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Can you find vegetarian or vegan options in Zimbabwean cuisine?

Introduction: Zimbabwean Cuisine Overview

Zimbabwean cuisine is diverse and heavily influenced by the country’s history and geography. It is a fusion of traditional African ingredients and cooking techniques with British and Portuguese colonial influences. The cuisine features a variety of stews, soups, and curries made with maize meal, beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts, meat, and vegetables. The traditional Zimbabwean cuisine is known for its rich and spicy flavors, and it is often served with sadza, a thick porridge made from maize meal.

Traditional Zimbabwean Cuisine and Vegetarianism

Traditional Zimbabwean cuisine typically includes meat, and there are limited vegetarian options. However, there are some plant-based dishes in Zimbabwean cuisine such as nyimo, a stew made with cowpeas, pumpkin leaves, and peanut butter. Other vegetarian dishes include muboora, a pumpkin leaf stew, and dovi, a peanut butter stew made with vegetables like eggplant and okra. These dishes are typically served with sadza or other grains like rice or millet.

Vegan and Vegetarian Adaptations of Zimbabwean Dishes

Some traditional Zimbabwean dishes can be adapted to be vegan or vegetarian by replacing meat with plant-based proteins like tofu, seitan, or tempeh. For example, instead of using meat in a stew, one can use tofu or seitan and add a variety of vegetables like carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes. Similarly, sadza can be made with alternative grains like quinoa, sorghum, or cassava to make it gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

Plant-Based Staples in Zimbabwean Cuisine

There are several plant-based staples in Zimbabwean cuisine that are suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets. One such staple is muriwo unedovi, a dish made with spinach and peanut butter. It is typically served with sadza or rice and can be made vegan by using plant-based butter or oil instead of ghee. Another staple is tsunga, also known as African kale, which is a leafy green vegetable that can be used in soups, stews, and salads.

Restaurants Offering Vegan and Vegetarian Options in Zimbabwe

Although Zimbabwean cuisine is traditionally meat-based, there are some restaurants in Zimbabwe that offer vegan and vegetarian options. For example, Nandos, a popular chain restaurant, offers a vegetarian burger and a vegetable wrap. Similarly, Pariah State, a restaurant in Harare, offers vegan and vegetarian options like vegan burgers, falafel, and tofu stir-fry. It is worth noting that the availability of vegan and vegetarian options in Zimbabwean restaurants is still limited, but it is slowly improving.

Conclusion: Accessibility and Future Possibilities for Plant-Based Eaters in Zimbabwe

While traditional Zimbabwean cuisine is heavily meat-based, there are some plant-based dishes that can be adapted to suit vegan and vegetarian diets. As the demand for plant-based options grows, more restaurants in Zimbabwe are starting to offer vegan and vegetarian options. However, accessibility remains a challenge, especially in rural areas where traditional cuisine is still the norm. Nonetheless, with time, it is possible that Zimbabwean cuisine will become more inclusive and offer a wider range of plant-based options for all to enjoy.

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Yemen

Are there any vegetarian or vegan options available in Yemeni cuisine?

Introduction: Yemeni cuisine and its popularity

Yemeni cuisine is known for its rich and spicy flavors that are influenced by the country’s location on the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean. Meat, such as lamb, chicken, and beef, is commonly used in Yemeni dishes, making it a challenge for vegetarians and vegans to find options that suit their dietary preferences. Despite this, Yemeni cuisine is gaining popularity worldwide, and many are curious about the vegetarian and vegan options available.

Yemeni cuisine: meat-based dishes and ingredients

Yemeni cuisine is famous for its meat-based dishes, such as Mandi and Zurbian. These dishes typically feature slow-cooked meat, seasoned with a blend of spices and served with rice. However, there are vegetarian-friendly versions of these dishes that include lentils or vegetables instead of meat. Still, many Yemeni dishes contain meat as a primary ingredient, and it may be difficult for vegetarians to enjoy the full range of Yemeni cuisine.

Vegetarian options in Yemeni cuisine: lentils and vegetables

Lentils are a staple in Yemeni cuisine and are often used in stews and soups. One popular lentil-based dish is Adas, a hearty soup made with lentils, vegetables, and spices. Additionally, vegetable stews like Bamia, which is made with okra, tomatoes, and onions, and Sabanekh, which is made with spinach, are delicious vegetarian options.

