1.21.2007

Celebrity Vegans

....some of my favorite amazingly talented and animal friendly entertainers. Moby : When Moby isn't busy making amazing music, stunning interviewers with his expansive vocabulary, running a New York vegan cafe called Teany, or writing in his online journal, he is eating Tofurkey and eloquently putting the message of veganism out into the world. In short, I love this man.
Fiona Apple:

Don't let her small frame fool you, this sultry songstress will make you listen and make you think hard about anything she has to say. I am sure our animal friends are extremely excited to have her on their side.




Darryl Hannah : Not only is she ridiculously gorgeous and plays the best villain ever in Kill Bill, she is not afraid to speak out against animal cruelty, which makes her even sexier.



Kevin Nealon : He was hilarious on SNL, and honestly makes my sides hurt from laughing on his show "Weeds", but Kevin takes one thing very seriously, and that is a meatless, dairy-free life.


Joaquin Phoenix: He is sexy, he can sing, and he loves animals, no wonder women throw themselves at this amazing actor. Check out his documentary on various inhumane treatments of animals "Earthlings" (music provided by Moby) and you will see just how serious he about this cause.

1.14.2007

UPDATE ALERT!!!!



I have stumbled upon the American Anti-Vivisection Society, who claims to list all of the companies that do not tets on animals. Check to see if your favorite cosmetics company is listed! http://www.aavs.org/compassionateshop02.html

1.11.2007


The Great Unknown



...The Myth and Legend of Soy.




As vegans, most of us consume a lot of soy in our diets. Because of this we are often told many myths, and falsities as to what eating soy can do to our health. There are some pretty serious allegations about soy being thrown around the medical and science fields, perhaps the most rampant of these myths is that of infertility.
As we know most scientific studies start out with little mice and rats who hardly have a comparable DNA makeup to humans. In the studies featuring soy, rodents who were fed soy isolates during pregnancy and lactation, as well as some being fed during infancy, had "...negative reproductive outcomes"(Being Vegan and Eating Soy... p1).The problem with these studies is the amount of estrogen a rat will be exposed to during pregnancy and infancy as compared to humans. As written in the same article as above, it is key to know that "Rats are typically exposed to very little estrogen in comparison, which might make them more sensitive to soy isoflavones." It is also important to note that "Soy consumed as a whole food, including soy milk, tofu and fermented soy products, must be metabolized in order to extract the isoflavones.Feeding or injecting an animal with purified isoflavones skips over this metabolic process and is basically the same as giving the animal high doses of a drug." In other words, rats who are injected with soy isoflavones do not process them the same way we do when we eat soy. Not only is it going directly into their systems, but it is at a very high dose.There have been no studies to show negative effects to HUMAN infertility to date.

Also in the area of animal studies to test soy and soy isoflavones is the relationship of soy to cancer.Christa Novelli of Vegfamily.com reports the debate of soy causing cancer as being ultimately untrue. Although some studies of animals that were implanted with cancer cells and then fed soy showed increase to certain cancer cells, the majority of the cases actually showed that soy helped reduce the risks of some cancers like breast, colon and prostate. It is clear that there needs to be more definitive studies in order to conclude the possible negative effects of soy.
On the other side of the coin, in HUMAN studies, soy has had positive effects to lower cholesterol and other diseases. Although you do not have to eat a ton of soy products to benefit from it, it does not hurt to increase the soy in your diet. Soy nutrition.com states in their "Myths about Soy" article that "Asian epidemiologic studies still show that individuals eating above average amounts of soy have lower disease rates than those consuming the average or less."
The reality is that the public can often misinterpret health benefits from some soy products, just as often as they can misinterpret the negative effects. ALL soy products are NOT healthy. Of course we know that soy protein can be a healthy alternative to animal protein, but just as any other food, the way Soy is prepared can make all of the difference in its nutrition. If your tofu is deep-fried, your favorite dessert is soy ice "cream", or you snack on soy chips, you could be consuming just as much fat as the food you are attempting to replace. In these cases soy should be considered a treat. It is also key to remember that soy isoflavones can react differently depending on the form they take. When eating soy it is always best to eat it at it's purest (tofu, soy milk, and other unprocessed forms) as to avoid any fear you may have of it.

