Lewin and Goldberg (right)

I recently got to meet Bob Goldberg, one of the founders of Follow Your Heart (FYH), which began in 1970 simply as a food concession with seven seats in a health food store.  Coincidentally I was born the same year, also in Canoga Park. Along with Michael Besancon, Paul Lewin, and Spencer Windbiel, Goldberg created one of the first all-vegetarian natural food markets and restaurants still popular today in the Los Angeles area. All the founders remain vegetarians and virtually everything on the menu can be made vegan.

Today, Goldberg and Lewin own FYH. They also run Earth Island, a global company, which manufactures and distributes their beloved vegan products like delicious Vegenaise and Vegan Gourmet (one of the first tasty cheeses making it possible for vegans to have pizza).

In 40 years of business, the company has vastly exceeded their expectations.

“We believed that we were pioneers in a movement which would ultimately fundamentally transform the way people eat.  Today, it is difficult to imagine what a different world we lived in at that time . . .whole grain breads were viewed with skepticism, and organic food was very difficult to find. Vegetarianism was uncommon, and generally viewed as extreme,” Goldberg said.

Besides FYH — a warm, friendly place to enjoy great vegetarian food — they now have a gluten-free retail and wholesale bakery called The Sensitive Baker which proves they are still following their hearts.

The bakery has been very well-received. They are baking vegan products wherever possible, and appealing to customers with gluten intolerance related to Celiac disease and Autism.

This Labor Day weekend, Follow Your Heart is celebrating a big 40 year reunion. Many items are on display in the restaurant including menus from throughout their history. Let’s celebrate this important part of Southern California veggie history!

Cheesecakes by Earth Cafe

Vegan dessert options have seriously improved over the years and now cater not only to those who avoid eggs and dairy but people who steer clear of gluten and processed sugars. Some companies have taken extra steps to create products that make you feel as if you are truly indulging, even though you are enjoying healthy treats.

Take Earth Cafe, for one. Sold at natural foods stores, larger grocery stores, and other spots in California as well as online, their 10 different raw, vegan, wheat/gluten-free cheesecakes are creamy, rich and decadent. Rockin’ Raspberry and Banana Cream are excellent as are the others I have tried.

On their Twitter page, Earth Cafe often touts the health benefits of the nuts used in their treats, and the sweetener they use is agave syrup, known to avoid causing sugar crashes.

Treats from Nana's

Nana’s Cookie Company also creates vegan dessert without refined sugars, and should be applauded for using only fruit juice. With products sold across the U.S. and also in the UK, Nana’s avoids genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and ensures Kosher certified products.

My favorite was the rich and moist double chocolate cookie. The chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, while also not wheat-free, were tasty.  Of the gluten-free or wheat-free options from Nana’s, I only tasted the berry vanilla cookie bars, which could use some fine-tuning to reach a more satisfying texture and taste. It is wonderful for people with celiac disease or allergies that Nana’s has many gluten-free products such as ginger spice, lemon and other varieties of cookies, cookie bars and cookie bites.

Progressive businesses such as these should be honored for their innovative ways of satisfying today’s demanding customers.