Living Without Meat

Tomorrow, October 1, is the annual World Vegetarian Day, which was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society. The celebratory day kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Visit the Web site for World Veg Head Day by clicking on the banner here. There you will find activities, recipes, and general comraderie as vegetarians across the globe join together to celebrate and share our lifestyle.

To the non-vegetarians: I challenge you to be conscious of what you eat. Look at every bite before you put it in your mouth. Remember where - and who - it came from. Think while you chew. Be aware of how your body feels afterward. Then, eat vegetarian (better yet, vegan) for a meal, a day, a week, or even an entire month, thinking these same thoughts.

I think you will find that fresh spinach looks more appetizing than bloody steak. Remembering the plant that is giving you nourishment won’t wrench your heart. Your body will feel satisfied, yet light, after a vegetarian meal. I think you will find that your conscience is cleaner after a healthy meat- and cruelty-free meal.

If nothing else, take a moment to ask a vegetarian what their favorite recipe is … then go home and make it for you and your family!

To vegetarians and vegans: I thank you, on behalf of the animals, and on behalf of your heart. You are living a life against the norm because you are a caring, compassionate, smart individual, and this (well, tomorrow) is your day.

Make yourself a wonderful meal; try something new even. Splurge at a vegan restaurant or on an expensive ingredient. Pat yourself on the back. But most importantly, remember what a difference you are making with each food choice that you make … then go out and spend the rest of the month telling your friends, family, and even strangers on the bus about living a vegetarian life.

Positive inspiration to get through the rest of today, courtesy of my Joint Comfort Yogi Tea bag:

“There is no love without compassion.”y

I’ve been hooked on quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) lately. I was a little late to the game, as apparently most vegans know and love the nutrient-rich grain. After mentioning a dinner that I made recently that included quinoa I’ve had requests to share more about what it is and how to eat it.

Here are a few quick facts:

* It is a species of goosefoot.
* Although it is similiar to cereals and grains, it is not technically a grass plant.
* The most common part to harvest is the seeds. The leaves can be cooked like other leafy greens, but are more rare.
* It was a sacred plant in the ancient Inca civilization; they referred to it as the “mother of all grains.” Many countries forgot about quinoa for awhile, but it was reintroduced about 20 years ago and has since been steadily increasing in popularity - especially among vegetarians and vegan.
* It is kosher, so long as it is prepared properly.
* The nutritional value is phenomenal: It is high in protein, fiber, iron, and more. It is gluten free. It contains a balanced set of essential amino acids.

You can add quinoa into your diet easily, incorporating it into meals where in place of couscous or rice: it’s texture and cooking process are similar to these. Prepare extra, because it also makes a great cold salad addition.

Some grocery stores are starting to carry quinoa. I was able to find it at Super Fresh, but not Acme. If your local store doesn’t carry it, try online vegan stores.

Once you are comfortable with it as a staple, check out the Northern Quinoa Corporation to learn more about incorporating into breakfast, baking, and desserts.

First, Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle was on The Ellen Degeneres Show on Friday, and now the president of the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Neal Barnard, M.D., will be a guest on today’s show!

Monday, September 29, Neal Barnard will be speaking about why people get hooked on unhealthy food and how they can unhook themselves. Dr. Bernard authored the book Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings - and Seven Steps to End Them Naturally, which discusses how our biochemistry may be more to blame that our lack of willpower.

Barnard will specifically outline his three-week kick start program to eliminate unhealthy foods and habits.

These two animal-rights guests come after Ellen’s vegan wedding reception, and two vegan guests back-to-back in May.

Side note: Wayne Pacelle’s interview has not yet made it onto YouTube or another form of online viewing. I’ll let you know when and if either of the above mentioned guest appearances become available online.

It’s time to find more animal sanctuaries! So far we’ve defined what an animal sanctuary is, and then searched the east coast of the U.S. and California for sanctuaries caring for all kinds of species. Now let’s take a break from the United States, and check out India.

