What you need to know about our FOOD SYSTEM with Food Empowerment Project founder Lauren Ornelas

What you need to know about our FOOD SYSTEM with Food Empowerment Project founder Lauren Ornelas

Author: Vegan Lifestyle Coach: Jenny Cheifetz April 29, 2026 Duration: 1:09:21

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Lauren Ornelas is the founder and General Programs Team Member of Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.), a vegan food justice nonprofit that promotes veganism, fights for farm workers, works on lack of access to healthy foods in Black and Brown communities, and encourages people not to buy chocolate sourced from the worst forms of child labor, including slavery. She has been active in the animal rights movement since 1987, having started the first high school animal rights group in San Antonio, Texas, and then Action for Animals, a group she launched in college and that is still active in Austin. In 1999, lauren was asked by Viva!UK to start and run Viva!USA in 1999. As the leader of Viva!USA, lauren investigated factory farms and ran consumer campaigns, working with activists nationwide. In cooperation with other activists, lauren persuaded Trader Joe’s to stop selling duck meat, convinced Pier 1 Imports to stop using feathers, and was the spark that got the former CEO of Whole Foods Market to become a vegan. She also helped halt the construction of an industrial dairy operation in California. In addition, lauren served as campaign director with the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition for six years. Watch lauren’s TEDx talk on The Power of Our Food Choices.

Food Empowerment Project Links:

Website: foodispower.org

Instagram: @foodempowermentproject

Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodempowermentproject/

Bluesky: @foodispower.bsky.social

Threads: @foodempowermentproject

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/foodempowermentproject

Get Lauren's CHOCOLATE APP

Lauren's TEDX


The Juicy Bits:

  1. Young children have empathy toward animals, but it's pushed out of them.
  2. No matter the label, animals are transported and slaughtered in horrible conditions. If you care that much, you need to take that extra step.
  3. What does sustainable mean to you? It should mean every living being can live life fully with dignity and respect.
  4. Once you start thinking outside yourself, it opens you up to thinking of others. If we have the privilege to think about our food choices, then we have a responsibility to do better.
  5. When looking at the food system, every step of the way there are humans exploited. It is important to make informed decisions and speak out.
  6. The FOOD EMPOWERMENT PROJECT focuses on: veganism for the animals, anti-dairy efforts, farm worker justice, and lack of access to healthy foods.
  7. CHOCOLATE IS A LUXURY. Try not to support industries that enslave, abuse, and traffic people.
  8. Food is a tool for social change. There is so much power with food.
  9. Lauren's favorite foods: Thai and Mexican, popcorn, French fries


**The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to constitute legal or medical advice; all information, content, and material on this site are for general informational purposes only. This podcast contains links to other third party websites. Such links are only for the convenience and enjoyment of the user.


Hosted by Vegan Lifestyle Coach Jenny Cheifetz, The Flirty Vegan is a warm and engaging space for anyone curious about plant-based living. This isn't about strict rules or judgment; it's about the vibrant, practical, and often deeply personal journey of aligning your choices with your values. Each episode feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, exploring the many facets of a compassionate lifestyle. You'll hear discussions that go beyond food, touching on the ethical decision to honor animals, the tangible impact on planetary conservation, and the personal health benefits that come from this mindful approach. Jenny guides these inspiring and important talks, weaving together stories from guests and her own experience to demystify the transition and celebrate its joys. The podcast naturally delves into the challenges and triumphs, offering listeners a sense of community and realistic advice. Whether you're fully committed or just dipping a toe in, the dialogue here is designed to educate and connect, leaving you with both motivation and a clearer understanding of how these choices ripple out into the world. It’s an invitation to explore a more intentional way of living, filled with discovery and genuine enthusiasm for making a difference.
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