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

Warm weather tips for the compassionate pet guardian

2013-05-21T08:07:00.000-05:00

Each spring, the arrival of longer, warmer days after so many bone-chilling weeks of winter makes us humans rejoice. But for our companion animals, spring and summer are too often a time for suffering, not celebrating. Here are a few reminders for helping your dog and cat enjoy beach weather as much as you do:

Keep critters off of Fluffy and Fido. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos love the warm weather too. But their bites can be not merely annoying, but actually life threatening to your pets. (Mosquitos spread heart worm, for example). Talk to your veterinarian about treatment options; both chemical and natural solutions are plentiful.

Watch where you walk. Yes, it’s great to get outside and give your dog (and yourself) some healthy exercise. Unfortunately, it’s still common for lawns to be sprayed with toxic substances (this includes residential lawns as well as those in public spaces), so steer clean when the grass looks a little too green. You don’t want your pooch to pick up poisons on his paws—which he’ll either lick off or track all over your house, neither of which is a safe scenario.

Shave and a haircut? Think twice. Pets are supposed to be furry, so shaving is not a good idea. (Fur helps regulate animals’ body temperature in both hot and cold weather, and it protects them from sunburn.) On the other hand, you should help your pet shed that heavy winter coat. So do some heavy-duty brushing to rid your furry friend of all that excess fluff.

Poolside pleasures. If you have a yard and can safely let your dog outside, lucky you! Just make sure that there’s a shady spot for resting and plenty of fresh water for drinking, since your pup can get just as parched as you can. Many dogs enjoy and can benefit from the cooling effect of a sprinkler or kiddie pool, so provide these too if you’re able. (Very short-haired dogs may develop skin cancer, so check with your vet about using dog-friendly sun protection. Do not assume a sunscreen designed for humans will work, as it may contain ingredients toxic to animals.)

Parked car = Doggie deathtrap. Sure, you’ve heard it before, but I bet you’re still tempted to crack the window and leave your four-legged baby in the car for “just a minute” while you bump to get that iced latte. Don’t do it! Those lines at the coffee shop can be painfully slow, and you might run into someone you know and begin chatting. And soon that minute has turned into ten or twenty, which is enough time for the temperature inside your parked car to reach well over 100°, even on a relatively mild day. No latte in the world is worth losing your pet from heatstroke, is it?

A little vacation planning goes a long way. If your pets like traveling and can be accommodated on your vacation, consider taking them along! (There are more and more pet-friendly hotels these days.) But if your feline or canine won’t be joining you, make sure your time apart brings them delight, not distress. Whether you use a pet sitter or a boarding kennel, get plenty of references and never leave your baby anywhere you haven’t visited in person. The best sitters and kennels offer play, exercise, and affection, not just room and board, so keep looking until you find what your pet needs and deserves.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your treasured tabby or terrier savors the sunny months as much ahead.

Elizabeth Gordon | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Website
Massachusetts Elizabeth is a writer, educator, and vegan advocate. She lives on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border with her husband and their quirky animal companions: a dog, two cats, and four fish (all rescues). An avid plant-based cook, she's proud to have finally perfected vegan versions of foods from her dual heritage—meatloaf, mac and cheese, and bacon from her Southern side, as well as potstickers, summer rolls, and wonton soup from her Asian side. (Plus she makes a drool-worthy buffalo wing pizza.) Elizabeth is the creator of the website MassVegan.org and founder of Vegans of North Central Mass.

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

Product Review: Lisa's Organics Frozen Vegetables

2013-05-21T07:52:00.002-05:00

As vegans, it can be tough to find frozen vegetables that include sauces or additional flavoring. While we vegans love our vegetables, sometimes we like to spice them up and play around with sauces. Now and then, we want our side dishes to be a little more exciting and it’s nice when we don’t have to go the extra mile ourselves.

