This Dish Is Veg - Vegan, Animal Rights, Eco-friendly News

Poll reveals American public backs doubling food stamp benefits when used at farmers markets

2012-05-25T12:14:00.001-05:00

A recent poll conducted by the W.K. Kellogg foundation reveals that the American public appears to be in full support of healthier options for recipients of SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps.)

Over 90 percent of those polled indicated that it is either “very important” or “somewhat important” that “all Americans have equal access to fresh produce.”

More than 80 percent asserted that government officials “need to do more to increase access to locally produced fresh food.”

Seventy-five percent of those polled would support doubling the value of SNAP benefits at local farmers markets.

Doubling the value of food stamps at farmers markets could provide lower income families with a tremendous amount of healthier options. When we consider how the costs of nutritious meals are in comparison to processed, commercialized foods, it is easy to see how lower-income families struggle to make healthy food choices. In addition, fresh vegetables available from the store are essentially out of the question when it comes to budgeting a family’s meals for an entire month; with only about $1.48 to spend per meal. (Even acclaimed food expert Chef Mario Batali had some trouble.)

The doubling of SNAP benefits at farmers markets would encourage users to consume more fresh produce, and hopefully cut down on health care costs down the road. It would help to sustain local farms and promote a healthier environment.

The American public is on board with addressing our nation’s hunger and health epidemic. With about 45 million Americans eligible for SNAP benefits, the rapid increase of childhood obesity, and recurring nutrition-related diseases that are swallowing our nation’s population, the government’s implementation of this program on a national level could benefit us in numerous ways.

Issues involving funding for SNAP benefits will continue to be deliberated over the next several months, as the government will be reauthorizing the Farm Bill later this year.

Monica Harwood | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Blog
Rockville, MD Monica has always been a passionate animal lover. She blogs for No Credentials Podcast Network (nocredentialspn.com), where she is also a personality on the show The Vegan and the Cannibal. Monica is an opera singer, accompanist and music teacher, and would one day like to travel the world as a performer, while promoting the cause of animal welfare. Outside of music and animals, she enjoys all types of yoga, tending to her organic garden, and cooking. She currently resides just outside of Washington, D.C. with her boston terrier, Luke.

Photo credit:cc:Commons.Wikipedia.com Ottre

10 totally true (if tongue-in-cheek) reasons why going vegan rocks

2012-05-25T11:48:00.001-05:00

10 totally true (if tongue-in-cheek) reasons why going vegan rocks

1. You can save up for that jet ski you always wanted.
Contrary to what you’ve heard, veganism is affordable. I always get confused when someone tells me that they tried being vegan but found it too expensive. You’re cutting foods out! How can leaving the cheese off your pizza or the meat out of your chili cost more? (Okay, okay, I guess you do have to substitute a few things, for nutrition’s sake.)

I figured those folks must just be eating a lot of faux-meats and processed foods, and thought perhaps that was more expensive. But then I actually looked at the prices: in my grocery store, a 4-pack of veggie burgers is $4.29. A pound of ground beef? Also $4.29. Or course, if you were to buy the ingredients to make your own black bean burgers at home in 15 minutes? About a buck. So basically, eating vegan shouldn’t cost you more, and can cost you considerably less.

If you’re trying recipes with a lot of specialized ingredients (or if you’ve been living on Chef Boyardee up to this point), yes, veganism could be more expensive. But if you avoid faux-foods and instead build a diet around vegetables, beans, fruits, and grains - trust me - you’ll save money.

2. You can scoff at Prius owners like they scoff at Hummer drivers.
The meat industry is an environmental nightmare. The statistics - exactly how much meat production contributes to global climate change - will shock you. Animal agriculture contributes more greenhouse gasses than all forms of transportation combined. The Prius is a nice touch, but driving one while eating meat is proverbially spitting into the wind. The single most effective thing that you can do to fight for the environment is to go vegan.

3. You can stop being a wimp about trying new things.
I’m not just talking about learning to cook with tofu, or getting up the nerve to try the local Indian restaurant. Going vegan teaches you to get creative with even common foods. My father, who went vegan several months ago, has tried making hummus with every different bean known to humankind. (As it turns out, black-eyed peas make pretty killer hummus.) Before you know it, you’ll be going “Wait, I can make pudding out of the stuff they sprinkle on chia pets? Awesome!” For extra credit, you can join a local organic buying club or CSA, and break out your Google-fu for recipes when confronted with kohlrabi or dragonfruit.

4. You can have more cheerleaders than Bring It On and all its unwatchable sequels combined.
Want 237 new friends? Tweet this to any vegan: “Giving #vegan lifestyle a try. Who has advice?” Before you know it, you’ll have a whole new circle of friends ready to support, encourage, and argue over which is the best vegan free-trade chocolate.

Not on Twitter? Facebook, Livejournal, Blogspot, Meetup... wherever you happen to be online, reach out to the vegan community and be prepared to feel like you just got invited to the cool table in the high school cafeteria.

5. Those better things you have to do with your time? You can do them.
When I first went vegan, Sunday dinner was always two hours early. I was so used to starting dinner at two or three o’clock in the afternoon, and I didn’t realize how much time and effort I would save by cutting out the meat. My mom’s famous stew takes one third of the time to cook when you substitute spaghetti squash for the lengthy process of browning, simmering, and shredding the beef. Instead of 60 minutes to complete chicken parmigiana, it takes 30 to make my killer eggplant no-harm-igiana. Until you go vegan, you don’t realize how much of your life you waste waiting on a slab of meat to reach a safe temperature to kill all the bacteria!

6. You can celeb-watch and tell yourself it’s not shallow.
You can feel free to fawn like a fangirl (or fanboy) on a wide variety of vegan celebs because - duh! - obviously you aren’t just falling prey to the cult of celebrity, but respect and admire them for their vegan values and advocacy. (Wikipedia even gives you a handy list, sorted by country of origin.) Also? You’re totally free to vocally and vociferously hate on the fur-wearing Kardashians. It’s practically a new sport - soon folks will be organizing leagues.

7. You can become the Chuck Norris of disease-fighters.
Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack; his heart isn’t nearly foolish enough to attack him. Your heart, on the other hand, may not be quite so intimidated. But you can keep it in line with the power of plants. Check out The China Study or the film Forks Over Knives for the research. Studies show that with every veg meal, you’re fighting heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke - without even trying! That’s pretty bad-ass, if you ask me.

