Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Earth Day Texas Food Truck Exhibitor Announces Big Plans
Earth Day Texas Vendor, Soulgood Food Truck, Announces Plans to Feed Homeless Children in Dallas, Texas
Soulgood Food Truck Launches Program to Feed Homeless Children
Cynthia Nevels on the Harry Connick Jr Show Today and Shares Why She Started Soulgood
Posted by Soulgood on Monday, March 27, 2017
Dallas Independent School District reports there are over 4,000 homeless children in their schools. Soulgood believes healthy food can help put a smile on a hungry child’s face. Soulgood Food Truck will launch its new Gifts to Tyler Feed the Children initiative on the birthday of its co-founder, Tyler Nelson, on May 19, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. Soulgood is raising $9,000 to feed over 800 children across Dallas/Fort Worth in 2017. Soulgood is looking for volunteers to prep and serve food, donate gifts and cash to support the social impact program.
To learn more about the program or how to get involved visit the Soulgood Giving page.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Soulgood Food Truck Launches New Program to Feed Homeless Children
Soulgood’s Chef Cynthia Featured on Harry Connick Jr.s Emmy Nominated Daytime Television Show – Harry
Monday, March 27 on #HarryTV, Harry meets Cynthia Nevels, founder of Soulgood from Dallas, TX. She is a mother on a mission to help families eat healthier and live better by putting 3 words together, vegan fast food.
When Cynthia Nevels received a call that her son, Tyler Nelson, who was born with cystic fibrosis, was in a Fort Worth hospital in 2010 needing a double organ transplant, she had to sell everything in order to move to Houston, Texas’ largest city, to be with her son while he waited for organs to become available.
Nevels, alumni manager at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a Dallas County Community College District program launched locally in partnership with Goldman Sachs, said it was during those dark, challenging two years, while Tyler was on 22 medications, that she realized that the only thing she could do to help improve his quality of life was to provide healthy food.
“I am a staunch believer that the way I chose to eat helped me get through those tough, long days,” Nevels said. “So, I convinced him to try to eat healthier and better, to try it my way.”
The plant-based, organic, local foods that Nevels made for herself and her son attracted the attention of hospital staff, who said it was very flavorful, and they suggested she try to start a business with her recipes.
“I was just making food that Tyler would eat,” Nevels said. “I believed food could be medicine. It was pasta, hamburgers, chili dogs, but it was all plant-based.”
After her son received the transplants, Nevels did some research and discovered that many people were concerned about the food they were eating. “I realized I had stumbled onto something,” she said.
Nevels raised capital through crowdfunding and in 2014 launched Soulgood food at the Dallas Farmers Market. Her concept featured a menu consisting of vegan, vegetarian, organic and locally-sourced ingredients. In 2016 Nevels launched a food truck, which she said is the only food truck in Texas that exclusively serves organic, non-GMO food.
“The primary mission is to save the planet,” Nevels said. “We serve tacos, quesadillas and sandwiches, but my other mission is for diners not to be able to tell that it’s all plant-based.”
Nevels’ mission featured on national TV
Nevels appeared on the Harry Connick, Jr., TV show on March 27. The show’s producers saw Nevels’ story in CEO Mom magazine, and they wanted to feature women who were trying to change the world, according to Nevels.
Nevels shared her story with Connick, a New Orleans native, and made a po’boy sandwich, a Louisiana specialty, for him. The two discussed Nevels’ mission and the importance of giving people options to eat healthier and better food.
Nevels said her goal is not to lecture diners about vegetarianism or any type of lifestyle. She said many of her regular clients are carnivores who love her food and choose to have meat-free days. “I’m here to uplift people and have fun, not to preach,” Nevels added.
Social good as a business goal
Nevels said her son passed away in 2015, but even while he was very sick, he was still strongly advocating organ procurement. She added that Soulgood donates 5 percent of revenues to non-profits, including to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in Tyler’s honor.
Nevels efforts to change the world also got her an invitation to host a panel on social good at Dallas Startup Week on April 3. Dallas Startup Week is a free, five-day event that celebrates entrepreneurship.
“My company is all about doing good, donating and giving back,” said Nevels. She added that on May 19, Tyler’s birthday, Soulgood will launch a new initiative to feed homeless children who are in the Dallas Independent School District.
