The vegan world is opening up.
There has been a shift in the last few years, mainly due to celebrities, talk show hosts, authors, and political influencers that has made veganism less weird/elitist/ granola/cult-like/bland/fill in your adjective here, and much more. Now, many people have come to realize it’s just a way to eat, a healthier way to eat.
People like Ellen DeGeneres, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Clinton, Oprah, Kris Carr ,Carrie Underwood, Mike Tyson, Kathy Freston, Leah Michele, Steve-O, Bob Harper, and Robin Quivers have all had a positive influence on making “Vegan” seem less like a religion and more like a healthy, happy way to eat.
This bodes well for the future of the vegan industry.
Restaurateurs, cookbook authors, personal chefs, and wellness coaches are all verticals that will benefit from incorporating a splash of vegan to their offerings.
Many people becoming more curious about where to go to learn about vegan food as well. Even if they don’t plan to commit on going full vegan, many are interested in incorporating even one or two vegan meals a week into their meal plans for the health benefits these meals provide.
So how can you learn more about vegan cooking?
Schools and Classes that Teach About Vegan Cooking
There are currently 5 schools/programs that are worth learning more about if you’re thinking about diving into the world of vegan food.
Natural Gourmet Institute
The Natural Gourmet Institute is located in New York City. They offer a 619 hour program that focuses mainly on plant based foods, but also incorporates preparation techniques of seafood, eggs, and chicken.
Natural Kitchen Cooking School
The Natural Cooking School is located in New Jersey and only allows 12 people per program.
The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts
The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts offers a 900-hour Professional Chef Training Program. The school is located in Austin Tx. Out of all of the schools on this list, this school seems to be the most intensive. They train in the following areas: vegan, macrobiotic, vegetarian, Ayurvedic, and raw and living food.
Living Light Culinary Arts Institute
Living light is located in Fort Bragg, CA. They offer training in raw vegan cuisine.
Bauman College – Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts
Bauman offers Natural Chef training (450 hours) as well as training to become a Nutrition Consultant (700 hours).
You might get some vegan teachings at Bauman, but they also incorporate meat and seafood in their curriculum.
Local Classes
Many local areas have vegan classes as well, that are often shorter and less intense. These can be great options for those just wanting to dip their toes into the water and learn a couple great recipes. Check out your local listing sites and see what options you have near you.
Whether you want to learn like the pros, or try our a shorter local class, now is a good time to have a few You Need to Try Umeboshi: The Best New Vegan-Friendly Food I’ve Tried This Year. up your sleeve!
