DO YOU THINK I’M STARVING?

Many people believe that a vegan diet limits you to eating a nutritious and balanced meals.  That is simply NOT true.  You do not have to eat meat or dairy in order to receive proper nutrients – despite what “experts” say.  The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has recently indicated that meat causes cancer, something many vegans, holistic health-care practitioners and doctors already knew.

Today’s blog IS NOT about proving the above claims as I don’t require the proof as what I eat and the state of my health is proof enough.  So, what do I eat??  Here are some of the many vegan dishes I have made and eat regularly:

Tofu scramble, baked home-fries, meatless sausage, toast and beans in a tomato sauce make for a delicious and hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This is a vegan version of an egg salad sandwich.  It includes seasoned tofu, vegan mayo, celery and green onion.

Breakfast could not be more delicious with a serving of vegan pancakes topped with maple syrup and fresh and organic strawberries.

How can you make a vegan pizza??  Easy – this pizza was made with quinoa balls, green olives, tomato, dairy-free cheese and tomato sauce.  The crust is a whole-grain crust.

I love experimenting with salads.  This is a lightly fried tofu and garden salad.  I add a combination of mixed greens, carrots and cucumber.  For the dressing – it’s either a home-made oil and vinegar or I buy an organic vinaigrette dressing.  I also add hemp, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

This is a seasoned tofu stir fry – I make sure only to use NON-GMO and organic tofu.  I also use a salt-free stir fry sauce if I don’t make my own.

Another mixed green salad – this one includes avocados and beans.

Meatless ‘loaf’ with some baked potatoes and seasoned peas.

Oven roasted tofu with mash and seasoned roasted vegetables.  Great substitute for turkey during the holidays.  The key is knowing how to season it.

Seasoned tofu steaks, lemon-ginger brocoli and carrots.

A mixed bean salad with meatless ‘italian sausage’.

Mixed vegetable salad with rice and breaded and meatless ‘chicken’.

I sometimes drink a vegan wine and prefer Yellow Tale from Australia.  I occasionally have coffee and only drink it with either soy or almond milk.  I rarely have any white pasta or rice – the rice is usually whole grain and the pasta either kamut, rice or quinoa.

My decision to become first vegetarian then vegan was mainly due to my spouse’s decision to go vegetarian.  I later became vegan after watching a video of rabbits screaming in pain – it changed my life.  At that moment, I decided that I could no longer support an industry that caused animals so much pain and suffering.  I later concluded that by not eating these tortured souls that I wouldn’t be consuming the pain and suffering those animals endured.  I really am conscious of what I buy and what companies make an effort to support a cruelty-free life for animals.

Along with the ethical reasons I became vegan – I wanted to make a difference in curbing climate change.  Agriculture and raising beef for food is the biggest culprit in climate change.  Cattle ranching is a huge cause in deforestation across the planet – and this is the tip of the iceberg (pardon the pun).  You can find proof of the effects cattle ranching has on our environment by visiting any of the following sites:

http://www.350.org

http://www.peta.org

http://www.greenpeace.ca

We all have a responsibility to end cruelty against one another, including the animals we share the planet with.  We also have a responsibility to the planet that has given us so much.  We need to focus on healing it and ensuring the children of tomorrow have the right to clean water, clean air and clean food.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

I WILL NEVER JUSTIFY MY ADVOCACY.

As a vegan – I sometimes struggle to maintain my positivity.  I’m always told to be sensitive to those who do not understand my choice to maintain my vegan lifestyle.  Friends and family sometimes question why I post such violent images and videos on social media?  I am quite often told that vegans are so “in your face” and “very aggressive”.

In all honesty – the best way to get a message across is the most direct approach. It’s the only way to make people understand their hypocrisy and what kind of cruelty to are supporting.

It is interesting that, as a vegan, I am usually the one who has to apologize for this lifestyle choice.  At restaurants, how many times have I had to say, “Sorry, I’m vegan, I don’t eat any animal products.” – Only to be asked, “Would you like cheese with that.” or “Do you eat fish?” – Fish are living, breathing animals, why would you ask me if I want fish after stating I don’t eat any animals?

I sincerely want to create positive change in our world – this includes positive change for animals.  I don’t support any of the following things:

• The clubbing of seals.
• Bull FIghting.
• Fishing.
• Fox hunts.
• Safaris.
• Pig wrestling.
• Groundhog weather predictions.
• The running of the bulls.
• Cock fighting.
• Dog fighting.
• Any type of animal racing.
• Rodeos.
• Pig roasts.
• Animal sacrifices in the name of religion.
• Horse racing or any type of racing involving animals.
• SeaWorlds or any type of animal “jails”.
• Cattle farming.