8. You can do without either “-or.”
Neither Crestor nor Lipitor, nor any other cholesterol medication is likely to be in your future for the long-term as a vegan - a cholesterol-free diet. (Sure, you might be the freak of nature whose body still manages to produce copious amounts despite having no dietary intake and require medication, but for most folks, cholesterol drops to a healthy level on a balanced vegan diet.) You might also be able to avoid or reverse the need for medications for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, anti-inflammatories, and a whole host of other medicines people take for everyday ailments. How is this different from the previous point? Think about all the potential side-effects you’ll be ditching, and all the money you’ll be saving. One hundred percent of sane people agree, it’s great to be free to say no to drugs.

9. You can help make those depressing Save the Children commercials go away already.
Allow me to demonstrate this with some slightly sketchy math. (I admit, this involves some guestimating.) Stats say the average American downs about 200 lbs of meat, poultry, and fish per year. Cattle consume 16 lbs of grain or soy per pound of meat generated. Chicken consume 2.6 lbs of corn for each pound of flesh. Averaging that out and subtracting a wild guess of 25 lbs for fish (which are not consuming farmed resources), that’s a whopping 1627.5 lbs of grain, corn, and soy that’s being consumed by animals to create your 200 lbs of meat. Very inefficient, yes? If you swap out your 200 lbs of meat for 200 lbs of farmed resources, that still leaves you with over 1400 lbs. At 200 lbs a year, that’s food for seven hungry people.

10. You can attain a state of enlightenment. Not necessarily in a hippie-dippy yoga-Om way.
You believe in myths. That’s not a judgment - we all do. Our world view is defined by the stories we’re told. One myth you probably grew up believing is “Milk does a body good.” The truth, as it turns out, is that the ability to tolerate lactose begins to decline at age 2 (by which age humans would normally be weaned), and that as many as 60% of all adults lack the ability to digest milk products at all. Scientists think that the fact any of us retain the ability to digest it is weird, considering no other mammal does.

When you go vegan, you start to question many of the myths surrounding food. Why do we drink cow’s milk instead of milk from any other mammal? Why not primate milk, since humans are primates? Why do we eat chickens and turkeys, but not peacocks and parrots? How is eating a dog any different than eating a lamb? Why is the US government subsidizing the meat and dairy industry, but giving no subsidies to vegetable farmers? Can the US government’s nutritional advice then be trusted? Once you open your eyes, you’ll be surprised at what you’ll see.

Kasey Minnis | Facebook | @veggiemightee | Blog
Fort Lauderdale, FL That rare and elusive species known as the native Floridian, Kasey is passionate about protecting other endangered creatures. She lives by the principle “compassion and crochet for all,” and enjoys teaching others – including her husband of 20 years and two beautiful children – the benefits of cruelty-free eating by feeding them tasty vegan treats from her kitchen. Contact Kasey at kasey@thisdishisveg.com.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/5wa/7256259448

'Cooking Vegan' sets itself apart from other vegan cookbooks

2012-05-25T10:30:00.001-05:00

If you’re anything like me and have been paying attention, you may have noticed that the rising amount of vegan cookbooks that are consistently making their way into the mainstream is nothing short of staggering. As I continue to examine and offer my humble review of the books and products that find their way into my hands, the first question I have begun to ask is, “What sets this one apart from all the rest?”

With that question in mind, after studying Cooking Vegan: Healthful, Delicious, and Easy it was clear to me that the end result is an impressive compilation of vast knowledge and experience infused with passion and fun. This book, which is obvious, would not have been brought to such successful fruition without the partnership of a Melina, a renowned vegan dietitian and Forest, an undeniably multi-talented professional chef, offers a simple approach to gourmet, vegan eating.

I love the background and information that is littered throughout this book, which includes the history of certain, specific foods -- which was just cool and different -- twelve daily international menus—which is also cool and different, and will keep even the most seasoned vegan chef on their toes—as well as the not-to-be-overlooked more basic, yet equally important topics like kitchen setup and receommended cooking equipment.

So, overall, what sets Cooking Vegan apart? Everything.

Erica Settino | Twitter | Facebook | Website
New York Erica is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization, Karuna For Animals: Compassion In Action, Inc. A long time vegetarian turned passionate vegan, she works tirelessly to educate others on the countless benefits of adopting a vegan diet. She currently holds a BS in Psychology with a concentration in Animal Behavior and an MFA in Creative Writing. Along with her work in animal advocacy, Erica works as an editorial assistant, freelance writer, certified and registered yoga instructor, nutritional counselor and health coach. She lives with her veg husband and their four rescued animal companions.

Photo credit: Cooking Vegan | Disclosure: Review copy provided

10 ways to stay vegan

2012-05-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

Many people struggle with the commitment to a vegan lifestyle. Reasons can include a wide array of excuses or conflicts. From not having the time to research everything to not having support from friends and family, we understand! Here are a few small steps that can help you remain vegan.

Find other vegans. Whether online or in real life, having other people to ask questions or bond with goes a long way when you’re surrounded by a meat consuming society. Here are a few ideas to help expand your vegan companions:
Check Meetup for local vegan/vegetarian activities
Search for vegan groups on facebook
Single? Check out vegan dating sites
Create a collection of easy vegan recipes- Start small and get a few quick easy recipes that you like. I would suggest cooking meals at home and bag your lunch until you can find the vegan-friendly options around school or the office. Pinterest is a great resource for finding simple recipes, or you can search vegweb.com.
Remind yourself why you went vegan in the first place. Grab a box of tissues and watch Earthlings or other such movies when you feel yourself starting to stray!
Planning ahead is key. If your going out with friends be the one to pick the restaurant. Find out what places your friends like and check out the menus online prior to choosing the destination. If you are eating over a friend's or family member's house offer to bring a dish with you, and make sure there is enough for everyone.
Invite your friends or family over for a great vegan dinner. Help them understand why you’re a vegan. Don’t be afraid to let them know how it feels to be made fun of for it. If they are friends they will listen.
Don’t try to replace everything! This one may sound odd but, wait before trying vegan cheese. Cheese is often the hardest thing for vegans to let go of. Honestly, most cheese alternatives aren’t the same. Imagine that you took a sip of buttermilk thinking it was soymilk. You would immediately think that the taste and texture was ‘wrong.’ There is NOTHING wrong with vegan cheese- it is easier to appreciate it when you’re not comparing it to your favorite cheddar cheese. This can apply to any particular food that you really have a strong tie to.
There’s an app for that. Download vegan apps to your phone that can help you navigate through everyday life. There are apps that help you find vegan wine and beer, locate veg-friendly restaurants, pick out products that aren't tested on animals, and identify animal ingredients in food.
Find your staples. For me it was Nissin Top Ramen oriental flavor, soymilk, Tofutti Cuties, Tofurky Sausage, and pasta w/ pasta sauce. I always keep extra in the house so I will never have a “there is nothing to eat” moment.
Help with dinner. Living at home? Help your parents prepare vegan versions of the family dinner. Better yet- cook once a week, avoid the tofu if your dad has a fear of it (like mine). I stick with dishes that don’t use "fake" meat and dairy. Try Pasta Fazool or cook spinach, broccoli, and white beans in garlic and olive oil to serve over pasta.
Go food shopping. Don’t buy your own food? Help with the food shopping! This all comes back to doing your research. Visit PETA’s Accidentally Vegan page and make a list of your favorites. Read the boxes, more companies are starting to label their products vegan. Look for pareve labels on food to aid in finding vegan options.