India has over 500 wildlife sanctuaries classified as protected areas. Project Tiger, a conservation initiative began in 1973, runs more than 40 tiger-specific sanctuaries. Tiger population had been successfully and steadily increasing, but after a significant decrease from 2007 to 2008 the Indian government has stepped in to assist with funding.

Some other stand out organizations are:

Manas National Park, Assam: the oldest recorded refuge in the country. It is part of many larger projects, such as Project Tiger, and is known for its unique array of endangered species including the Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog. The land is also an official World Heritage Site.

The largest in the country, with about 2,477 square miles of property, is the Great Indian Bustard (named for a bird that is threatened due to loss of habitat) in Maharashtra, which started up in 1979.

India has a protection site for nearly every kind of animal. There are safe homes for flamingo, crocodile, dolphin, wild asses, elephants, and more. A number of Indian sanctuaries are run by the government, and covered by laws including the Indian Forest Act and the Protection Act.

Learn more about India’s expansive, diverse animal protecting establishments, check out some of these good links:

* Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
* Sanctuary Asia Magazine
* Wildlife Sanctuaries of India Wikipedia Entry
* Project Elephant
* Government of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests

Humane Society (HSUS) President and CEO Wayne Pacelle will be a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show today, Friday, September 26 to talk about Proposition 2 “and how it will help millions of farm animals in California and across the country.”

Proposition 2 is ballot proposition for the state of California that will appear for vote on the general election ballot on November 4, 2008. Animal organizations nationwide are trying to spread the word about how beneficial a “yes” vote on Prop 2 will be for farm animals. Big agriculture, on the other hand, is putting millions of dollars into fighting Prop 2.

The matter being proposed is a Standards for Confining Farm Animals initiative statute which would add a chapter to California’s Health and Safety Code to “prohibit the confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to tum around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.” In essence: no more battery cages for chickens, veal crates for newborn calves, or gestation crates for pregnant pigs.

So if you live in California, by voting “yes” to proposition 2, you will be saying “no” to inhumane confinement of animals. Regardless of what state you live in, tune in the Ellen today to learn more and see Wayne bust out some phat moves - he promised to wear his dancing shoes!

Can’t wait to learn more? Check out the Proposition 2 campaign page to watch a musical, animated, informative video; watch a live action video that gives the hard truth; learn who supports and who opposes Prop 2; and join the campaigning efforts. Wikipedia’s Proposition 2 page also offers a lot of good, detailed information, including similar legislation previously attempted.

I have a new roommate - and she’s a vegetarian! It is so nice to look in the refrigerator and not see marinating meat, or into the freezer and see indeterminable hunks of animal. Plus, we cook together!

We went grocery shopping together this weekend and stocked up on good food. This week, we’ve made dinner for one another two nights.

I prepared the first: toasted Kaiser rolls with homemade honey mustard, fresh spinach, tomato, and a fake chicken patty for me, a tomato basil veggie burger for her with a side of french fries.

Tonight, she made a taco bar with chips, burrito wraps, refried beans, tomato, spinach, guacamole, and corn, plus some cheese and sour cream for her. While she was cooking, I threw some potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, chickpeas, white beans, corn, and green beans into a crock pot for tomorrow night.

I’m not sure how long the vegetarian cooking honeymoon will last, but for now it’s great!

Farm Sanctuary has an urgent need for a new tractor - a large, unexpected expense which was not planned for in their budget. Plus, generous donors have agreed to match all donations towards a new tractor, up to $20,000. If you are able to, now would be a great time to support this excellent cause … just think: your dollars will be doubled by this matching donation offer!

Click the banner above to donate to the tractor fund today and have your gift matched!

In his plea for financial support, President and Co-Founder Gene Baur wrote this in an e-mail to Farm Sanctuary members:

“Caring for 780 animals at Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter is no easy feat. Our hardworking staff therefore counts on essential large-scale farm vehicles and equipment every day to feed hundreds of animals and clean more than 15 barns on 175 acres.

