Chillax

Alright! We are a approaching the new year and some of you will make resolutions. Fabulous! I love resolutions! Which is why I start thinking about them in October! It's great to be the type of person who is always looking to grow in healthy directions. Maybe some of you have decided to go vegan! If you have I'm sure you are very passionate about your choice. Your reasons for making this lifestyle choice are strong. You are on fire with passion. You may get angry. You may want to lecture or shout facts at the omnivores. You may want to shake the man eating the fast food cheese burger because he’s obviously a ‘monster’ and must be stopped. What you will learn as you educate yourself can be devastating but remember most people are completely unaware of where their ‘food’ comes from. They have not done the research you have. You may want to share your information. That’s wonderful! However, lectures and shouting will not open anyone up to a vegan lifestyle. It may not be easy at times but try to be gentle.

I’ve found that the best way to open people up to veganism is to be happy and healthy. Many people; strangers and friends; have approached me to ask what I do to keep in shape, where I get so much energy or what my beauty regimen is (I look very young for my age). I proudly tell them I’m vegan. That gets the ball rolling on a positive note. Another great positive way to open people up is to learn to bake something fantastically delicious; something that appeals to all people. I bake a mean chocolate chip cookie that shocks omnivores when they take a bite. “This is vegan! This is the best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever eaten!” Never underestimate the power of homemade baked goods.   

If you encounter someone who just pushes all your vegan buttons just walk away. Don't expend energy where it isn't deserved or appreciated.

Squeezable Vegan

‘Vegan? You don’t look like a vegan!’ I get that a lot. We all know a few pasty, grey skinned, sickly looking vegans. The carrot munching zombie is what many people think of when they think vegan. However, not all vegans look like they are wasting away. There are plenty of vegan athletes, body builders, hotties and cuties. We have healthy strong bodies with muscles and curves and rosy cheeks. This is because we don’t rely on the world to provide us with food. If we did we'd be living on french fries and Ramen noodles. Variety in foods, eating primarily fresh (not boxed or canned foods) and cooking is key. So, pick up a cook book and get to it. Anyone can cook. All you need to do is follow the recipe. Then get your hot vegan self out there and help our pale, sickly brothers and sisters. Let’s give them strong bodies to go with their beautiful compassionate souls. Create an army of strong, healthy, gorgeous vegans.

Here are a few sources to get you started

Links

• Spork Foods: On-line vegan cooking classes conducted by two beautiful, intelligent, bouncy sisters.
• VegNews: My fave vegan magazine. Lot's of great recipes and product reviews.
• The Post Punk Kitchen: Simple, fun and delicious. No piercings required.

Books

• The Joy of Vegan Baking: Because a great cookie is the best way to convert an omnivore.
• The Happy Herbivore: Save time and money with simple delicious recipes using everyday ingredients.  
• The Vegan Table: 200 recipes to entertain every guest on all occasions.

Knowledge Is Power

Gross Yourself Out!

Ah, the battle with cheese. According to my interviews, that tangy, salty seductress is the number one reason vegetarians stay ovo-lacto. How do you conquer this beast? Easy, education. Learn all you can about where your eggs and milk come from. It ain’t Ole MacDonald's Farm. Free range isn’t the sweet life and there are no ‘Happy’ dairy cows. What do you think they have to do to the cow to keep the milk flowing? Oh, and you’ll be surprised to find out what exactly seeps into your milk during the process. Once you learn the facts they will be in your head and you can’t unlearn them. That is how I kicked the cheddar monster. Eventually just the smell of cheese turned my stomach. I knew too much.  Below are a few resources to get you started.

Documentaries

• Food Inc (2008)
• Fast Food Nation (2006)
• I Am an Animal (2007)
• Forks over Knives (2011)

Books

Happy, Healthy and Vegan

Why Vegan

You have decided to become a more compassionate eater and I’m very excited for you! There are millions of great reasons to become a vegan. Here are just a few.

• Save the world: Animals raised for food eat 16 pounds of grain to create just 1 pound of edible flesh. If we stopped breeding animals for food and used that land to farm grain, legumes and vegetables for human consumption we could solve world hunger.
• I’m not a ‘Death Eater’: It’s dramatic but when I realized that I was eating the energy of torture, despair and murder I was shocked. It sounds like something a super villain would do! I want to be the hero not a villain!
• I want to be young and beautiful forever: Whew! Beautiful forever! Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but energy, stamina and a healthy body go a long way. Oh, and the men reading this should look into how a vegan lifestyle impacts their…eh-hem…manly parts. Who needs that little blue pill when you’ve got veggies, legumes and whole grains.