Mock Tuna Salad

2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

1/2 medium-sized white onion

1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard

1/4 to 1/2 cup Vegenaise

1 dill pickle or equivalent of dill pickle relish

1 tsp salt

pepper to taste

roasted seaweed (optional)

Drain both cans of chickpeas and rinse very well.  Mash up with a fork or place in a food processor to get them to the consistency of shredded tuna.  Place chickpeas in a mixing bowl.  Dice the pickle and half of the white onion and place in bowl.  Mix in Vegenaise (amount depends on how creamy you want it), mustard, salt and pepper.  I know I said the roasted seaweed is optional, but I would highly recommend putting it in there.  It’s what gives it that slightly “fishy” flavor.  You can usually find a package of multiple sheets in the Asian section in your grocery.  I found mine at Kroger.  They are supposed to be used for sushi, so I took an entire sheet (approx. 8″ by 9″) and crumpled it as fine as possible and threw it in the mix.  Don’t be scared.  It adds the finishing flavor touch.  Mix well and scoop on toasted bread with lettuce, tomato, or whatever your heart desires!  Also great on crackers!

I’ve tried tons of new restaurants, recipes and vegetables that I NEVER would have tried before.  Rather than shrinking in options, my diet has definitely expanded.  I’ve become involved with a non-profit organization called No Kill Louisville, which is working on creating a no-kill community in regards to adoptable pets.  And I’ve participated in my first of many animal rights demonstrations; one being a peaceful protest of Ringling Brothers Circus to stop the confinement and torture of wild animals.  I can almost guarantee none of this would have happened if I had not been vegan.

What has been the biggest setback?  Not the food.  Not the hygiene products.  And certainly not the clothes.  There are cookbooks, veggies, and packaged items available to even those living in the most rural areas now.  You can get shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant at most major supermarkets.  And it’s incredibly easy to find fake leather and synthetic fibers for every article of clothing you could ever want.  The one thing that makes it difficult sometimes, is the social aspect.  And this, I think, is the biggest reason people won’t consider going vegan.  I don’t necessarily mean just eating out at Buffalo Wild Wings with your friends.  I mean the acceptance factor.  Most people don’t want to feel like outsiders.  They don’t like to draw attention to themselves.  And they certainly don’t want to be continuously ridiculed.  Going vegan will earn you all of those things, even from your friends and family, if only for a short period of time.  Don’t think for a second that I’m painting myself to be a martyr for the animals.  Poor poor, pitiful me.  No one understands me, boooo hooo hoooo.  That’s not the point.  The point is, many people just don’t understand things that are different from what they know.  They will be more willing to point at you, than try to educate themselves about the matter.  Trust me, I live this.  I’m a gay-vegan-atheist.

One of those things people aren’t willing to understand when it comes to veganism, is what it’s really about.  Having to convince people that being vegan is healthy should be just as rare as convincing people that the Earth is round.  A well-balanced vegan diet is healthy for everyone at every age.  A poorly balanced diet of any kind is unhealthy for anyone.  As far as ethics are concerned, for me, it’s a no-brainer.  Viewing non-human animals as “things” that are beneath us and warrant no right to live except to serve our own desires, is arrogant and speciesist.  No different from the arrogant and racist views we held for African slaves.  Or the arrogant and chauvinistic views some still hold of women.  Not to mention the homophobic society we still live in.  They are all connected.  Oppression of any group is wrong.  Some might feel uncomfortable being linked with cows and pigs.  But we are all animals.  We feel pain, love, sadness, and have a desire to have companions.  Just observe your dog or cat.

But the one big thing I think people misunderstand about veganism, is it’s not about purity.  It’s not a cult with a Holy Vegan Book and doctrines you must live by to reach an ultimate level of pure veganity.  Over the course of the last year, I can’t tell you how many questions I got from people trying to “get” me, or find some loophole that would magically erase any kind of logic that was found in every other facet.  At one point, I actually had someone tell me, “You know micro-organisms have to die for your drinking water!”  To which I smiled, shrugged and replied, “I guess I can’t drink water anymore.”  Do tires have animal products in them?  Yep.  Try living in this world without getting around on a few tires.  Are most pharmaceuticals tested on animals?  Yup.  If a doctor says I need to take this pill to live, guess what I’m gonna do?  Some things are unavoidable in the world that we live in.  Will it always be like this?  I am eternally optimistic.  We are becoming increasingly more compassionate and responsible about the choices we make.  This world is what we make it.  Educate yourself.

To me, being a vegan is more than just animal rights.  It’s about human rights, as well as caring for the environment as best we can.  It’s about challenging world views.  It’s about evolving.  It’s never been a better time to be vegan.

If you’re ready for a challenge, sign up here. Remember, it starts April 4, so sign up today! I’d love to hear about progress or experiences from any of my friends, or strangers for that matter! They even have an iPhone app, so check it out if you have a iPhone or iPad.