Vegan options in Yemeni cuisine: falafel and bean dishes

Vegan options in Yemeni cuisine include dishes that are traditionally made with beans, such as Ful Medames, a bean stew made with fava beans, and Falafel, a popular street food made with chickpeas and spices. Yemen also has its own version of hummus, which is typically made with chickpeas, tahini, and lemon juice.

Yemeni breads and salads that are vegetarian-friendly

Many Yemeni breads are vegetarian-friendly, including Malawah, a flaky layered bread, and Markook, a thin, unleavened bread. Yemeni salads like Salata, which is made with tomatoes, onions, and cucumber, are also veggie-friendly options.

Conclusion: Exploring Yemeni cuisine as a vegetarian or vegan

While Yemeni cuisine is heavily meat-based, there are still vegetarian and vegan options available for those who prefer plant-based diets. It is essential to understand the ingredients and spices used in Yemeni dishes to identify which ones are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Exploring Yemeni cuisine can be a delicious and exciting experience, even for those with dietary restrictions.

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Zambia

Are there any vegetarian or vegan options available in Zambian cuisine?

Introduction: Zambian cuisine and its meat-based dishes

Zambian cuisine is known for its meat-based dishes, which are often made with beef, goat, or chicken. Traditional dishes like nshima (a type of porridge made from maize flour), stewed meat, and biltong (dried meat) are staples of the Zambian diet. However, with the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets, there is a growing demand for plant-based options in Zambian cuisine.

Vegetarianism and veganism in Zambia

While vegetarianism and veganism are not as common in Zambia as they are in other parts of the world such as Europe or North America, there is a growing awareness of the health and environmental benefits of plant-based diets. Many Zambians are choosing to adopt vegetarian or vegan lifestyles for ethical reasons as well. As a result, the demand for meatless options in Zambian cuisine is increasing.

Traditional vegetarian and vegan dishes in Zambian cuisine

Zambian cuisine does offer some traditional vegetarian and vegan options that have been passed down through generations. One popular dish is chikanda, which is made from the tuber of a specific plant, mixed with groundnuts, and formed into balls. Another well-known dish is insima, which is a type of porridge made from cassava flour and is often served with vegetables.

Common ingredients used in vegetarian and vegan Zambian dishes

Many vegetarian and vegan Zambian dishes feature a variety of beans, lentils, and vegetables like pumpkin leaves, okra, and tomatoes. Groundnuts (peanuts) are also a common ingredient and are used as a source of protein in many plant-based dishes.

Restaurants and cafes offering vegetarian and vegan options in Zambia

While it may be more challenging to find vegetarian and vegan options in traditional Zambian restaurants, there are now many cafes and restaurants in Zambia’s larger cities like Lusaka and Ndola that cater to plant-based eaters. These establishments offer creative and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes made with local ingredients.

Conclusion: The potential for more vegetarian and vegan options in Zambian cuisine

While Zambian cuisine is predominantly meat-based, there are traditional vegetarian and vegan dishes that offer a glimpse into the country’s plant-based culinary heritage. As Zambia continues to adopt more sustainable and ethical food practices, the demand for vegetarian and vegan options will likely increase. With the right creativity and attention to local ingredients, there is great potential for more delicious and nutritious plant-based dishes to emerge in Zambian cuisine.

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Food

Make Your Own Vegan Pulled Pork Burgers from Jackfruit

The jackfruit is an insider tip for vegetarians and vegans because its pulp can be used unripe like chicken or pork! So it’s no wonder that the latest food trend takes advantage of this meaty quality. Making your own vegan pulled pork burgers from jackfruit is currently a hit with foodies! Here is the recipe for it.

That’s how healthy the “vegetable meat” is jackfruit

The unripe jackfruit, which can be up to one meter long and weigh up to ten kilograms, has a consistency that is very similar to that of chicken breast fillet, which is why they are a great meat substitute. Ripe fruits taste similar to a mixture of pineapple and banana – but the taste of the kernels is more reminiscent of chestnuts.

Jackfruit is particularly rich in nutritious starches, which explains why they play an important role in countries of origin such as Southeast Asia or Brazil as a staple food and as a substitute for rice. With 27 milligrams per 100 grams, tropical fruits contain a high proportion of calcium, which is particularly important for healthy bones and teeth.

The seeds of the jackfruit are also small power packs because they are full of vitamins from the B group, magnesium, iron, and sulfur.

