Earthlings documentary

A couple of nights ago, I re-watched the documentary "Earthlings". I had seen it before about a year ago when I was a vegetarian, but I thought it would be good to see it again as a vegan. "Earthlings" has been called "the vegan maker" and once you've seen it, you can see why. The film exposes the horrific abuses of meat and dairy farming, fishing, whaling, circuses, and the fur trade. The images are graphic, but powerful. It presents evidence that I believe even the most ardent omnivore can't ignore. The image that sticks with me the most is the footage of the dog that was SKINNED ALIVE at a fur farm. It was truly sickening to see that kind of abuse, but it needs to be seen. I'd definitely encourage everyone to see this film at least once, even if your already a vegan. It's a great film to show your non-vegan friends and family if they really want to know why you are a vegan. Best of all, you can view the movie legally for FREE at it's official website http://www.earthlings.com/

Once you've watched the film, feel free to come back here and give me your impressions of it. I'd love to hear your input.

Shit Vegans Say

This video is kind of funny.

Vegan Gift Guide Part 2.

Christmas is around the corner, and if you're like me, you're a procrastinator (although I actually made/got most of my gifts early this year). So I thought that I'd continue my vegan gift guide that I started a few posts ago and include some examples this time.

Books:

All of the following titles are available at your local bookstore, health food store, or amazon.com

Vegan Freak by Jenna/Bob Torres

This little book is wonderful for new vegans. It gives great advice on how to deal with and respond to any criticism that you may face from our often non-vegan friendly world. The thing that I like best is that the authors are honest and humorous. One warning though: You may want to think twice about this one if your recipient is easily offended by profanity as there is quite a bit of it. But for those without "sensitive" eyes, this book is a damn good resource to have.

Vegan With a Vengeance by Isa Moskowitz
This is the granddaddy of all vegan cookbooks. Trust me, you can make some kick-ass meals from these recipes. No vegan should be without it!

Being Vegan by Joanne Stepaniak

This book consists of answers to questions that the author as received through the years. It answers many of the basic questions that people have about veganism and is great for both new and experienced herbivores.

Clothing and Accessories

Herbivore Necklace $21 on Etsy

Herbivore Dino T-Shirt $18 on Etsy

A super cute way to get the message out!

Meat is Fucking Murder Patch $1 on Etsy

This is perfect for those who go for a more "in your face" approach.

Against Animal Testing Shirt $30 on Etsy

Other gifts

Vegan Lip Balm $3.75 Etsy

It can be extremely hard to find vegan-friendly lip balm (most major drugstore brands have animal ingredients) so many vegans would love to find this in their stocking!





Vegan magnet $5 at Cafepress
This is a nice way to let guests know that no animal based foods are allowed in the fridge.

 Have a very Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Joyous Kwanzaa!





A Vegan at Disney World

Christmas is coming up, and for many that means traveling to visit family. For a lot of people, that travel will include a visit to Disney World. I decided that it would be a good time to share some of my experiences and tips as a vegan Disney lover.

To say that I love Walt Disney World would be an understatement. I practically grew up there. The first time I visited the Magic Kingdom was when I was 3 months old, and I've been to it and the three other parks hundreds of times since. My dad and I are certified Disney nuts, so we go to the parks every chance we get. Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are tied for my favorite park, but I love Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney MGM Studios) and Animal Kingdom as well. Some of my favorite rides are Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Dinosaur (aka Countdown to Extinction), Mission: Space, and Splash Mountain to name a few. The Disney resort hotels are also wonderful. So far I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, The Polynesian, The Yacht Club, The Pop Century, Port Orleans Riverside, The All Star Music resort, and All Star Movie Resort. I've visited (but not yet stayed in) the Contemporary, The Grand Floridian, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. My favorite hotels are the Wilderness Lodge because of the Native decor, the Polynesian because I love Hawaii, and the Pop Century because they display many items related to my favorite TV shows and music.

If you are a vegan or vegetarian visiting Disney for the first time, you may be a bit apprehensive about the food situation. You may be wondering if you'll find anything that you can eat beyond iceberg lettuce. If so, let me reassure you that the Disney Parks offer a vast amount of yummy animal free food! I have not visited Disney as a vegan yet, but I did go a few times after I became a vegetarian and I never had any problem finding food. Their veggie burgers, which were vegan the last time I was there, are delicious. Also, the Disney chefs and cooks prepare food for MILLIONS of visitors from all over the world every year, so they are no strangers to special orders! Here are some tips from my experience to help you during your visit:

1. If you have any questions, please ask to see a chef. My mom has many severe allergies, so she often has to ask about ingredients. One time we were eating at one of her favorite restaurants in the Magic Kingdom called the Liberty Tree Tavern. She had a question about a menu item so she asked the waiter who offered to get a chef. He came out to the table and was very polite and helpful. He informed her that the meal she was planning to order included french fries that were prepared in shellfish oil, which she is highly allergic to. My mom and the chef discussed the items that she couldn't eat and he made her a special meal. I've have heard that they will also do this for us vegans. So if you see a fun restaurant that you want to try that has nothing vegan on it's printed menu, don't automatically rule it out. Ask to speak to a chef (preferably when you make your reservation if you are going to a table service restaurant) and see if you can work something out.

2. As usual, buffets are your best friend. They have the most ingredients to work with and I've been told that some chefs will walk you through the buffet if they have time and tell you the ingredients of any questionable items.

3. Epcot is probably the best park for food lovers. A large portion of the park dedicated to what is called the World Showcase. It is divided up into pavilions which are built to resemble different counties. The countries featured are the US, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Germany,Italy, France, the UK, Norway, and Morocco. Each Pavilion has at least one restaurant (some have two) where you can taste the unique cuisine of that country. My biggest piece of advice for veggies at Epcot is to avoid the restaurants in the China Pavilion. I haven't ate at those restaurants since becoming a vegetarian because according to the AllEars website (listed below), all of their food is cooked with beef stock. However, if you see something on the menu that appears veggie friendly, ask about it because they could have changed in the meantime. If they have, let me know because I LOVE Asian food!

