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Vegan meals have come a long way over the last few years. With the rise of veganism and other dietary preferences, restaurants and food retailers have adapted to suit the needs of ALL their clientele. Carrying vegan, gluten free, or dairy free options is simply the new norm, as it should be. Whether you subscribe to these dietary choices or not, sometimes its fun to mix things up – especially considering the options have gotten as delicious as they have.

A big part of our mission at Mercato Zacconi is to bring the best options to every audience we are serving, and that means natural products made with the best ingredients around. We will be carrying a variety of specialty products ranging from all natural soaps and creams from local distributors to prepared vegan meals from Ottawa’s own Healthy Hippie.

Ayla Barker, the Healthy Hippie herself, shared her knowledge about the effects a vegan diet has on the body, “You just feel so much better – lighter, your digestion is quicker and you never get bloated or lethargic after eating. There are actually way more nutrients in vegan meals because plants are a lot richer in vitamins, minerals and nutrients than meats – and it’s a much more diverse range of nutrients.”

Veganism can sometimes be seen as an intimidating or single-minded lifestyle, but there is no rule that says you have to follow a strict vegan diet in order to enjoy vegan products. Anybody can adopt some aspects of vegan lifestyle without having to commit entirely, “95% of our guests are not vegan but simply trying to learn more about a plant-based lifestyle, which is amazing.” Simply choosing to have one vegan meal a week is hugely impactful, “Every time you choose a plant-based meal, you are saving: 1 life, 20 lbs of C02, 30 F2 of forest, 40 lbs of grain, and 1116 GL of water.”

So, let’s talk about the facts: It is not an all-in or all-out lifestyle, our vegan meals are delicious and nutritious, and giving up meat for even just ONE meal contributes greatly to the world we live in. Veganism is simply a form of mindful living, choosing to be conscious about the food we put into our body and the impacts they have on our surroundings.  With the growing vegan options and meat substitutions, it’s never been easier to try something new.

While we’re at it, let’s discuss the products that we choose to put on our skin. Gone are the days where the only options for products are ones with lists as long as your arm of ingredients that nobody can pronounce. The skin is the largest organ in the body and it absorbs what we put on it – which means we are virtually ingesting each of those chemical ingredients. Natural skincare is on the rise and for good reason. Just like healthy foods make us feel better, healthy ingredients make our skin look better.

If you are looking to naturalize your skin care regime, we have partnered with local suppliers to provide high quality, vegan beauty products made with the best natural ingredients. Our Mercato Zacconi private label lotions and lip balms are 100% natural, using luxurious ingredients like avocado oil, turmeric, and lavender that will deliver your most nourished skin yet. Our soaps are made in small batches out of pure essential oils and they contain absolutely no artificial colours or dyes and no animal fats. They are also biodegradable to help us all to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, inside the shower and out! You can find both product lines on the shelves of Mercato Zacconi, very soon.

We are in the golden age of consumer awareness and product transparency. We have the power to educate ourselves about skin health and wellness AND we have access to these superior products. Even taking small strides to lead a more natural and healthier lifestyle can have positive consequences on a larger scale, and you might be pleasantly surprised by how they make you feel. They say stepping outside of your comfort zone is a good thing, and we must say, we agree.