Soyummi - Blog

Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day With These Vegan Recipes

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:03:00 -0800

Love is in the air, so even if there is still some snow on the ground where you live, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate. But that doesn’t mean you need to go all out with an expensive dinner, dozens of roses, or the proverbial box of chocolates. Whether a night on the town just isn’t in the budget right now or you and your significant other prefer a more intimate affair, you’d do very well with any one of these delicious gluten free, vegan recipes, candlelight, and maybe a bottle of wine.

Ten Tips To Make Your Allergic or Vegan Valentine Swoon!

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0800

Many of the Valentine’s Day chocolate that’s been lining mainstream store shelves for weeks has milk, wheat flour, or other ingredients that don’t work for a vegan valentine or one with dietary restrictions caused by allergies, intolerances, or autoimmune disorders, like celiac disease. Buying any of these products for your significant other might produce a polite thank you, but little else. Similarly, if you take them out to a restaurant or prepare them a special dinner that doesn’t cater to their dietary needs, then you will have, at best, a disgruntled mate or, at worst, a trip to the hospital in your future. Not exactly the romantic evening you had in mind. Check out our top ten valentine suggestions to make sure your plans will illicit the appropriate swoonworthy conclusion:

DC Meat-Free Week 2012!

Melissa Montovani — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 11:41:00 -0800

If you were going to ask random people about which American city they thought was the most amenable to the vegetarian diet, then most people would probably assume it was some place on the west coast. However, when LivingSocial did a survey in the fall of 2011, and D.C. was named the “Top Vegetarian City.” Is it any wonder then that they’d have an entire week dedicated to going meat free or that Soyummi Foods would be excited to support it?

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, So Chocolaty Pudding Smoothie

Melissa Montovani — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:06:00 -0800

Awhile back, Erica Black Reigh, one of our social media followers, gave us a simple recipe for a chocolaty way to start your day, keep the afternoon momentum going, or to finish off a delicious and healthy meal with something that only seems decadent. Despite it’s indulgent taste, you’ll have to agree that this smoothie is kind of perfect for those of us who resolved to eat healthier in 2012 or to lose those last few pounds. To make this gluten-free, dairy-free recipe, you'll need some Soyummi Dark Chocolate Pudding, but everything else should be in your kitchen already.

Why Are Americans Eating Less Meat?

Melissa Montovani — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:46:00 -0800

Whether you live in the Northeast, the Midwest, the South, the California coast or anywhere in between, vegetarians and vegans are in the minority. Americans are known as the people who eat more meat than anyone else in the world. In fact, according to some stats that The New York Times writer, Mark Bittman, found, the American diet consists of one-sixth of the world’s meat consumption, even though we’re less than one-twentieth of the population. Whoa…that’s a mouthful! He suggests that this is changing because by the end of 2012, the department of agriculture estimates that Americans will consume 12.2% less meat and poultry than we were back in 2007.

New Year, New You: Recipes

Melissa Montovani — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:04:00 -0800

When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, eating better and losing weight (or keeping it off) are two of the most universally held ones. Some of you may also have plans to do more “good” for others, make more money, spend more time with family and friends, or learn something new in 2012, but after many of us might have overdone it a little over the holidays and during our NYE celebrations, battling the bulge is one of the prime focuses for the new year.

Last Minute Gluten Free Holiday Gift Ideas

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:21:00 -0800

If you happen to be both a last minute shopper AND have a gluten free friend or family member, finding the perfect gluten free gift might be tough. Yeah, sure, gluten free people aren’t measured by their celiac or non-celiac gluten intolerance alone, but that doesn’t mean that food isn’t a big part of most people’s holiday celebrations nor does it negate the fact that the recipient will be happy that you took this extra effort for them. Believe me. Check out the gluten free gifts we recommend for this year's holiday shopping guide:

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas For Vegans

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:32:00 -0800

Finding gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list isn’t an easy task, and last minute shoppers find it even more difficult when all the stores are out of the one thing they wanted. However, if you think someone on your list would like vegan gifts, you might want to show your support for their decision by picking out something for them that relates to their new or long-standing lifestyle. For those moments, here are some gifts for vegans that may just make you their favorite person for the coming year.

Part 2 — How did gluten free food hit the mainstream?