If you are just starting out, it gets easier! You will begin to remember the vegan friendly products and restaurants. Your mother will see that you take your nutrition seriously and aren’t wasting away. Your friends and family will run out of meat eating jokes and comments (until then you can enjoy a game of Omnivore Bingo).

Stephanie Pania | Facebook | Blog | Pinterest
Philadelphia, PA Stephanie is an eco-conscious vegan from Philadelphia, PA. She has a degree in Communications and Technical Theater, and is currently the communications specialist at an area nonprofit. She recently finished a year serving with AmeriCorps, and spends her free time playing with her adopted dogs and her rescued cats.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/ofernandezberrios and TDIV

'Herbivoracious' brings a flavor revolution to your vegetarian kitchen

2012-05-25T08:59:00.000-05:00

Veg foodies, rejoice! Michael Natkin’s Herbivoracious is an epicure’s delight. Filled with stunning photographs and inventive recipes, the book will appeal to anyone with a love of food. But with the unusual ingredients and refined flavors, Herbivoracious fills a void in the array of great vegetarian cookbooks available, providing a modern gourmet take on vegetarian and vegan food.

From India to Italy, from terrines to tagines, Natkin draws from dozens of cultures and techniques. Bold colors and unexpected flavor combinations abound, such as the gorgeous Grapefruit & Avocado Crudo, or the subtle Apple Celery Sorbet.

Of the more than 150 recipes, 84 are vegan or have vegan options. Several others can be easily veganized by experienced vegan cooks. Gluten-free recipes are also clearly marked.

If you’re looking for everyday fare, this may not be the ideal cookbook for you. While most of the preparations are simple and clearly explained, many require ingredients that are unlikely to be found in the average pantry. Some ingredients will require trips to specialty stores, or cooking seasonally. But if you’re looking to step up your skills in the kitchen or make something for a special occasion, you can’t go wrong with this truly special fare.

HERBIVORACIOUS
A Flavor Revolution, with 150 Vibrant and Original Vegetarian Recipes
By Michael Natkin
Harvard Common Press
May 2012
$24.95 US / $29.95 CAN

Also available in an enhanced e-book edition, with 25 videos featuring Natkin touring
ethnic markets, introducing ingredients and showing how to choose them, and preparing
recipes from the book. The e-book will also offer social media functionality for sharing
recipes, photos, and video on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Disclosure: A complimentary copy of this publication was provided to TDIV for review. TDIV provides fair and unbiased reviews of all publications or products submitted for assessment.

Photo credit: Herbivoracious

What I Had For Dinner: Vegan Couscous Fruit Salad

2012-05-24T12:46:00.000-05:00

I am not a big fan of starchy dinners. I prefer meals to be refreshing and full of fresh fruits and/or veggies. When the temperature here in the mountains reached the high 80's the other day after a long day of gardening in the sun, I decided on a spin on fruit salad and add some Israeli Pearl Couscous for a filling meal that could please my non-vegan dinner guests.

How to make it: I made about 3 pounds of pearl couscous, since I like to make enough to eat throughout the week and was having guests over for dinner. Just prepare your pearl couscous by steeping the pearls overnight or simply boiling them the day of preparation. Rinse, strain, and rinse again.

I added all organic fruit to my couscous, including: 4 peaches 2 golden delicious apples 2 granny smith apples 2 pears 1 mango I also drizzled an entire lemon over the salad, which gives a bright taste and also keeps the apples from browning.

I also added organic raw pumpkin seeds and raw sliced almonds for some crunch!
Add a touch of brown sugar some Braggs Liquid Aminos, and a dash of white pepper and you've got yourself a filling, healthy, delicious fruit salad that will please any dinner guest! This also makes a perfect picnic dish. The uses of fruit in this salad are endless, from strawberries to grapefruit, but we had some dietary restrictions with citrus fruit. I hope you give this salad a try!

Kelly Beth | @veganbotanicals | Facebook | website
Colorado Kelly Beth is a clinical herbalist and vegan foodie. She lives deep in the mountains of Colorado with her fiancé, cat, and plants. She loves living as close to the land as possible and practicing self-sustainability, from growing her own food to wild crafting herbal medicine. Kelly Beth is the owner of twig & leaf botanicals, a vegan & organic botanical business that is also certified cruelty-free.

Photo credit: Kelly Beth

TDIV Q&A: How do you handle a vegan child being bullied in school?

2012-05-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

Q: How do you handle a vegan child being bullied in school?

A: I'm sorry that this child is being bullied for choosing to lead a life that is compassionate to animals. First, it is important for this child to understand that the bullying is not their fault; they are not to blame. Next, I would approach the situation as one of bullying first, and then as one that involves veganism. Schools these days often have anti-bullying months, campaigns and initiatives. Bullying in general is a practice that is not okay for any reason. Getting the school's administration involved is often beneficial. My advice would be, however, to do it subtly; you do not want the child to be targeted.

Often, a lot of bullying comes from ignorance. What people do not know/understand, they choose to challenge. It might be helpful for the teachers to try to educate the students in their classes about different eating habits, be it veg'anism or anything else. Unfortunately, there is a stereotyping with veg'anism and the only way to change that, in my opinion, is to educate, educate, educate. In my experience, emphasizing the benefits of an animal-free diet, is often more effective than highlighting the savagism of a diet that includes animals.

I hope that this answer was helpful, and I wish you the best of luck in the situation.

Article by Zan Vania

Photo Credit: cc: flickr.com/photos/smileymanwithahat

Herbivoree Comic Strip: My Hero!

2012-05-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

Natalie Peragine | Artwork
Canada Natalie is currently going to university for her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies. She is a vegan ecofeminist because she loves all animals equally. Natalie creates vegan comics to encourage knowledge sharing through a DIY art medium, co-created a vegan environmental club at her university, writes a vegan blog, and volunteers for a donkey sanctuary.

Personal stories: Why I became a vegetarian

2012-05-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

I kind of hate the reason why I became a vegetarian. I wish I could say that I became a vegetarian because I inherently knew that there was something wrong with eating meat. I would like to claim that I had an epiphany, brought on by deep contemplation and introspection, that a plant-based diet was the more wholesome and health conscious lifestyle. Unfortunately, I owe my vegetarianism to a film.