These are only a few.  Animals are not ours to wear and definitely not ours for our amusement.

So – I say to all you ‘none-vegans’ – “Don’t call me a radical animal activist – just so I can make you feel better about your decision to eat or wear them” – I am not a radical, I am simply acting on my need to protect and help animals who can’t speak for themselves.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one.

A MOTHER’S CRY

I don’t know about you but I have a very special bond with my mother from as early as I can remember.  Was it the gentle way she spoke, the awareness she had regarding my sensitivities, how she took a keen interest in caring and nurturing me or was our bond strengthened due to my mother’s perseverance to save my life as a new-born?  I believe it to be a combination of all these things.

I know my mother has a special bond with each of my siblings – the bond and love is different for each of us.  She has formed bonds with each of my seven sisters in different ways – she has a special bond with my brother because he is the youngest boy but with me, I feel our bond is different.  As my bond with my mother is strong with each of her children – so is the bond that is created with every mother for her newborn child.  Now, imagine if that bond is broken, imagine if you were not even give a chance to bond with the person that has given you life.  It would be devastating.

Each time a baby animal is removed from her mother – this special loving, nurturing and tender bond is broken.  I can’t imagine the anguish and pain the mother and newborn go through once they are ripped apart from one another.  Here are some facts about cows and their newborns:

• Calves are taken from their mothers as soon as two hours after birth.
• Calves are fed a commercial milk replacer that is made from dried milk powder or they are fed milk that has been deemed unfit for human consumption.
• Just as human mothers bond tightly with their newborn babies – mother cows have been reported to bellow for hours or even days after her calf is taken from her.
• Multiparous females (those giving birth for the second time or more) have higher levels of oxytocin than primiparous (those giving birth for the first time).  This means that with each subsequent birth, a mother cow presumably grows more and more bonded to her calves, and it likely becomes more and more emotionally traumatized for the cow each time a baby calf is taken from her.
• Just as the mother forms an immediate bond with her calf, the newborn calf also has an immediate bond to his or her mother and is healthier the longer it gets to bond with its mother.

Knowing the above – how can we knowingly subject a mother and her baby to this emotional distress?  Can we justify the distress and emotional pain the mother’s and babies go through for our own satisfaction?  Is the unhealthy, nutritious-free cheese and milk worth this trauma?  Female calves are born to endure this same cruelty the mother goes through and as for the males – they are subjected to a cruelty of their own due to its tender meat as veal.

It is known that milk from a cow has no nutritional benefit to humans.  In fact her are some truths about milk:

1.  In observational studies both across countries and within single populations, higher dairy intake has been linked to increased risk of prostate cancer.
2. Observational cohort studies have shown higher dairy intake is linked to higher ovarian cancer risk.
3. Cow’s milk protein may play a role in triggering type 1 diabetes through a process called molecular mimicry.
4. Across countries, populations that consume more dairy have higher rates of multiple sclerosis.
5. In interventional animal experiments and human studies, dairy protein has been shown to increase IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor-1) levels.  Increased levels of IGF-1 has now been implicated in several cancers.
6. In interventional animal experiments and human experiments, dairy protein has been shown to promote increased cholesterol levels (in the human studies and animal studies) and atherosclerosis (in the animal studies).
7. The primary milk protein (casein) promotes cancer initiated by a carcinogen in experimental animal studies.
8. D-galactose has been found to be pro-inflammatory and actually is given to create animal models of aging.
9. Higher milk intake is linked to acne.
10. Milk intake has been implicated in constipation and ear infections.
11. Milk is perhaps the most common self-reported food allergen in the world.
12. Much of the world’s population cannot adequately digest milk due to lactose intolerance.

More information and references to the specific studies can be found via:

http://nutritionstudies.org/12-frightening-facts-milk/

There are healthier and more ethical choices than dairy, plant-based alternatives such as; almond, cashew, soy and coconut milks.  These are more nutritious for you and absolutely cruelty-free.  What we must do is unlearn all the lies that have been told to us about the benefits of milk and eating meat.  Most of these lies come from corporations who want to profit from these lies.  It is our responsibility to seek the truth and to gain awareness is the plight of those animals who are less fortunate than we are and ultimately pay the price with their lives for our ignorances.

