This past Thursday, I attended the world’s largest vegan festival, Vegan Fest at the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. This festival had over 100,000 attendees and 100 different food stands, guaranteeing everyone something they will enjoy. The festival had vegan sushi, meats, cheeses, desserts and so much more. They even had vegan soaps and clothing made from sustainable sources. My personal favorite, the vegan mac and cheese came in an assortment of colors.
Going vegan does not mean one must cut out all the foods they enjoy, it just means cutting out certain sources their food comes from. Today, being vegan has become so normalized that thousands of brands and companies across the globe have revolutionized their food systems to accommodate vegans. In addition, there are over 2,500 vegan startups, dedicated to spreading veganism.
Israel is the vegan capital of the world. It is also one of the world’s biggest innovators of alternative meat, milk, eggs and vegan fish products.
A big reason why one decides to go vegan is because of its enormous environmental impact. The livestock industry has a massive impact on carbon emissions and majorly contributes to global climate change. It has been proven time after time that meat eaters have an exceptionally larger carbon footprint compared to those who do not eat any meat. In addition, according to Zero Smart, going vegan can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by up to 73%.
In celebration of the Tel Aviv vegan festival that I was lucky enough to be able to attend, I will list some of the brands that showed their products this year at Yarkon Park.
Plenty
Plenty is a 100% plant-based company that sells a variety of dairy substitutes to accommodate the vegan diet. Some of their products include yogurt, ravioli, and different cheeses. The cheeses they sell include mozzarella, feta, and parmesan, all of which come from cashews and almonds.
They sell their products in stores around Israel and are all based on natural, raw materials that are highly nutritional. I picked up one of their vegan cream cheeses which has a delectable nutty, yet smooth taste and texture.
Creative Pea
This company Creative Pea is for meat lovers out there that want to try a vegan diet but don’t want to give up the delicious taste of meat. Creative Pea offers high-quality, vegan meat that is both delicious and sustainable. Their products include vegan chicken, beef, and fish. I tried all three of these and they were absolutely delicious.
Their meats are made from pea protein, each serving packs 16 grams of protein, so you don’t miss out on the protein in your diet. Creative Pea is a fabulous option for high-protein, nutritious meat substitutes.
Re Feel
Re Feel is a sustainable and ethical shop that sells products from sustainable materials to promote a vegan lifestyle. Their products include bags, water bottles, and even floss. Similarly to Madeo eco-chic, they re-sell products from other brands, including Black & Blum, Brush with Bamboo, Woodie, and Dental Lace. They sell toothbrushes from Brush with Bamboo, which is what it sounds like, a toothbrush made from bamboo.
The floss from Dental Lace is made from silk and is plastic-free and compostable. This company proves that almost anything can be made vegan and encourages a robust vegan lifestyle.
Green Roll Sushi
Do you like sushi? Do you want to go vegan but love a good sushi roll? Check out Green Roll Sushi, which makes a variety of exciting sushi rolls without the fish. Located right next to Rothschild Street, Green Roll Sushi is a hit and showcased its rolls at the vegan festival.
My personal favorite, the Green Roll Special, is made with sweet potato, cucumber, tofu, and avocado. This roll won’t disappoint, and I like it better than normal sushi. Green Roll also offers buns, sushi sandwiches, and salads, all of which are perfect for the vegan diet.
Panda vegan chocolate
Lastly, for people who have a big sweet tooth, don’t worry about giving up chocolate. Panda vegan chocolate was created by two friends who were vegan but loved chocolate too much to settle for a no-chocolate diet. Instead, they invented Panda, a now big company all over Israel based on vegan chocolate. Their products are made from oats and cocoa, which the couple was able to create into 14 different flavors. The dairy-free chocolate is well worth trying, and good for the planet.
Vegan Fest included music shows, speed-dating for vegans and workshops on how to sustain a vegan diet and way of life. More about the Vegan Fest here.