I am that stereotypical kid who, in her freshman year of high school, watched a film about animal cruelty in the food industry and decided to become a vegetarian as a result. Of course, after becoming a vegetarian, I still had to transcend from being a “bad” vegetarian to a “good” vegetarian.

For the first year or two of my vegetarianism, I ate a ton of processed vegetarian food like fake chicken nuggets and imitation lunch meats. Of course, I was incorporating more fruits and veggies into my diet, but I still was not feeding my body properly. Now, I eat as many whole and fresh legumes as I can get my hands on.

Of course, some processed sugar still finds its way into my mouth and stomach, but, because of my vegetarianism, I've come to appreciate and enjoy natural sugars a whole lot more. My body reminds me daily that becoming a vegetarian was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it's why I am currently easing myself into veganism.

I kind of hate the reason why I'm becoming a vegan too. Surprise, surprise: it was also because of a film. At least I can say I'm consistent. The film in question was Forks Over Knives, a resource I was using for another TDIV article and a movie I had been meaning to watch for some time anyway.

What I learned about the Western diet and our unnecessary (and unhealthy) dependence on animal by-products convinced me that I needed to get milk and eggs out of my system. So far, I've been making small changes—switching to soy milk, neglecting cheese, avoiding omelets.

The only thing that is stopping me from quitting cold turkey is my impending trip to Europe. Being a vegetarian while traveling in Europe is difficult enough; being a vegan would be nearly, if not completely, impossible. Plus, if I'm honest, I do have some last cannolis and croissants with whom I would like to get acquainted before I disown dairy for good.

As with my decision to go vegetarian, my decision to go vegan was not entirely my own. A movie got me. I want to say that I'm going vegan because I looked deep inside my soul and a bright light showed me the divine path to dietary Nirvana. However, if there was any bright light in my “epiphany,” it was from the Netflix logo on my computer screen. I am that girl -- that stereotypical bandwagon girl who makes life -- changing decisions after only an hour and a half of glowing pictures.

So, I won't say that my reasons for going vegetarian and now vegan are ground-breaking or inspiring, because they're not. Still, no matter how inane or insignificant my reason, I became a vegetarian, and I have enjoyed every day, and every food industry based film, since.

Lindsay Geller | Blog | Twitter| Pinterest | LinkedIn
Boston, MA Lindsay is a Writing, Literature, and Publishing and Marketing Communications double major at Emerson College. She originally hails from rural northeastern Pennsylvania where the first day of hunting season merited a day off from school. She has been a vegetarian for over five years and is currently transitioning into veganism. When she isn't writing magazine articles, she writes touching and/or creepy and/or sarcastic fiction which can be found at her blog. She also enjoys making 140 character diary entries comparing her life to a Lifetime movie on her Twitter.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/toasty

TDIV Q&A: Why does our society think it's okay to drink cow's milk?

2012-05-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

I couldn't pinpoint the time humans started drinking cow's milk, but we can assume that it started in the now idealized image of farm culture years ago. It was a product that could be produced in large volumes, unlike say, pig's milk, so it caught on, became profitable and then industrialized.

I think the more important question isn't why it started, but why people bother to continue? Sure milk has calcium, but that's not something we should fixate on. Dairy properties actually inhibit the absorption of calcium, and with alternatives like almond milk that have 50% more calcium available now, there's hardly an excuse not to switch.

Let's take a second to consider what's going into cow's milk these days. It's not that ideal farm culture, with a man in flannel milking the cow he knows by name in a spacious barn. It's a cow that's forced to be constantly pregnant so that it can be constantly milked. It's been fed growth hormones to produce more milk for less dollars, and fed antibiotics so it can survive on the cheapest diet. That's what you're drinking, secondhand antibiotics and hormones.

But even milk in its ideal, natural form isn't good for you. The purpose of cow's milk is to bring a baby calf to a full size cow. Casein, the protein found in cow's milk, reacts with the opiate receptors in the brain, mimicking the effects of drugs like heroin and morphine. It makes you happy, so yes, it's addictive. That's why you crave it. Nature intends this to bind a baby to its mother, not to bind us to the dairy aisle.

Milk exists like this for all mammals, so if you wouldn't drink gorilla's milk, there's no reason to drink cow's milk. So instead consider the alternatives; almond, coconut, soy, hemp, rice, hazelnut or sunflower milk. Really, the options are endless.

Madeline Heising | Blog
Boston, MA Madeline is studying Communications and Public Advocacy at Northeastern University. Going vegan on a whim in 2011 changed her entire lifestyle for the better. Her course of study, health and career intentions now revolve around plant-based living. All it took was one question ‘Why would you care more about what goes on your body than what goes in it?’ When she’s not in classes she works at Teavana and keeps up her own recipe blog. The only thing that makes her happier than talking about food is traveling, but it’s a pretty close tie.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/calliope

Miranda Lambert to headline 5th Annual Cause for the Paws concert

2012-05-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

Miranda Lambert is coming back home to Texas to headline the 5th Annual Cause for the Paws concert, accompanied by Wade Bowen and the Josh Abott Band. The concert will benefit the MuttNation Foundation and take place at Ford Park in Beaumont, Texas on June 22.

Last year the 4th Annual Cause for the Paws concert, also headlined by Miranda, was able to raise $300,000. The cause remains close to Miranda's heart, since she adopted her dog Delilah from the local shelter, who joins her many other rescued animals at home.

MuttNation Foundation's mission is to raise money for organizations that build animal shelters for better care; increase pet adoption and encourage responsible pet guardianship; rehabilitate sick or unsocialized animals; fund spay/neuter programs; reduce/eliminate euthanasia of healthy animals; and train shelter dogs for purposes of therapy programs, assistance for wounded military personnel and dogs-in-prisons programs.

Tickets can be purchased now at the Ford Park Box Office, as well as on www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/ronnie44052

TDIV Q&A: Do vegans make sure their prescription medications are free of animal products?

2012-05-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

Q: Do vegans make sure their prescription medications are free of animal products?

A: Sure! We would all like to answer YES to that question, but it isn’t as simple as that. There are many factors to consider. Is the main ingredient of the prescription derived from an animal? Many, but not all vegans would refuse the drug. Secondary ingredients serve a little harder choice to make. Finding out what is used as filler in your medication has become easier thanks to internet sites like Drugs.com. But, often there are no animal-free alternatives.

The more concerning factor, as a vegan needing prescription medications, is the animal testing; the FDA requires all medication to be tested on animals. Some vegans make sacrifices and avoid medications all together. I personally do the research to find the most vegan friendly option, and often stick to the generic option with the least amount of animal ingredients.