Bees make honey to feed themselves.   The honey they create throughout the year is used to feed the colony throughout the winter.  When the hive feels threatened, guard bees release a pheromone that tell the others there is an intruder, thus attacking.  When a beekeeper takes honey from a man-made hive, they puff smoke into it, dulling the guard bees senses so there are no pheromones released.  The smoke also has another effect.  It puts them in “panic mode” which causes them to eat their honey in the case of relocation to build another hive.  Creating man-made hives and stealing their food is nothing short of exploitation.  The bees not only have to work harder to create more honey (after the taking of humans, and eating of confused bees), but this will inevitably result in a shortage of food for the winter.  I realize bees aren’t the first animals people think of when exploitation comes to mind.  But the reasons are valid why honey should be avoided.

As for marine life, to the chagrin of seafood eating “vegetarians,” fish are animals.  They have central nervous systems which can cause them to feel pain.  Therefore, prawn and mussels would be capable of feeling pain, just like any other aquatic animal.  Evolutionarily, it makes sense for them to feel pain.  They will know what to avoid to stay alive.

I have a pretty big sweet tooth.  Ask my boyfriend.  And because of that, I’ve become my dentist’s best friend.  It wasn’t uncommon for me to eat a pastry at Starbucks every day.  The main reason being, I work there.  But when I went vegan, it meant that I was no longer going to pick out day old pastries from the bin in the backroom.  Every once in a while, I would gaze at a doughnut and remember how it would taste in my mouth.  But within seconds of thinking that, my brain would also switch to the process of making that doughnut.  It wasn’t just a vision of a machine squirting out dough.  It was how the milk was taken to make that dough.  It was how these dairy cows would rarely, if at all, get to see the light of day.  How they are constantly impregnated, then have their babies taken from them.  How these baby calves are either thrown back into the dairy industry or stuck in veal compartments where they are not allowed to move (literally) until they are killed, within months of being born.  And how these dairy cows are killed for meat after 3-7 years, when their typical lifespan is 20-25!

Because I work around these pastries on a daily basis, I have the opportunity to eat whatever I want.  But for me to do that, would mean I would be okay with the idea that animals are ours to do with as we wish.  Which strikes me as an incredibly arrogant, speciesist way of life.  Does that mean I am depriving myself?  Absolutely not!!  There are tons of sweets you can eat as a vegan.  In fact, one of the most popular vegan foods in the past few years have been vegan cupcakes!  You can find chocolate (Endangered Species, Newman’s Own), cookies (Newman’s Own, Oreos), and tons of dairy-free ice cream in most grocery stores.  And if I feel like something a bit more fancy, I’ll take a trip to my local health food store, which usually has some kind of delicious cupcake or confection.  And of course, I try to eat any sweets in moderation…as much as possible

What it comes down to in the end, is this:  I don’t look at it as giving up anything.  It’s not mine to take to begin with, therefore I don’t feel deprived.  There’s a tasty substitute for just about every animal product out there.  Just experiment to find your favorite, or make your own–that’s half the fun!

Although some label reading is still required, Kroger has started to mark a lot of their products “vegan”, only adding to the hundreds of cruelty-free products they’ve always carried, giving consumers the opportunity to make more ethical choices.  Care to take a stroll?  Here are just a few things you might not have known were so readily available…

Bread Products…Just about all of Kroger brand bagels (Everything, Blueberry, Cinnamon Raisin) and most, if not all of Thomas’ Bagels are vegan, as well as Kroger’s “Value” brand wheat and white sandwich bread.

Need something to spread on your toasted bagels or bread?  Try Earth Balance “buttery spread”.  It tastes no different from margarine, and everyone I know that’s tried it has loved it.  It comes in “original” or “soy free”.  Plus it has Omega-3′s which are great for your brain!

Wanna try something other than that mucus-packed cow’s milk with your cereal?  There are actually more options for non-dairy drinkers!  Soy milk isn’t the only one.  There’s Oat, Hemp, Almond, Hazelnut, Coconut, and Rice milks.  Most of these products are animal-free.  Just check the package to see if it’s vegetarian or vegan.  Most will say so.  If not, just Google it on your smart phone!  That’s what they’re for!  Non-dairy milk lasts longer, and most are fortified with vitamins, including calcium.  Plus, I like variety, so I’ll usually switch it up for whichever milk is on sale at the moment.

Craving lunchtime soup in the winter?  Try Amy’s Organic Soups.  They make it soup-er easy (I couldn’t help it!) for you to grab and go, because 90% of these are vegan and are labeled first thing on the ingredient list if they are.  They have sales on these all the time, so stock up when they do.  My favorites are “No Chicken Noodle” and “Split Pea”, both low-fat.  They also have fantastic lentil soups.  I haven’t met one I didn’t like.  And if you’re a soup and sandwich person, there is no shortage of “deli meat” alternatives that taste great stacked between lettuce, onion, pickles, tomatoes, avocados, or whatever else you want to throw in there.  Tofurky’s Hickory Smoked “turkey” slices are amazing.  I could, and do, eat these by themselves.  Another alternative is Lightlife’s Smart Deli, Roast Turkey Style.