Isn’t time we allow the bonding process between a mother and her baby instead of ignoring their cries?

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

THOSE DAMN VEGANS & VEGETARIANS…

Do you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, harassed or annoyed when someone tells you that they are vegan or vegetarian?  Do you often think – how can these people survive on plants, are they getting enough nutrients, how about B vitamins or protein?  Why do they have to be so aggressive and ‘in your face’ about their lifestyle choice?  I thought I would answer some of these questions in hopes to debunk some of these ‘untruths’.

Many people become vegetarian/vegan to ensure a healthier lifestyle and to possibly curb or cure some medical issues they may have such as;  diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and even cancer.  Others may become vegetarian/vegan simply for ethical reasons (have you ever heard a rabbit scream?) or environmental reasons (mass deforestation, depletion of natural resources).  No matter the reason, instead of becoming uncomfortable, annoyed or treat those who are vegetarian or vegan without being condescending, why not embrace their choice as they have embraced yours?

It is normal to visit restaurants and order cow, pork, lamb, veal (baby cows), horse, fish, octopus, frog, duck, chicken and whatever other meat may be on the menu but for a vegetarian/vegan, we are limited in what is available to us because being vegetarian/vegan is out of the norm.

Let’s look at some facts regarding meat consumption:

• A diet high in fat (especially from animal fat) can cause various cancers http://www.pcrm.org/health/cancer-resources/diet-cancer/facts/meat-consumption-and-cancer-risk
• Half the water consumed in the U.S. is used to grow grain for cattle feed (not very good considering the water shortages we are facing) http://www.globalissues.org/article/240/beef
• Livestock fed grain/soybeans and corn  using 167 million pounds of pesticides and 17 billion pounds of nitrogen (US alone)
• 149 million acres of cropland (US alone)
• The process generates copious amounts of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, while the output of methane—another potent greenhouse gas—from cattle is estimated to generate some 20 percent of overall U.S. methane emissions http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/meat-and-environment/

The facts about dairy (milk/cheese):

• Cows produce milk for the same reason that humans do – to feed their young
• Baby calf’s are taken away from their mothers at infancy
• Mother cows are often heard bellowing for their young after they are taken away
• Milk promotes depletion of calcium in bones
• Milk consumption may lead to bone fractures http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-10998/the-sour-facts-about-milk-what-every-parent-needs-to-know.html

Where do vegetarians/vegans get their nutrients from?

PROTEIN SOURCES for VEGETARIANS/VEGANS

• Tempeh – 41g (1 cup)
• Wheat germ – 33g (1cup)
• Seitan – 31g (3 oz)
• Soy beans – 29g (1 cup)
• Buckwheat – 24g (1 cup)
• Lentils – 18g (1 cup)
• Beans – black beans 15g (1 cup), kidney 13g (1 cup), pinto 12g (1 cup), garbanzo 12g (1 cup)
• Peas – 9g (1 cup)
• Wild rice – 7g (1 cup)
• Raisins – 5g (1 cup)
• Avocado – 4 g (medium avocado)
• Nuts – peanuts 7g (1 oz), almonds 6g (1 oz), pistachios 6g (1 oz), cashews 5g (1 oz), Brazilian 4g (1 oz), walnuts 4g (1 oz)
• Spinach – 5g (1 cup)
• Artichokes – 4g (1 cup)
• Brussel Sprouts 4g (1 cup)

B Vitamins

B1 (Thiamine) – involved with the metabolism of carbohydrates and the production of energy.  Foods that contain B1:  whole grains, dried beans, nuts and seeds.

B2 (Riboflavin) – works with other B vitamins to produce red blood cells and generate energy by breaking down carbohydrates.  Foods that contain B2:  Any green leafy vegetables.

B3 (Niacin) – helps nerves function properly.  Foods that contain B3:  Avocados, beans, nuts and potatoes.

B5 (Pantothenic Acid) – necessary for the metabolism of food as well as the prodcution of hormones and cholesterol.  Foods that contain B5:  Avocados, broccoli, kale, cabbage, beans & lentils and whole grain cereals.

B6 (Pyridoxine) – involved in blood cell production and brain function.  Foods that contain B6:  Avocados, bananas, beans, nuts and whole grains.

B7 (Biotin) – involved in the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates for energy and plays a critical role in the production of cholesterol and hormones.  Foods that contain B7:  Fortified cereals, beans and nuts.