Being a vegan is about living a lifestyle that does not support animal exploitation as much as possible and practicable; it is not about being 100% vegan. Besides- you can’t fight for animal rights if you’re dead!

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/emagineart

Jack Johnson among those honored by National Wildlife Federation

2012-05-23T12:08:00.000-05:00

This week the National Wildlife Federation celebrated ten winners of their National Conservation Achievement Award in Washington, DC. The theme for the night was "Rediscovering the Joys of Nature."

Jack Johnson, as a platinum selling musician, not only brings beautiful music to the ears of his fans, but also awareness to issues that are closest to him. Johnson donated 100 percent of the profits from his Sleep Through the Static and To The Sea tours to charity, and also founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Kokua Festival to support environmental education in Hawaii's communities and schools. His tour profit donations along with his other charitable activities, such as founding the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, have accumulated over $25 million donated to charity since 2011.

Governor Martin O'Malley and Judge Katie O'Malley make a great pair, committing their service to a sustainable and green vision for Maryland citizens. Governor O'Malley signed an executive order to promote outdoor activities and environmental education in 2008, and in 2009 stood behind the Maryland Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. Judge O'Malley promoted the "Grow It Eat It" campaign in collaboration with University of Maryland, planting one of the first backyard food gardens in a U.S. Governor's home.

NWF began sponsoring Nickelodeon's The Big Help social campaign in 1994, when the television network first used its indoor influence to get kids outdoors. The program encourages kids to take real world positive actions affecting their communities, and today those actions ring in at over 6 million. Nickelodeon also partnered with NWF and 50 other partner organizations to sponsor the 8th annual World Wide Day of Play celebration, getting kids across the country excited to go outside and be active.

Conservation leaders have been honored by NWF since 1965 at this annual celebration. "This year's awards winners are rich in inspiration and leadership," said Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "We are proud to recognize them and the contributions they have made to the conservation movement in America." This year's complete list of honorees is:

Jack Johnson for Communications
Nickelodeon for Corporate Leadership
Jim Fowler for Education
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for Government
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and First Lady Katie O'Malley for Legislative
Senator Richard Shelby for Legislative
The Timberland Company for International
Alicia Celorio for Philanthropy
Nimansha Jain for Science
Jack Spadaro for Special Achievment

Photo credit:cc: Josh Rhinehart

Personal stories: Why I went veg

2012-05-23T11:46:00.001-05:00

My road to Veganism and Wellness has been a long and often bumpy one. I was sick a lot as a kid. Early on, my parents figured out that I was allergic to dairy. They spent a lot of time fighting the school lunch ladies, who insisted I wasn't getting enough calcium, as well as fighting me, who really wanted to eat ice cream.

At one point I'm fairly certain they just threw their hands up and said, "To hell with it, she'll figure it out when she's older." Lucky for them, I did. Unlucky for me, it took a severe reaction to antibiotics that caused me to have hives from head to toe for 4 months and years later the untimely death of a family member to give my stubborn butt the kick it needed.

The severe allergic reaction to Amoxicillin happened while I was in high school. It was one the scariest experiences of my life. The end result was months of medical treatment, at one point I was on fifteen different medications and 35 pounds lighter which left me looking too thin.

I lucked out that the allergist I ended up seeing put me on a very strict diet that purged my system of the toxins causing the problem. Call it naivety, but I still somehow managed to miss the connection between the food we put in our bodies and the way we feel. As soon as I recovered I went right back to eating dairy products, processed foods, and well the "normal" crap teenagers eat.

I did make a small change at this point though -- I mostly dropped meat from my diet. (I say mostly, because it wasn't until six years later that I fully stopped eating it.) During the process of adding foods back into my diet, I discovered that meat had been a major contributor to the stomach cramps I experienced growing up. Further research, years later, uncovered that my body doesn't create the enzymes required to breakdown animal products.

Fast forward through college and through my two years spent as a baker for the cafe I helped manage. I weighed nearly 200 pounds, was diagnosed with MS, and was completely miserable with myself. I had however, gone completely vegetarian at this point. Given I was still eating dairy and far too many sweets, at least I had cut out meat and eggs.

In early October of 2005 my dad called to tell me that my cousin Stan had passed away from a heart attack caused by an enlarged heart and years of unhealthy habits. Stan's death was a wake up call. So many in my family, had died from simply not listening to their own bodies, from not taking care of themselves. Too little exercise, too much sugar, too many processed foods, too many fatty foods, too much smoking, too little time spent caring for themselves.

I changed my life. I walked to work, I cut down on my sugar, and a year later I had dropped 35 pounds and felt so much better. Then I met my friend, Matt, and through his help, I kicked the dairy habit. Within a month of not eating dairy, I felt amazing. I didn't have bumps all over my arms from my dairy allergy, I had lost another 10 pounds, I had more energy, I even had headaches less often. This is not to say I haven't had my moments where I slip up and eat something made with dairy once a blue moon, but I know the consequence of the action. Trust me the sinus headache, hives, and stomach pain just aren't worth it.

Though my path has mostly been due to health concerns, over the years the ethics of eating animals has become a factor in my choice. Let's face it folks factory farms are just wrong. The animals are only thought of as a bottom line and not as living creatures. Its disturbing and disgusting.

I have a thought that part of my dairy allergy is linked to the antibiotic usage that is rampant on farms, but I have no real proof of this. I strongly urge my friends, who aren't veg, to know where their meat and dairy and eggs are coming from and how those animals are treated. I also urge them to limit their consumption not only for their health, but also for the sake of the lives being taken for their plates. I try to not be preachy and persuade them through feeding them amazing vegan food instead. It seems to go over better, and many of them have adjusted their eating habits because of it.

Currently, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen perfecting recipes for my blog Season of the Vegan and for my upcoming book.

Ashley Kiefer | Facebook | Blog
Rapid City, SD Ashley is is an artist and avid vegan cook. She grew up playing in her grandmother's kitchen, and has fond memories of the fresh, rich and often decadent treats she made there. For Ashley, going vegan was a long transition prompted by health concerns. She's spent the last six years experimenting with ways to "veganize" the food delights of her childhood. She teaches private cooking classes and runs Season of The Vegan.

Photo credit: Dos Rojas

BP oil spill pollutants found in eggs of pelicans nesting in Minnesota

2012-05-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

Researchers for the Department of Natural Resources have found evidence of petroleum compounds and the chemical used to clean up the 2010 BP oil spill in eggs of pelicans nesting in Minnesota.

Petroleum compounds were present in 90 percent of the first batch of eggs tested. Nearly 80 percent of collected samples contained Corexit, a chemical dispersant used to break up oil spills. Both the petroleum compounds and Corexit are dangerous in small doses, capable of causing cancer, endocrine disruption, and birth defects.