4. Veggie burgers are available at counter service restaurants in the various parks. Some of the restaurants such as the ones at Epcot prepare them fresh with each order, which is great. The only problem is this means that you will likely have to wait awhile for your food, especially at lunch and dinner times! I'd advise you to try to eat a little bit early or late if possible to avoid that hassle.

 5. One of the best things to do is research the restaurants before you book your trip. One of the best websites I have ran across is the AllEars site. It is chock full of info on Walt Disney World written by visitors. it contains more info than Disney's official site, and the vast majority of the info on the site is very reliable. The best part is that they have an entire section of the site for vegan and vegetarians, including a list of all the vegan items that are available at each restaurant. It is regularly updated and maintained by a vegan woman. It really takes the guess work out of meal planning! The guide is divided into three sections: Counter Service (parks), Table Service (parks), and Resorts Table Service. You can find them at Vegan Park Counter Service , Parks Table Service , and Resorts. You might also want to check out these links: Vegetarian Disney Dining Strategies and A Vegetarian at Mickey's Table

Have a fun filled vegan vacation at Disney!

Vegan Men and Stereotypes (The Herman Cain Statement)

As you may have heard recently, GOP candidate Herman Cain recently made some pretty insulting remarks about vegan men. In an interview with GQ magazine, Cain reportedly said that "manly" men like their pizza's covered in meat and that veggie pizzas are "sissy pizzas". You can read the full quote and story here: http://www.ibtimes.com

This got me thinking about some of the stereotypes surrounding vegan men. Unfortunately, many meat eaters do see veganism as "girly" and will attempt to paint vegan men as weak or effeminate. Statements like the one Cain made reveal a defensiveness about meat eating (because deep down they know it's wrong) and a deep seated homophobia that is sadly still common in this country. All I can say is I am very glad that I decided to join the Green Party because they actively support and speak up for both animal and gay rights!
Once, when I told two older male friends of mine that I vegan, one of the things they said to me was something to the effect of "well then how is a guy supposed to take you out to eat?" Obviously they assumed that all straight men are meat eaters. Many people seem to think that traits such as kindness are a bad thing for men to express. As a woman, the thing that I find most attractive in a man is a caring heart. I like men who are not afraid to express their feelings and stand up to injustice and cruelty. I would love to marry a vegan man one day and raise one or two happy, healthy vegan kids. What the people who believe this stereotype don't realize is that it takes tremendous strength to go against the crowd and speak up for what is right! Vegan men deserve a lot of credit for staying true to their beliefs in spite of such nasty attacks.

If you are a vegan man who is in need of some support, I would encourage you to visit Vegan resources for vegan men It has links to several articles and books written for vegan men by vegan men.

What do you think about the stereotypes about vegan men? Have you or anyone you know experienced prejudice because you are a male vegan? Feel free to leave a comment and tell me your story.

Vegan Gift Ideas

Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzza are just around the corner. Here are some great gift ideas for the vegan in your life! If you are vegan, you can use this list to give your relatives and friends some hints so you don't end up with another ugly wool sweater!

Books:
Many vegans (myself included) love books, especially books on veganism and animal rights. Cookbooks are really great, especially for new vegans. Many vegans are also eco-friendly, so try to find a gently used version of the book, preferably from a local bookseller.

Clothing:
Another great gift idea would be a 100% cotton t-shirt with a vegan message on it. You can find lots of vegan t-shirt designs at online stores such as Herbivore Clothing Company, Etsy, Cafepress, and Zazzle . If you are the crafty type, you can give your gift a personal touch by making the shirt yourself with iron-on letters or fabric paint.

Magazines:
Subscriptions to magazines such as Vegetarian Times, VegNews, All Animals, and the Sanctuary are good options.

Shoes:
We vegans LOVE stylish, cruelty free shoes! The good news is that vegan shoes aren't always expensive. I got myself a pair of beautiful vegan sandals at Marshall's on clearance for $5. Check out http://www.veganchic.com/ and http://www.mooshoes.com/ (which is pricey, but has some decent clearance and sale prices at times).

Gift Certificates:
You can't go wrong with gift certificates! A gift certificate to the local health food store or their favorite vegan restaurant would make most people very happy! If the recipient does not live near either of those, many online vegan retailers offer gift certificates as well.

Vegan Goodies:
Most of us vegans also have a sweet tooth! Vegan chocolate, cakes and cookies are sure to be a hit!

Happy Holidays!

A day a the Zoo: Educational Family Fun or Cruelty?

One of the many hot topic issues in the vegan world is whether or not it is okay to visit zoos. When I was younger, my mother, myself, and my two friends and their mom would often go to a small local zoo to see the animals. I'll admit that as a child I loved seeing the animals and having the monkeys take treats out of my hand with their tails. I also visited a few larger zoos such as the Atlanta Zoo and the National Zoo in Washington DC. I, like most people, never stopped to think about whether or not it was fair to take wild animals out of their natural enviroment and put them into a confined space. Looking back, I remember seeing monkeys in barren cages and large animals like apes and giraffes in enclosures that were far too small for them. It makes me sick to think that I once gladly supported such cruelty. Fortunately, after I became a vegan I had my eyes opened and I am proud to say that I have not visited any zoos in over a year. If you or someone that you know is thinking about visiting a zoo, I urge you to take a look at http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/zoos.htm to see just how cruel zoos really are and a list of cruelty free ways that you can learn about animals.

A win for animals!

