Last weekend the 4th annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival was in full swing and BE was there to check out the 2014 trends in the vegetarian and vegan food world.
Dehydrated veggies are popping up everywhere and one of the first brands to make it into mainstream markets is New York Naturals. Created by owner Amy Orr, the company has a line of flavored kale chips ranging from
nacho to coconut cacao. Be on the lookout for their newest creation, the Kale Cookie, which sneaks the trendy veggie into a sweet snack (#WellnessTrend2014).Vegan cuisine was everywhere and one of the most popular booths was SoulKofa, a soul food restaurant located in Harlem NY. If the line as any indication, their fried chicken and mac and cheese was worth the wait.
Also representing vegan food – with a Latino flair – was catering company Vegan Revolution
helmed by Chef Oscar Maccow. His vegan tuna and mac and cheese bites were a big hit with festival attendees, as one could not tell that the food was dairy and fish-free.Amongst the snacks and vegan fare were cruelty-free cosmetics such as perennial NYCVFF exhibitor, Nubian Heritage. Their popular products are a favorite among festival goers for their natural, healing ingredients.
Speakers are always a major highlight for any festival and this year showcased a variety of topics ranging from vegan living on a budget to chef demonstrations on making hors d’oeuvres. Mama Glow Founder and Healthy Maternity Expert, Latham Thomas was on hand to discuss the importance of eating healthy while pregnant. Also in taking the stage was Vegan Radiance blogger, Lauren Wells shared her story on weight loss success and natural healing.
Healthy yet tasty snacks, animal welfare coalitions and vegan clothing were also represented signaling a growing trend among businesses targeting the conscious consumer.
To find out more about this year’s exhibitors check out and the festival check out the NYCVFF site.
Stay tuned for my interview with Maternity Lifestyle Maven, Latham Thomas who shares advice on being a wellness entrepreneur.