With Lisa’s Organics frozen vegetable side dishes, this is made possible. For $3.49 per bag, busy people like myself can get a quick but delicious meal on the table in five minutes. While I prefer to serve my frozen vegetables with a main dish, these vegetables also make a great addition to a vegetable wrap or can be used in fajitas or risotto. You can also add them to pasta, salsa, or whatever else sounds delicious. The possibilities are endless. Plus, each bag of vegetables is recyclable.

Vegans can choose from three different varieties of Lisa’s Organics frozen vegetables, and all are sold in more than 300 retailers nationwide. Choose from Southwest Vegetables in Ranchero Sauce, Whole Green Beans in Garlic Olive Oil Sauce, and California Vegetables in Balsamic Glaze. The Green Beans in Garlic Olive Oil Sauce are also gluten-free.

Lisa Organic’s cares and you can feel great about buying their products. In 2012, Lisa’s Organics created Garden to Hospitals, a program dedicated to teaching kids about the importance of healthy eating. All Lisa’s Organics products contain certified organic vegetables and are grown in rich, protected solids in the United States and Canada.

For more information on Lisa’s Organics or to find out where you can buy your bag of delicious frozen vegetables, please visit http://www.lisasorganics.com/.

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: Lisa's Organics

Vegan grub crawl part three-Atlanta

2013-05-16T08:31:00.003-05:00

Our last stop on our Atlanta Vegan Grub Crawl was Healthful Essence, a Caribbean vegan/vegetarian restaurant, featuring Jamaican specialties. As we walked through the door we were greeted by reggae music and the smell of incense and spicy things. They have a rotating menu of raw as well as cooked dishes to choose from.

The specials are written on the black board but they will gladly walk you down the line of today's selections, lifting steamy lids offering you a peek of what is inside. We built our own sampler platter (pick three from the menu) with Macaroni UnCheese, Jerk UnChicken and Sweet Potato Corn Bread. The plate was then garnished with a few fried sweet plantains to further tease your appetite.

The Jerk UnChicken was shredded and piled high on the plate. It was smoky, sultry and spicy, introducing complex heat before you finished the first bite. Its developed flavor went well beyond anything I have ever tasted, vegan or otherwise. It was spicy in that way that makes you continue to eat just one more bite in an effort to put out the fire. But it never ends and it just leaves you wanting, needing more. It was addictive and I still think about it.

The macaroni looked unlike any mac I had ever had. It was peppered with diced celery and red peppers which made it divine. The sauce was creamy, robust and exactly what I needed to tame the heat from the Jerk UnChicken. Don't order the jerk dish without I if you want to be kind to yourself. Paired with a bonafide slab of sweet potato corn bread....we left in agony even though we shared one plate. The portions were generous and the food blew my mind. Thank goodness we hadn't gone there first. I may not have left.

Sherry Duquet | Facebook
Sherry is on a mission to inspire others to join in her journey to change the world, one meal at a time. As a long time vegetarian and vegan newbie, Sherry launched a compassionate living blog Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe where she welcomes meat-a-tarians, vegans and anyone interested in creating change with their choices and voices.

Photo credit: Sherry

Where not to travel as a vegan

2013-05-16T08:19:00.000-05:00

If you’re like my husband and me, you want a no-fuss vacation where you can simply relax on the beach and not worry about a thing. However, this has become much more difficult since becoming vegan, and it shouldn’t be!

My husband and I chose an all-inclusive Puerto Vallarta beach resort in Mexico for our spring vacation, and instead of the no-fuss, no-stress we were expecting; we realized that our problems were far more complicated than staying somewhere outside of the all-inclusive and exploring local restaurants on our own. We would have actually been much safer staying outside of a resort and not wasting all of our money on the resort’s food (or lack of, I should say).

When we were looking into all-inclusive resorts, we were a bit skeptical that there may not be enough vegan food options for us to eat. Because of our concern, I had contacted the resort via email and explained our situation. They kindly sent over their vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus for us to review. Since it looked like the resort had so many options, we booked our trip and were relieved that we could stay on the resort and wouldn’t have to venture off. We felt much more comfortable staying at the resort and not having to leave for anything.

