Entries categorized as ‘vegan’
Everyone has addictions, especially vegans (don’t lie to yourself, you know you do.) I figure it’s about time I share a few of mine:
Method products – hand soap, dish soap, laundry, mops, shower gels, “aroma rings” – They’ve got it all! And it’s all vegan, no animal testing or animal products. The sleek design of every little bottle is what has turned my love for Method into a full fledged addiction.
http://www.methodhome.com/
Smart Water – It’s just that. Smart. Water. Water with electrolytes. For someone like me with admittedly low electrolytes, it doesn’t get any smarter. Only thing is, I hate buying bottled water (what a waste of plastic) so I buy and reuse instead. Smart.
Pear Sauce – Perhaps my most dangerous of all addictions. They sell this stuff at Trader Joes right next to the apple sauce (as if apple sauce and pear sauce were even on the same level, ha! Apple sauce could never compare!)
Check ‘em out.
And tell me…
What are your addictions?
Categories: addictions · vegan
What did I do for the 4th of July? I went to the farm sanctuary! The farm is locted just outside of Orland, in northern California. The Independence Day celebration is an annual event at the farm where they give free tours and free food.
My friend and I arrived at about noon and took off on a nearly hour-long tour. The first stop was the “special needs” animals, a pasture with cows, sheep and goats. Some of these animals had arthritis because of their weight. Almost all of them were very friendly, with the exception of a few that would run away if you came too close. We also walked through the pig barn and peered into the chicken barn, duck and goose hatches, turkey barn, and the rabbit barn. It’s such a great experience to see (and touch) an animal that is cared for, loved, and not forced to do anything. After the tour, back at the “People Barn” the staff served up veggie dogs and sausages, chips, popsicles, cookies, lemonade, watermellon, and ice cream bars – all totally vegan. The whole farm is vegan, including all the staff an interns living on it.
The Farm Sanctuary began as a safe haven for animals raised for food. There are two sanctuaries, one in California (300 acres) and the other in New York (150 acres, about.) The animals at the farm have come from a variety of different situations; one piglet jumped off a transportation truck headed to slaughter; the first animal, a sheep named Hilda, was saved from a dead pile; authorities often utilize the sanctuary when there are animal abuse cases in town; or sometimes, animals are simply dropped off out front. In any case, the sanctuary provides a safe place for the animals to live out their lives. Kudos!!
If you are interested in visiting the sanctuary visit http://farmsanctuary.org/ to get more information about their sanctuaries, philosiphies, animals, annual events, and campaigns.
P.S. Pictures from the sanctuary will be coming soon!
Categories: animal love · farm sanctuaries · food · holidays · vegan
Check out ThrillingHeroics.com where I wrote a guest post about veganism and how it relates to sustainability. It’s actually a bit more of an article with huge amounts of research, though not completely boring. If you are already a vegan or on your way there, you probably already know much of what has been written, but I guarantee that there will be at least some new information for you.
Thrilling Heroics tends to focus on sustainability via business practices, but I thought it was about time to introduce some vegetarian thoughts into the picture. Part One has already been posted. Stay tuned for Part Two later this week.
Categories: food · nutrition · study · sustainability · vegan
The Los Angeles Times reported today on the nation’s growing concern for animal welfare. Both the compassionate and the not-so-compassionate of the general population are represented, though the article definitely leans toward the appreciation of animal rights. It is always refreshing to see animal issues show up in the mainstream news, but I agree with Eric from AnAnimalFriendlyLife.com about the fact that the article made no mention of veganism. If the world is growing more compassionate to our fellow animals, why isn’t veganism a ready option in the article?
Categories: food · happy meat · vegan · welfarism
Though I was raised a meat-eater for the first 13 years of my life, I sometimes forget what a “crucial” part of life meat can be for some people. So, here I attempt to bridge the omni-herbi gap for the sake of celebration.
Tips to make a meal friendly to all:
- Options make everyone happy
Give your guests as many choices as possible. Go for the veggie dogs and the veggie burgers, but also throw a few unexpected twists in the mix. Include main dishes such as stuffed bell peppers with tempeh or tofu cutlets. This way meat eaters will have something recognizable to choose, but veggies who don’t want “junk food” will have some more healthful options as well.
- Never underestimate the power of the side dishes
People on special diets, people with dietary concerns, and picky eaters alike find hope in the sides. Between a traditional green salad, vegan potato or macaroni salad, and a fruit salad everyone will be able to find something meeting their standards.
- Check your booze, etc.
Try to picture a table set for a Fourth of July party without exessive amounts of drinks. For those old enough, be sure to double check that your alcohol is vegan. (Visit http://tastebetter.com/features/booze for a list of vegan booze.) But don’t forget the non-alcoholics as well. There’s nothing fun about water or soda. Mix it up with some special non-alcoholic mixes or punches.
Some recipes to check out:
An entire 4th of July meal down to the letter
http://www.vegparadise.com/cookingwith57.html
Look at this amazing dessert
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/07/red-white-and-blue-fruit-terrine.html
BBQ Tempeh
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7458.0
Black Bean Salad
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=9461.0
Categories: booze · food · holidays · vegan
The Vegan Bug is coming. You know how it starts. It bites one, maybe two people. Then it spreads. But once you’ve been bit, there is no going back. You start searching veganism online and reading up on vegan health. You become a regular tofuodie. You invite friends over for a vegan pizza party. You start baking cupcakes and taking them into work. The names Isa, Bob and Jenna, and Sarah Kramer become household names. Suddenly the world seems brighter, you feel healthier, and your conscious becomes relieved and rejuvinated. Then you start spreading the bug.You can’t help it. You’re addicted. And you’ve been bitten by the Vegan Bug.
This is the idea behind The Vegan Bug. Perhaps, some of you haven’t been bitten (yet?) but are still interested in what a different lifestyle can offer you. Or, maybe, you have no intention whatsoever of ever being bitten (you may have to load up on the repellent for extra protection from us crazies) but like to keep aware of issues affecting your planet, resources, and health.
Welcome! No matter your food-status, to everyone who is at all interested in animal rights, our environment, sustainability, health, current events, or love of all beings, Welcome!
Categories: VeganBug · vegan
