My name is Alexis Diaz and I run the vegan food blog Sugar Coated Vegan (you can find my blog at www.sugarcoatedvegan.tumblr.com). I veganize all different kinds of sweets and sometimes include, raw, gluten free and the occasional dish. I plan to start a new feature on my blog that includes veganizing a dish from every part of the world because I feel that other food cultures, spices and dishes should be explored more – and what better way to immerse yourself in a culture and learn about it than to try out their foods?!

By Linda Kocsis, Guest Contributor When I was a child, I loved animals, or so I thought. When I was growing up, we always had pets: birds, fishes, hamsters, rats, hermit crabs, dogs, and many cats. I was an only child, and our pets were really a part of our small family of two humans.

It’s not news that adopting a plant-based style of eating offers a bevy of health rewards. Plant-based eaters generally have reduced cardiovascular risk, lower body mass index, and lower total mortality. But, plant-based eating is not just good for you, it’s also good for Mother Earth

Here’s how MSVA works: You come to New York City. The first response to that information is often, “Gulp!” But I look at it this way: The vision for Main Street Vegan Academy is to offer not only top-notch information, but also a life-altering experience, an experience that calls for bringing your body as well as your intellect along. New York is Disneyland for vegans

The new year is off to a great start and our furry friend Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring. If you’re still getting used to dating your papers “2013,” I am here to help simplify! I have collected some of the best beauty trends and companies to keep you on the cutting edge of vegan beauty

If you’re watching your wallet this holiday season, you probably know that you’ll save a bundle by eating at home as much as possible. Sure, you want to be in the festive spirit inviting friends and relatives over for a meal or two, but how do you do that and keep your already soaring holiday budget expenses from getting even more out of control

I’m not exactly sure how I figured out that meat came from animals, but I remember being very little when I asked my mom why we kept cats and dogs as pets but ate pigs and cows. To my little brain an animal was an animal, and I didn’t see why we loved some of them and ate others. I don’t remember the answer, but I’m sure it was something like, “Because that’s the way it is.”

Fasting is a unique healing tool that allows the body to reset bodily processes back to a time before illness or unhealthy eating habits caused an imbalance. There are numerous benefits that allow the body to function more efficiently and, when performed on a regular basis, could possibly add years to a person’s life

When I stopped eating dairy products, it wasn’t the butter or cheese that I missed. It was the ice cream! The nondairy substitutes I tried just didn’t have that rich creaminess I craved. I started making my own nondairy ice creams using coconut milk in place of heavy cream

The idea of starting a vegan business appeals to many people – that is evident from the growing number of vegan startups popping up around the US. The funny thing is that starting a vegan business is not that different from starting any business, and there are many challenges vegan startups face on a day-to-day basis that involve tasks that may feel like they have little to do with promoting veganism