The vegan pulled pork burger recipe

The ingredients:

For the fruity barbecue sauce:

  • 2 juice oranges
  • 1 pineapple (approx. 125 g pulp)
  • 2 small onions
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 200ml ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 dried chili peppers

For the burger:

  • 1 can of jackfruit pieces (from the Asian store, about 560 grams)
  • 2 shallots
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 3 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 burger buns
  • 4 lettuce leaves
  • 2 radicchio leaves
  • 1 tomato

The preparation:

  1. For the barbecue sauce, halve and squeeze the oranges. Measure out 100 milliliters of juice. Peel the pineapple and dice the flesh into small pieces. Peel and finely chop the onions.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onions and sauté while stirring. Drain the fat from the pan, leaving about 1/2 teaspoon.
  3. Add the pineapple, ketchup, maple syrup, orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, and chilies to the onions in the pan. Bring everything to a boil and simmer over medium heat for about five minutes.
  4. Hang a colander over a bowl. Pour in the sauce, press through the sieve with a ladle, and leave to cool.
  5. Now for the burger, rinse the jackfruit pieces under running water and drain.
  6. Peel shallots and garlic clove. Cut the shallots into narrow strips and finely chop the garlic.
  7. Heat the oil in a pan, and add the onion and sauté over medium heat. Then add the garlic and jackfruit pieces and sauté for about six minutes.
  8. Add the barbecue sauce to the pan and continue to simmer over low heat for another 15 minutes.
  9. In the meantime, toast the burger buns, and wash and drain the two lettuce leaves. Cut the radicchio into fine strips and the tomato into fine slices.
  10. Divide the jackfruit into fine fibers, place the lettuce leaves, tomato, pulled jackfruit, and radicchio on the bun halves, and fold them together – bon appetit!
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Food

Raindrop Cake: Vegan and Low in Calories

You can eat this oversized raindrop! Raindrop cake is the name of the latest food trend from Japan and is said to be THE alternative to cake. It’s vegan and has 0 calories – no wonder, after all, it consists only of mineral water and agar-agar. EAT SMARTER introduces the Raindrop Cake.

Raindrop Cake: vegan & low in calories

The Raindrop Cake is currently triggering a real hype on Instagram, Facebook & Co. While it reminds some of a breast implant, others think the cake looks like a sip of water in space.

In fact, the Raindrop Cake consists of mineral water and agar-agar. This makes it vegan, low in calories, and a lighter and more colorless version of the currently trendy freakshakes or macaroons. But can the transparent drop taste good?

Raindrops to eat

Foodies who are currently vacationing in Japan or New York and visiting the street food markets there naturally don’t want to miss out on this food trend: They report that the raindrop cake melts on the tongue as soon as it is eaten with a spoon. So the consistency is great – but the taste is not particularly innovative, because mineral water and the vegetable gelling agent agar appear neutral.

To add a little more sweetness to the mix – which is what you usually expect from a cake – the Raindrop Cake is served with coconut blossom syrup and toasted soy flour. Chef Darren Wong invented the raindrop to eat and took it back to New York after a trip to Japan as inspiration. The light Raindrop Cake is now available there for about 8 dollars.

The recipe for the Raindrop Cake

The ingredients for 2 servings:

  • 300 ml still mineral water
  • 1 tsp agar agar
  • 3 teaspoons coconut blossom syrup (or agave syrup)
  • 3 tsp soy flour (toasted)

The preparation:

  1. Boil still mineral water in a saucepan and dissolve agar in it according to package instructions.
  2. Boil the liquid on low heat for about three minutes. Then pour into two bowls and place in the fridge for about two hours to set.
  3. Pour the finished Raindrop Cake onto a plate and serve with the coconut blossom syrup and the roasted soy flour.
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Food

Saft Ist Vegan? Von Wegen! Diese Safte Enthalten Gelatine

Die Organisation FoodWatch hat verschiedene Säfte getestet und das erschreckende Ergebnis: In mehreren Produkten wurden vermehrt der Einsatz von Rinder- und Schweinegelatine nachgewiesen – ohne dies auf der Verpackung anzugeben. Welche Säfte sind davon betroffen und welche kann man bedenkenlos trinken?

Juice is vegan, of course. It’s just fruit. Or? You really don’t think about the fact that this could contain gelatine when you put the apple juice in the shopping basket in the supermarket. For example, one might frown at first if a juice carries the label “vegan” or “vegetarian”. But a test by the FoodWatch organization has now shown why this is so important.

