Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake

The number of people identifying themselves as following a vegan diet in the US more than doubled between 2009 and 2013, going from 1% of the population to over 2%.1 Just like vegetarians, people who follow a vegan diet do not consume meat. Along with not eating meat, vegans also stay away from any item that is an animal product such as leather, honey, eggs, dairy, non-cruelty free cosmetics, and fur. There are a variety of reasons people chose to follow a vegan diet, including ethical, health and environmental impacts. With so many grocery stores and restaurants offering vegan options, eating vegan is easier than ever.

No wonder coconut milk has gained in popularity in recent years; this creamy milk not only tastes delicious, but has a slew of health benefits as well.

Jackfruit is a strange looking fruit. It is large, growing as large as 100 pounds in some cases, and covered in a thick, green skin that appears almost prickly. This relative of the fig is the largest fruit to grow on trees. When fully ripe, the fruit has an almost rancid smell that some have described as rotting onions. The fruit tastes like a combination of pineapple and bananas when ripe, with a bland, potato-like flavor when unripe.