i love when people say...

"One of the problems I have is that I have always built muscle very fast when I train but the cravings for protein when training are unbearable so I guess I just give in to those cravings which I think is mother nature telling me I need to eat some dead animal’s flesh in order to get the recovery time I need."

http://www.economicvoice.com/to-go-vegan-or-not-go-vegan-that-is-the-question/5006712#ixzz0fiwIekXo

I really think this is nonsense. Here's my take: Meat (like other foods) has chemicals. If you eat certain chemicals your whole life or for a long time, and then you cut that from your diet, don't be surprised your body naturally craves those same chemicals when you starve yourself of them. This kind of craving is predictible and natural, but it doesn't have anything to do with nutrition deficiencies, any more than when a crack head misses crack during those first few months of rehab. For 99% of people, IMHO.

Vegan Two Years

in response to Why It's Okay to Hate Vegans on my 2 year vegan anniversary, revised.

I am vegan. i am asked why and i often answer simply, because i love animals. i can't stomach eating animals. i can be shy, i don't like to offend. other times, i don't mind speaking my mind on the issue. Two years going strong, i believe more than ever in the vegan message and mission.

growing up, i didn't always show affection towards animals. occasionally, i was even abusive towards my own pet cat and dog. but even then as a kid i knew that animals felt pain, knew fear, and other traits we normally like to reserve for humans. as i grew up, i learned that their trust could be hurt and regained, as well as their love.

at age 22, i first read about the horrors of US factory farms. i was taken back. i didn't realize. i felt hurt about the pain my dietary habits directly caused living creatures. i came to feel culpable and even guilty for my part as the consumer of tortured and abused farm animals. i was mad that i had gone so long, and never known, never taught and never learned. my diet included animal products in every meal. i saw that there was no denying my role in abuse and torture of animals in my everyday actions.

for a few weeks, i tried to reason with myself. "it's okay if...," but at the end of the day, as much as i loved the food i ate and what it represented, i couldn't defend my own voluntary participation in a process with no regard for the pain of an innocent, sentient being. for every argument, there was a counter argument. reality set in. i read a few more books, i needed to know what i would be getting myself into. literally, what would my life be like? is this even do-able?? was i seriously about to ditch all my favorite foods? i didn't know if going cold turkey would work (i smoked cigarettes on and off, still do). well, two years ago yesterday, on the way back from atlantic city, i had a double whopper at a stop on the garden state parkway, followed by a stomach ache and a nap in the car. when i got home, i decided to go vegan, that was the end for me, i never looked back.

since becoming vegan, i have learned much much more. i know about the plight of animals around the world. i've met abused farm animals, and it is as unnerving as meeting any human who has been demoralized and physically hurt. and there is immense joy in watching their recoveries. i've learned about government policies, private industries, and individuals that support abuse against animals. i've also learned about animal rights activists, of all colors. vegans are a caring and passionate group of people. you are sure to meet some crazies among us, but we all share a common idea - that animals deserve the respect that we demand of each other, and continue to hope for. i know that there is a lot animal lovers (vegan or not) can accomplish if we unite against animal abuse through protection, legislation and consumer choices.

in two years, no challenge has changed my mind. it's not always a pleasant experience, which is why i originally started this blog. there are constant obstacles. some people are inquisitive, even combative - i'm amazed when otherwise intelligent non-vegans are dismissive of the issue. i usually don't engage unless when asked. i try to be polite, though i am not always successful. i think its fair and important to share what i learn about the issue of systematized abuse against animals. after all, i read that first book on someone else's suggestion (insistence). i believe in the America where it is your right to tell another person what's on your mind, and also to tell another person to mind their own business and get lost - as long as you are not hurting someone else. modern food production is unnatural, downright cruel and unusual, shameful and heartless. 99.9% of the time there is no excuse for animals to be kept captive, and never merely for the benefit of human preference - from cows, dolphins, and lobsters to bees, humans tend to have a destructive path through nature, and give little concern for the damage of our actions. Vegan Haters: when the day comes that i need to hunt for my food, we'll talk. until then, and i truly believe - peace begins on your plate.

GO VEG. PEACE.

Reaction to Natalie Portman's Huff Post

In vegan news... Jonathan Safran Foers, who wrote a really awesome article in the Times Magazine this month, is coming out with a book next week called Eating Animals. (Can't wait to get my hands on...)

Huffington Post is doing a series of responses to the book (very cool), and the first that I read was from Natalie Portman, who says this book finally turned her from a long time vegetarian, to a "vegan activist." Personally, I thought the essay was well written, passionate, and pretty much spot on.

Unfortuanately, there has already been a negative reaction in the media and online. (This is crazy!) But, what bothers me most are the kind of comments in response to Natalie's essay. It literally pains me though reading the comments. 90% of the comments are completely one sided, devoid of... well... any accurate information for starters. Everyone thinks that they are right. Both sides. (There are some idiot vegans out there, sorry to say.)

I guess the thing that bothers me most are the endless excuses that people have for being anti-vegan. I am a meat-eater turned vegan, so I know what its like to have to mentally turn such a corner. It is not always easy, especially at first. Still... enough already!!! For another living creature's sake...

Thought of the Day

Someone just said to me: "You're Vegan!? I could never do that! I couldn't live without [non-vegan food here]. That's deprivation! I just don't understand why would you limit yourself like that."



Me: And I'm the one limiting myself?...

ThanksLiving @ Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary

I've written about the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary before. This past weekend I headed up to Woodstock, NY to volunteer at the annual ThanksLiving Event @ WFAS. It's an amazing event, and this was my 2nd year as a volunteer. Let me tell you about it...

Thats me, been running around all day!

My travel companions were my sister Cassie, her boyfriend Andy, and two of her friends, Gena & Jenn. (Gena has an amazing blog called choosingraw.com, check it out!).

On our way up on Saturday, we made a few stops: first for some Brooklyn bagels for Sunday's volunteer breakfast, then on to Blossom Cafe and Candle 79 (two of the very best vegan restaurants in NYC) to pick up the awesome food that was being donated.