Why aren’t juices vegan?

The test came about because there are significant gaps in the labeling of the use of animal components in food production. Flavors of animal origin (e.g. in chips), technical additives of animal origin (e.g. in juices), animal cysteine ​​(in bread), or additives of animal origin such as colorings (e.g. in sweets) do not have to be identified.

This is deceptive, especially with plant products, since no animal additives are expected there. Manufacturers often cloud apple juice with gelatine. The gelatine is added when the naturally cloudy juice is filtered and then filtered out again later – the cloudy substances in the apple juice are extracted.

The result: Gelatine is no longer detectable in the clear apple juice product and it, therefore, does not have to be labeled as food containing animal products.

There are also alternative methods of clarifying apple juice: Manufacturers such as Beckers Bester and Eckes Granini, for example, use mechanical filtering, known as ultrafiltration. Plant-based products such as pea protein can also be used instead of animal gelatin.

The result

FoodWatch bought a total of over 30 apple juices from various manufacturers at Edeka, Lidl, and Rewe – both Edeka and Rewe’s own brands and branded products such as Pfanner and Valentina. The test included apple juice, apple nectar, and apple spritzer.

More than every third apple juice or apple nectar failed. The apple spritzers also perform similarly poorly: five out of 14 juices are made using gelatine or clarification with the help of gelatine cannot be ruled out.

By the way, the most commonly used gelatine is pork. Only the manufacturer Lichtenauer stated that they also use beef gelatine in the production of the apple spritzer. Incidentally, both brand manufacturers and private labels are affected: from Albi to Adelholzer to Rewe Bio.

The manufacturers Pfanner, Beckers Bester, and Valentina were praised because they replace the animal gelatine with a plant-based gelatine substitute such as pea gelatine or achieve clarification through ultrafiltration. We have already reported about a juice for vegans in our veggie blog.

​Juices with animal gelatine

These products failed:

  • Albi apple clear:
  • Buchholz apple juice direct juice
  • Obstland Sachsenobst apple juice
  • Lausitzer Lockwitzgrund clear apple
  • From here apple juice
  • Adelholzener Alpenquellen organic apple spritzer
  • Gerolsteiner apple spritzer
  • Lichtenau mineral springs premium spritzer apple
  • We organic apple juice spritzer
  • Yes! apple nectar and yes! apple spritzer
  • Our best choice is apple juice

Clear labeling must be!

FoodWatch says clearly: Anyone who uses animal gelatine in the production of juices must also state this clearly on the packaging. This is the only way the buyer can make an informed decision. This is essential, especially for people who want to consciously avoid animal products!

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Food

Vegan Diet Endangers Children’s Health!

A vegan diet endangers children’s health! Veganism is widespread and a popular diet these days. For adults, this is largely harmless to health if the menu offers enough variety. However, more and more parents are now serving their children exclusively vegan foods. Pediatricians criticize this since a completely animal-free diet endangers the health of the children and can even lead to death.

Vegan Diet: Harmful to Children

More and more parents are feeding their children animal-free foods. However, a vegan diet is a deliberate threat to the well-being of the child, as the director of the Regensburg University Hospital for Pediatric Medicine, Prof. Michael Melter, explains to the “Bild am Sonntag”. By not eating animal-based foods, there would be a nutrient deficiency, which would lead to delayed growth, According to Prof. Michael Melter, the worst consequence for the children is death.

In addition to physical damage, the intense control that vegan diets require often leads to eating disorders. The pediatrician Dr. Barbara Mühlfeld speaks from experience and emphasizes: “There is a clear connection between veganism in children and anorexia”.

Some parents celebrate veganism like religion and do everything they can to keep their children healthy, but don’t realize the drastic consequences, explains Dr. Josef Kahl, Federal Press Spokesman of the Professional Association of Pediatricians. It is difficult to explain to “missionary” parents the negative consequences of vegan nutrition for their children.

That’s what nutritional science says

According to the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), children should not be fed a vegan diet as this increases the risk of severe neurological disorders and developmental delays for the child.

The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) also advises against vegan nutrition in sensitive phases of life, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childhood: Due to growth, children have high demands on nutrient density with low nutrient stores at the same time. The result is an increased risk of undersupply or nutrient deficiency.

Particularly critical nutrients are protein, iron, calcium, iodine, zinc, vitamins B2, B12, and D, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The development and health of the children can be seriously damaged if the offspring are only fed vegan.

