Vending Machines That Dish Out Healthy Vegan Meals are Coming to the U.S., and They Look Incredible

Demand for accessible vegan food is higher than ever these days. Consumers are seeking out plant-based alternatives and ditching meat for more sustainable options. A new company is seeking to supply consumers with a solution for their desires. The makers of leCupboard will be planting two new vegan vending machines in strategic locations across the United States, beginning with two in San Fransisco. We couldn’t be more excited.

When you think vending machines, you probably picture candy bars, potato chips, soft drinks and similar fare. The leCupboard vending machines aim to provide customers with prepared vegan meals instead of junk food and are technologically advanced. If you’ve ever visited an Eatsa restaurant before, you get the idea. According to AngelList, the venture has received $2 million in funding and will offer meals like chia pudding breakfast jars, lentil salads, and zucchini noodles with walnut pesto, in chic and convenient to-go boxes. The meals will cost $8 on average.

“How many people keep watching documentaries about the food system, or keep getting advice from their doctors but are still unable to execute the diet they wish they had in practice? We help people embrace their cravings and indulge in delicious meals that are great for their mental and physical health,” leCupboard founder and CEO, Lamiaâ Bounahmidi, told us in an e-mail.

We couldn’t agree more; their eggplant caviar tart with whole grain crust, which is topped with orange blossom and tomato jam on a bed of arugula, looks fulfilling and nutritious.

With one-third of Americans identifying as flexitarian (making the decision not to eat as much meat) and one in ten millennials identifying as vegetarian or vegan, plant-based vending machines seem like a timely and mindful choice. Consumers who know what nutrients they need to operate at their optimal health levels know that eating plant-based is the tasty, simple, and sustainable way to help them achieve their goals. And as they seek out more plant-based options, vegan recipe apps such as Food Monster, are gaining tremendous popularity.

“We are closing the intention-action gap in healthful eating,” Bounahmidi continued. “We have been deploying mobile Cupboards in private companies but we are now looking to place them in public areas in the coming weeks.”

Take leCupboard’s ‘le Madrid’ as an example of a healthful meal. A dish of zucchini noodles with walnut pesto, grilled mushrooms infused with garlic, and harissa flax seeds, the dish includes 84 percent of your daily nutritional needs. Not so bad!

“By inviting us into your daily food choices, you’re being responsible not only to yourself, but to all who have brought this meal to you, soil to plate,” leCupboard writes about their mission. “Under the current food and retail industries, our norm is to accept compromises at the loss of accessibility, health, and sustainability. We have paved another way to turn the food system right-side up.”

The le Versailles is leCupboard’s vegan chocolate mousse with pistachios, raspberries, and sea salt. We’d be thrilled to eat one of these as an afternoon pick-me-up; cruelty-free treats are the best treats!

Make Your Own Easy Plant-Based Meals Inspired by leCupboard

If you are on the go and want to pack some quick-and-easy vegan meals, you could make your own variations on some of the leCupboard meals. For a refreshing zoodle bowl, this Summertime Zoodle Glow Bowl with Creamy Avocado Lime Sauce is a filling option that is sure to make you glow from the inside-out. These Chickpea and Pistachio Falafels are nutty, crunchy and a great salad topper you can take with you on the go. And you don’t want to miss this vegan Black Bean and Orange Chocolate Mousse; black beans are a great source of protein and will make your dessert filling and sweet. All of these options can be packed for convenience and optimized for health.

“Vending machines provide consumers convenience, but mostly through junk food,” says One Green Planet co-founder Preeta Sinha. “What leCupboard is doing is disruptive to the future of vending machines businesses by providing people with healthy and fresh options. I hope they are able to take this to the masses.”

If you’re interested in finding out more filling and easy lunch recipes to help get your nutrition on track, we highly recommend you check out our Food Monster App. With over 8,000 vegan recipes to look through, you’re sure to find your favorite new vegan, allergy-friendly recipes with at least 10 new recipes added daily! Don’t forget to follow Food Monster on Facebook and Instagram, too!

All image source: leCupboard