We got to the farm at about 3pm Saturday, and spent about an hour unwinding, saying hello to all of our friends:

Brooklyn Love

Then we got to action, and spent a few hours helping prepare for the big event. There were a million things to get done. There were over 60 volunteers that helped prepare everything from food prep, building the tent, setting the tables, decorating, packing goodie bags, organizing the farm, etc... With 250 guests, ThanksLiving is hardly a small event, and it's beyond important for everything to go smoothly.

Cassie and Gena with Rebecca organizing merchandise at the Visitor's Center.

By the end of the day, we were pooped. It was time for dinner, and we went to the ultra veg friendly Garden Cafe. Yum.

The next day, we got to the farm at 9am, there was still much to be done, and we were back hard at work... Guests started to arrive at noon.

Turkeys - the Guests of Honor!

The event was incredible!!! The tent was beautiful, the guest speakers were inspiring, the food was delicious, the guests were receptive and gracious. The WFAS team are the most hard working, inspirational people I know. WFAS, if you are reading: we are all in debt to you!

Also, check out the menu:

Hors D’oeurves
Blackeyed Pea Cakes with Chipotle Aioli (Blossom)
Stuffed Mushrooms with Hearts of Palm (Blossom)
Crispy Dumplings with a Wasabi-Carrot Miso Dipping Sauce (Candle Cafe)
Dr. Cow Tree Nut Cheese on a Crisp Baguette with Tapenade
(Dr. Cow/Bread Alone)
Mini Meatballs w/Mustard Caper Sauce (Match Meats/Gretchen Primack)
BBQ Gardein Skewers (Gardein)
Sesame “Chicken” Bites with a Sweet Tamarind Chili Sauce
(Match Meats/Lourdes Jovel/Loren Brown)

Dinner
Salad of Organic Greens with Roasted Garlic Dressing
(Olivia’s Organics/Garden Cafe)
Blue Corn Crusted Seitan with Chimichurri Sauce (New World Home
Cooking)
Savory Vegan Stuffing (Joshua’s Cafe)
Herbed Roasted Seasonal Vegetables (Red Onion Restaurant)
Tuscan Farro Salad with Greens and Butternut Squash (Cucina Restaurant)
Sweet Potato & Walnut Biscuits (Karma Road Cafe)
Herbed Focaccia & Ciabatta (Bread Alone)

Desserts
Choice of Death by Chocolate Cake (Vegan Treats)
or Peanut Butter Mousse Bomb Cake (Vegan Treats)
or Pumpkin Cheesecake (Vegan Treats)
with Raw Cashew Nut Gelato (Organic Nectars)

Drinks
Les Compagnons Wines • Brooklyn Brewery Beer
Gus Soda • Izze Drinks
Catskill Mountain Coffee • Wildwood Soy Creamer
Choice Organic Teas

The crowd listens to Jenny Brown and Doug Abel speak, John Phillips of the NY League of Humane Voters and NY State Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh also spoke. Such the animal lovers.

Seriously, words can't describe the overwhelming feeling that I get just being on the farm, let alone being a part of this incredible event. It's a feeling of gratitude for Jenny and Doug, and the staff and what they accomplish, gratitude for knowing there is a haven for abused animals, gratitude for just for being able to help out a little bit. I am not going to get into it right now, but the abuse that takes place against animals today is off the charts and we've got to stop it. That's what WFAS stands for.

So in closing, and I can't stress enough:

VISIT THE WOODSTOCK FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY. IT MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

ALSO, GO TO WOODSTOCKFAS.ORG. ADOPT A FARM ANIMAL. DONATE MONEY. MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Austin, TX (my last trip for now)

I've finally returned to NY from my month of weekend travelling. 3 Cities in 3 weekends!

From what I've heard, Austin is the liberal enclave of Texas. I'd only been to Texas once before, and I didn't get to see much during a short visit, and that trip was over 8 years ago, I don't think Bush was president yet, and Texas really wasn't on my radar. At the least, this trip would be a learning experience.

Austin turns out to be very eco-conscious, especially including the people I stayed with and their friends who I met. My host showed me her compost heap and her vegetable garden. Her roomate was into designing clothes from recycled products like plastic garbage bags. Pretty cool. My host described all of her housemates as vegetarian.

I have heard and read that Austin is a pretty vegan-friendly city, and this definately turned out to be the case. There were vegan and raw restaurants and juice bars scattered throughout the city that I happened to come by as I biked around the town. Unfortunately, I didn't get to stop at too many places, but here is a rundown of the places I did get to try:

The Parlor (Friday Dinner)

The pizza was impressive, as our toppings we got jalepeno peppers, mushrooms, and [vegan] sausage with the [vegan] cheese. It was also a total dive which I say gets the place some extra points. The menu had all kinds of vegan options! I approve.

Veggie Heaven (Brunch Saturday)

This was essentially an Asian vegetarian fusion restaurant, I can't think of anything in NYC to compare it to - I'd put it somewhere along the lines of Vegetarian Palate but less glamourous. was a genuinely good restaurant with a billion vegan options, and everything was reasonably priced, the kind of place I would probably frequent if conveniently located.

Toy Joy (Sat. Afternoon Snack)

A stop at Toy Joy was well worth it, its a souped up toy store / gag gift / novelty shop, but in the back they have a cafe and bar. They sell vegan soft serve, and it was damn good.

Mother's Cafe and Garden (Saturday Dinner and Sunday Brunch)

Well the plan was to get some genuine Tex-Mex for dinner Saturday night, and then go here for brunch on Sunday morning. Too bad we weren't ready for dinner until quite late on Saturday and the best places were too crowded or too far, so we settled on dinner at Mother's, since I was told they have a good Tex Mex menu. At first I was disappointed not to get to try at least one other restaurant, but fortunately the enchiladas here were off the wall! I got the spinach mushroom and tried some of my friend's spicy tempeh, I also got a full salad with guac for $3.

For brunch the next morning, we got mimosas, and pretty much everything else on their menu: pancakes, potatoes, veg. sausage patty, and I ordered the juevos (tofu) a la Mexicana. No complaints.

All in all, it was a very vegan weekend in Austin, I will have to go back at some point and see everything I missed.