A nutrient deficiency can lead to blood formation disorders (iron and vitamin B12 deficiency), growth retardation (energy-protein malnutrition), and sometimes irreversible neurological disorders such as mental retardation (vitamin B12 and iodine deficiency). An insufficient supply of the mother with the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also have a negative impact on the development of the infant’s brain and retina.

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Lifestyle

The Lion’s Den: Vegan Dog Nutrition

The tenth episode of the 6th season of “The Lion’s Den” is animalistic: three young female founders present their vegan dog food. Can you score with the lions with vegan dog food?

Vegan dog food? This works out!

The vegan diet is now a diet that more and more people live by. Tonight in the “Lion’s Den”, three young female founders want to prove that the renunciation of all animal products can also be applied to the diet of four-legged friends.

Tessa Zaune-Figlar (34), Valerie Hansen (28), and Lisa Walther (29) want to convince the lions with their vegan dog food “VEGDOG” and hope for 150,000 euros. In return, they offer ten percent of their company shares. Will this deal also taste good to the lions?

Healthy dog ​​thanks to vegan dog nutrition?

The inspiration for this unusual business idea was male Nelson: founder Tessa’s dog suffered for years from food intolerance, which manifested itself primarily in the form of gastrointestinal problems and itchy skin. Even after numerous hypoallergenic types of food had been tried without success, the dog owner Tessa, on the advice of a veterinarian, did not feed Nelson animal protein.

At first, the young founder herself was still skeptical: “In the beginning, I thought it was a joke. Feeding a dog vegan – how is that supposed to work? But the desperation was great and so I gave the whole thing a chance.” But the experiment was a success: the food was prepared according to special recipes, and after four weeks the dog was symptom-free and has been on a vegan diet for seven years now.

Vegan dog nutrition – a gap in the market?

However, since cooking for the dog turned out to be very time-consuming, the idea for “VEGDOG” was born. It is the first vegan and grain-free complete feed for dogs that were developed in a one-year development phase in cooperation with specialist veterinarians and specialist laboratories.

The different types of food provide the dog with all the essential nutrients and cover their needs. In addition, only regional, high-quality ingredients are used, which are processed gently and in compliance with the highest quality standards. “VEGDOG” is free from attractants, colorings, and preservatives and does not test on animals.

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health

This is What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat

Happy without meat: Consciously avoiding meat is becoming more and more popular around the world. But what actually happens to our bodies when we give up meat?

The effects of not eating meat are many. The body reacts in the following way:

Weight loss: Those who do not eat meat lose weight more easily and quickly.
Lowering the risk of cancer: Red meat is suspected of being carcinogenic. The body fat percentage also plays a role here.
Healthier intestinal flora:
Better Body Odor:
A disadvantage:

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health

Surprising Study: Vegetarians Are Shy

Everyone knows that nutrition affects health. But how do animal products change our personality? The Max Planck Institute examined 9,000 people – with an interesting result.

Vegetarian or meat eater: How are diet and character related?

It turned out that vegetarians had a lower average body mass index than people who consumed animal products. So they were usually slimmer. There can be many reasons for this: On the one hand, the plant-based diet is richer in fiber. This means that vegetarians get full faster, even though they consume less energy. Another reason could be that vegetarians, in general, pay more attention to their diet and fitness, or physical well-being.

It is also interesting that the body mass index also differs within non-vegetarians when it comes to the type of animal products. A distinction is made between primary (mainly meat, sausage and fish) and secondary (eggs, dairy products, cheese and butter) animal products. People who ate more primary products, or even both, had on average a significantly higher BMI than people who ate less or nothing at all. On the other hand, people who still consumed animal products, but mainly secondary ones, had a lower BMI value.

But the personality of the subjects also seems to be influenced by their diet. The study found that people with a vegetarian diet appear significantly less extroverted. “It’s hard to say why that is,” says Veronica Witte, who headed the study. Maybe the vegetarian eating behavior goes hand in hand with a social demarcation or it comes about because introverts in particular tend to have a rather restrictive eating behavior. All just guesses. This is where the study reaches its limits. Because even if she has shown that a difference can definitely be observed, she cannot explain why this is the case. A follow-up study would be needed here.

Diets – which is the best?

While the list of diets continues to grow, the basic principle should be to listen to your own body and find out for yourself which diet works best for you. A familiar body feeling is ultimately still the key to a healthy body.

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