B9 (Folate) – involved in the production and repair of DNA.  Foods that contain B9:  Asparagus, broccoli, beets, beans, lentils and green leafy vegetables.

B12 –  is used in the production of red blood cells and is needed for nerve function.  B12:  is found in fortified cereals, soy milk and nutritional yeast.  ***if you are not receiving enough B12 – you should consider a supplement***

Vegetarians/Vegans do not lack in vitamins, minerals and nutrients.  Plant-based diets promote wellness of the brain, heart and body.  Plant-based diets are also known to reverse many medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer with moderate exercise. 

Check out this great site for resources, videos and photos of vegan body builders – you will be amazed at what you can accomplish with a vegan and plant-based diet.  Here is the link:  http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/?page=news

Together we can make the world a more positive one!

 

 

 

 

INNOCENCE and FREEDOM

Forget Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Beyoncé – the following videos have evoked so much emotion from me that I want to share them again.  I don’t need to explain much as they are pretty self-explanatory.  I have renamed them to names I find are much more appropriate.  Here they are with my ‘made-up’ titles:

INNOCENCE

So simply put – what a wonderful mother to appreciate the beauty of her son’s innocence.

FREEDOM

The womam at the beginning got all choked up talking about why they decided to start their foundation.  So emotional and so beatiful when people see the beauty, intelligence, and respect the lives of animals.  The people in this video are true heroes and I am grateful they and so many like them exist in our planet.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR BODY?

What we put in our bodies can actually promote positive energy or negative energy in how our bodies relate and respond to whatever it is we are giving it. 

We all know that processed foods are junk and can have a diverse affect on your health and long-term well-being.  Processed foods may even cause death.  The food and lifestyle choices we make can have a diverse affect not only directly to your health but on the environment as a whole.  (Cattle ranching/factory farming/pollution/waste).

Thinking about just the food you consumed, ask yourself, how has this food affected your body and mind?  Did you drink enough water?  Have you consumed enough vegetables, fruits, beans and seeds to give your body the vitamins and minerals required to ensure you have sufficient energy for your daily activities?  Are you feeding your body carcinogens that promote cancer in your body or feeding it fresh and organic foods that decrease your cancer risks?

What fast-food chains (McDonald’s/Burger King/KFC/Wendy’s/Tim Horton’s) promote:

• increased risk of diabetes, heart attack and high blood pressure.
• animal cruelty.
• pollution (water and air).
• deforestation (for factory farms/cattle ranches/pig farms).
• excessive landfill waste from garbage that can’t be recycled.
• low wages for employees but huge profits for shareholders and CEO’s.
• bankruptcy for local farmers who can’t compete with BIG corporations.

What other things can have a diverse affect on your body?

• pharmaceutical drugs
• excessive alcohol
• lack of exercise
• breathing polluted air
• over-the-counter drugs (allergy, sinus, headache, and all other medications for minor ailments) ***many of these medications can be stopped with proper diet and nutrition***
• excessive recreational drug use

When we are armed with the right information and really listen to our bodies, we can have tremendous and positive effect on bodies both physically and mentally.  Try this experiment….remove all ‘white’ foods from your diet – sugar, flour, bread, pasta and notice how your body feels (after the withdrawals of course).  If you have sinus infection or allergies, remove milk from your diet and substitute it with rice/soy or almond milk.  Migraines and high blood pressure???  Remove meat from your diet for a month and notice what happens.

We have all been bombarded with lies and misconceptions about what our bodies require.  These lies and misconceptions mostly come from companies who are dependent upon our lack of knowledge and education.  As a matter-of-fact, these companies (Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Neilson, KFC, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, etc) they profit from our distractions and our unwillingness to education ourselves.  These BIG corporations work with governments to ensure their agendas are being met by pushing legislation that benefits these corporations.  Think about it – if people are not becoming sick, how can pharmaceutical companies make money, how will hospitals treat the sick, how will insurance companies deny their clients health claims?  By being vigilant and proactive in our health, we not only benefit ourselves but our environment, the local economy, small businesses, local farmers, animals, our environment and our planet.  By NOT being distracted, we can also hold our governments and corporations accountable for the damage they are doing to us and to our planet.