Vegan in NOLA

So... I was in New Orleans, Louisiana this past weekend. I had an amazing time!

NOT the most vegan city, considering the southern soul food has meat hidden in just about everything served, even from what I hear, items you'd think of as vegetarian. Then there are the specialty crawfish, catfish and alligator... needless to say these were off my menu.

Still, I'm pleased to report that at no time was my veganism threatened during my 4 day visit!

(Also many thanks to my cousin Jessie who I was visiting. I did NOT tell her in advance that I'm vegan, basically expecting to be OK and make do with what was available. But she had a hunch and was extremely accomodating).

Ironically, the [vegan] blues were not an issue for me in NOLA. (New Orleans, birth place of jazz / blues... get it?)

The first night, Jessie took me to Lebanon Cafe, it was excellent! (And an easy one.)

The second night's dinner gets special mention. When searching online for vegan restaurants, I read about Cafe Bamboo. I had a good feeling about this place, and I gotta say, it was incredible. Jessie and I shared Collard Green Wraps, Sol Chickn Dinner and Bourbon Chickn Dinner; in all honesty, not Red Bamboo (the owner's inspiration), or any other comprable spot in NYC compares to the taste of that soul food. The bourbon was inspirational. We even went back for breakfast before my flight on Monday. Do not visit NOLA without visiting this restaurant!

Cafe Bamboo

On Sunday night we went to Juan's Flying Burrito, extremely veg friendly, and delicious!!

Also, I need to mention that Jessie and I spent a few hours volunteering at the New Orleans Animal Rescue, where we met a few Katrina pooches and kitties who are still waiting for homes. They are absolutely amazing animals, undoubtedly deserving of good homes. The people who work there were tireless and incredibly inspiring. I was glad to be able to give these guys a break from their work- by moving some boxes of bleach, taking the dogs for their afternoon walk, and playing with the ferals in their courtyard. I'm sure I barely scratched the surface of what these guys are doing, but I'm grateful I could help for a little while. Jessie says she didn't know about the shelter and that she'd like to go back when she can, and I am very happy to hear that.

NOLA, I will be back.

Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon is the most vegan friendly city in the world.

For starters, never had a single problem finding a vegan item on any menu at any restaurant I ate at. For the restaurants that were not exclusively vegan, they definately made sure that I had something to eat, even at the most unlikely spots. Lastly, some of the food was the most delicious that I've had, period.

Here is a list of some of the excellent places I ate:

Tin Shed
Vita Cafe
Laughing Planet Cafe
Pambiche
Bamboo Sushi
Bye and Bye

This town is also scattered with parking lots filled with vendor trucks like this:

Again, no shortage of vegan options.

Then there was the fact that I was randomly in town the same weekend as the NW Veg Fest, an amazing Expo of hundreds of awesome vegan products and causes. And I got to meet 2 of my favorite vegan celebrities (I've read their books):

Yep. Thats me with Isa Chandra Moskowitz and with Rip Esselstyn!

Lastly, in general the city is light years ahead of the rest of America greenwise. Portland recycles compost, filters their rainwater before it reaches the rivers, has a bazillion bike lanes, and everything about this town reeked of ecofriendliness. (NY can be ashamed). And on top of everything vegan, this town was just beautiful.

If I had been living in Portland all this time, who knows whether this blog would even exist...

Political Vegan Blues

I regret to report that Chris Quinn defeated Yetta Kurland for City Council in Manhattan's 3rd district. I personally supported Yetta's campaign and believe strongly in her message. When I first saw Yetta's ad in the NYLHV Voter Guide, I knew that as a vegan, Yetta's support of laws supporting humane treatment towards animals would be unwavering. I also stronly agree with her stances regarding a number of other issues. She kicked Quinn's butt in the one debate Chris decided to show up to. In my eyes, she would and will be a stellar representative of the people. Besides which, she is really an incredible person. Thankfully, she will continue her work and hopefully run again next time around. Sorry to say: that she wasn't elected is a shanda on the voters of the 3rd district.

Still, as John Phillips (director of NYLHV) reported, there were many political victories for animals on Tuesday's Democrat primary election day, and we should look ahead and continue to work for progress for animal rights legislation in NYC.

Beautiful People

When I first became vegan I was worried that if I got sick or had some kind of health issue people would assume it was because of my new diet. Now, when other people I know get sick, I think its probably because of their [old] diet.

Are vegans prettier? Healthier? Happier? Some vegans think its important that other vegans are pretty, healthy and happy, in order to send a good message to non-vegans. If not, non-vegans will look, compare, realize they are quite content, and find themselves discouraged to consider a change. OK, let’s say you are a hard core vegan, and you look like shit, and you’re a pain in the ass negative nancy and your life sucks. Then the vegan movement is going to slow down, right, because who wants that? But actually, I don’t think it’s that important. Non-vegan people who think that way are just using it as an excuse. This kind of vegan is still contributing to the reduction of animal suffering. That’s one more person not consuming animal, and that’s enough for me. I say if you want to be happy, that takes work, and you don’t just become happy because you become vegan (although that can happen). So don’t think that way. As for health, if you cared enough, you’d probably already be a vegan. OUCH. If you don’t want to be happy, healthy, or pretty, that’s cool, and shouldn’t stop you from being vegan.

At the same time, no one sets a better example for aspiring vegans than the vegans kicking ass out there. And there are many.

But seriously, vegan ≠ healthy. If you are a sick/unhealthy vegan, I’d have to assume that you’re not doing it right. Find a nutritionist or health advisor who can help get you on track. If you want to replace all your favorite meat and dairy items with soy, do you. Just know, it doesn’t make you any healthier, and you may even get sick from that crap. Which is fine with me if it’s fine for you. But just admit it to yourself.



Someone recently told me they hated vegans because they are self righteous.