I have some good news! Yesterday, the city of West Hollywood voted to OUTLAW the sale of new garmets which contain animal fur or skin! Unfortunately, the ban does not apply to wool, furniture, or leather items(hopefully they will work on banning those in the near future), but it is a definate step in the right direction. It is the first law of it's kind in the US and hope that other cities follow their example. You can read about it here: California fur ban

Vegan Thanksgiving: How to Have a Great Tofurky Day!

Coming home from work today, I saw several wild turkeys on the side of the road. They truly are beautiful creatures. This got me thinking about the approaching holidays, and it made me sad to think that one or more of those birds will probably be killed in a few days. For those of us in the US, Thanksgiving is fast approaching. It is a day for getting together with family, enjoying a meal and being thankful for what we have. Unfortunately this meal is traditionally centered around animal based foods, so it can be a tricky day for vegans, especially new ones. This will be my first vegan Thanksgiving. I have discussed the issue with my mother (who has finally accepted my veganism for the most part) and she is more than willing to see to it that there is vegan-friendly food available. She even informed me that the recipe that she has always used to make cherry pie (my favorite) is 100% vegan! That made me VERY happy! However, not all families are so accommodating. You may find that there is nothing for you to eat, that your family members are offended that you won't eat the turkey, or they pester you with endless jokes and questions. It can be enough to make you want to pull your hair out and run away screaming.

The good news is that it is 100% possible to have a delicious vegan Thanksgiving!  The site Gentle Thanksgiving contains many useful resources for vegans, including recipes and tips on how to deal with non-vegan family members. You can check out the site at http://www.gentlethanksgiving.org/

For those of you who can't or don't want to cook, the company Tofurky makes 100% vegan pre-cooked meals called "Tofurky Holiday Feast". These are available in many mainstream supermarkets, so they should be very easy for most people to find. For more info, visit Tofurky holiday feasts

Have a happy, healthy Tofurky day!

What to do with your old leather

If you are like me, you used leather products before you became a vegan without a second thought. I am a crafter, and I love making dream catchers. Before I became a vegan, I would go to powwows and craft stores and buy bunches of deerskin to wrap the dream catchers. One day, someone asked me to make a vegan dream catcher for them (which, as I describe in the first post, started me on my journey to veganism). I made it out of ribbon, and it turned out so well that I never used the deerskin again. The problem was that I was left with a bunch of unused deerskin in my craft bin. I thought a lot about what I should do with it. Ultimately, I decided to sell my scraps on eBay and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Humane Society. I just listed them a few minutes ago and haven't got any bids yet, but hopefully some good will come out of the deers death.

Here are some suggestions on what to do with your old leather items:
1. If you can wear it/use it, use it until it wears out and then buy a cruelty free replacement. This is what I am doing with my shoes. Throwing out a usable item is wasteful, hurts the environment, and is an insult to the animal that died.

2. If  you are uncomfortable using the items and they are in good condition,give the items to a non vegan friend or donate them to a homeless shelter/Goodwill/Free Clothes Closet. It helps others and gives you the opportunity to have some fun by going shopping for cruelty free replacements!

3. Sell your items and donate the money to a reputable charity. If someone wants to buy leather, it's much better that they buy it second hand instead of contributing to more animal deaths by buying a new item. Plus, you'll be helping to make the world a better place!

For more tips and advice on this issue, please visit http://www.veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?520-Using-old-leather-and-other-non-vegan-products/page5

Nice Girls Fake It (Fur, That Is)!

There is much debate in the vegan world over whether or not it is okay to wear fake fur or pleather. Some say that it's okay because no animals were killed, while others advise us vegans to stay away from the fake stuff because it sends the message that it's okay to kill animals. I have been looking into this issue recently because I am interested in making a pair of faux leather moccasins. I am of American Indian (Cherokee/Sioux) heritage and very proud of it. Before I became a vegan, I had a pair of deerskin moccasins that I loved to wear whenever I got the chance. Now that I know about the cruelty of the fur and leather trade, I do not wear them outside the house, nor do I wear them when I have guests over. However, even though I don't like the cruelty, I do like the look. Therefore, I started looking for traditional style moccasins made out of man-made materials. I found a few pairs, but they were either butt ugly, cost an arm and a leg, or made in China. I buy American or Canadian made items whenever I can, and I absolutely refuse to buy any American Indian themed/inspired item that was not made by American Indian or Canadian First Nations people. I was very disappointed. Thankfully, my mom found a solution. She sews a lot, so when she found out that a local store was having a sale on patterns, she went down to check it out. She found a beautiful moccasin pattern and bought it for me. Now I plan to buy some Ultrasuede next time I am in a fabric store and make myself a pair of cruelty free moccasins!

I know some of you are saying to yourself "but won't that send the message to non-vegans that it's okay to wear leather and fur?" Don't worry, I thought about that. I just purchased a pin back button that says "fake fur is cool, real fur is cruel". I plan to wear it on my shirt whenever I wear the moccasins (and with the rest of my button collection on my purse even when I'm not wearing them) to let people know that I do not wear real animal skin.

The issue of whether or not fake fur is okay to wear is a complicated one. It was recently revealed that some manufactures were deliberately lying to customers (big shock). Some of them sold items that were labeled a faux fur, when in fact the fur was REAL and came from Raccoon Dogs! Thankfully, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act was passed into law and signed by President Obama in 2010. It took effect in March and closes the loophole that allowed the false advertising.  To be on the safe side, I'd still advise you to do some research before you buy any faux fur/pleather item and make sure that it really is faux. For more on this, please visit
Closing The Fur Labeling Loophole

For those of you who do wear or want to wear faux fur/pleather, here are some great buttons to let everyone know it's fake!