“At the end of events or festivals, we have food that we can still serve,” she said. “But these are not leftovers. I will stay an extra hour to prepare fresh food, and we’re going to serve children of the homeless community in Dallas,” Nevels said. “This is what I’m going to do to further Tyler’s legacy.”
Nevels’ other business ventures are Integrality, a business management consulting agency, and thinkcrowdfund.com, which helps startups raise capital through crowdfunding.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Chef Cynthia Featured on Harry Connick Jr.s Daytime Television Show
North Texas has experienced an impressive increase in the number of food trucks traveling the highways and roads serving unique foods from grilled lamb, gourmet cupcakes to chopped liver. More cities like Arlington, Richardson, Frisco and Dallas are embracing the trend and opening up special “mobile” parks and recreation sites to meet the demand. At last count there were over 44 privately owned food trucks in Dallas, alone. However, less than 1% of the active and operating trucks are fully 100% plant-based, vegan or vegetarian.
Research shows more carnivores are interested in purchasing and eating more healthy food options at retail and mobile locations. A local Dallas Farmers Market startup pop-up kitchen, Soulgood, is building its organic vegan and vegetarian fast food truck. The company, owned by Integrality, LLC, has launched a public campaign to crowdfund the capital needed to finish the project. The company has spent two years operating as a temporary vendor in The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market and collecting feedback from patrons who express a growing demand for more plant-based options and mobility.
The company just completed a market analysis project with graduate Accounting students from the University of Texas Dallas with rave reviews for their work in the community, business model and plans for expansion and growth. Soulgood expects to launch the new vegan food truck this Fall after raising $6,000 to finalize the mobile kitchen equipment installations.
Soulgood is a vegetarian and vegan fast food pop-up restaurant which serves healthy organic vegan and vegetarian fast foods using locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. The company’s mission is to save the planet, people and animals by serving foods with integrity and no regret.
To learn more read the latest CEO Mom Magazine feature about the founder and the company’s purpose.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Does Dallas Need Another Vegan Food Truck?
Farmers, Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Organic and Vegan Fast Food Options at Taste of Dallas
Dallas, Texas – June 1, 2016 – The Taste of Dallas is a 3-day event being held from 3rd June to the 5th June 2016 at the Dallas Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. This event showcases products like food, music & entertainment, shopping, sports, kids activities and much more. The family fun event continues to ensure all can enjoy themselves over the weekend including vegans and vegetarians.
Soulgood, a local vegan and vegetarian pop up restaurant, debuted its organic, vegan and vegetarian fast foods in 2015 at the Taste of Dallas and received rave reviews from herbivores skeptical of attending the festival for fear of deficient healthy plant-based food options. This year, Soulgood will return with a few fan favorites serving their new organic gluten-free vegan corn dogs called Stella Dogs, their new plant-based vegan cheeseburger sliders called Double D’s, and their famous organic and vegan cupcakes affectionately called Fruitcups.
“We are thrilled to be one of only a few vendors that specialize in creating and serving healthy plant-based fast food options in the Dallas/Fort Worth market,” shares Chef Cynthia Nevels, Head Creative Chef and Co-Founder of Soulgood.
Soulgood opened in 2014 at the Dallas Farmers Market. The innovative pop up restaurant can be found every weekend in Shed 1 outside serving hot and fresh fast foods made with ingredients sourced from local farmers at the market and surrounding farms.
Soulgood will offer fans fresh and hot samples, song and dance with their karaoke and Motown tunes; and health education on the benefits of using locally sourced organic ingredients, creating and eating healthy meals for the family to enjoy.
You can find Soulgood at Booth 23 at the Dallas Fair Park Friday from 5:00 p.m to 11:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn more by calling toll-free 1-877-601-3211 ext 141, or online at www.eatsoulgood.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @eatsoulgood.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Food Delivery Service On the Rise in North Texas
More men and women are looking for convenience and confidence when it comes to the foods they choose to eat. In recent news, food delivery companies like GrubHub is meeting the demand for confidence and convenience and recently reported 51% percent revenue growth in the first quarter of 2015 with a net income of $10.8 million dollars.