It’s not surprising to me now, but more than many other debates I have with my friends about veganism, the issue is philosophic. Typical questions include: oh, so you think we should turn back the wheels of evolution?; do you have a problem with the treatment of the animals, or the killing of animals in general?; how can you think people are not supposed to eat meat?; is there a right way to kill animals and eat meat, and if there was would you do it?; why not get only quality meat?; people NEED a certain amount of meat in their diet (statement, not a question); etc... The thing about this that bothers me is that in the end, the conversation is always purely hypothetical. It gets very chicken vs. egg. I don’t know the answer to most of the questions. I don’t need to know the answers (right now), although I’d like to. There are enough reasons to be vegan. Sometimes being vegan, it’s like wearing a seatbelt kind of, you do it just in case - someone might get hurt out there.

I always wonder about people who are quick to poo poo diet and lifestyle remedies to health problems. I’m no doctor, but I’ve read and seen enough to understand that there is a clear relationship between that which you consume and your health. If you are sick and sticking pretty close the Standard American Diet, I have to wonder if you have heard about or considered immediate and probably radical changes to your diet. And if you have, what exactly is holding you back from giving it a try? Please don’t tell me quality of life. I implore you to explore your (non-invasive)(diatetic)(holistic) options.

Does anyone actually think that they are immune from disease? I don’t care who you are, you’re not.

Veganism is ILL. It’s a movement that has been around for awhile, but I’d say has been largely ignored. In my time, I see the movement gaining attention and traction because the world is suffering big time.

I enjoy seeing veganism in the news, but I like it best when its done right. I dislike when someone calls it a fad. Same goes for the raw food diet. Maybe you don’t agree (for whatever reason) with the alleged health benefits, but don’t try to demean the lifestyle by calling it a hoax or a fad. You’re a fad.

Same goes for subsets of the green movement, but watch out for Greenwashing.

I admit I don’t know everything, that’s why I like to learn. A good way I learn is by trying new things, I call this experimenting. You have to have an open mind, though. I go into something new with the mindset that I may have found something interesting, amazing, eye-opening, maybe life changing; or maybe not.

YOU ARE NOT A CARNIVORE

Vegan Rhetoric Pt. 1

I want to talk a little about rhetoric. Here’s one I get a lot: “Are you allowed to eat that?” Or I’m with non-vegan friends and we’re thinking about where to eat, someone says to me, “oh yeah… you can’t eat that.” Maybe I am a little sensitive, perhaps OCD… it irks me every time. To the Meat Eaters-lemme set the record straight: I can eat whatever I want. No one allows me to eat certain foods or tells me I can’t. I am a vegan by CHOICE. I eat what I want, I don’t eat what I don’t want. I don’t want to eat the products of dead and tortured animals. It’s really that simple. In the future, please pay attention to your rhetoric, perhaps ask me whether a certain food is something I would eat, or whether a restaurant has something I would want to eat, and not whether your mother is going to be serving something I can eat. Because I can eat anything. You’ll never hear me say “oh- I can’t eat that.” Just “no, I don’t eat that.” Ok, it’s not that big of a deal, but still.

Now to my more serious gripe: yes I’m Vegan, but sorry, no, you are NOT a carnivore. I cannot tell you how many times I hear people refer to people who eat meat as a carnivore. It’s just gotten annoying.

Main Entry: car·ni·vore
Pronunciation: \ˈkär-nə-ˌvȯr\
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from Latin carnivorus
Date: 1840
1 : any of an order (Carnivora) of typically flesh-eating mammals that includes dogs, foxes, bears, raccoons, and cats; broadly : a carnivorous animal2 : a carnivorous plant

There you have it. Webster says you’re not a carnivore, you are not a carnivore. To the Meat Eaters- you don’t have sharp teeth with which to hunt your prey. You’re not a carnivore. Please stop referring to yourself as such. I don’t care if you’re on an all chicken diet. You are not a carnivore. People, stop calling yourself carnivores! The word you’re looking for is Omnivore.

Getting Political for Animal Rights

It’s now been 18 months since I decided to become vegan. Over the course of this time, I have read a lot about the different arms of the animal rights movement, at first, mostly hearing about groups like PETA, the Humane Society, and other large organizations, and later on, I found a whole web of smaller national and local groups and individuals who make it their job to raise a voice for animals.

From early on, it was obvious to me that personal choice is a crucial element in making a difference for animals, which was a deciding factor in why I became vegan. I came to understand that every time you make a purchase, you are essentially asking the manufacturer to make more of the product. I knew that every dollar I spent was also a vote. I decided that I would not be voting for cruelty with my consumer choices any longer. Still, with vegans comprising less than 1% of our population, I knew that this alone will not bring an end to factory farming and other abuses of animal liberty.
For months now, I’ve been glued to the numerous books and websites that are devoted to the animal rights cause, desperately trying to saturate my mind and soak in all the information I could get my hands on. About two months ago, I came across a book like no other, basically an instruction manual on lobbying for animal rights, “Get Political for Animals” by Julie Lewin (pictured above). This book has had a profound effect on my thinking about how myself and others can make a more significant social impact helping animals in my life, beyond just personal veganism. This book is not just for animal rights either, but it is a real how-to guide on how bills are made and passed (or not), and how politicians make decisions about how to vote on a particular bill. For anyone interested in learning about how government and politics really function, I highly recommend this book!

Now, I want to talk about the political arm of the animal rights movement. More and more we are hearing about efforts to create laws seeking protections for animals. Many know that in November, California passed Proposition 2, aka the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, scheduled to take effect in January 2015. And while bringing an end to factory farming is the issue at the forefront of veganism, I now realize the importance of “baby steps” in the political realm. While many animal rights advocates believe that compromising on legislation is a compromise on principle, I have learned that there are so many issues that can be addressed on a local level.
That is why I’m so excited to help support the campaign of Yetta Kurland for City Council! She is running against Council Speaker Christine Quinn in Manhattan’s 3rd district, which covers W. Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen. According to the New York League of Humane Voters, Christine Quinn has been the biggest obstacle for animal rights advancement in New York City, for 8 years now. She has not allowed bills protecting animals to even reach a vote. Also, here is a disturbing video about Christine Quinn which I had seen a few weeks ago, and it was produced by a fellow named Donny who I met at Yetta’s fundraiser last week: http://www.christinequinn.com/content/christine-quinn-behind-smile

I won’t lie, the first thing that jumped out to me about Yetta was her proud declaration of her veganism, and her endorsement by the New York League of Humane Voters. But after meeting Yetta and having an opportunity to hear her speak, it was obvious that she is not only passionate and committed to animal rights, but an entire array of very important people issues, not least of which include, tenants rights, education, community preservation and development, LGBT, and many other critical issues.