“As a result of a recent large influx of animals, we must purchase a new tractor immediately to cover the shelter’s growing needs and ensure the animals’ daily care.”

I’ve been contemplating ordering some food, beauty products, and such from Amazon.com, as they have quite a large selection of vegan replacements, snacks, drinks, and general yumminess. But after getting on an independent business kick yesterday on the fiction site that I write - GenreFiction.net, I’ve decided to hunt down other, smaller online stores that carry vegan goods.

To save you a similar quest, here are some of the stores that I’ve found. Please note, however, that I have not ordered from any of these … yet.

* Vegan Essentials currently boasts over 1,200 all-vegan products including books, personal care items, foodstuffs, clothing, and baby’s needs.

* The Vegan Store is home to Pangea products and numerous other brands in realms such as body care, clothes, vitamins, books, and snacks. Chocolate lovers will not be disappointed!

* Ethical Planet has all the vegan essentials, plus yoga and meditation needs, paper products, recycled goods, aromatherapy, and cleaning products.

* Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe also carries all the basics, plus frozen foods, vegan gift ideas, and supplements.

* Choose Veg, which is run by Mercy for Animals, has a vegan shopping page with even more links.

* The PETA Mall has an extensive collection of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly online stores organized by category, such as apparel, food, toys, and more. The Mall also offers occasional discount codes and free shipping offers exclusive to PETA Mall shoppers.

Let me know if I missed a good one, or if you have ordered from any of these places and can offer feedback. Happy vegan shopping!

Today I realized that I have been regularly working out since January. For nine months I have been attending a weekly weight lifting class and spending the other days exercising around the apartment. In general over these months I have become more aware of how much I move - or don’t - during each day. I try to get up and walk every so often at the office. When I come home, I sit and bounce on my yoga ball, stretch, dance around with my weighted pilates balls, or play with the cats.

And I am seeing the benefits!

Today during class, I did 10 controlled push-ups, all the way down and all the way back up. I have energy without drinking coffee. My knees, which used to hurt so bad I struggled with stairs, rarely bother me anymore. My body has slimmed, my muscles are toned, and my mood is boosted. I feel great!

Join me - create an exercise routine that works for your life and feel the benefits of keeping active!

Today I continue my series of looking into what and where animal sanctuaries are. First, I defined animal sanctuaries as a safe haven that reqires nothing of their residents, and last week I found as many sanctuaries as I could on the east coast of the U.S. Now, I’m heading to the west coast, specifically California:

* Farm Sanctuay has a California campus near Orland. It may be the less talked about one, but it still boasts 300 acres for escued farm animals. Founder Gene Baur grew up in California, so he can visit his othe sanctuary and his parents all in one trip across the country.

* Speaking of Gene Baur … his ex-wife Lorri Bauston, who is a co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, also directs her own farm animal rescue efforts at Animal Acres in Acton.

Beyond Gene and Lorri’s ventures, California is a large state that is home to a lot of animal refuges. These include:

* American Service Horse Rescue Zoo in Chico.
* American Tortoise Rescue in Century City.
* The Gorilla Foundation, home to the famous sign-language learning Koko, in Woodside.
* Shambala Preserve, maintained by the Roar Foundation, is a big cat home in Acton.
* Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary in San Jose is a no-kill shelter for cats and dogs.
* Jack Auchterlonie Memorial Equine Sanctuary (JAMES) is a safe house for horses in 29 Palms.
* C.H.E.E.T.A. Primate Sanctuary (Creative Habitats and Enrichment for Endangered and Threatened Apes) in Palm Springs.
* Coventry Companion Bird Survival Center in Bella Vista.
* Critter Haven in the High Sierra Mountains cares for yaks, donkeys, geese, ducks, goats, emus, and even some cats and dogs.
* The Purple Cow and Friends in Escondido takes in unwanted animals including cows, mules, horses, dogs, and more.
* D.E.L.T.A. Rescue (Dedication and Everlasting Love to Animals) rescues wild cats and dogs in Glendale.
* Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center in Hughson rescues injured and orphaned wildlife - birds, fox, big cats, and more.
* P.R.O.U.D. (Pet Rescue of Unwanted Dogs) in Kingsburg.