Soulgood is a new organic, vegan and vegetarian food company based in Dallas, Texas that is meeting the growing need for healthy food options that consumers can be confident about and delivering convenience. Head Chef, Cynthia Nevels, launched a new 5-Day Meal Plan delivery service in the first quarter of 2016 and has experienced significant revenue growth within three months due to consumer demand.
The company prepares and delivers full plant-based meatless meals ranging from vegan spaghetti dinners, raw tacos, vegetarian chili to vegan pancakes to residents and corporations across Dallas/Fort Worth.
Today, the company announced a one day only sale in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and March’s National Nutrition Month with a coupon for 17% off the first month meal plan subscription. Soulgood is encouraging more Texans to eat clean and go green. “The influx of new customers across the North Texas market has been astounding and the feedback on how healthy, eco-friendly and fresh our meals are has been inspiring,” says Chef Cynthia, Co-Founder of Soulgood.
Consumers can visit the company’s website www.eatsoulgood.com and click on 5-Day Meal Plan link to find the seasonal menu, subscribe to a plan of their choice, and then order five meals from the menu for the week. Orders received on or before noon each Sunday are delivered each Monday. Delivery area ranges from as south as Cedar Hill, Texas to Allen, Texas.
“We want more Texans to know there are more unique, healthy, meatless, organic and flavorful options conveniently available to them delivered to their home or office,” shared Chef Cynthia. Visit www.eatsoulgood.com to learn more about the new 5-Day Meal Plan or the company’s retail location at the Dallas Farmers Market.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Soulgood Gives Back to Support People, Animals and the Planet
Soulgood launched in 2012 and started serving vegan and vegetarian fast foods at the newly renovated Dallas Farmers Market on October 31, 2014 in honor of one special child who did his part to change the world.
Last week, Soulgood’s co-founder was featured on LaunchDFW.com. The story highlighted why Soulgood was founded and why it is important to give back.
Soulgood serves more than just organic, vegan and vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner. It serves a heaping portion of love to its fans because the co-founder believes food can be thy medicine. Chef Cynthia founded the company in an effort to help her son, Tyler Nelson, who needed a double-organ transplant back in 2010.
Tyler received his life saving transplant on February 28, 2012 at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. Soulgood has pledge to give back to the community every year on the anniversary of Tyler’s gift. Soulgood will give away 5 percent of its profits to two deserving charities at a local check presentation event happening at the Dallas Farmers Market at 1:00 p.m. CST. Donations will be distributed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Inc. in Tyler’s honor and Kids Environmental Education Network, Inc., a Fort Worth 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit providing health and environmental education services to underserved at-risk youth across North Texas.
Soulgood is a conscience driven company located in Dallas, Texas that is working to do its part to help Texans eat better and live healthier lives. Tyler transitioned on July 23, 2015 due to organ transplant complications but his legacy and advocacy for life will live on at Soulgood through our commitment to help others. “It is in our DNA to give back, to help further research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis and to help local organizations who align with our mission to save the planet, people and animals by serving food with integrity and no regrets,” shares Chef Cynthia.
Join us on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Dallas Farmers Market at 1010 S. Pearl Expressway Dallas, Texas 75201 for an exciting celebration of life and check presentation. We’re serving our famous Naked Dogs and Vin Diezel Dogs at the market this weekend.
Visit Soulgood to learn more or to find out where we will popup next at www.eatsoulgood.com, on Facebook.com or call toll-free 1-877-601-3211 ext 141.
Farmers, Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Dallas Farmers Market Vendor Launches Plant-Based Meal Delivery Service
Dallas, February 14, 2016 – Dallas Farmers Market’s only vegan and vegetarian fast food popup kitchen, Soulgood, announces its new organic plant-based meal plan delivery service.
Soulgood was launched in 2012 and started serving vegan and vegetarian fast foods at the newly renovated Dallas Farmers Market on October 31, 2014. The whole food company has been growing its loyal following for two-years. Over time the team learned customers wanted more healthy, meatless and prepared meals delivered to them for the week.
“I took the time to listen to busy professionals who wanted more options for eating healthier but had very little time or limited knowledge on how to prepare vegan or vegetarian meals for the week,” says Cynthia Nevels, Founder and Chief Creative Chef for Soulgood.