Pelicans generally spend winters in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas, and Cuba, before returning a full year later to begin breeding.

Mark Clark, an ecologist and faculty member of North Dakota State University, explained on Minnesota Public Radio that any contaminant in the bird is bad, especially when the egg is tampered with, "because that's where the developing embryo and chick starts, and when things go wrong at that stage, there's usually no recovery."

The BP spill, similar to an atomic detonation, took its toll on the unfortunate victims in the immediate area, choking them to death on crude oil. Two years later, and for many more years to come, the chemical fallout is taking its toll, negatively impacting millions of innocent lives in drastic ways for generations to come.

Jonathan Reynolds
Jonathan is a freelance writer and blogger residing in upstate New York.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/gcwest

PCRM petitions President Obama to say no to photo ops featuring 'hot dogs and other obesity- and cancer-causing foods'

2012-05-22T12:46:00.001-05:00

We look up to the president and tend to see the leader of the free world as a role model. So should our role models be featured in ads that promote decisions that are toxic to our health? It's probably not a good idea.

If the president were featured in photos smoking cigarettes, most people would be appalled. How should diet be any different, especially when the item being promoted is as toxic to one's health as smoking cigarettes?

Since taking office, President Obama has been photographed in many different situations where he has been seen chowing down on unhealthy foods such as hot dogs, hoagies, and cheeseburgers. Obama is not the first president to blame, however, considering George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have also been guilty of posing for photo ops with unhealthy food choices in hand while they were in office. (Thankfully, Clinton has taken the smart route to improve his health and he is now vegan!)

Vegetarian or not, I think it's safe to say that ads featuring our president eating hot dogs, hamburgers, or other processed meats are not the best choices for America. Wouldn't it be wiser if these photo ops featured Obama eating healthy and beneficial foods rather than those that are toxic?

To present America with a better message, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is asking everyone to sign a petition, which asks the White House to ban photo ops of the president and his following aids eating unhealthy junk foods that increase the risk of cancer, obesity and early mortaily rates.

What the president does behind closed doors is his own personal choice, but to promote better health and overall well-being for our country, better decisions should be made in front of the camera.

PCRM director of nutrition education, Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., explains this further. “The White House would never set up a photo op of a president with a cigarette, so why show him eating foods that cause cancer? Hot dogs, hamburgers, and other unhealthful foods kill more Americans each year than tobacco, and they cost taxpayers billions of dollars in health care," she said. "The president can eat what he likes in private, but at orchestrated public events, our leaders are role models."

Please sign the petition if you care about your health and also the health of others.

Alexandra Beane | Facebook | Twitter
Minnesota Alexandra is a lover of all animals, but has a soft spot for especially dogs and rabbits. She believes that life is not complete without an animal to love. Alexandra is highly passionate about animals and animal rights, and wants to raise awareness of the cruelty that many animals suffer in the best way she knows how, and this is by written word. Alexandra is a recent graduate of Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, with a degree in Professional Writing and a minor in Creative Writing. She absolutely loves to write news and creative nonfiction, and obsesses over spelling and grammar.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/intelphotos

Personal stories: Why I went vegan

2012-05-22T12:10:00.001-05:00

The first time I had ever heard of the term vegetarian was in high school. My senior year, I was on the dance team with a girl that explained she became a vegetarian after she had lived on a farm and her family made her favorite chicken into dinner. After listening to her story, my cousin said that she was going to try vegetarianism; I told myself "if she can then I definitely can," and that started my veggie journey.

I didn't do any research on a veggie lifestyle and I really didn't know anything about healthy eating. I wasn't even aware of factory farming. I just knew that if it had meat on it I wouldn't eat it. My diet soon became filled with fries, cheese pizza and cheeseburgers (literally- I would order a cheeseburger without that patty). My cousin always joked that “We didn’t eat any animals, but we also didn’t eat any vegetables.”

Being active and young I didn’t feel the effects of such an incomplete diet. My family warned me that my diet was not healthy, but I just thought that they were not being supportive of my vegetarianism, and I ignored their warnings.

I continue my vegetarianism throughout my first year of college. My university was not veg-friendly at the time, so I survived on waffles, fries, and cheese pizza. Needless to say, after my freshman year and many hungry nights I fell off the veggie wagon and went back to an omnivore diet.

Fast forward eight years. I had just gotten married and I had been discussing with my husband the possibility of going vegetarian again. I had met many vegetarians and was volunteering at an animal shelter. I had always known that I wanted to give it a try again, it was just a matter of when.

The "when" came one day at work. I was bored and filling my time with web searching. I went to the PETA website and clicked on a video called “Meet your Meat" -- a video that shows behind the scene footage of factory farming. This was the first time I saw what happened to the animals in factory farms and needless to say I was not happy.

After watching the video, I immediately called my husband on the phone and through tears I said “I will never eat animals again." I bought a few vegetarian cookbooks and how-to-guides and instantly made the switch.

Fast forward another two years. I had been a vegetarian for this entire period of time and this time I did it the healthy way. I educated myself about nutrition and began using my vegetarian cookbooks to try new recipes. I had also started educating myself on other areas of animal use in foods, such as the egg and milk production industries, and knew that becoming a vegan was the next logical step for me.

My husband was kind of nervous about my vegan path. When I first became a vegetarian I had attempted to force him to follow my path and when he didn't, it caused conflict. By now though I accepted that everyone has to come to the veg lifestyle at their own pace and as long as he accepted my choice and at least tried to eat veg food, I would accept his choice as well.

Around my two year vegetarian anniversary, I began a two month long internship at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen NY. I was going to be working with farm animals that were destined for someone’s plate. Living a vegan lifestyle is a requirement when working at the farm, and I knew that this would be the perfect time for me to make the switch from vegetarian to vegan.

June, 2009, I made the switch and have never looked back. I cannot say that it has always been easy. There have been times where I wondered if I was making the right choice, or when going back to eating animals would have been the easier thing to do.

I became pregnant after my 1 month vegan anniversary and that also added another challenge to my vegan lifestyle. Dealing with negative things that your friends or family may say, negative portrayals of vegan/vegetarians in the media, and uneducated opinions from your doctor to your spouse to sometimes even yourself can get tough.

Three years later (5 years as a vegetarian) I am so glad that I made the choice to go vegan. I feel better, I lost a lot of unhealthy weight, and I can actually cook and bake tons of vegan goodies. Also my son is now 2 and is being raised vegetarian and my husband finally decided to see the light and become vegetarian as well.

Being a vegan is such a huge part of who I am today. I now have my vegan support system and I continue to educate myself on this lifestyle. I have never once regretted my decision and I know that this will be a lifelong journey that I plan to continue to travel for myself, my CrunchyandHappy followers, and ultimately with my son.