I’m sure most of us prefer a life free of genetically modified food, meat that isn’t pumped with steroids and antibiotics, vegetables and fruits without damaging pesticides, water that is clean and air that we can breathe.  That is not reality right now because we are not demanding these rights.  Is it not time to clear your mind and body of all the toxins and distractions that these corporations and our governments are feeding us?  Would it not be great to finally live an authentic life without the influence of poisonous foods and drugs?  Isn’t it time that we cleanse our bodies and minds?  When we remove the slave mentality that our governments and big corporations have instilled in us, we become better people, better communities and a better world.  All you have to do is start with your food.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

WHO IS ESTHER…..THE PIG?

My husband introduced me to Esther the Wonder Pig about a year ago.  I was instantly hooked and captivated by her story….here is the rundown from Esther the Wonder Pig’s website:

Esther is some pig. She was misrepresented as a “micro pig” and sold to Steve and Derek in the summer of 2012.  She was just 4 pounds, and in under 2 years she grew to be 500 pounds! Derek and Steve kept Esther anyway.  She was accustomed to home life, and so the whole family went on an adventure of a lifetime.

We have followed Ester’s story as well as Steve and Derek’s (and the rest of the family) on Facebook.  We learned about their ambitions and future plans to open a sanctuary (which we can’t wait to go visit).

Steve and Derek’s story is one of commitment, dedication, perseverance and love.  Why would anyone in their right mind end up keeping a pig that weighed over 500lbs after thinking they were receiving a micro pig?  Well – people who are special, people who have a conscience and people who are defenders of animals.

Esther is not just a pig – she really is the Wonder Pig!

Here are some facts about pigs:

• Pigs snuggle close to one another and prefer to sleep nose to nose.
• They dream, as humans do.
• In their natural surroundings, pigs spend hours playing, sunbathing and exploring.
• People who run sanctuaries report that pigs enjoy listening to music, playing with soccer balls, and getting massages.
• Pigs communicate constantly with one another, more than 20 vocalizations have been identified that pigs use in different situations, from wooing mates to saying “I’m hungry!”
• Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers’ voices and to recognize their own names.
• Mother pigs sing to their young while nursing.
• According to Professor Donald Broom of the Cambridge University Veterinary School, “[Pigs] have the cognitive ability to be quite sophisticated.  Even more so than dogs and certainly [more so than human] 3-year olds.
• Pigs appear to have a good sense of direction and have found their way home over great distances.
• Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11 miles an hour.
• Pigs do not “eat like pigs” or “pig out”.  They prefer to eat slowly and savour their food.
• Pigs are clean animals.  If given sufficient space, they will be careful not to soil the area where they sleep or eat.
• Pigs don’t “sweat like pigs”, they are actually unable to sweat.
• They like to bathe in water or mud to keep cool.

***Thanks to PETA contributor – Heather Moore, for the above points.  This information and more about pigs and any other animal is available on:  http://www.peta.org/blog/top-ten-fascinating-facts-pigs/

My husband and I are advocates for animals – we consider ourselves vegetarian, almost vegan.  We do our best to be conscious of what we buy, wear and who we support.  We are thrilled about Esther’s future and hope that all the great things Steve and Derek have completed and have yet to complete come to fruition.  Here are some great photos of Esther and her family:

All the best to you and your family…

For more information about Esther, please follow here on Facebook or check out her website:

https://www.facebook.com/estherthewonderpig

http://www.estherthewonderpig.com

This is the perfect example that by working together, positive outcomes can happen.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

ANIMALS ARE SENTIENT

You don’t have to be a scientist or zoologist to know and understand that animals have feelings – they don’t like to be chained, they cry out in pain when you hurt them, they don’t like to be alone and they would tell you all these things if they could talk.

Sea World is under much scrutiny due to the way they treat their whales and other captured mammals.  Circuses are under investigation for the use of bullhooks – a cruel method in training elephants and pharmaceutical laboratories and educational institutions are being forced to stop cruel and unneccessary animal testing.

People are not aware that factory farming is the biggest challenge to climate change – you need land, which causes deforestation, you need food to keep these animals alive and hormones to make them fatter.

Do people even think about how their food ends up on their plate – do they think about the treatment animals endure to become food, clothing or used for entertainment?  Animals are amazing creatures that can feel, think, and let us know when they are in discomfort….all you have to do to see this, is to look into their eyes:

Much can be said about a person in the way they treat and think of animals.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

MISCONCEPTIONS OF CARNIVORES

I used to be a carnivore and had the disposition many of my carnivore friends have today.  I remember asking the same questions many meat eaters ask their vegetarian and vegan friends.  I know that many of these questions come from the lack of education on the topics of vegetarianism and veganism.  Most people who don’t particularly live a certain lifestyle would never understand that lifestyle.  So in order to debunk some of the myths and misconceptions they have on why I choose to be a vegan – I will address many of their questions.  I hope this post allows you to appreciate my choice in becoming a vegan.