When I got home from Yetta’s fundraiser at Peter Max’s studio last week, I was hanging out with 2 of my friends, telling them about Yetta and her campaign. One of my friends asked me “So, she’s just gonna be working on vegan issues? How is helping animals more important than helping people.” Now, this basic attitude warrants a whole entire blog post, but I will hold off for now and save it for another time. I do want to say, after a short discussion, it became clear that my buddy, but probably most people, just don’t even have an understanding of the vegan agenda, and therefore either do not think it is important or achievable. But, taken from the NYLHV, here are a few of the top bills which they have been pushing in New York City (also available on their voter scorecard http://www.nylhv.org/scorecards/09scorecard.pdf):

1. A support of the Ban on Horse Drawn Carriages in NYC.
2. Opposition to the Carriage Industry’s push to eliminate oversight and inspection.
3. A ban of using wild animals, including apes and elephants, in the circus.
4. A law requiring sprinklers to be installed in all NYC pet shops.

Once elected, perhaps ironically, Yetta would represent the Meatpacking Districting, the Fur District, as well as Madison Square Garden, home of the patently cruel Ringling Brothers Circus. Please watch if you haven’t seen this recent video of handlers abusing elephants: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/07/22/2009-07-22_peta_video_shows_ringing_bros_handlers_beating_elephants.html. I think it’s past time we had politicians who care enough to address the awful injustices that take place against animals right in NYC. I can’t express how exciting it is to meet an individual who wants to tackle these issues with the passion, compassion, but also the intelligence and political will to shoot for the moon on these important issues, and in doing so, actually represent the people who vote.

In my belief, animal rights legislation is not less, but more important than most of the other nonsense that gets dealt with in city government. To my friends who wonder how animal rights could possibly trump human interest, I can’t stress enough that being in favor of animal and human rights are not mutually exclusive. Until we care about animals as much as ourselves, I really don’t believe there is much hope for a society with humanity and compassion towards other people.

So, to wrap up… at this point, I am seriously pissed that there is so much rampant animal abuse taking place, pissed that there is too much apathy / lack of concern, and disappointed by the common reasoning that the animal rights agenda should take a back seat to human interest issues. I am so excited to be giving a hand to the political arm of the animal rights movement, helping Yetta get elected to City Council, and hopefully many other compassionate candidates follow in her lead. Now as I get involved with all the things I have been learning about, and I encourage you to find out what you can do to help the cause. And now, I start down the path of Political Vegan.

The Summer Cookout

As we approach July 4th weekend, I thought it proper to touch on what is still a very sensitive and divisive issue for me, as well as mainstream America, judging by today's New York Times article, discussing "the perfect burger", as well as the reader comments.

Growing up, I was always a burger lover. Becoming vegan, this was another item I knew I would be saying farewell to, but a year and a half later my attitude has gone from one of longing to pretty much disgust. It took me a while, I confess, but I truly feel like my days of craving a juicy burger made of animal flesh, over.

These days, I find myself invited to (and accepting invitations to) less BBQs and basically animal flesh charring parties in general (might have something to do with my attitude). But, I find that I can still enjoy a SERIOUSLY good burger, when I do take part.

Here is a sample of how I like my favorite burger these days (preferred brand included):

Sunshine Veggie Burger Patty (any variety), and/or

Portobello Mushrooms

Toasted Ezekiel Seseme Buns

Slices of Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Avocado

Eden Stone Ground Mustard

Organic Ketchup

and perhaps some Veganaise and/or melted soy cheddar or jack cheese

I tell you, this makes for one hefty burger.

I prefer the sunshine burger pattys because they are made from only veggie ingredients (no soy). If you happen to have a dehydrator (and I just ordered mine and should get it next week), you can dry out some vegetable juice pulp, and this can make a great patty. You can add some olive oil and flax seeds and make your own buns too!

You can also enjoy the following additions to your summer cookout menu (I linked a few easy recipes):

Raw or Grilled Corn

Veggie Kabobs

Cole Slaw

Sweet Potato Fries

So this year at your friend's summer cookout, Vegans, don't fret that there's nothing festive to eat... just make sure that if your friends are greasing up their grill with dripping fat to bring your own!

Bluesy Articles from Around the Internet

I realize it has been some time with my last post, I myself have been struggling with a pretty severe bout of the Vegan Blues. However, thanks to some good friends and encouraging words, I hope to be back with a vengeance in no time. A new post is in the works, and with a 4th of July theme, so stay tuned....

In the meantime, I wanted to share some Vegan interest stories, of the Green and Blue variety:

the blues:
In-Flight Plight of a Famished Vegan
Being Vegan is Hard
Chowing down as a Vegan
Death by Veganism (an awful representation of veganism by the NYT...for shame)
Non-vegans representing veganism (a vegan cookbook with non vegan recipes, written by a meateater???)
“Teany” Gets Destroyed In Fire
'The Goode Family': doomed to failure?

THE GREENS:
Survival Tips for New Vegans
The end to a Vegan's Traveling Worries
Vegan cowboy takes on agribusiness
Horse Races Start Tomorrow (Go Yetta!!!)

The Swine Flu

Everywhere you go now, everyone is talking about it! It’s something you think about on the train, at a restaurant, especially at a bar, elevators, busses, airports, airplanes; anywhere people are all together in one place. I’ve talked to more than a few people who are seriously scared of catching it, and after watching and reading the news, I would say rightfully so.

Here’s what the CDC said today:
"In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. A Phase 5 alert is a ‘strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.’”

I’m sorry, but this is some serious SH*T.

At the same exact time, here’s what the USDA and CDC said earlier this week:

"Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. I [want] to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus. According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food, so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products."

In the past week I have heard these two themes repeated over and over: a) the swine flu is some badass scary sh*t and, b) pork is safe to eat.