Leolin López | Blog
Illinois Leolin is a vegan, mother, wife, writer, vloger, and a cupcake connoisseur. Leolin became vegetarian in 2007 after watching MeetyourMeat.com and then vegan in 2009 after spending the summer at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, caring for rescued farm animals. Leolin started her blog CrunchyandHappy in January 2011. In her blog she discusses and explores the vegan lifestyle through stories of parenting, beauty, animals, nutrition, and food. She also vlogs on YouTube sharing reviews, hauls, and tutorials of vegan beauty products as well as sharing her experiences as a vegan.

Photo credit: Leolin

No Meat Zone Video Edition: Chia Seed Pudding with Fresh Berries

2012-05-22T08:52:00.000-05:00

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Yes, that's right, these seeds are the same seeds used to sprout on the porous clay figurines called "Chia Pets." Lately, Chia seeds have been all the buzz. An, ancient seed that has regained popularity as the newest health food because of its nutritional value.

I was first introduced to Chia seeds about 6 months ago, and I have since been using them in my green smoothies. I also put some in my water bottle that I tote around with me all day. And, most recently, as a pudding.

This recipe is delicious, satisfying, sweet and easy to prepare. I love eating it for breakfast!

Enjoy!

Patty Malcolm | Website |Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Los Angeles, CA Patty is an actress, artist, vegan, and raw foodist. She became a vegetarian at the age of 14, then eventually a vegan and raw foodist. Patty’s passion for healing and the prevention of disease through a plant-based diet are not only evident in her lifestyle, but is what inspired her to launch Lalaraw.com – her “place” to share her ideas, recipes, and un-cooking videos with the world. Currently, Patty is studying to become a nutritionist, as well as a certified raw food chef. She also practices yoga, rides horses, and enjoys time with her boyfriend and fur babies, Rooster & Junior.

Photo credit: Patty Malcolm

Meat supplier for Tyson Foods charged with abuse

2012-05-22T08:42:00.000-05:00

Tyson Foods, one of the largest meat suppliers on the planet, was forced to cut ties with a Denver-based pork provider after undercover footage taken by the Humane Society revealed deplorable levels of barbaric cruelty.

Tyson misleadingly claimed to have no connection with Wyoming Premium Farms. However, evidence collected by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) eventually pushed Tyson to take accountability, resulting in an announcement from the company that it will temporarily suspend shipments from the pig farm while conducting an investigation.

Whether Tyson's investigation will uncover and correct the horrors documented by the HSUS is yet to be determined. For those unwilling/unable to watch the HSUS video, such horrors include:

Farm workers riding on top of pigs
Farm workers beating pigs with clubs
Farm workers stomping/kicking pigs
Farm workers lifting piglets by the ear, tossing them
Farm workers slamming pigs with metal doors
Neglected pigs with blisters, sores, and broken limbs
Pregnant pigs (sows) confined/immobilized for life (gestation crates)

These types of incidents are unfortunately very common in the world of industrial agriculture. For example, in June 2011, Mercy for Animals uncovered hellish conditions at Iowa Select Farms, the largest farm in the state. The investigation found not only gestation crates in use, but piglets being carelessly thrown around, many of which were laying on the ground with untreated, open sores. One year prior, in 2010, the Humane Society released a video depicting cruelty at a farm owned by Smithfield, a major pork supplier. That investigation also found sows in gestation crates, along with injured/sick pigs left to die without treatment.

Many states are considering laws -- or have already passed them -- which make it a crime to take an entry-level job at a farm with the intent of documenting animal welfare abuses. Such legislation has (perhaps unsurprisingly) been heavily backed by the meat industry. In the age of internet, where information travels like a swift fire on brush, keeping a lid on animal welfare issues has apparently become a priority worth investment to the meat industry, which seems to find cruelty more profitable than exposure and correction. When animals are viewed as trivial products -- mere cogs in a giant machine -- is it really so surprising that this kind of blatant abuse is so widespread?

Jonathan Reynolds
Jonathan is a freelance writer and blogger residing in upstate New York.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/austinfoodbank

Get scruffy for a cause: Animals Asia joins forces with Hendrick Boards to promote 'Beards for Bears' initiative

2012-05-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

Gentlemen, ever needed an excuse to get a little hairy? Look no further: Beards for Bears, a collaborative initiative between animal welfare nonprofit Animals Asia and skateboarding company Hendrick Boards, encourages men to get scruffy for a cause.

Moon bears, also known as Asian black bears, are an endangered species that are prized for the purported medicinal properties of their bile. These docile and intelligent animals are trapped and kept in small cages for up to 30 years, so that their bile can be harvested through needles, catheters and other painful procedures. Although several herbal and synthetic alternatives to the bile exist, this cruel practice continues to exist across multiple Asian countries.

Animals Asia rescues these bears and relocates them to reserves, where they are able to live out the rest of their lives in safe, spacious refuges. However, awareness of this practice remains low and Animals Asia has devised a way for people to take action. At BeardsForBears.org, participants can register pictures of their beard growth and chart their progress through to the end of June, as well as garner support and donations through their success. Girls can participate as ambassadors, calling their boyfriends, brothers, and friends to action.

Hendrick Boards, an eco-friendly US-based skateboard company, has partnered with Animals Asia to produce t-shirts to advertise the campaign. “I’m hairy because I care” is emblazoned across the front, and $5 from each purchase contributes directly to charity efforts. So throw your razors in the trash for the month, and bear your beard with pride!

Danielle Snow | Facebook | blog
Chicago, IL Danielle is an avid eater who, after switching to vegetarianism, discovered a renewed passion for food in all its fascinating varieties. Currently living and studying in Chicago, she hopes to devote her life to travel, learning, and having haphazard adventures that she can write about afterward.

Photo credit: Animals Asia

Carrie Underwood to discuss vegan lifestyle on 'Oprah's Next Chapter'

2012-05-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

Country superstar Carrie Underwood will be Oprah's guest on "Oprah's Next Chapter" today where she discusses her vegan diet and how it has improved her life. The show will air on Sunday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Watch the sneak peek:

Carrie Underwood on Being Vegan

Country singer and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is a vegan. Watch as she talks to Oprah about her diet, who handles the cooking in her house and why she might give in to a little cornbread now and then.

Watch Oprah's full interview with Carrie Underwood and her husband, Mike Fisher, on Oprah's Next Chapter Sunday, May 20, at 9/8c.

Daelyn Fortney | Facebook |@daelyn | email
Greenville, SC Daelyn is the co-founder and managing director of This Dish Is Veg. She handles the daily operations of the site including advertising, story idea generation, and website promotion as well as managing the volunteer contributors. Along with her work at TDIV, Daelyn is an editor for a gift-giving website and mother of three daughters.