Faux, not fur button

Fake Fur is Cool (the one I bought)

Fake, not leather button

real women fake it handmade button

Anti Fur Button handmade

So tell me, where do you stand on the faux fur issue?

An Unpleasant Suprise (IMPORTANT WARNING TO VEGANS)!

Today I had a very unpleasant experience. I should start by saying that I LOVE peanuts. They are delicious and a great source of protein. Today I was eating some Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts. As I was munching on them, I decided to take a look at the ingredients just out of curiosity. That's when one word jumped out at me: GELATIN! Yes, they put something derived from dead animal bones in PEANUTS! I immediately googled "Planters vegan" and found several vegan message board postings discussing the issue. Most of those people were just as surprised as I was. You would expect gelatin to show up in things like candies, but many of us just assumed that all nuts were vegan.This really pissed me off because I used to like Planters products. Now I'm considering boycotting them.

I guess we vegans can never assume that any pre-packaged food is safe (unless it is from a company that we know is 100% vegan) no matter what it is. Just so you know, I was not the one that purchased the nuts, but now I've learned my lesson and will check the label before I eat anything.

I sent an e-mail to Planters telling them how disappointed I was. You can do so as well by clicking here: Contact Planters

Have a great day guys and remember to always read the label!

Happy World Vegan Day!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy World Vegan Day!

I got this image from: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/why-vegans-avoid-honey/

Happy (vegan) Halloween

While searching the Internet, I found these great tips for those of you with vegan children who are going trick-or-treating tomorrow.

 "Trick-or-Treating Tricks:

• Warn your children not to eat any candy until they bring it home for sorting.
• Decide in advance with your children how they will dispose of their non-vegan candy so there are no surprises and no arguments. Options include homeless shelters, non-vegan friends, the trashcan, or businesses.
• Often people give out several different candies (chocolate and non-chocolate items). Show your kids the list of vegan candy in advance and advise them to select the vegan candies at houses that offer such a choice.
• Go trick-or-treating with a group of vegan kids and parents so that your kids aren't the only ones in the group with dietary restrictions.
• Create a special, all-vegan goodie bag for your kids and swap it for the candy they bring home in their pillow case or bucket.

Trick-or treating isn't the only way to spend Halloween. Older kids often have Halloween parties. If your vegan child is attending a non-vegan Halloween party, find out what they're serving and try to send the vegan equivalent. Be sure to send your child with a goodie bag so he or she doesn't feel left out. Alternatively, you can throw your own Halloween party and invite the neighborhood kids, your child's friends, or the kids from your vegan family group. Here are some tips for having a fun and successful vegan Halloween party. "

 

You can read the full article here: Vegan Trick or Treat Tips

Also, here are some general Halloween safety tips.
http://www.halloween-safety.com/

Have a happy, safe vegan Halloween!

For the ladies: vegan menstrual products

This post is for the ladies (but you men are welcome to read it as well and pass the info on to the women you know). Today I will be talking about vegan menstrual products. For years, I used what most other women I know use: disposable pads and tampons. I would wear them once and toss them out, not thinking about how much waste I was putting into the landfill or what chemicals my vagina was absorbing. I also didn't realize that some of the major brands of pads and tampons, like Always, Stayfree, and Tampax, are made by companies which still use animal testing! As I got older, I began to notice that when I wore pads the moisture and friction would cause me to chafe very badly. It got to the point where it was painful to walk. At about the same time, I became aware of enviromental issues and how we humans are destroying the planet. My goal ever since I was a young teenager has been to become a midwife, and I read everything that I can about women's health. So I began to look into alternative menstrual products. That was when I made a wonderful discovery. I found out about menstrual cups. Menstrual cups are made of either rubber or silicone. They sit up in the vagina like a tampon, but instead of absorbing the fluid, they collect it. Best of all, they are reusable (I've had my cup for almost two years and many women have had their cup for a decade or more!), have NEVER caused TSS, and are vegan. Menstrual cups provide great protection and you can wear it during all your activities. I've worn my cup while swimming, running, dancing, doing yoga and even karate.

There are several types of menstrual cups out there, but since the majority of this blogs readers are in the USA and Canada, I will highlight the brands that are available (and best of all, made in) North America.
The first is the one I use, the Keeper/Moon Cup

The Keeper/Moon Cup

Don't be intimidated by how it looks. This menstrual cup is super flexible and very comfortable. You can't even tell it's in there. This is a Moon Cup. It is made of 100% silicone and is made in the USA. It is approved by the FDA. It comes in two sizes: Size A for after childbirth and size B for women who have never given birth. The Keeper is made by the same company as the Moon Cup and looks exactly the same. The difference is that it is made out of rubber. The cup costs $37 (including shipping). That may seem steep at first, but when you consider that you can use one cup to take care of your entire menstrual cycle for a decade, it more than pays for itself!

The Diva Cup

The Diva Cup is very much like the Moon Cup. It is made in Canada and approved by the FDA and Health Canada. It also comes in two sizes and is made of silicone. It costs about $40.

You can buy these menstrual cups both online and in many local health food stores. For more info, please visit these websites:
The Moon Cup/ Keeper
Moon Cup/Keeper offical website

The Diva Cup
http://www.divacup.com/

http://www.menstrualcups.org/
This site has a ton of info about menstrual cups. Great for newbies!

If you don't want to use menstrual cups, you still have plenty of green, vegan protection options. Many women have started home buisnesses making and selling cloth menstrual pads. These are great because they are vegan, enviromentally friendly, and support small businesses. I have a few cloth panty liners that I use as backup for my cup on heavy days, and they work great! I also have a cloth menstrual pad that I keep in my purse in case I am "suprised" and without my cup. That is a rare occurance, but it did happen last month. The pad was much more comfortable than my old disposable ones! Here are some of the many handmade cloth pads available on Etsy!