Friends – Why did you become vegetarian/vegan?

Me – Like most families, I was raised to believe that we needed to eat meat in order to have proper nutrition and being Portuguese – I ate many types of meat, your usuals like; fish, chicken, beef and the not-so-usual; rabbit and octopus.  I never question why we ate meat – it was something that we just had to do.  I did enjoy chicken and turkey but wasn’t really big with red-meat and fish.  I had vegetarian friends and I remember becoming very defensive whenever they would be invited to parties or dinners.  I thought they thought they were better than me and that we had to cater to their food choices.  It was very ignorant on my part – instead of asking questions, I just judged them and assumed that they wanted to throw their lifestyle choices in my face.  I watched a video of rabbits screaming and that did it for me – I vowed never to eat meat again because if this is the type of abuse I was supporting, I wanted no part of it.  That was over 7 years ago.  I have since become an educated vegan and know that eating meat is not essential to my diet.  So becoming vegan was strictly for ethical reasons, for me.

Friends – Where do you get your protein from?

Protein doesn’t only come from animals.  Here is where my protein comes from:

FOOD	AMOUNT	PROTEIN	PROTEIN
		(gm)	(gm/100 cal)
Tempeh	1 cup	31	9.6
Soybeans, cooked	1 cup	29	9.6
Seitan	3 ounces	21	17.5
Lentils, cooked	1 cup	18	7.8
Black beans, cooked	1 cup	15	6.7
Kidney beans, cooked	1 cup	15	6.8
Chickpeas, cooked	1 cup	15	5.4
Pinto beans, cooked	1 cup	15	6.3
Lima beans, cooked	1 cup	15	6.8
Black-eyed peas, cooked	1 cup	13	6.7
Veggie burger	1 patty	13	18.6
Veggie baked beans	1 cup	12	5.0
Tofu, firm	4 ounces	11	10.6
Tofu, regular	4 ounces	10	10.7
Bagel	1 med. (3.5 oz)	10	3.9
Quinoa, cooked	1 cup	8	3.7
Peas, cooked	1 cup	8	6.6
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), cooked	1/2 cup	8	15.0
Peanut butter	2 Tbsp	8	4.1
Veggie dog	1 link	8	13.3
Spaghetti, cooked	1 cup	8	3.7
Almonds	1/4 cup	8	3.7
Soy milk, commercial, plain	1 cup	7	7.0
Whole wheat bread	2 slices	7	5.2
Almond butter	2 Tbsp	7	3.4
Soy yogurt, plain	8 ounces	6	4.0
Bulgur, cooked	1 cup	6	3.7
Sunflower seeds	1/4 cup	6	3.3
Cashews	1/4 cup	5	2.7
Spinach, cooked	1 cup	5	13.0
Broccoli, cooked	1 cup	4	6.7
Sources: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24, 2011 and manufacturers’ information. The recommendation for protein for adult male vegans is around 63 grams per day; for adult female vegans it is around 52 grams per day.

Sources:  http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.php

Friends – If you chose to become vegan for ethical reasons why do you eat plants their alive?

Me – I know that plants are living things, but they are not sentient (having the power of perception by the senses) plants can’t register pain because they have no nerve endings or nervous system.  Animals have a consciousness and can express emotion, they have survival skills and understand when they are threatened.  This is why I choose not to eat them or buy anything that is derived from their suffering. 

Friends – Why are most vegetarians and vegans so militant?

Me – Like many activist groups, there are those who are so emotionally attached to their cause and they feel the only way to get their message across is to be blatant about it.  My approach is somewhere in the middle.  I do support PETA – they are very direct in getting the message of animal cruelty across, there is no gentle way of showing how animals are inhumanely treated.  I have found it is those who question me about being a vegan that are very abrupt and angered by the choices I have made.  I keep hearing friends say “why do you have to throw your veganism in my face” – I really never do.  What I do have to do is ask questions regarding what is on the menu when I am invited to a dinner party or ask what restaurant people are going to when I’m invited out to ensure I am able to eat there.  This isn’t being militant or disruptive – it is being prepared.  Dinner parties and restaurants cater to those with carnivorous appetites – it is what is known.  