Photo credit: Oprah Winfrey with Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher in Nashville, Tennessee 2012 Harpo Inc./George Burns

Organix brand body products forgot to actually add organic ingredients

2012-05-18T13:16:00.001-05:00

You have probably seen the fetching, minimalist bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion products by the name “Organix” (http://www.organixhair.com/) at your local CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target or Duane Reade. This affordable hair care brand looks chic, smells nice, and is apparently all-natural… but what does that really mean?

Natural isn’t the same as organic. In fact, it’s been reported that Organix brand uses hardly any organic ingredients at all.

In their blog “Generation Green”, the Center for Environmental Health (http://www.ceh.org/) recently exposed Organix’s supposed follies: lying about using organic ingredients, duping the public into thinking they are supporting the organic movement by purchasing their products, and even using potentially harmful additives instead of real organic ingredients.

Read Generation Green’s full article on Organix fraud (http://generationgreen.org/2012/05/organic-by-any-other-name-smells/) to learn more about this company’s apparent misuse of organic marketing. If you have purchased Organix products and want to learn more about a class action lawsuit by CEH attorneys, you can contact CEH at Charles@ceh.org.

When shopping for animal-free, cruelty-free, natural beauty products, we want to feel good about purchasing something that really is what it says it is. Organix does not claim to be vegan, but it does present itself as an organic brand that makes it stand out on the shelves as the more environmentally-friendly option. If this is simply a marketing strategy, and not the truth, consumers need to be aware of what they are buying and supporting.

Check out TDIV’s guide to purchasing animal and earth-friendly beauty products on a budget (http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2012/04/how-to-avoid-vegan-guilt-guide-to.html) to make sure you are supporting the right companies.

Rachel Fryer | Email
Maryland A lifelong vegetarian and animal lover, Rachel Fryer enjoys writing, traveling, eating spicy food, drinking coconut water, reading historical fiction and sweating (she is also a Bikram yoga teacher). Rachel is excited to attend grad school for her Masters in English in Fall 2012 and to adopt a shelter dog in the near future.

Photo credit: USDA/TDIV

No Meat Zone Video Edition: 'Cheezy' Cashew Alfredo with Zucchini Noodles

2012-05-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

I recently posted a photo of what I made for dinner on my personal Facebook page. I was surprised by how many responses I received from people asking for the recipe. So I made a "how-to" video in response.

This is an amazing delicious and filling vegan, raw dish.

Enjoy!

Photo credit: TDIV

Vegan 'Lost' star Jorge Garcia now on Twitter

2012-05-18T08:54:00.000-05:00

Best known as Hurley from the hit T.V. show Lost, Jorge Garcia made the decision to go vegan almost a year ago.

Up until now, if you tried to find Garcia online, you would get, well...lost. Jorge hasn't had any social media outlets up until now.

As of May 15, Garcia has been on twitter starting out with a tweet of "Let the experiment begin...", followed up the next day with a tweet that said, "I'm already nervous about this."

Garcia has a blog in which he wrote a post on how he made his own almond milk! Cleverly titled "Further Dispatches," Garcia publishes photos and writes about his career happenings, travels, and the vegan foods he loves.

Follow Jorge on Twitter.

Laeticia Butler | @Vegwritingmomma | Facebook | Blog Baltimore, MD After suffering with health issues for two years, Laeticia became a vegan and was able to go from barely walking to running half marathons. She became well aware of the cruelty to animals through research during her life change. In doing so, Laeticia discovered a newfound love and respect for animals and works hard to teach her son why we don't eat them. She is currently training for her first marathon. One of Laeticia's goals as a writer and blogger is to help motivate others to living a healthier lifestyle through a healthy diet and fitness.

Photo credit: Twitter Screen Capture

Vegetarian dog food included in Diamond's latest recall

2012-05-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

Consumers concerns continue to grow as more brands of pet food produced by Diamond Pet Foods are linked to possible Salmonella contamination.

Many pet food purchasers may not have been aware that Diamond Pet Foods, who issued a recall for dry dog foods under the “Diamond” name, serves as a co-distributor for other natural and vegetarian pet foods. Last week, the recall expanded to a total of 14 brands for possible contamination sourced from a Diamond owned plant in South Carolina.

In early April, Diamond Pet Foods issued its initial “voluntary recall” as a “precaution” to its consumers and their pets. The pet food company with the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration began an investigation, linking illnesses to multiple brands of pet foods produced by Diamond Pet Foods.
Typically, foods associated with Salmonella are eggs, milk and meat.

News of the expanded recall may be concerning to pet owners who feed their dogs vegetarian brands.

On May 4, Natural Balance Pet Foods was contacted by their co-manufacturer Diamond Pet Foods to recall certain products, including its vegetarian dog food. Although none of the products tested positive for Salmonella, products were pulled from the shelves as a “precautionary measure,” according to Natural Balance.

Currently, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 15 people in nine states and one person in Canada have been infected with Salmonella Infantis. People may have been infected after handling contaminated dry, pet food. These cases of Salmonella linked to the Diamond pet food brands were reported between October 8, 2011 and April 16, 2012. More illnesses may have yet to be reported.

Through clinical signs of illness, four cases of Salmonella in dogs have been linked to the outbreak, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

“Consumer complaints for animal cases are continually being evaluated for follow-up pet food testing and animal testing. However, in many cases, Salmonella infection cannot be confirmed by laboratory testing," said Gloria Sanchez, Bilingual Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Gastrointestinal signs and exposure to recalled pet foods provides supportive evidence of infection."

Our calls to Diamond Pet Foods for a response were not returned.

DogFoodAdvisor reports a total of 14 brands are affected by the recall, which include: 4Health, Apex, Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Kirkland Signature, Natural Balance, Premium Edge, Profession, Solid Gold, Taste of the Wild and Wellness.

Consumers are encouraged to check their pet food bags and discard the remaining product.

Symptoms of Salmonella exposure in pets include low energy, decreased appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Infected pets can pass the illness onto humans and other animals. If you believe your pet has suffered any of these symptoms have consuming a brand listed on the recall, please contact your veterinarian.

If you believe you became ill after handling contaminated pet food or come in contact with an infected animal, please consult your health care provider.

A complete, up-to-date list of a recalled products can be found on DogFoodAdvisor.com. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/diamond-dog-food-recall-summary/

Kaitlyn Munro | Tumblr |Facebook | @kaitmunro
Buffalo, New York Kaitlyn is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and minor in Women’s Studies. She worked as a barista at a vegan café before landing a job as assignment editor for a TV news station in Buffalo, New York. She's trying to be a “runner" and just signed up to run her first half-marathon in May. Also, she loves food - especially vegan cupcakes.

Photo credit: TDIV