Moonthly Pantyliners $14 for 6.

I have ordered several pantyliners similar to these from this seller and they are great! You can get them here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Pixadoodles?section_id=6554770

Cloth Menstrual Pads $44 for 2. This seller also has single pads for $15.

These pads are meant for very heavy flow. They are made from vegan fleece, vegan flannel, terry cloth, cotton, and nylon. Plus, they have Hello Kitty. Can't get any better. Get 'em here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VulvaLoveLovely?section_id=5445381

That's all for now!

A few of my favorite things continued: Jewelry

Here are some of my favorite vegan jewelry items!

1. Vegan flaming heart necklace $9.75.

I like this for several reasons. 1) It has a cool, retro tattoo style. 2) you have an option of a round or square shape. 3) You receive a free chain. 4) The seller uses the word "hippie" in her shop name, so you know her stuff is cool! You can buy it at Hippie Chic Boutique

2. Vegan Scrabble Pendant. $7 on Etsy

It's a vegan pendant on a recycled scrabble title. Can't get much better than that! You can buy it at Sweet Whimsy Fl

3. Woven Vegan bracelets $8

All proceeds from the sale of these bracelets are donated to pro-animal charities. You can pick them up at thedryad

How survive being damned to vegan hell (aka how to survive a trip to Cracker Barrel).

If you've ever been on a road trip (especially in the South) you've more than likely eaten in, or have at least seen a Cracker Barrel Restaurant/store. They are everywhere! For those of you who haven't been in one, Cracker Barrel is part store and part restaurant. When you first walk in, you'll see the store, which is set up to look like a little mom and pop country store. They sell candy, toys, jewelry, candle, soap, clothes, ect. I must admit, I love to shop in the store. They sell some unique and beautiful things. Cracker Barrel is also generally a safe and clean place to stop and take a bathroom break on the road, so they do have some positive things going for them. The back half is the restaurant. This is where things get very tricky for us vegans. Almost everything on the menu has milk, butter, or meat in it. The really scary part is that if you read the fine print on the menu, it says this:

 "We want to make sure you know that some of our offerings, like turnip greens, green beans, corn muffins, hashbrown casserole and pinto beans, are made the old-fashioned way using meat seasonings and are not strictly vegetarian. Please ask your server about any particular dish if you have any questions. " (emphasis mine) Click here to see this statement for yourself. Yeah, you read that right. Now you can see why I call this place vegan hell!

Unfortunately, I am the only vegan in a family of omnivores and Cracker Barrel is my mom's favorite restaurant. So occasionally I get roped into going there. On Monday my mom, dad, and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner to celebrate her birthday. We asked the server if they had anything vegan on the menu. The server checked with the kitchen and they said that the only vegan options that they had to offer were a salad, plain applesauce, baked potato, steamed carrots, and corn. I was hoping to get oatmeal, but they only offer that until 10:30 am. I ended up getting the salad,applesauce, carrots, and corn. They were pretty good, but I later found out that the carrots and corn are made with margarine (which may or may not be vegan). Needless to say I left the restaurant fairly hungry.

If you find yourself on the road with your omni family who are insisting on eating at Cracker Barrel, I suggest you take a look at this website . It's called Vegan Eating Out and they have posted an E-mail from Cracker Barrel outlining which items are vegan and which are vegetarian. As you can see, the options are limited.

Overall, if you are a vegan on the road and you need a safe place to take a break, then Cracker Barrel is great. But I'd highly advise avoiding the food if possible (unless you really want oatmeal or a plain potato).

Favorite Vegan Snacks

I work at nights as a sitter for an elderly woman who has dementia and lives in an assisted living facility (ALF). I am basically there to make sure she doesn't fall out of the bed at night. Of course, the ALF doesn't serve food at night and the snacks that they have aren't vegan. Therefore, I must bring my own food. Here are some of my favorite vegan snacks.

1. Applesauce
Since becoming vegan, I have been choosing much healthier snacks than before, and it has been great for my waistline. My mom tells me that the first 'real' food I ever had was applesauce. She said my grandfather gave me a taste and I immediately demanded more. Since then it's been one of my favorite foods. The kind that I like the best is the individual cups of cinnamon applesauce. Yummy!

2. Raisins.
I love them because they are nutritious, taste great, and are very easy to take along me.

3. Carrots.
I love snacking on baby carrots because I love their texture and taste.

Dole Fruit n' Gel Bowls

These gel snacks are great for three reasons: 1). they are made without gelatin, 2) They contain chunks of fruit, and 3) Most flavors are completely vegan! I say most because the ones with the red coloring use cochineal, which is derived from a dead insect of the same name. Depending on your level of strictness you may want to avoid those flavors. The pineapple in lime flavor is vegan, and it is wonderful.

Nutrigrain Peanut Butter Granola Bars.
Not all Nutrigrain products are vegan, however I read the label on these bars and could not find any dairy or egg products. I like them because they are a source of whole grains and protein. They are a great source of energy on the go!

Now for the not so healthy snacks.

Oreos.

Yes, Oreos are vegan! My favorite is the double stuffed vanilla cookies. They are LOADED with calories, but they are GOOD. I only eat these occasionally.

Twizzlers.

I love chewing licorice.

Those are my favorite vegan snacks. What are yours?

Vegan iPhone apps review

I recently got an iPod Touch and I love it! I love the fact that it can store all my music and browse the Web much faster and easier than my Blackberry phone (I definitely understand why many people are trading in their Blackberrys for iPhones and Androids. I plan to do so as soon as I can). When I finally managed to take my eyes off of "Angry Birds" (that game is damn addicting!) I found 4 sweet vegan apps that are 100% FREE! Here they are:

21 Day Vegan KickStart:
This app is great for new vegans. It gives you a full meal plan including breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner for 21 days. It also gives you the recipe for each dish that requires one and gives full nutritional info. While I have yet to try any of the recipes, it looks like it'll be a very handy app to have.