Friends – Aren’t you tired of eating leaves and salads?

Me – Being a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t limit you to eating just salads.  There are so many great foods that can be substituted for meat such as tofu, tempeh, lentils, beans, etc.  I can eat meatless burgers, pastas, soups, salads, tacos, pizza, fajitas etc….I just choose to buy plant-based foods that are organic and healthier for than processed foods.  I even drink vegan wine (Yellow Tail, Australian Shiraz).

Like I have said many times and to so many people – I didn’t become a vegetarian (and then vegan) to make your world more frustrating.  I did it to make me feel better.  I no longer contribute to the inhumane treatment of animals, I have become slightly healthier and I have decreased my carbon footprint by becoming vegan.  Here are some facts and statistics on the benefits to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle:

1. Entire cultures of people in many regions of the world who eat mostly whole plants—suffer almost none of the chronic diseases that plague the wealthier nations.
2. Migrant studies show clearly that when the above “peoples” move to the west that after adopting our diet-style, they soon experience the same frequency of chronic diseases as we do.
3. The animals in the wild with DNA almost identical to human (gorillas and chimpanzees) eat nothing but raw plants.
4. There is a mountain of clinical and scientific evidence proving disease prevention and/or reversal of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.
5. Not only is eating lots of meat, dairy, eggs and fish taking its toll on our health, it’s also extremely wasteful of our natural resources and harmful to our environment.  For all of these reasons, it is simply unsustainable: not enough land, not enough water and not enough energy.

Sources: 

http://hpjmh.com/2012/06/26/preponderance-of-evidence-for-mostly-plants/

http://www.thechinastudy.com/?s=benefits+of+plant-based+diet

We all make the choices we do in life.  My choice was to ask questions and not just believe that we do the things we do because they have always been done this way.  I never bothered looking for more than one answer and always felt that the reason we did anything was because that it was right.  I am not perfect and my lifestyle choices don’t make me better than anyone else.  What my vegan lifestyle choice has done – is made me a better person for myself.  I love that I have chosen a healthier lifestyle.  I love that I have decreased my carbon footprint but most of all, I love that I don’t contribute to the suffering and inhumane treatment of any animal.

Together, we can make the world a more postive one!

INFORMATION about a VEGAN DIET

Here are some clips to help and educate you on veganism:

Great resources for starting a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle:

PETA – How to go vegan:  http://features.peta.org/how-to-go-vegan/

VEGAN SOCIETY – great resource with information and recipes on how to start a vegan lifestyle:  http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/food/

LIVING GREEN MAG – veganism and the environmental impacts:  http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/02/13/energy-ecology/veganism-the-environment-by-the-numbers-infographic/

Becoming vegan is a lifestyle choice – For me, it became hard to differentiate the difference between a domesticated animal versus all other animals.  It became difficult to eat a burger and not be fully aware that it was a living, breathing soul before it ended up as food on my plate.  The decision was clear – no more animals.  People continue to ask what I eat and are perplexed that I don’t eat, wear or purchase any products that were made on the suffering of any animals.  I drink vegan wine (Yellow Tale is my favourite – Australian Shiraz), I eat desserts, pizza’s, lasagna, burgers, fries…..but they are all made with plant-based ingredients.  Here are some of the dishes I have made:

TOFU “Egg” Salad Sandwich

Mixed bean salad with tofurkey Italian “sausage”

Meatless scallopine, mixed bean salad, and whole grain rice

Breakfast jambalaya – seasoned tofu, vegetables and home fries

Vegan “chicken breast”, roasted potatoes and sautéed brocoli

We are only limited if we choose to be.  If you were told that eating a vegan lifestyle would promote a healthy mind and body, save countless animals from genocide/murder and help sustain our environment, wouldn’t you at least try?  We have become so conditioned to believe certain things.  These beliefs have helped corporations and governments make billions of dollars.  Isn’t it time you think for yourself and open your mind to the benefits that so many people are talking about?  Imagine cutting your prescription medications, having more energy, clearer skin, clearer thoughts, and healthier body.  Becoming vegetarian/vegan isn’t as hard as people claim it to be – that really is another myth that the meat and dairy industry would like you to believe. 

I am not condemning anyone who chooses to eat meat – I know that there are many meat eaters that are loving and caring individuals.  One day – my hope is that they have the same awareness as I do…..if you love animals so much and have compassion for them – why continue to eat them?

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!