Fueled by a commitment to plant-powered lifestyles and a craving for the old deli favorite, Terrie achieved the impossible – replacing chicken salad with an indulging chickpea version that made Lagos participants stand up and take notice. Through her dedication to nutritional yeast, Terrie has also created a vegan-friendly alternative that is both delicious and full of nutrients – the perfect ingredient for those seeking a cheesy, nutty, savory snack without cheese.
Nutritional yeast is a vegan-friendly, gluten-free ingredient that is derived from saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast – the same type of yeast used for making bread. Unlike its live counterpart, nutritional yeast has a distinct taste profile that is described as being cheesy, nutty, and savory. As such, it has become a popular alternative to cheese in vegan and vegetarian recipes, as well as an additive in snacks like popcorn.
In addition to its delicious flavor, nutritional yeast is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains all nine essential amino acids, as well as B vitamins and minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and copper. This makes it an excellent dietary supplement for vegans and vegetarians alike.
Crafting a Plant-Powered Alternative
Terrie was determined to stay plant-powered, even when it seemed impossible. She had fallen in love with a chicken salad from a local deli and, instead of giving up on her commitment, she sought out the recipe and set about crafting an alternate version using chickpeas. After successfully converting the recipe into a delicious vegan option, Terrie was proud of her accomplishment and excited to share her new ‘plant-powered’ creation with the world.
But she didn’t stop there. Terrie took it a step further and added her nutritional yeast seasoning blend to the dish, making it even more flavourful and delicious. After tasting the results, she was so thrilled with the outcome that she began adding the same seasoning blend to all of her other dishes.
Taking on the Challenge of Selling at Farmer’s Markets
Terrie never expected to hear ‘You should sell this!’ over and over, but she was determined to make it happen. With confidence and ambition, she took on the challenge of setting up at four different farmer’s markets each week during the summer. Though it was a lot of hard work, Terrie loved the opportunity to interact with her customers and showcase the amazing taste and nutrition of her products.
She was thrilled to learn that not only were vegans interested in her products, but non-vegans too! And they were all more than willing to pay for them. Terrie’s hard work had paid off – her plant-based products were a hit!
Terrie’s Ambition and Perseverance Rewarded
Terrie’s dedication to her plant-based products was rewarded when she won the coveted Golden Ticket at the Making It in Michigan tradeshow. She had taken the initiative to seek professional help and advice, and had contracted with a food consulting company, hired a commercial kitchen, and created packaging and other brand elements. With her hard work and determination, her plant-powered salads were now going to be carried in all four Meijer Market stores – a testament to her ambition and perseverance.
Plant-Based Recipes That Taste Just Like the Real Thing
Terrie has taken on the challenge of creating plant-based recipes that taste just like the ones made with chicken, egg, or tuna. She proudly states that her food tastes like “the real thing” due to her clever use of tofu as an egg white substitute and jackfruit as a fish alternative. Not only that, Terrie is also experimenting with taking traditional BBQ pork recipes and making them plant-based using jackfruit. She explains that though the mature fruit is sweet, young jackfruit has a texture that absorbs flavor perfectly for this endeavor.
Keeping James Tyler’s Memory Alive
Terrie is proud of her success in crafting plant-powered products, but she does so with bittersweet memories. She named her business JT’s Deli after her son James Tyler, who had a passion for veganism from an early age. While their dream of running the business together was cut short due to his mental health issues, Terrie is determined to keep his memory alive by making it easier for others to adopt a healthy plant-based diet. She believes that indulging in “comfort foods” high in sugar and fat can lead to emotional instability and that a plant-based diet can bring both physical and mental health benefits.
Her Gourmet Nutritional Yeast Seasoning, which started it all, is now available in four Meijer Market Format stores, along with her vegan chicken (free) salad, egg (free) salad, and tuna (free) salad. Building on that success, she’s ready to introduce more customer favorites, such as mac ‘n’ cheddar made with roasted sweet potatoes and cashews.
Nutritional yeast is a great alternative for vegans and vegetarians alike, whether it’s added to snacks like popcorn, used as a substitute for cheese in recipes, or taken as a dietary supplement. Its beefy flavor and packed nutrition make it the perfect ingredient for plant-based eaters who want to cook up tasty dishes without sacrificing their values. People like Terrie demonstrate that staying powered by plants does not mean compromising deliciousness, thus proving that veganism can truly be all about the nourishment of body and soul.