VeganYumYum:
This app provides a ton of recipes from the blog of the same name. No need to bring a written grocery list to the store anymore! Just tap the screen and you're ready to shop!

Cruelty-Free:
Part of CaringConsumer.com's Leaping Bunny program, this app provides a list of companies that have pledged not to use animal testing in their products or ingredients. While this list is not inclusive of all cruelty-free companies, it's a great resource for shoppers.

PETA:
The PETA app provides you with all of their current action alerts. With this app you can send an email expressing your displeasure to the offending company with a single tap. You can also let your friends know about the problem via  Facebook or Twitter post without leaving the app. It's not the best app out there, but it's free and informative.

What is your favorite vegan/vegetarian iPhone app? Please share it with us in the comment section. I love learning about useful apps!

Vegans on TV

One of my pet peeves is how TV shows usually portray veg*an (vegan and vegetarian) characters in a negative light. We are often shown to be pushy, unhealthy freaks. Fortunately, there have been a couple of shows which take a pro-veg*an stance. Let’s look at a five popular TV shows and how they treat(ed) veg*ans.
The anti-veg shows:

"Are We There Yet?" (TBS).  This is actually one of my favorite shows. It is based on the movie of the same name that starred Ice Cube and follows Nick and Suzanne as they try to bring their newly blended family together. My favorite actress of all time, Telma Hopkins plays the character Marilyn (Nick's mom). While she's not a regular, she appears fairly frequently (about every other episode). It's a funny show that's great for all ages. The one episode that I don't like is called "Lindsey Goes Vegan". In this episode, the oldest child Lindsey announces that she has decided to become a vegan. Unfortunately, she goes about it all wrong. She constantly lectures her family about their meat eating and tries to force them to go vegan with her (not a good way to win people over). In one scene she tries to throw away everything in the house that contains leather and fur, even things that don't belong to her like her father's football. When her mother asks her what scent she is wearing, Lindsey tells her that she has stopped using soap and is only showering with tea tree oil because soap contains animal fat. It is true that many commercially made soaps have animal fats, but the writers completely ignored the fact that many types of vegan soaps ARE available. The worst thing about the episode was when her family found out that the only reason Lindsey had decided to become vegan was to impress a vegan boy that she had a crush on. She had never actually been committed to animal rights like she claimed. By the end of the episode she has broken up with the boy and is back to eating meat. The one saving grace about this episode was that at at the end, her step father Nick makes a vegan chili that the family loves. At least they were willing to show viewers that vegan food is tasty. But the episode still gave people the impression that vegans are pushy and that we will eventually get over our "phase" and go back to eating meat.

"Boy Meets World" I used to watch this show every day as a teenager when it was on the Disney Channel. This show follows a boy named Cory Matthews and his friends as they go through middle school, high school, and eventually college. It's a great coming of age show. In the early episodes one of the main characters, Topanga Lawrence is a vegetarian. However, she is also a very weird character whom the other kids make fun of. She is seen as a new ager whose ideas are unrealistic. As the seasons went on, Topanga gradually becomes a regular teenager and marries the main character Cory. However, she also gives up on her vegetarianism. Once again, we veg*ans are made to look like freaks who are not really committed to our beliefs.

The pro-veg shows:

"Braceface" This was a show that aired in re-runs on the Disney Channel years ago. This show introduced me to vegetarianism as a child years before I would actually become one myself. The show is about a teenager named Sharon who has to get braces that she hates. They do all sorts of crazy things like pick up on radio and walkie talkie signals, enabling Sharon and everyone near her to hear music and conversations from quite a distance. In one of the first season episodes called "The Meat of the Matter", Sharon gets a part time job at a meat packing plant. While she is at work, her braces pick up a signal from the walkie-talkies the employees of the slaughterhouse next door are using. She hears the cows wailing in the background and decides to go over to the slaughterhouse and see what's going on first hand. When she gets there, she sees the horrible conditions the cows must endure. She also meets with a vegetarian film maker who is doing an expose on the meat industry. She speaks with him and then goes home where her mother has made a meat dish for dinner. When she looks at it, she remembers the slaughterhouse and announces that she is now a vegetarian. Her family is skeptical at first, but learns to accept her decision. She joins a vegetarian group and starts to advocate for animal rights. Later when she and her friends are at a party where the only foods being served are beef burgers and hot dogs, she leaves discouraged. She decides to go meet up with her vegetarian friends who are at a booth at a supermarket giving away samples of veggie burgers. They convince her to go back to the party with some veggie burgers and show the other kids that vegetarian food can be tasty. She decides to do that and her friends at the party end up devouring the veggie burgers. This show is good because unlike most shows where a character decides to become a veg*an only to go back to eating meat, Sharon remains a vegetarian throughout the series. Her vegetarianism is central to the plot of several episodes and it's always portrayed as a good, compassionate decision. It would have been even better if Sharon had been a full vegan, but I'll take what I can get.

"Degrassi: The Next Generation": This is a Canadian teen drama that is a continuation of the 1980s/1990s series "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High". This show deals with the realities of being a teenager in the 2000s. It's episodes deal with topics like teen pregnancy and parenthood, abortion, adoption, gangs, drugs, racism, school violence and prejudice against homosexuals (the show has won awards from GLAAD). For eight years one of the main characters (the show has a large ensemble cast) was Emma Nelson. Emma is shown to be a devoted activist and vegetarian. While she can be a bit over the top at times, Emma is sincere about her beliefs and her vegetarianism is shown in a positive light.

"The Simpsons" I don't watch this show that often, but I do know that the character of Lisa has been a vegetarian for several seasons and from what I have seen her vegetarianism is treated as a good thing.

