Many moons ago, my first and favorite college roommate introduced me to the Vegan lifestyle and attempted to persuade me to switch up my eating habits. At the time, I thought she was crazy, bold, and adventurous to forgo meat consumption. The grit it takes to live a disciplined lifestyle that prohibits any food produced by an animal or harms them in any way was strange to me at the time. As a Black girl from the South, I couldn’t fathom going vegan and giving up my Texas BBQ and the dishes I’d grown to love over the years. Although my roommate’s horrific pictures were gruesome, they didn’t deter my hunger for baby back ribs and tender slow-roasted brisket slices that melt in your mouth.
Fast forward to 2023, and my youthfulness is now displaying itself as aging bones and a lactose disturbance that has shaken me to the core. As a result, the idea of eating healthy and monitoring the food I place within my body has my utmost interest now. And with the start of a new year, Actress and Social Media Influencer Tabitha Brown has ushered in a wave of products that will help steer me toward the possibilities and benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Of course, being 100% vegan or plant-based is not my ultimate goal; however, implementing healthy alternatives is the overall prize.
In collaboration with Target, Tabitha Brown has released her limited edition/third collection of products emphasizing the vegan lifestyle and providing food items that won’t completely break the bank. Although the third installment of her Target collection is limited, many of the food items began flying off the shelves, leaving vegans and non-vegans searching high and low literally for popcorn, burgers, and more.
Thankfully, I was fortunate to grab some items from Tabitha Brown’s collection to create a path toward eating foods that won’t allow me to sacrifice taste, texture, and flavor for the sake of going vegan. Because this road to eating healthy will not be easy, but it will be worth it overall. Here are a few selection of products and how I prepared them, plus my top favorite Tabitha Brown vegan food items.
Top Favorite Items
#1 Vegan Garlic Pickled Okra
This vegan garlic pickled okra is the truth and there’s nothing anyone can tell me to change my mind. I was a little apprehensive about the pickled feature but the taste and crispiness of the okra is unmatched. This is definitely a must have if you can find it in Target.
#2 Vegan Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Organic Popcorn
As a lover of all things garlic, this vegan roasted garlic & parmesan popcorn is so good that the minute you open the bag, your hand will reach inside so many times at once before you realize you’ve eaten the whole bag.
#3 Vegan Garlic Seasoned Patties
As I explained before, the idea of giving up meat and my BBQ selections is a mountain I’m not sure I’m ready to climb. However, this meat substitute is surprisingly delicious.
Product Reviews
Vegan Polenta & Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Vegan Butternut Squash Bisque & Grits
Vegan Chickpea Chili & Frito Pie