This is only a sampling of the animal sanctuaries in California. With the climate and the amount of open land out west, there are lots of great rescue and refuge efforts.

In 1994, when Amy Grant covered Joni Mitchell’s song “Big Yellow Taxi,” I found a new favorite song. My dad and I used to sing along to it whenever it came on the radio. I heard it the other day playing in CVS and was reminded how awesome the lyrics are. So remind yourself, or discover, how environmentally powerful a song Mitchell wrote in 1970:

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what you’ve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put ‘em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see ‘em

Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what you’ve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that d.d.t. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!

Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what you’ve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man

Don’t it always seem to go
That you dont know what you’ve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

There are a lot of fantastic sounding and looking vegan recipes floating around the Internet. But who feels like shopping and planning for an elaborate recipe that you then have to spend time preparing? I know that, during the week, I sure don’t.

So what does a vegan throw together for a quick dinner? Here are three of my recent evening meals that took no planning or recipe.

On the first night, I made lentils, heated up some canned beets, and sauteed some fresh brussel sprouts. I saved the beet juice to make a vegetable juice blend later, and made extra lentils which make an excellent cold snack with a little oil and salt.

The next night, I sauteed the rest of the brussel sprouts with some yellow squash. I also heated up some Morning Star meal starter ground beef.

And tonight I stir-fried frozen corn, frozen green beans, and some of the Morning Star beef. I ate it atop some quinoa.

Writer David Foster Wallace was found dead in his apartment last Friday, September 12. The news spread quickly, especially since the circumstances were announced as an apparent suicide (he was found hung). He had a large following of fans that are in mourning over the loss of a great writer. His best-known work, Infinite Jest was included in Time’s 2006 list of “100 best English language novels from 1923 to the present.”

But when I heard the news, I didn’t recognize his name or novel title. After further reading about Wallace, I realize that I have read one of his articles that went on to inspire the title of one of his short story collections: Consider the Lobster.

Originally published in Gourmet magazine in August 2004, Consider the Lobster reviewed the then 56-year-old Maine Lobster Festival and its traditions … with an animal rights twist as eluded to by the title. It is a well-written, thought-provoking piece, and you should read it.

It was a gutsy move - submitting an article that looked at an animal as something other than dinner to a foodie magazine. It was an even gutsier, and later controversial, move by Gourmet to publish it.

In 2005, Wallace put together a collection of essays and short stories that he had written over the years, and Consider the Lobster was not only included, but became the title piece (cover shown here).

If in no other way, pay respect to a man who broke barriers in the food versus animal debate by reading David Foster Wallace’s article Consider the Lobster.

Usually, I begin to cringe the second I see the word “vegan” or “vegetarian” come up in a New York Times article. On occasion they write a great piece, highlighting the veg lifestyle in a truthful, non-biased light. But more often than not, the reference appears in the restaurant section, and, well, foodies don’t think too highly of people who put their ethical standards above their stomachs.

Today I stumbled across “In-Flight Plight of a Famished Vegan,” an article in the “Frequent Flier” column of the Business section of the September 9 New York Times. I was excited - the business section! The article was good: I was ready to bookmark the writer as a favorite. Unfortunately, the frequent flier writer had not written the article, but rather Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the U.S., was responsible for the good PR.

It’s still a good piece, and Wayne is always a great writer, it’s just a shame that a NY Times staff writer wasn’t the one to write positively about veganism because biases swing both ways.

To read more from Wayne Pacelle, shown here, check out his HSUS blog.