When we arrived at the resort, we learned that the resort had only two sit-down restaurants for dinner, and everything else was a buffet. So, basically all of our meals would consist of buffets for five days. Since we arrived late the first night, we missed the sit down dinners and had to eat at the buffet. This was our first disappointment, only an hour after arriving.

The next disappointment came when breakfast arrived and we had to eat at another buffet for breakfast, and again at lunch. Breakfast consisted of fruit and a hash brown potato and lunch was French fries and tortilla chips and salsa. Thankfully, we were able to make dinner reservations for our second and third night. We were able to eat vegetable fajitas one night and vegan basil pesto spaghetti the other—both vegan! We were very pleased, but it was a hassle even getting those.

"Caprese Salad"- the vegan version was just 4 tomatoes

It turned out that none of the vegetarian options that had been emailed to me previously were even served at the resort—we were not sure if the menu had recently changed or what the deal was, but the only vegan options were the ones that we had to modify and make sure that they were actually vegan. The servers seemed annoyed that we were asking questions and it didn’t help that they didn’t speak any English, and we knew very little Spanish.

Thankfully, we were able to have two meals during our five-day vacation (four nights, five days), or we would have felt far more terrible than we did. As vegans who are always snacking, we were not used to surviving off of simply fruit for breakfast, raw vegetables, salads, French fries or baked potatoes, and chips and salsa for five consecutive days! We wanted our rice and beans, which you would expect for a Mexican resort! We were so wrong.

Since our last night was on Cinco De Mayo, the resort had a larger Mexican buffet but there were still no beans (or none that looked safe enough to eat, anyway). However, we were finally able to find tortillas so we could put roasted vegetables in them with guacamole. This felt like a lifesaver. We were so hungry and we were so disappointed that we paid for an all-inclusive when it felt like we barely ate anything at all.

Vegetable Fajitas

In conclusion, we learned our lesson to not stay at an all-inclusive resort again. We won’t risk it again, and plus, it was a bit uncomfortable taking food from a buffet that mostly contains non-vegan or non-vegetarian items. It really took a lot away from our vacation experience and we highly recommend that vegans do not stay at an all-inclusive, unless of course, it’s a vegan all-inclusive, or you know for a fact that the resort is vegan-friendly.

We were wise enough to bring a carton of shelf-stable rice milk and some granola bars and crackers with us so we could snack on them during the day. I am sad to report that our best meal was at the Phoenix, Arizona airport on the way home when we were finally able to get our vegetarian bean and rice burrito! After eating the burrito, we felt absolutely revived. It’s amazing how great beans and grains can make a person feel.

On our next vacation, we plan to explore one of the many vegan-friendly cities in the United States, and we plan to eat a lot.

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

Vegan grub crawl part deux-Atlanta

2013-05-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

This is the continuation of my vegan grub crawl across the city of Atlanta. When we left off, I had just been to an all vegan bakery and deli. Next stop, mind eracing doughnuts.

After we left Dough Bakery and Gutenfleischers we drove east toward Decatur, Georgia, home of Revolution Doughnuts. They are a small batch doughnut shop featuring organic coffee and the most voluptuous doughnuts I have ever seen. They come in yeast style, filled, baked cake and cake style. Standing in front of the case felt like standing in a Tiffany & Co with a Black Amex. I felt limitless and effervescent. Each doughnut had its own sign, the vegans marked with a V for easy spotting.

The day we visited there were at least fifteen flavors to choose from, most of them vegan. Round puffy pillows infused with tart lemon curd and dusted with coarse sugar. Dark chocolate enrobed cakes the size of nautical life rings.

We ordered several to go because we were both still so full from Gutenfleischers and Dough Bakery. Sandy went to the ladies room and when she returned she caught me with cheeks the size of a very active squirrel and coarse sugar all over my mouth. "I thought we were waiting," was all she said. "We were," I replied with unwarranted pride. What happened was as I sitting there waiting for her I realized that it would be much more authentic if I photographed the doughnuts while we were still in the shop. So, I hoisted one out of the bag and set it down on the table. As I snapped a few shots it occurred to me that the photo would look tastier if you could see the lemon curd captured inside, so I broke open the doughnut. That was it. I had half of it in my mouth before she returned.