I have been taken back by people who I have talked to that do not make the following connection which I would like to point out: the swine flu has EVERYTHING to do with people eating pork! (a point that completely ignores the irony of the statement that pork is safe to eat). Lemme break it down for those of you who believe that swine flu has nothing to do with food:

Animals raised for food live in factory farms. Factory farms are hot, crowded and dirty. Viruses are born and spread. Eventually, flu virus spreads to humans.

Now, here’s what I’ve been told to do, so as not to catch the flu:

-Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
-If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Brilliant! except most of us do these things already anyway! But, I do not think this is going to keep us safe from the flu. I say it all the time, we seriously seriously need to reconsider the sources of our food.

Every mainstream idea that I have heard on how to deal with this crisis, simply ignores the obvious implication on diet. My friend studying in Europe tells me his class debated how to survive the crisis, here were the ideas: close all borders, educate people on TV / the Web, have a hand-washing campaign, kill all pigs, everyone wears a mask, ban pork products, have a flu jab (injection), or stay at home until it’s over. First of all, how would killing all the pigs be a better idea than banning pork products, or even solve the problem? Remember the avian bird flu? This sh*t is not specific to pigs! Logic tells me that this pork flu is not the first or the last of its kind.

My friend Jenny said it best: “Swine flu exists BECAUSE OF FACTORY FARMS! Pigs suffer their whole lives in crowded factories and in INTENSE CONFINEMENT. Is the pleasure of your palette really worth their suffering and this possible pandemic?! GO VEG!”

This swine flu should be a wake up call.

if you're not convinced, check out these articles:

Raj Patel

The Guardian (UK)

Rolling Stone

Humane Society

New York Times

Huffington Post

Grist

CNN

...etc.

The Vegan 9-5 Experience

Any vegan out there knows that there aren’t always enough options to eat when it comes to social gatherings. The same holds true at the office. It’s been almost three years since I graduated college and started working a 9-5, and about a year and a half since I went vegan, so I think that makes this a good time to reflect on my experience.

When I made the decision to go vegan, at first it really was a little difficult, especially since my diet until 5pm was composed of: For breakfast, either a poppy bagel and lox cream cheese spread with tomato & onion slices, or bacon, egg and cheese on a roll or croissant. I often bought a donut from a coffee cart. The occasional oatmeal with raisins was about as close as I came to the diet I follow now, and I loaded it with brown sugar and maple syrup. Sometimes I got breakfast and lunch at the cafeteria in my office building (run by Aramark), but usually I headed out to a local deli. For lunch, I ate a hero or a roll, chicken salad or turkey with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and cheese, or a BLT. I also ate from hot dog stands, halal carts, and burger spots, even fast food once in a while. I ate pizza too, but most pizza in Times Square is on par with the Midwest, and obscenely overpriced. Every month or the office threw a party and brought in good NYC pizza or an ice cream cake. I should also mention that at this point, starting since early in college, I was fixed to about 5 cups of coffee a day, milk and sugar please.

When I first became vegan, these are meals which I figured would be impossible to replace. But, determined as I was, I started making changes. I brought in a tub of Tofutti cream cheese every week and kept it in the fridge, dobbed it onto a bagel, with the tomato and onion slices, all of which I picked up from the office cafeteria for $2, and this was worked for me. For lunch I was mostly eating random salads and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, until I found Green Symphony. This place is like the organic version of your typical deli, and I love it. I got hooked on their tofu and avocado wrap, with melted soy cheddar, otherwise known as “FS1”, FS standing for fresh sandwich. At the time, I got very short lunches, so I would call in my order and it was ready by the time I got there, 5 or 10 minutes later. They have the most amazing vegan food selection, most everything organic, and everything labeled with care and consideration, and I would recommend many items on their menu. I found on their breakfast menu, a toasted whole wheat bagel with tofu cream cheese, cooked onion, tomato and avocado, and this became a delicious staple. Between these options, I was pretty much set for the next 6 months. There was usually at least something I could grab in the cafeteria in my office building, or otherwise I could just call an order in to Green Symphony, and run down the block to pick it up. My office also had a Starbucks kiosk outside the cafeteria, and the women there made me a delicious coffee with steamed soy milk, several times a day, and they got to know me well enough that I barely had to say anything beyond the size I wanted. I also brought in soy milk for when I wanted free office coffee. At office parties it could be difficult, but my co-workers were aware that I made the change, and for the most part, they were really respectful. Because I was just starting out, a few people thought it would be a phase. When we discussed the reasons I became vegan, most just shrugged it off, while some defended themselves, but I am pretty sure I was the only vegan. On my last day at the office they threw me a pizza party and they were sure to get a few vegan pies.

When I changed jobs, and moved to an office one avenue away, I was thrilled that I would still be able to go to Green Symphony. Adding to this, I found a few new places that I could mix into my rotation, one in particular is Free Foods, another is Moshe’s Falafel, also Bread and Olive, and other salad bars I like are Café Duke and Grand Central Place (while not organic, they have a great salad bar with delicious quarter cut avocados, and tasty soups). I also eventually realized that there is also a seasonal fruit salad/juice cart on the street level right outside my office building, and some items are actually organic. For $3, the woman there takes your average small fruit salad container, stacks both halves with whatever fruit you desire, and wraps the whole thing closed with a rubber band. Soon I became introduced to juicing, and I started to buy a juice every once in a while too. I also brought in soy, rice or almond milk for my coffee and kept it in the office fridge.


A year and a half later, here’s how my meals shape out now:

Breakfast. Over the course of the past few months, I admit that I have been eating a more raw vegan diet and juicing (at least until dinner), so I have been going to the places I mentioned a bit less often. These days, for breakfast I have some 24oz variation of green vegetable juice which I buy for $4 from the juice cart on the street outside my office building (sometimes they give it to me for $3!), and I bring it upstairs and strain it (there is a usually still some pulp that weighs down the juice). I assure you that the juices are delicious, although perhaps you might need to develop a taste for it. Around the office I am always asked what I am drinking, some with quizzical looks. Every once in a while I get a fruit salad. If I’m really in the mood and can spare 15 minutes, I head over to Green Symphony and grab a bagel, or what I call their “breakfast salad”, kind of like an Israeli salad, but just a mix of chopped tomato, onion and avocado, with a slice of grain bread. By the way, coffee has mysteriously vanished from my routine, and I barely ever have a desire to drink a cup at work, although I don’t have a rule against it. For the record, my energy levels now are usually much higher than what they once were.