According to Hannah Sentenac, Editor-in-Chief for Latest Vegan News and Global Food and Drink Trends 2016 report released in 2015, the change in culinary preferences is revealing itself through data — the market for non-dairy products is skyrocketing; meat alternatives sales are expected to reach $5 Billion by 2020; and more than 1/3 of consumers are open to plant-based products.
Chef Cynthia launched the new company to demonstrate healthy foods can be tasty, full of flavor and healthy. “We found more people were living with heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and chronic illnesses than ever before. Health and weight issues are forcing more consumers to eat healthier alternatives and change their lifestyle,” says Nevels.
At our popup kitchen, we prepare BBQ sandwiches, street tacos, vegan pancakes, Italian Po’ Boys and our famous Fruitcups (organic vegan cupcakes). However, our weekly meals are wholesome slow cooked meals such as cornbread dressing with vegan sausage, oatmeal, spaghetti, raw tacos or our vegetarian chili with organic fruits and vegetable on the side. The meals are plant-based, made with organic ingredients, and non-GMO. We offer some gluten free, soy free and dairy free options and 5-day meal plans are delivered once a week.
“I appreciate the weekly meals and love everything I order. Soulgood is saving my life and time each week,” says Melissa Harrison, 5-Meal Plan subscriber.
Soulgood delivers to Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin counties on Mondays. Customers can subscribe online at www.eatsoulgood.com, on Facebook.com or call toll-free 1-877-601-3211 ext 141.
Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Vegetarian Popup Returns to Dallas Farmers Market
The wait is over. The long-awaited opening last month of the Market, an indoor food hall formerly Shed No. 2, at the Dallas Farmers Market has ignited the foodie rush in Dallas.
The indoor food hall isn’t the only hot spot at the market. Shed 2, the outdoor market, welcomes back one of the hottest and healthiest new vegan and vegetarian popup restaurants in the city, Soulgood, back to the shed. Soulgood, the winner of the 2015 Extraordinary Is Community Leader Award, launched at the Dallas Farmers Market on October 31, 2014 during the construction period and built a loyal following of fans and foodies searching for organic vegan and vegetarian plant-based fast foods.
Soulgood, founded by Chef Cynthia Nevels, is on deck to return to Shed 2 this Spring the weekend of January 29 – 31, 2016. The enthusiastic and quirky crew will serve their breakfast and lunch menu from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday – Sunday each weekend with a little bit of Motown on the side.
“We’ve learned a number of lessons, listened to our customers, found more local sources for organic ingredients, waited out the construction, had a complete makeover and we’re coming back to the place where we started to serve herbivores and omnivores what they like – good and nutritious whole foods,” stated Chef Cynthia, Head Chef for Soulgood.
Soulgood will serve local favorites like fluffy vegan pancakes with pure organic maple syrup, the Vin Diezel Dog which is a fully loaded vegan/vegetarian chili cheese dog, the Showdown Burger, and the moist and delicious Fruitcups – the company’s organic vegan cupcakes.
This year, Soulgood, has added a new food delivery service where patrons can order onsite or pickup their weekly meals. DFM patrons can buy five meals and Soulgood will give five percent back to charity. Customers can order onsite or pick up their 5-day meal plans, called Healthy Meal Lunchboxes, at Soulgood’s restaurant popup at the Dallas Farmers Market. The restaurant has pledged five percent of sales will go to a local charity and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The donation to the CF Foundation is earmarked to support research to find a cure for the disease that impacted the chef’s family last year when she lost her 21-year old son to the disease.
“Giving back to nonprofit organizations that align with our mission to promote a better quality of life is important to me and I feel it is good for the soul,” shares Chef Cynthia.
To find out more, visit eatsoulgood.com and click on Giving Back for more details.
Farmers, Organic News, Vegan News, Vegetarian News
Holiday Cheer and Cherries
Remember to choose healthy whole foods this holiday season to keep your health and weight in check. Allow Soulgood to cater your next holiday meal for those loved ones who prefer to pass on the turkey and chicken this season. Call us toll-free at 1-877-601-3211 ext 141 9:00am – 6:00pm Monday – Friday. #eatwell from the Soulgood team.