What do you think about the way that veg*ans are protrayed on TV? Can you give me more examples of shows that have positive veg*an characters?

These are a few of my favorite things!

One of my hobbies is making candles, soaps, and jewelry. I love being creative and being able to say "I did it myself"! I also love the fact that when you make something by hand, it is one of a kind. I have many earrings, bracelets, and necklaces (especially with the peace sign) that no one else has. A couple of other advantages to buying handmade items are: 1) you can be sure that at least the finished piece is sweat shop free, and 2) You can support the economy by buying items made by other Americans (or other citizens of your country).I love handmade items so much that if I'm wearing jewelry, 9 times out of 10 the items were handmade by me or another artisan. Many of the items that I buy come from a website called Etsy.com. Etsy allows individual crafters to open a shop and sell their handmade or vintage items for a very small fee. There are many, many vegan crafters and vegan friendly items listed on Etsy. Below you will find some of my favorite shops and items. Be sure to check them out!

1. The Dog Coat Lady: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thedogcoatlady

This shop is wonderful! The seller is a dedicated vegan who donates a portion of her profits to animal rights causes. She sells buttons, and most of those buttons have a vegan or animal rights message. I have bought three buttons from her, two of which are on my purse right now (my purse is covered with various feminist, vegan, and peace sign buttons). Her buttons are HUGE (most over 2 inches) so they will be seen. They are high quality, and at $3 each (including shipping in the USA) they are an affordable way to show off your vegan pride! Here are a few of the buttons that are available in her store:









#2 The Head Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHeadShop


As a vegan, feminist, and environmentalist, I think that this is one kick-ass tote. They also sell shirts with this saying in various colors.



















#3 The Radical Uprise: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheRadicalUprise


Vegan buttons + feminist buttons + self published vegan zine = one hell of a shop! I ordered a copy of the zine below earlier today.




















#4 Psychedelic Tara http://www.etsy.com/shop/psychedelictara

This shop sells a lot of funny and thought provoking buttons for those of us who lean towards the left side of the political aisle. They only have a few veggie themed buttons, but they are nice.

Favorite Vegan Recipes

I'll start this post by saying that I am fairly new to cooking. I've made a few things from scratch before, but I mostly use prepared foods and the microwave. However, I realize that this is not the healthiest, and every vegan I've spoken to said that learning to cook is a must once you go veggie. So I decided to look up some fast, easy vegan recipes. When researching vegan cooking, I noticed that one cookbook in particular was frequently mentioned as a must have. That book is "Vegan with a Vengeance" By Isa Moskowitz. So I decided to look up the book and found her official website, The Post Punk Kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she had several free recipes posted on the site. I looked through them and saw one called " Broccoli Curry Udon". It said that the total time was 30 minutes and their are only a few ingredients which are easy to find/ substitute. In fact, the only things that I couldn't find in my supermarket (Wal-Mart) were the udon noodles and coconut milk, so I used spaghetti noodles and cream of coconut instead. I decided to make this meal today and I LOVE IT! It truly is easy to make and tastes great! This would be a great dish to serve to skeptical meat-eaters who think that all vegan food is bland. You should know that this meal is quite hot, so if you don't like spicy food you should cut down on the curry. Anyway, I think that this is one of the best meals that I've had and I'll definitely make it again!

Click here to see the recipe: http://www.theppk.com/2011/01/broccoli-curry-udon/#comment-20244

If you like this recipe, I recommend that you check out her "Vegan With a Vengeance" cookbook. I bought it on Saturday and it is filled with recipes that you cannot find on the site. While I haven't made any of the dishes listed in it yet, I cannot wait to do so.

As a side note, I passed my NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses)! So now I am officially a vegan nurse! I have wanted to be a nurse by whole life, so this is a dream come true for me.

That's all for now!

Dealing with non-vegans

As a vegetarian I had some very interesting experiences with meat eaters, and I have had even more as a new vegan. When I first announced to my mother that I was becoming a vegetarian, it seemed as if she took it as a personal insult. Whenever I'd mention being vegetarian, she'd roll her eyes and sigh loudly. She'd call my soy faux meats "fake food" and make snide little comments. I asked her to stop and eventually she did, so I thought that she would be okay with me going vegan. I assumed wrong. She has started doing those things again, and when I recently asked her to stop she said "I have to get it out of my system". I told her that I made up my mind and no amount of eye rolls is going to change that. I still don't understand why she seems to take my veganism as a personal insult. I love her very much and would never do anything to deliberately hurt her. I guess she just needs time to get used to it.

I just started reading "Vegan Freak" by Bob and Jenna Torres. In the third chapter entitled "Hell is Other People" they give some tips on how to deal with hostile non-vegans. I thought that I would list a few of the best ones here for you.

#1. Don't talk about animal rights over dinner! Doing this makes people both queasy and angry, and that turns them off of your arguments very fast. If someone asks me why I am not eating meat or dairy, I simply tell them that I am a vegan. If they ask me why I'm vegan I'll tell them that it's because I support animal rights and for my health. If they want to know more, I tell them I'll speak to them later.

#2 Don't be pushy. No one likes being made to feel like they are evil. Criticizing people for eating meat and going around with a "meat is murder" shirt will not win many converts (even though it's true). It'll just make people more determined to continue to eat meat.

#3 Turn the other cheek. This is much easier said than done, and I'm definitely guilty of not following this advice at times. However, you should try your best not to get angry with those who try to insult you. Instead, you should "kill them with kindness". People who resort to insults are bullies, and if you respond with anger you are just playing into their hands. However, if you respond in a kind manner, it will take the fun out of goading you and they will stop.