Lunch. For lunch, I usually bring a salad. It only takes me about 5 minutes in the morning to throw together some mixed greens, sprouts, cut up some cucumber, tomato and avocado, sprinkle it with Italian seasoning and pack it up. I keep olive oil and Bragg’s dressing at the office. I usually shop at Fairway or my local co-op on the weekend, and I get enough produce for a salad for lunch and dinner for the whole week, for under $30. Compare that to the $5 to $12 it costs to buy a salad for lunch in Midtown, which usually is not organic. I was fortunate enough this past week to make it down to Bonobo’s for a lunch date, and I doubt you could find a better tasting and more nutritious soup and salad in all of NYC, not to mention the rest of their selection which looked amazing, and I have no complaints about their prices or portions. I also met another buddy of mine for lunch the week before at Little Lad’s for the first time, it is in the basement of 120 Broadway, and I was definitely impressed with their $5 buffet, you get to fill up a plate and a bowl with a s salad and a combo of some really hearty dishes, it’s not a small lunch, and an extra plate is $1.

Snacks. I don’t usually get hungry between meals at work, but if I do, that’s when I might head over to Free Foods for something from their salad bar. I like the raw pizza and the raw lasagna the most. Fruit is also an option, depending on my mood. I know a lot of people snack throughout the morning or afternoon, well I’m a “Jay Leno” snacker, so I can tell you that there are a lot of great vegan, and raw options, and since I don’t snack at the office, I’ll leave this subject for another post.

The larger office parties at my job pretty much serve exclusively to the non-vegan palate. At a monthly luncheon there is usually a fruit salad, but I am not always interested in fruit. Sometimes they have a mixed green salad with some tomatoes mixed in, but I must say, it has been a craps shoot. And the real dishes are never vegan. During the last luncheon, I basically didn’t eat, I’m sure some of the people there were wondering what the heck was wrong with me, but I held out and I bitterly went out to grab a bite afterwards. I’ve been thinking about making a special request, but I usually eat a salad for lunch anyway so I haven’t made the effort yet. Still, it can be annoying. If I eventually make a request, I will let you know how that goes, but in the meantime, I would definitely appreciate hearing any stories about a conversation on this subject with HR.

At our smaller departmental office parties for birthdays and such, my co-workers are generally very considerate of me, most recently offering to add a vegan pizza and salad to the lunch order to accommodate. I do feel like I am one of the only people with some kind of special diet consideration, and it can make me feel a little out of place. When people bring food into the office to share, unless it is fruit, it is a good bet that it’s not vegan. Sometimes I feel bad turning down a cake or pie that one of my co-workers made and wants to share, and sometimes I just say that it’s too early in the day for me. It disappoints me that many people tend to believe that non-vegan ingredients (i.e. eggs, milk or butter) are essential ingredients, either to a foods taste or texture, or to the body’s health and overall nutrition and metabolism. I think that there are so many reasons and examples why this is obviously not the case.

I hope this all goes to show that there is no doubt that you can easily be a vegan working in Midtown. Hopefully if you are thinking about changing the direction of your diet, you can see that there are a few stellar, and plenty of decent options at a reasonable cost, or you can plan ahead and bring food from home for even more cheaply. It is still clear that the majority of lunch options in town are decidedly un-vegan, and also very unhealthy, and despite the difficulty of social situations, I have found some great options for myself. It bothers me that at both offices I’ve worked at, all of the fridges are kept stocked with many gallons of many kinds of milk, and I bet a bunch of it gets thrown out at the end of every week. It wouldn’t bother me if lots of 9-5ers decided to start eating better for their health, and as an unintended consequence, vegans like me might have some more legitimate options in the workplace. I always think to myself, wouldn’t it be great if Green Symphony’s started replacing all the McDonalds? After all, there isn’t much difference in price between a #1 and an FS2, but those two sandwiches are worlds apart.

Vegan Kosher for Passover Seder

One of my co-workers got a laugh when I told her my sister and I were preparing a vegan kosher for Passover seder… oh the restrictions. Well let me tell you, I did not feel restricted. I wish I had the pictures to prove how beautiful the food was. Here’s what was on the menu:

Raw Salad
Carrot Tzimmes
Baked Stuffed Zucchini
Russian Potato and Mushroom Croquettes
Broccoli and Lemon Dish
Chopped "Liver" Spread
Sweet Potato Kugel
Potato/Kale Casserole
Matzoh Ball Soup
Sephardic Date Haroset
Passover Apple Crisp
Passover Fudgy Brownies

We also had a box of spelt matzah and a box of whole wheat matzah, and my buddy brought two jars of horseradish, and two bottles of wine.

After it was all said and done, we had spent about 4 hours preparing the meal for 8, but how it was worth it! I was pretty impressed that everything came out pretty damn tasty, and I would say the whole operation impressed my parents, who until we went vegan, have always had the reins on our family dinners. This year I think my sister and I gave them a well deserved break, which I’m sure they appreciated. The meal didn’t break the bank, and now we have some recipes under our belt for next years seder.

Our seder was as always, classic and abbreviated, but we touched on the most important and our favorite parts of the ritual. I even had an short reading printed out for everyone that discussed the connection between Passover and vegetarianism, which we read around the table. And maybe this is just me being weird, but I feel like everyone ended up reading the paragraph meant for them. The next day, we got probably the nicest, most sincere, and most hysterical email from my cousin, and I hope he doesn’t mind that I quote him:

“I had a very good time last night, thank you both for throwing what was undeniably the most charming and relaxed Seder I've ever attended. The food was good … and everything else was just, I don't know, so much more fucking pleasant than these things usually are. I did like the way you conducted the 'service' David, and even though at this point in my life I care way more about what I learn regarding livestock treatment than what our religion proscribes, it was an interesting reading you found, urging the unification of faith in animal rights and jewish faith/observances … sorry for all the cursing, it's to convey the awesomeness you guys made reality. Thanks again.”

