Rounding up the latest plant based food, health and product news

Catering company supply vegan meals to UK hospitals

100 UK hospitals are going to be including vegan options on their menus for patients, following catering company Anglia Crown including it on their menus. The meals are registered with The Vegan Society, and they believe that the new meals “have the potential to influence the inclusivity, sustainability and nutritional quality of menus across the UK.”

Heather Russell, dietician at The Vegan Society said: “We are pleased Anglia Crown are so enthusiastic about providing nutritious food that can be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. The Vegan Trademark is a beacon to catering services looking to enhance their vegan offerings. I enjoyed talking to Anglia Crown about creating nourishing vegan options, and I hope that other manufacturers will be inspired to develop their vegan ranges too.” The dishes that are suitable for vegans are a butternut squash curry, Moroccan vegetable tagine and a pasta peperonata, however the hospitals which this food is available in has not been confirmed.

TGI Fridays introduce first vegan dishes

The restaurant chain TGI Fridays are launching their first vegan menu, jumping on the veganism trend and making their food available to a wider audience. Dishes in the new menu include Smoked Tomato Bruschetta, Avocado Houmous, Roasted Veg Alfredo Pasta, Garlic Vegetable Fajitas and vegan garlic bread. A spokesperson for the brand said: “This is vegan food, but not as you know it, with Fridays putting its own spin an famous flavours on the vegan trend.”

The new dishes are available now on their menus around the country. The expansion of vegan food has also been happening in the US, with the chain adding The Beyond Burger to their menu in selected locations.

Mindful bites

UK brand Mindful Bites have launched a new snack range, to encourage people to be more considerate of the foods they choose to snack on. The range of Nut Butter Crunchy Bites, adding to their jars of nut butter and the nut butter sachets.

The products are ideal for those who want a healthy and quick snack, and they are ideal for on-the-go lifestyles. Stephanie Peritore, founder of Mindful Bites, said: “We offer consumers a healthier and kinder way to snack. Our belief is that snacking has been tarnished with the ‘bad brush’, but in fact if you are careful and select the right kind of snacks, that are better for you and ethically sourced, then this can have positive outcomes. We do this with Mindful Bites.”