As for dinner, nothing is easier than stir-fry.  Lightlife’s Smart Strips, Chick’n Style Strips saute perfectly with a bag of frozen veggies, which is one of the better things Kroger has started offering.  They’re carrying more all-natural frozen vegetables, with no added preservatives.  And there have been several studies to show that frozen vegetables are often more nutritious than fresh, due to nutrients deteriorating right after they’re picked.  So don’t feel bad if you’re in a hurry!

Sweet tooth got a hold of you?  You have about a dozen soy and coconut milk ice cream flavors to choose from.  Not to mention ice cream sandwiches and frozen fruit bars.  And who could forget Oreo’s?  Yes, believe it or not, they’re actually vegan!  They may not be healthy but they are animal-product free.

Last but certainly not least, you have the most important section…produce!  You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day.  And look at those beautiful colors!  I must say, Kroger has really stepped up their produce and organic section, which just goes to show, your choices do matter.  See a veggie you’re unfamiliar with?  Don’t be scared!!  Grab it, look up a recipe on Vegweb.com, and dive into the kitchen!  You may hate it or have a new favorite!  The point is, eating ethically doesn’t mean eating twigs and berries.  The choices are always expanding.  So go Krogering! 

6 bell peppers (get all different colors!  Variety is good!)

3 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)

1 half small/medium-sized onion

2 bags “boil-in-bag” brown rice or Approximately 4 cups cooked rice

1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies

1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

1 box Lightlife Smart Ground “beef” or Yves Meatless Ground

1-2 tbsp oil

1 vegetable bouillon cube

1 tsp creole seasoning (optional)

fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400.  Slice bell peppers in half, length-wise and de-seed.  Place foil in casserole dish or baking pan.  Place peppers in dish, cover with foil and heat in oven while cooking the stuffing.  No need to wait for oven to preheat, this just helps speed along the baking process.

Prepare rice in boiling water with bouillon cube.  If using “boil-in-bag”, only use 2-3 cups of water, so rice will soak up the bouillon cube.  In a large pan over medium heat, saute diced onion with minced or pressed garlic in oil.  After several minutes, add ground “meat”.  Add creole seasoning and Rotel.  Cook for 5-10 minutes.  In a large bowl, mix rice, tomato sauce, and “meat” mixture.  Pull peppers out of oven and scoop rice mixture into them.  Grind fresh pepper over peppers and place back in oven (covered with foil) for 20-30 minutes.  Check to make sure they are soft enough.  If you care to add a little more spice, you can always put salsa verde on top of the peppers.  Enjoy!

After 7 months, the wait is over.  It melts, shreds, slices, and is great on veggie burgers (I put a thin slice of cheddar on my eggplant burger), chili, soups, ohhhhh…..I forgot about tacos!!

Use sparingly, a little goes a long way.  And they also have mozzarella, which I haven’t tried yet.  I can’t wait to experiment with these cheeses.

So a natural thought that would come to someone like me would be, “I wonder if this sugar is vegan.”  Now that may sound like a silly question to most people.  You might think, “Doesn’t sugar come from a plant?”  Well, yes.  But that’s not good enough.  At least not for the corporate giants who need something to do with their leftover cow skulls and bones.  In one last effort to squeeze as much money from the carcass of the animal they exploit, they ship off the remains to select charcoal manufacturers who in turn ship them to sugar companies.  What do they do with these skeletal remains?  They use them in refining sugar.  Something they call “bone char” or now “natural charcoal.”

Do they have to use them?  No.  The main reason bone filters are used is to make the sugar white in color.  Most people equate white with “pure”, and bone char makes that happen.  It’s quite amazing what we try to convince ourselves of, even when it’s unnecessary.  However, bone char/natural charcoal is prohibited in the production of USDA certified organic sugar.  Another reason organic is better.  But back to the main story…

After talking to my manager about the reasons why I would not try the new Iced VIA, or the yet to be released flavored VIA, he assured me we would get some answers.  Being very supportive, he e-mailed our District Manager.  Who in turn e-mailed our Director of Operations.  Who then followed through with someone with corporate.  Which then filtered back down to me.  The answer?  ”They’re reluctant to call anything “vegan.”  To me, this just seems like a bureaucratic way of saying “no”.  Of course they don’t want to put a label on anything.  God forbid some angry vegan sue Starbucks because they found out their product wasn’t really vegan.  Which I’m sure is what it comes down to.  Starbucks doesn’t want a million dollar lawsuit.  Meanwhile, I just want to know how my food is processed.  Someone has the answer.  Is that too much to ask?