Say hello to the healthiest meals in Australia — we chat to Garden of Vegan

This week we chatted to Mel from Garden of Vegan, talking about how they support the planet and the community and how their vegan, gluten-free, organic meal subscription service gives you the healthiest meals on the market.

1. How is Garden of Vegan different from other subscriber food services?

Garden of Vegan is leading the way when it comes to meal preparation. The mission is so close to our hearts! No corners have been cut, which is what makes our product different to the rest! We have created Australia’s first 100% organic, plant-based meals using nothing but wholefoods. All meals are free from additives, preservatives, oil, gluten and refined sugar. Just real foods as mother nature intended. Our team of chefs even prepares and cooks with premium filtered water removing any fluoride, heavy metals or toxic chemicals found in our waterways. 

We truly care about our future, in particular human health and planetary health, which is what makes us so different from other food services. We aim to educate and empower our community to make more conscious choices when it comes to consumerism through our engaged online platforms. We believe food really is medicine and is the one thing we can control. The more variety of nutrient-rich plant foods we add into our diet, the better it is for our long term health and wellbeing. Eating a predominantly plant-based diet has also been proven to better support the future sustainability of our planet! In 2021 our community saved; 185, 217, 069 L of water, 44, 481 animal lives, 123, 548 sqm of forest, 404, 843 kg of CO2. We planted 3419 trees across Australia and donated all leftover meals to Oz Harvest! 

2. Is Garden of Vegan the healthiest food on the market in Australia?

Garden of Vegan was founded and based on the latest scientific evidence-based approach to health and nutrition. Did you know that a wholefood plant-based diet is the one diet proven to reverse and manage many chronic lifestyle diseases and illnesses such as heart disease, type II diabetes, autoimmune conditions and many more! So, why are we the healthiest meals on the market? Garden of Vegan only includes natural whole-foods grown in nutrient-rich organic soil free from nasty pesticides and herbicides, and our meals contain no refined sugar, oil, additives or preservatives. We only support certified organic farmers and suppliers and aim to educate people on the importance of organics when it comes to human and planetary health.

“A plant-based diet is more likely to produce good health and to reduce sharply the risk of heart problems, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and kidney disease.” ~ Dr T. Colin Campbell

3. Is this a good meal plan for those who aren’t vegan?

Garden of Vegan is not intended for just vegans. Our mission is to provide Australian’s with the healthiest option when it comes to ready-made meals. Regardless of your diet, we all can agree that we need to eat more plant-based foods. There are 9 essential amino acids that your body requires from food. Every one of our meals has been designed to provide a complete essential amino acid profile and provide your body with all the protein it needs. Our meals are also jam-packed with an abundance of macro and micronutrients, which many other options out there are lacking in.

4. How do you come up with your recipes and source your ingredients?

All our recipes have been created in-house by our Head Chef and Co-Founder, Druen. Druen grew up on an organic farm in Northern NSW and shares a real love for food, human health and planetary health. 

We only source premium, certified organic, non-GMO produce from local Australian farmers. Our meals are designed in consultation with leading health professionals all around the world, to meet your daily macro and micronutrient needs in abundance. You know, all those vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that not only supports the body in fighting off nasties but allow it to thrive.

5. How does Garden of Vegan support the planet?

Garden of Vegan is constantly looking for innovative solutions to more conscious and sustainable business practices, in particular packaging! We believe in treading lightly and doing all that we can to support our beautiful Mumma Earth! We plant a tree for every new customer here in Australia. We also have a custom-designed delivery box that is fully recyclable and is made to not require any additional sticky tape, minimising waste. Our liners that keep your meals cool are made from recycled materials and can also be recycled after use. Our current containers are made from recycled plastic, meaning no virgin plastic is added in the manufacturing process. This initiative comes from Europe where they have a circular tray-for-tray economy, taking plastic out of the environment and repurposing it. Their trays are used are returned and then re-used again and again and again. Our recycling standards in Australia do not support this circular system as yet. We are hopeful we will get there one day!

6. Is all your food free of Gluten, Oil and Refined Sugar?

All Garden of Vegan meals are free from refined sugar, gluten and oil. 

Gluten intolerances are becoming increasingly common, so we have safeguarded all our meals from including this protein. Oil is a highly refined processed food. It lacks fibre and is extremely calorie-dense. It can interfere with weight management, blood sugar regulation, and artery function which is why we have removed it from our meals. We only use 100% real plant-based wholefoods that have not been over-processed or refined. Food straight from the earth.

7. Do you deliver all over Australia?

Garden of Vegan delivers fresh meals weekly all across Australia, with the current exception of the Northern Territory. We are hoping to expand Australia-wide very very soon.

8. Can I also grab a cheeky desert? Or a yummy snack?

At Garden of Vegan, we do not compromise when it comes to our health, which is why we have created a range of wholesome treats and desserts that will satisfy your cravings whilst nourishing you from the inside out! For example, our Sweet Potato Ceremonial Cacao Fudge Brownie! Enough said! We promise you won’t have to suffer or miss out on life’s delights, but rather swap the refined and toxic sugars, butters and oils for more nutritious and natural alternatives.

9. Where will Garden of Vegan be moving in 2022 and beyond?

The team at Garden of Vegan have many dreams and aspirations for our future. This 2022, we have lots of new and exciting plans and can not wait to share them with our community! New meals, new meal plans, more organic produce and pantry items, a new website to enhance our customers’ experience and so much more! On a personal level, we will each be aiming to live more harmoniously with nature and with ourselves. We are hopeful that we will be a part of a world one day soon where there is no animal cruelty, less waste, more conscious consumerism and a deeper sense of community and connection. We see it as our responsibility as the caretakers of the land to make more conscious choices regarding our health and the health of the planet. This is why we will continue to provide Australia’s healthiest meals and support individuals on their unique journeys. If we can support you this 2022, we invite you to reach out and join the Garden of Vegan Community! We are all in this together.

Find out more gardenofvegan.com.au