#4 Show people how yummy vegan food is! When I was in nursing school, my entire clinical group would eat together in the hospital cafeteria every day that we had clinical. We also ate together almost everyday that we were in class as well. I was lacto-ovo vegetarian at the time, but I would often get a vegan or near vegan lunch. I was the only vegetarian in the group. I would buy/bring my lunch and simply eat my food without drawing attention to the fact that I didn't have any meat or gelatin on my plate. There were several times that my classmates looked at my food and said "That looks delicious! I wish I had ordered that!" Sometimes the best way to convert someone is to show them that vegans eat more than salad. So invite your friends over to your place for a vegan feast!

That's all for now. Toodles!

Resources for new vegan/vegetarians

Here are some of my favorite vegan/vegetarian websites, books, and videos.

Note about the PETA links: I am not now nor have I ever been a member of PETA. While I agree with their philosophy, I feel that some of their methods do more harm to the cause of veganism than good. That being said, they have many valuable resources that can help vegans, especially new ones. That's why I have included those links.

Also note that I am NOT responsible for the content of the resources listed and I do not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in them.

Websites:

PETA's Accidentally Vegan List : A list of common brand name foods and snacks that are vegan

PETA's Cruelty Free Companies list : a searchable list of companies that do NOT test on animals. There is also a list of companies that do conduct animal tests. Makes shopping a lot easier!

PETA's Vegan/Vegetarian Starter Kit : A great resource for new veggies! It includes info on vegetarianism, tips eating out, and recipes. You can order a printed copy or view the online version and best of all it's FREE!

Happy Cow : One of the BEST sites out there! It has a a database of veggie friendly restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and natural food stores (all searchable by location). It also has a ton of general info on vegetarianism and animal rights. Best of all, they have a app for some smart phones so you can access this info on the go!

The Post Punk Kitchen : Has a ton of vegan recipes, including baked goods.

Chooseveg.com Contains general info on veganism, recipes and videos

American Vegan Society : Founded in 1960, this is the main organization for vegans in the USA. Has a lot of GREAT info. If you are considering veganism, you should definitely visit this site!

The Vegan Society : Founded in Great Britain in 1944, this is the worlds oldest vegan organization. You should also place this site on your must visit list.

Christian Vegetarian Association : Great info for Christian veggies!

Hippy Land : While this site is not vegetarian specific, it does contain a section on vegetarianism. The site contains a lot of info on the hippie culture ( warning: some content may not be appropriate for children).

Books:

Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival Handbook by Carol J. Adams. This book is great. I read it when I first became a vegetarian and I've decided to re-read it now that I'm becoming a vegan. This book discusses ways to live, work, and eat in peace with meat eaters. It talks about how to deal with people who oppose your choice without losing your head. A definite must read!

Being Vegan by Joanne Stepaniak: This book is a collection of answers to questions that people have sent to the author about the vegan lifestyle. It has a lot of good info about vegan food, dealing with hostile non-vegans, traveling as a vegan, and more. I liked it so much I bought another book by the same author called "The Vegan Sourcebook". It just arrived today and I can't wait to read it.

Another book that I just started reading today is Vegan Freak by Bob and Jenna Torres. So far I really like it, and I'll review it when I finish it.

Videos (warning: may contain graphic images of animal cruelty):

PETA's Meet Your Meat: A video showing the horrible conditions on factory farms.

Land 'O Lakes Supplier Undercover video : Shows conditions on a dairy farm

Vegan friendly stores:

Nature's Muse:
Vegan friendly soaps and body care items. I love her Patchouli soap and perfume and have ordered them several times.

Pangea Vegan store

Tiedyes.com: Your One Stop Activist Shop!

Has a selection of veggie themed buttons.

Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe

Herbivore Clothing

I hope that these resources help and encourage you on your vegan journey!

Welcome to Happy Hippie Vegan Freak

Hi everyone. My name is Sarah and I am a happy hippie vegan freak! Here's a little bit about me and the blog:

I am 24 years old and I recently graduated from a Practical Nursing Program. I'll be taking my licensure test next week and then I will (hopefully) be an offical Licensed Practical Nurse. I consider myself to be a proud hippie. I am a big supporter of midwives, homebirth, and natural medicine. I am a member of the Green party and I recycle and try to be as enviromentally friendly as possible. I even wear peace signs and bell bottoms, and I tie dye my own shirts! I have had people tell me that I should have been a teen in the Seventies, and I often wish that I could have been around back then. I became a lacto-ovo vegetarian ( no meat, chicken, fish, or gelatin) almost a year ago. I am of American Indian heritage and I make and sell crafts. One of my customers approached me and asked me if I could make a vegan dreamcatcher for her. I accepted the challenge and started to look for a vegan glue that I could use. This lead me several websites on vegetarianism. I began to read the articles on the health benefits of a vegetarian diet and how it was better for the enviroment. I thought about it for a few weeks, and then my family took a vacation. We traveled by train in a sleeper car, which meant we got free meals. The train offered a veggie burger and I decided to give it a try. I loved it and decided to become a vegetarian. I eliminated all meat, chicken, fish, and gelatin from my diet. I joined several online vegetarian meesage boards and groups. There I started to read about the horrible way that dairy cows and laying hens are treated on factory farms. I learned that the dairy, egg, and meat industries (which I came to despise very soon after becoming vegetarian) are strongly linked to one another. I realized that I couldn't claim to love animals while still supporting the dairy and egg industries. So, about 3 weeks ago I decided to become a vegan. I am still finishing the left over veggie burgers that I have that contain eggs, but I plan to buy only the vegan ones in the future. I have already given up drinking milk, which was fairly easy because I found a soymilk brand that I LOVE.

I created this blog so that I could share my experiences as a new vegan, and hopefully help other new vegans (or those considering veganism) in their journey as well.

Welcome to Happy Hippie Vegan Freak!