Melissa Montovani — Wed, 7 Dec 2011 16:09:00 -0800

Whether you’re part of the 1 in 133 Americans who have celiac disease, avoid gluten for some other reason, including gluten intolerance, or not, it’s hard to escape the fact that lately, gluten free food has become mainstream news. On November 25, 2011, Keith O’Brien added an impressive piece to the puzzle from one of the few compassionate perspectives on the issue in The New York Times Magazine. In Part 1, we discussed how O’Brien’s piece is mostly a celebration of the influx of high-quality, gluten free products and mentioned that some small and large companies are now coming to consumers and employees who follow this medically-prescribed diet to learn what kinds of products they want to see. Still one question remains, how did the medical community transform its teachings from claims that only 1 in 10,000 Americans have this autoimmune disease in 1999 to an understanding that it’s closer to 1 in 133?

Part 1 - How did gluten free food hit the mainstream?

Melissa Montovani — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:18:00 -0800

Whether you read physical newspapers and magazines or digital sources, it’s hard to escape the fact that gluten free foods have become mainstream news. Just today, in fact, I found an article online by Keith O’Brien from The New York Times Magazine that shows how even mainstream food corporations, which historically made food for the masses, are now catering to the dedicated 1% of the American population who follow a gluten free food to combat celiac disease. How did we get from a time as recent as 1999 in which medical textbooks reported that the rate of this autoimmune disease was only“1 in 10,000 in the U.S.,” “mostly a European condition,” and that “[it was] decreasing” to an understanding that 1 in 133 Americans have this condition, even if approximately 97% of us don’t know?

Just in Time for Thanksgiving

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:19:00 -0800

Thanksgiving is in T-2 days, which means that many of our blog readers, followers on Twitter and those who like us on Facebook are preparing for a dinner with all the trimmings. Perhaps you’ll find that you have too many leftovers to enjoy in the regular ways — turkey or Tofurkey sandwiches (for those among us who aren’t celiac or gluten intolerant that is) get old quick — so you may find yourself searching for creative ways to enjoy them, such as pumpkin puree enchiladas. You’re happy and excited for the big day and the inevitable food coma that will follow, and then you notice an article, called “Americans Are Fat, And Expected To Get Much Fatter,” which changes everything.

Soyummi Asks, What Are You Thankful For This Year?

Melissa Montovani — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0800

As I write this post, it’s exactly two weeks until Thanksgiving. This time of year begs the question, “What are you thankful for?” And most likely, every time you ask the question, you answer it in a slightly different way. This year at Soyummi Foods, we have a lot to be thankful for, and we thought now was an opportune time to share some of these things with you.

Vegetarian Awareness Month Giveaway Winners!

Melissa Montovani — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:03:00 -0800

From Monday, October 3 to Friday, October 28, 2011, Soyummi Foods decided to give back to our vegetarian supporters and raise awareness about consuming healthy plant-based diet. We thought that if you heard about our delicious soy-based puddings, even for the first time, you’d jump at the chance to learn more our philosophy and just to try them out. Maybe, you’d even ask your local grocery chain why you don’t carry our products if you don’t see them.

Healthy Halloween treats to entertain your allergic or vegan kids & the neighbors!

Melissa Montovani — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:12:00 -0800

Halloween parties and haunted houses may have a number of different features, but one of the points that you can usually count on is a series of “gross” foods to stimulate the appetite of your guests. Most of the time, these treats are packed with unnecessary calories, sugar, and fat as well as allergens, which will make putting the kids to bed tough or ending the night in the emergency room. However, we’ve come up with four halloween recipes that are easy to prepare and quick to make as well as peanut free, gluten free, lactose free, dairy free, egg free, and completely vegan!

Make Halloween safe for your allergic or vegan kids

Melissa Montovani — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:38:00 -0800

When your children are at home with you or elsewhere under your watchful eye, it’s easy to deal with their allergies and food restrictions, whether they involve anaphylaxis, food intolerances, vegetarianism or veganism. You know the signs to watch out for if eating certain foods will harm them, and you also have experience with meal planning that is sure to help out with deciding upon restaurant meals as well. However, when Halloween comes around and your children are looking forward to collecting candy just like their peers, you’ll need to come up with some strategies to make sure they’re as safe as they would be every other day of the year.