1.08.2007

My Top 5 (almost) Instant Vegan Meals

Veg and on the run... the story of my life. If you are like me and enjoy eating a nice hot meal, but can hardly find the time to cook, these options are some of the best that I have come across...

Amy's Roasted vegetable pizza- Perfect dinner for two, or as an appetizer for a larger group.
This pizza's sweet basalmic roasted pepper taste will leave you craving this no-cholestoral treat.
Average price: $5.99 per pie

Amy's tofu scramble- Although as vegans, we should all know how to cook up a mean (and cheap) tofu scramble, Amy's has made a delicious, and quick version to fill us with some early morning nutrition in a hurry.
Average price: $3.69

Progresso Soup- Lentil- I LOVE this soup, it is comforting and just plain delicious. Sometimes i stick a piece of toasted whole gran bread on the bottom of the bowl and pour the hot soup over it, or i cook it with some potatos and spinach, any way you serve it it is delicious!
Average Price: $2.49

V8 Vegan Entrees- Tamale pie- Delicious and HUGE! If you can find these entrees (mine were discovered in a pepperidge farm outlet store) you will be able to enjoy a delicious vegan meal (or 4) that is at least 5 times bigger
than any of Amy's meals. Although they take a little over an hour to cook, you are almost gaurenteed to have leftovers for tomorrows lunch! This Tamale pie could use a little hot sauce, but is very delicious.
Average price: UNDER $4.00!

V8 Vegan Entress- Vegetable pot pie- Even my non-veg family enjoys this selection, and the tray is even bigger than the tamale pie.
You can not beat it for the price!
Average Price: UNDER $4.00!

1.07.2007

Getting Clean, Cruelty-free




... why a label of "no-animal testing" may not mean what it says...




Of all the areas of animal testing the tests used for cosmetics are the most controversial. So much so that it is banned in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK. By the end of 2009 the European Union will have almost completely banned any sale of cosmetic product that is related to animal testing. France has protested the ban, largely in part to the cosmetics company L'Oreal, along with The European Federation for Cosmetics Ingredients also opposes the ban (which is made up of 70 countries within Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy). (wikipedia.com article on animal testing)

Most of the animals used in product testing are rodents, but some companies also use dogs, cats, sheep, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys etc. Because of the amount of controversy on the ethics of animal testing there are a lot of companies that say they are cruelty-free, when they are still testing on animals. This is mainly because certain governments are still requiring them to do so because of trading standards and consumer protection laws. While it is possible to meet these requirements without animal testing in some countries, the United States and Japan will often require testing in order to trade (although most recently the U.S. has been developing cell culture alternatives, to be used in replace of animals for cosmetic and other testings)

According to a current article in Wikipedia, "Cosmetics manufacturers who genuinely do not test on animals generally use the following for safety testing of their products:
-Reliance on existing natural or synthetic ingredients, compounds and substances, which have already been extensively tested on animals;
-Avoiding novel ingredients or combinations of ingredients that have not been fully tested and may not be safe;
-Testing on human volunteers/clinical trials. "

There are alternatives to testing on animals, and as vegans we believe that obstaining from purchasing certain products that DO these tests in order to let the companies and governments know that we do not condone this unethical, inhumane practice. We believe that if enough people do not buy these products, more money will go into alternatives, and less animals will die in order to make sure our shampoo and body wash is safe.

If you want to learn more about why Vegans believe animal testing to be inhumane visit the following link for Cosmetic Testing.

Some of the leading companies that have been confirmed to not test on animals include:





If you are wondering whether your favorite beauty product is cruelty free, look for the following logos on the bottle (The blue and black "hopping bunny" is the logo of U.S. and Canadian Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) , and the bunny on the right is put onto European products who do not test on animals)


Even if you are not a vegan, but understand that our animals are precious to us and do not deserve to be tortured, please look into some of these products.