That’s awesome dude, and it was truly my pleasure.

Also worth mentioning, I was pretty impressed with the amount of information and recipes, and the variety of perspectives when I was searching the internet for "vegan passover" to find recipes and readings.

sometimes i get the vegan blues

What are the vegan blues? I decided to give an introduction to lay out my thoughts on what this blog is about. For starters, I don’t think veganism gets enough attention. There aren’t enough vegans and there aren’t enough vegan websites. I love many of the blogs that are out there, and so I want to contribute. Hopefully veganblues.com will be a place you come to drop a line when you want to rap about the vegan blues or read something you can relate to.

Today I am a fully committed Vegan but I sometimes encounter difficulty with the culture at large because of this passion I have. That is the basis of this blog. I think something like .5% of Americans are vegan. Ideally, I would like that number to be 100%. I don’t like proselytizers, preachers, or other people who try to tell you their way is the best and only way to live, I don’t like being told what to do or telling anybody what to do or how to live, and generally speaking I think everybody should mind their own business. But, I feel very strongly about veganism.

About me - I went vegan in December 2007. Veganism was not something I thought about for a long time in my life. Thinking back I had only really heard about the idea at very occasional but memorable instances. It’s not hard for me to figure out why - in so many ways the truth about food was out of sight. Growing up I had a good family, community, I went to some pretty good schools, everybody said I was a smart kid, a few minor health issues, I watched a lot of TV (I suppose I could have learned about veganism on TV…) anyway, I was a pretty typical kid. So why is it that the idea of veganism only came to me as a serious consideration at age 22? I made it straight through college without the thought ever crossing my mind.

My primary reason for this change came because I was reintroduced to the horrors of factory farming, a harsh reality which I realize directly extends to virtually every product that is made from or contains animal ingredients. I read “Skinny Bitch” and I suppose I was sapped. I cried learning about some of the standard industry practices which I inevitably realized were behind so much that I loved, owned, or consumed. I ate bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast daily, lox cream cheese, BLTs for lunch, pizza, chicken salad, cold cuts, burgers, steak burritos, lots of sour cream, melted cheese. I used to drink extra milk because I was always a short kid. No ice cream!? I just bought new leather gloves. But no matter, I could no longer support these industries, I was eating torture. The books i read early helped me realize that there were alternatives. I spent maybe a month planning my last non-vegan meal. It never panned out, the last time I ate meat was a Whopper in the car on the way back from Atlantic City. I had just finished reading “Vegan Freak”, now I had a stomach ache, and I was done. I didn’t tell anyone for three weeks, I just needed to see if I could make it. In the end, I realized that if there were other things I wanted to improve about my life, there was no better place to start. This had to be the first step.

Same thought went for the broader good of the world, for all the conspiracy theories, I didn’t realize something so profoundly unjust had always been right in front of my face, and i could actually do something about it. I realize that there are gentle and caring farmers and other kind situations out there, but it seems that these are few exceptions in today’s world. this same idea eventually went for the debate of whether people are biologically meant to eat meat, as I knew is essentially done in some manner in every part of the world. but I realized these ideas were truer for the past than the future. I felt I had to take a stand, and serve as an example for others about how easy the change could come. I realized at that point in my life I was presented with a choice, and my decision not to consume animals made me feel very powerful and proud. This has not changed.

Since that time, I have been exposed to a wealth of new ideas that I had never heard of or ever considered. for example, now I believe that our diet has more to do with our health than anything other factor. So many people are diseased in this country and the world, and I find it hard to believe the cultural rejection of the community of alternative points of view on this subject matter. I believe there is every health indication for us all to move to a whole foods plant-based diet. Regardless of the health arguments, in my heart I hope there is no person who would approve of the treatment of the animals that go into the different products they buy. The information is out there (i will share my sources on this blog, i hope you do too). I hope other people see this information and begin to make a change. If you are not aware of the realities, you need to learn some interesting and some heartbreaking facts about these issues. I can’t judge someone for their lifestyle choices, and this includes food choices, but I sometimes shed tears for the prevalent ignorance on the subject matter, and the denial or resistance to the truth about the direct impact and (therefore power) that we have.

Unitl I changed my eating habits, I did not realize that there is actually so much cultural resistance to this philolosophy. As a human being, we are supposedly evolved, intelligent and caring species. But in thinking about veganism as a philosophy, I come across many people who are stuck in old ways and thoughts, many people do not see the need to change, people who don’t think that they can change, maybe they believe they will not make a difference, sometimes people just don’t care. There are so many reasons. But to the logical and also caring person who falls into this group, I ask you to seriously consider where your food comes from. There are so many reasons to think vegan (even if you won’t commit 100%).

I made the connection that where our food comes from and what we eat has everything to do with many of the ecological and other problems we have around the world. We all try so many ways to be better people and make the world a better place. How better to make a profound difference than by making an active change in something we do every day, 3 times a day? Our history in America is about fighting for peace liberty and freedom - I believe now that these things begin with what you put on your plate. I am not saying here that if you are not vegan then you are not a good person. I am saying that in my mind there is no better time or place in our lives to start making an effort for what I believe is to the ultimate benefit of humanity. Practice of veganism is in my view is one of the most peaceful, positive, empowering experiences.

Think whatever you like about my point of view on this blog, but know that it comes from a place of love. This is not about being the food police or the health police or whatever. This is because of all the people in my life who i love and value and appreciate and also people who I do not know but have influenced me. It is with love that I want to spread information and compassion to what i recognize as a very underinformed and even misinformed population at large. I have found a great deal of material out there that supports this line of thinking, however, there is clearly a lot of work to be done to spread the word about the food industry practices, and holistic health perspectives, and also spread love to the animals.

All this is the essesnce of the vegan blues, and so much more. Like anything in life you gotta take the good with the bad, being vegan is no exception. There is a broad spectrum of hurt and pain and general negativity that I have experienced through these vegan eyes, and I hopefully doubt I am alone. Lets put it into twleve bars, so to speak (and then literally at some point). You will hear some of my stories and have the opportunity to respond and post your own, so keep posted.