegan foods ranging from pad thais, cakes, canapes, mock meats, cheeses, chocolates, and lots more.  If fact, it was all a bit over whelming, and indulgent (but that was my own doing!).  There were dozens of talks, cookery demos, workshops and short films on the benefits of following a plant-based lifestyle.   

John Robb,  hosted a fundraising auction hosted by in aid of the Animal Welfare Party‘s bid to win a seat at the May EU Elections. The VeggieVision speed-dating session, hosted by Karin Ridgers, which attracted over 100 people (now being single I really had no excuse for not partaking!).  I hear it was quite the success.
It almost brought me to (happy) tears to see how the quality of food, clothes, cosmetics, treats and ‘green’ house hold products improves year upon year.  Together with the innovative, kind, friendly and warm atmosphere that always pervades.
Lots of new faces added to the established vegan businesses. I also noticed the rise in gluten free products which is great to see.
A happy day.
I hope you enjoy the images.



A very small sampling of the companies showing their goodies

Higher Living Herbs   Tea infusions
All Good Things Supper Club - Sammy Gill 07706 217911
Vegan Hastings
Organic Culture  Safe cleaning products for your baby
Freerangers  Shoes hand made in the UK
Operation Icing Brighton not for profit bakery
London Vegan School


Did you attend?  What was your favourite purchase?

A Campaign For Change Makers - URGENT DEADLINE LOOMS

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We need you.  Time is ticking and a deadline is looming closer. We have just 13 days left.  Let’s do this!

If I gave you a simple way to help animals, people (your family, friends) and the environment, AND make history you’d take it, right?!  Wherever you are in the world you can help.  All it may take is a ‘click’ or a ‘share’.  Social media has the power to make huge positive, political change.  I can guarantee the next 3 minutes of your life are going to leave you with a self-satisfied, warm glow.  Please read on. You can say you were part of global change movement for our future generations. 

Ok, so I’ve spent the last two days becoming acquainted with Vanessa Hudson, Leader of the Animal Welfare Party.  The UK arm of a pan-European political party, who are contesting in the May 2014 EU Parliament elections with the aim of returning dedicated representatives for animals to the EU Parliament for the first time in history.   You can read about it more in their manifesto statement.  I interviewed Vanessa…twice. Due to technical issues, I also became VERY acquainted with Apple Support, who try as they might, weren’t able to furnish you the interview with audio (right, major flaw).  If you can lip read.  You’re in business!  Go watch a snippet of interview below!

So, because of this (and much to my chagrin), I am forced to summarise….

Basically Vanessa says of the AWP;

” We think this is as significant as any moment in the history of women’s rights or human rights. We believe that only by having elected representatives in the EU Parliament can the interests of animals begin to be properly protected. “

How will helping the animals address issues that are effecting us all, world-wide right now?   Take a look at the AWP Indiegogo campaign.
The Animal Welfare Party mission statement states they are a party for the people, animals and the environment.   How can the action of the AWP help?

  • Promoting healthy plant based diets - helps us ALL on many levels.                     PEOPLE
  • Redirecting subsides from livestock to plant-based agriculture will reduce environmental pollution and make MORE land available.             ENVIRONMENT
  • Improving welfare for ALL animals will undoubtedly make the world a more compassionate place.  We are in an era of change and shifting of perspectives.  This is the chance for us to give voice to the animals.  All of us would want to end the suffering of animals.       ANIMALS


Please consider forgoing not even the price of a cup of coffee…. £1 or $1 (or more, PERKS offered) to help the campaign get the funding it needs to be elected in May 2014.. THANK YOU.   If you can only SHARE this campaign on Facebook or Twitter.  THANK YOU.

We all want change.  
This is part of that change.  
Together we can make a BIG Difference.       Please help! 

We have just until 31st December to raise the funds needed to back the campaign. It is vital we bond together now to act.

Thank YOU!  