1.05.2007

No Whey!


(Why we can't eat Whey or Casein)

As a Vegan or Vegetarian, it is very important to read labels, as many processed foods that do not contain milk or obvious animal-based ingrediants might include Whey or Casein. While casein is not part of the protein makeup of milk, it is a byproduct that is created after milk has been curdled and strained. The reason the milk is commonly curdled in this way is to make certain cheeses (like Ricotta) and casein, which is used as an additive in many processed foods (including some breads and crackers).

Rennet is the most common milk curdling agent, which is taken from the stomach of a newly killed calf used in the cheese making process. This means that whey and casein are ingediants that should be avoided by vegetarians and vegans alike. There are a few vegetable-source rennet (lemon juice, citric acid and sulfuric acid) used to separate milk, but because processed foods do not often state the agent used to make the whey or casein, these ingredients should be avoided by vegetarians unless otherwise noted on the product label.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whey

For more information about cheese and rennet please visit here: http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/cheese.htm

1.04.2007

Veg. Spotlight: Vegan Cheesteak in Philadelphia: Govinda's/Gourmet to Go Vegetarian



Chicken Cheese Steak Heaven


So you are hanging out in the City of Brotherly Love, and your meat eating friends want to head over to Pat's or Gino's to get some cheese steaks with whiz, don't feel left out, Philly has an even better tasting "steak" for us Vegans!

Gourmet to Go Vegetarian(previously called Govinda's) located on the corner of South and Broad streets, is a MUST for any vegetarian or vegan visiting the city. I visit almost weekly, and I am never disappointed! One of there most popular grilled pleasures is of course their cheese steak, they have beef or chicken (best fake chicken I have ever tasted) and you can request soy or real cheese. Everything is 100% vegetarian and can be made vegan. The average sandwich costs about $6.50, and is worth every penny.
Whether you are craving a chicken salad wrap, or you want something different like some Mongolian Tofu, Gourmet to Go has something for you.

While you are there you may also notice their dessert case with about a dozen different cakes being displayed at any given time. Their desserts are prepared by the oh-so
amazing company Vegan Treats, and commonly include a Peanut Butter Mouse Bomb, Strawberry Shortcake, Carrot cake, Cheese cake, Brownies, which are all sinfully delicious and 100% VEGAN!

And if you do not want to sit at their diner style counter and grab a chicken quesadilla they offer a fine dining portion of their restaurant after 5pm. At Govinda's Fine Dining, located right above Gourmet to Go, you can experience some of the best vegan dishes that the city has to offer, with an A La Carte menu that offers dishes such as: Bok Choy Wrapped Scallops with Horseradish Tomato Emulsion, and an Entree menu that includes Lemon Basil Shrimp with Fresh Papradelle Pasta and Grilled Spanish Mackerel with Chickpea MĂ©lange and Walnut Orange Sauce. You will not regret spending a few extra dollars for a romantic dinner with your other half (the average entree costing around $18). Of course the desserts are not only available upstairs, but HIGHLY recommended. They do not serve alcohol at either establishment, but do advertise on their site as BYOB, you can call or make reservations online, but it usually isn't neccesary.
Take my word, visit Gourmet to Go/Govinda's and you WILL NOT regret it.




Who would have thought?



(Vegan foods you can find anywhere)

(The following foods can also be found listed at PETAkids. For more snacks, baked goods, and drinks that are common, and vegan click on the above link)

It happens all the time, whether we are invited to a bar-b-que by someone at work, we go to our sister-in-laws holiday party, or even just trying to catch a game with some friends. We vegans are constantly carrying an odwalla bar, and gobbling down some trail mix before the party because we KNOW there will be nothing for us to eat! Then we invite some of our meat-eating friends over, and they frown at the fridge and cabinets filled with "hippie food". We know that we can't convince EVERYONE to go Veg, so why not be prepared with some common food that everyone loves, that still allows us adhere to our vegan diet?
Here are some ideas for some food to have handy around the house, that are delicious, and best of all VEGAN!...

