Vegans, carnivores, and mushroom chips

A teen chef on living cruelty-free, plus experts' beef with the Lion Diet

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IN a nutshell What if we told you that eating a whole foods, plant-based diet can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline? Yes, really! In addition to the health perks, giving up animal products has ethical and environmental benefits, too. Scoffing at this suggestion? Today's Q&A guest, Tabay Atkins, wants you to hear him out. We talked with the teen chef about his cruelty-free lifestyle and the "undercover" vegan food truck he runs in Orange County, California. After that, you can expect to read about: • delicious mushroom chips I want the world to know about • why experts have beef with the trending carnivore diet • more health stories you need Be well, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik January 27, 2023 • 6 min read

Tabay Atkins decided to become vegan at age 12 (!). Today, the 17-year-old is a yoga teacher and the owner and chef behind the gas station-based food truck Tabay's Mindful Kitchen. He doesn't market his menu as vegan, but everything just so happens to be free of meat, dairy, and animal products. Below, Atkins dishes plant-based foodie wisdom and actionable tips for those interested in jumping aboard the vegan train. *This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: You became vegan at just 12 years old! What led you to make this decision at such a young age? A: I got into yoga after my mom beat cancer. After practicing yoga, she was able to recover from the effects of chemotherapy and cancer, and that inspired me to start teaching yoga. If yoga is a big part of your life, you're going to start hearing about veganism, whether you like it or not. My mom and I were flying back to California once when I had a chicken pasta and cheese platter on the plane. After, I felt like there was a rock in my stomach. I felt really sick and said, "Okay, that's enough. I'm going vegan now." Q: Tell us a bit about your food truck, Tabay's Mindful Kitchen. A: We always knew that we wanted to have our own eatery. We got very close to buying a restaurant in 2013 or 2014, but it all worked out for the best when we moved back to California and eventually built a truck. I've been in the food world for a while teaching cooking classes, making cooking content, and even doing small private events, but nothing of this scale. It's very exciting for us. Some people either don't even know what vegan is or they have the wrong idea about it. I like to call my offerings "undercover" vegan because it doesn't look like a vegan food truck. I tell customers it's vegan, and they had no idea. This opens people's minds to the plant-based diet. Q: Do you have any advice for folks who may want to start a plant-based diet? A: The best way to describe moving to a plant-based diet is it's a journey. [The following is an edited summary of Atkins' tips for getting started.] Instead of jumping in all at once, ease yourself into changes one at a time. Get comfortable with cooking at home. Check out the Happy Cow app if you're looking for local places to get vegan fare. Q: What's the connection for you between going vegan and practicing a cruelty-free life? A: I started learning about how much better the plant-based diet is in relation to animal rights and became more of an advocate for stopping animal cruelty. I thought, "Wow, this is good not just for my health –– it's also good for the animals and the environment. It helps reduce carbon emissions, deforestation, and water use, too." Ultimately, my commitment to sharing plant-based eating with the world is a reflection of the intention I share at the end of every yoga class: Think good thoughts, speak kind words, feel love, be love, and give love. Want to learn more about a whole-foods, plant-based diet through our 3-day series? Click below to sign up now! Sign up now

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Weird Science Experts have beef with the trending all-meat Lion Diet TikTokers are kicking off 2023 with a "meaty" controversy. #allmeatdiet has already scored over 1 million views, with people commenting recipes and alleged health claims. Those who follow the so-called Lion Diet can only eat food derived from animals (think: beef, fish, poultry, eggs, and bone broth). As you might expect, many experts are not onboard. According to Beata Rydyger, RHN, a Los Angeles-based registered nutritionist, "Eliminating nutritious food groups can have serious health consequences over the long term." Only eating meat is especially not advised for people with heart disease or high cholesterol due to the high levels of saturated fats and LDL (bad) cholesterol found in animal products. People following this diet miss out on vital nutrients, like vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and probiotics found in fruits and veggies, whole grains, and legumes (all of which are off limits on the Lion Diet), adds Rydyger. Meat does pack a powerful punch of certain nutrients (especially protein and B vitamins), but it's just one part of a balanced daily diet. If you're hoping to make small, impactful steps toward better health, check out our Healthy Eating hub or new article that offers healthier alternatives to the carnivore diet. (Friendly reminder: Everyone's needs are different, so speak with a nutritionist or registered dietitian before changing your diet.)

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