Making History. Animal Welfare Party Set Their Sights On A Seat In EU Parliament

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This is an exciting opportunity for your chance to be part of helping to get a devoted animal lover, and campaigner, Vanessa Hudson, get into the EU Parliament.  Please join us in supporting the www.animalwelfareparty.org.  

We need around 140,000 votes in London (our target constituency) in order for the Animal Welfare Party to win a seat. We know they can do it because estimates tell us there are around half a million members of the electorate in London following some kind of vegetarian diet – and therefore likely to be warm to our policies. That’s three times enough people to vote them into that seat and make history for the animals! 


Click below to find out more about the crowd funding project they have launched to get the funds they need to make this happen.  Be part of making history!

Party Time! World Vegan Day Party London & Day Of The Dead Celebrations

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If you don’t already know, November 1st is World Vegan Day, and the start to World Vegan Month.  It is a great opportunity for the already vegan and the vegan curious to gather and have some fun.  The London Vegan Meetup Group are going to gather in London.  Not in London?  Events are happening all over, not just in the UK.  A Google search will list those closest to you.
 If you have a great event you want us to know about, leave a comment below or on the Facebook  page.


Are you going?  I can’t make either of them. I will be in New York (woohoo!).  Have fun!

The Great Vegan Challenge

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For all you would-be vegans out there, here’s the perfect opportunity to take the plunge and give the plant-based diet a go.

This November, Animal Aid is running the Great Vegan Challenge and the idea behind it is simple: you pledge to go vegan for the month and they aim to make it as easy, fun and engaging as possible. Plus it’s free to sign up and open to anyone, anywhere in the world!

When you register to take part, you’ll get:
  • Advice on nutrition and vegan products
  • Recipes and motivational tips sent regularly
  • Access to an internet forum for swapping tips and stories
  • A telephone hotline for any burning questions
  • Information on exclusive events, offers and product give-aways

Almost 800 people took part last year from 17 different countries and the response from them was overwhelmingly positive.  Let’s help make it 8000 this year!

Here is what some of last years participants had to say…

‘So glad I gave the Great Vegan Challenge a go! It’s been fantastic and made a big change in my lifestyle for the better! Everyone should try it!’ – Katrina Powis

‘Fantastic! I didn’t realise it would be as easy as it was to transition from veggie to vegan. I will certainly be staying vegan… no going back now!’ – Shaune Mather

‘The Vegan Challenge gave me invaluable knowledge, as well as the support and ease to continue on this path in future.’ – Nadya Booyse

You can read more about people’s experiences last year on the Great Vegan Challenge blog (www.govegan.org.uk/category/blog/) which will be updated daily throughout November.

This year, Animal Aid has also linked up with organisations in Australia (veganeasy.org), Canada (www.MercyForAnimals.ca), Luxembourg (http://www.vegansociety.lu/portal), Estonia (http://www.taimetoidumess.ee/index.php?lang=en) and elsewhere (http://www.govegan.org.uk/register/support-for-vegan-challengers-outside-the-uk/) to help spread the word and support Vegan Challengers in those countries, making it a truly global event.

If you’re already vegan, why not convince one of your friends or family to give it a try? You never know, they might just come round to the vegan way. Going vegan isn’t just about saving animals, it may also saving theirs.

Whether you’re motivated by saving animals, improving your health or protecting the planet, you can find out more about the Great Vegan Challenge or sign-up to take part at www.govegan.org.uk and if you have any questions, you can contact Ben Martin via [email protected] or by calling 01732 364546 ext 227.

Good luck.  Let us know how you get on.  Leave a comment, tell us all about it.


Vegan Cookbook Review and Giveaway
Lemon, cardamon cookies encrusted with dark chocolate and pistachio crumbs.
[Friday GIVEAWAY for Dog Lovers] Healthy Chew Bones For Your Darling Dog
Artisan Raw Chocolate Giveaway from Fine & Raw
A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS!! UK National Vegetarian Week. Today A HUGE Box Of Hand Cooked Crisps from Ten Acre
Baked Zucchini Fries with lemon aioli – Gluten free, low fat and crispilicious