Rice Chex, Trix, Wheat Chex mixed with some peanuts and raisin's: A delicious party mix to put out for friends

Alpine Spiced Cider,Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Hazelnut),Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Mocha): To warm up with a loved one after a cold winter's day

Hershey Syrup (Chocolate),NestlĂ© Nesquik Syrup (Chocolate),Entenmann’s Fudge Delights Fudge & Mint Cookies, Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate), Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Oatmeal Macaroon), Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Peanut Butter): With some yummy soy milk for an after school snack, or as a treat for Santa.

Airheads Taffy, Blow Pops, Cry Babies, Dots, DumDums,Cracker Jacks, Fireballs, Jolly Ranchers, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, Sweet Tarts, Twizzlers: For your kid's birthday party, or for Halloween goodies

Fritos (Barbecue),Fritos (Original),Kettle White Popcorn,Lay’s Potato Chips (Thick Cut Sea Salt),Lay’s Stax,Munchos,Snyder’s Pretzel Sticks (Onion and Oat Bran),Snyder’s Pretzel Sticks (Pumpernickel),Utz Puffed Caramel Corn: To bring to the superbowl party, or for movie night at your house

1.03.2007


B all that you can B(12)


(The importance of B12 in your diet)

Possibly the best site I have come across pertaining to Vegan Health issues is VeganHealth.org, among their plethora of articles is a very extensive one on the Vitamin B12. Because they have done such a terrific job, and the information is so extensive, I am going to try my best to summarize their information on the great importance of this vitamin for those who may be in danger of B12 deficiency (meaning us Vegans and vegetarians).

Most vegans and vegetarians are not aware of how essential the vitamin B12 is to their diet. It is common knowledge that B12 is a vitamin that can only be found in meat and dairy products, or by supplementing your diet by vitamins or fortified food. As a vegan, you may have also heard that B12 can store up in your liver for many years, and therefore it does not need to be a daily concern. This is untrue.

It takes years to build up a sufficient amount of B12 to be able to go without out it for even a short period of time (VeganHealth.org). If you were a meat eater for a number of years, and you recently became vegan or vegetarian you may have enough b12 stored up to last a few years, If you have not eaten meat for a number of years and not been eating fortified products or taking a vitamin that contains b12, you might experience a B12 deficiency that can range from overt to mild.

B12 protects the nervous system, and therefore an extreme deficiency can result in blindness, deafness, and dementia. Early signs of a deficiency are tingling sensations in the hands or feet, and fatigue. Because of the seriousness of this deficiency, vegans should have their doctor check their homo cysteine levels every few years, and if your levels are elevated, you should find a way to integrate B12 into your diet right away.

Fortunately B12 is made by a bacterial fermentation and therefore can be made into various forms of vegan products. Some of the most popular include a vitamin in pill form, a spray version, fortified food (such as my favorite, Kashi's Heart to Heart Blueberry Clusters, which has 100% of your daily allowance) and most recently a B12 patch.

If you have been or are thinking about sticking to a long-term vegan or strict vegetarian diet, it is a good idea to look into which of these products would be best for you.

1.02.2007

Doesn't it feel good?

(Vegan shoes on a budget)

UPDATE: For a more comprhensive guide to buying Vegan Shoes go to my Vegan Shoe Guide:Philadelphia

...yes it does! Not only can you walk into any given Payless shoe store and grab a pair of stylish shoes for under $30, you can also get all kinds of VEGAN FRIENDLY shoes there as well. For the vegan on a budget, Payless is an excellent option for nice looking footwear that is put together using manmade materials. Sure they might not last you 10 years, or even 10 months, but what do you expect when you pay $14.99 for a pair of wedges?

Here are some of my personal favorites from the women's section..... (and for those of you who are internet shoppers like me, you can buy all of these shoes at www.payless.com, type in "manmade" into the search box, and you will be surprised at how many options show up!)


$16.99 by American Eagle





$14.99 by Airwalk





“Rhiannon” Platform Boot $36.99