I am finding it difficult to verbally elevate these vegan doughnuts to the place they have wedged inside my heart. They were outstanding and I shall never forget them. I bought a t-shirt and have worn it twice.

One bite and it is abundantly clear, they have been baked with care in ovens of love. If you find yourself within 300 miles of Decatur, Georgia, stop by Revolution Doughnuts and just give in as your better judgement escapes your body leaving you powerless. Don't fight it...just bite it.

Photo credit: Sherry

Bill Gates new website promotes plant-based options

2013-05-14T08:15:00.001-05:00

Bill Gates just gets smarter and smarter. This time, he is thinking about the future of food and encourages people to try eating plant-based.

Bill Gates cares about the world and the environment and he wants people to know that there are plenty of healthy and great-tasting foods that don’t require the large amount of resources that animal products require. You can see for yourself at his new website that promotes the Future of Food.

On the website, Gates talks about how meat consumption has doubled in the last 20 years, and is expected to double again by 2050. He stresses that we cannot produce enough meat to feed 9 billion people, so people should start trying plant-based options for the sake of the environment.

Gates mentions the healthy and delicious plant-based alternatives that are out there and how much he enjoys them. On the website, he wrote that they “taste just like eggs, chicken, and other sources of protein.” He said that he “couldn’t tell the difference” between the Beyond Meat brand chicken alternative, or the Beyond Eggs Hampton Creek egg substitute. He also mentions the health benefits and how the plant-based eggs do not contain the high cholesterol of real eggs.

The website also features several videos so viewers can learn the science behind plant-based proteins. Videos feature “The Science Behind Plant-Based Proteins,” “Reinventing Food,” “Remaking Meat,” “Egging On An Industry,” and “Solving For Sodium.”

“If we shift our thinking about what we eat, and how it gets to our plates, we’ll be more open to the food innovations that are out there,”explained Gates.

Hopefully others will follow Gates’ message. After all, we tend to grow up thinking we are supposed to eat animals instead of thinking about the other options. We don’t stop to think about how food gets on our plates.

To learn about the future of food, please visit http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Features/Future-of-Food.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/dfid/5093737688 Department for International Development/Russell Watkins

The top ten workout songs for May

2013-05-13T08:45:00.004-05:00

This month's top 10 highlights the return of several workout favorites. Daft Punk released their new material since the Tron: Legacy soundtrack. The Jonas Brothers and Avril Lavigne offered previews from their upcoming albums.

Lastly, Paramore—whose future was uncertain after two founding members left the band—topped the Billboard chart for the first time in their career.

Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred--the web's most popular workout music blog.

Ash - Arcadia - 151 BPM
Krewella - Alive - 128 BPM

The Band Perry - Done - 102 BPM

Daft Punk & Pharrell - Get Lucky - 116 BPM

Alex Gaudino & Mario - Beautiful - 128 BPM

Jonas Brothers - Pom Poms - 148 BPM

Will.I.Am & Justin Bieber - #thatPOWER - 129 BPM

Avril Lavigne - Here's to Never Growing Up - 83 BPM

Paramore - Still into You - 137 BPM

Carly Rae Jepsen - Tonight I'm Getting over You - 126 BPM

To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.

Posted by Chris Lawhorn from RunHundred.com.

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

Vegan grub crawl-Atlanta

2013-05-13T08:37:00.001-05:00

I love sharing about vegan travel because before I went vegan, I believed that traveling as one would be a challenge. Over the past few years I have come to realize that isn't the case at all. With a bit of planning, it is just as easy to find a compassionate meal while on the road. This will also make it easier to find the most unique places in the area you are visiting, which is always more delicious.

Recently while visiting family in Atlanta, my partner and I decided to go on a self created, self proclaimed vegan grub crawl. We were on our way to a natural history museum in an area that we were only somewhat familiar. I did a HappyCow search for a vegan lunch spot so we would know where to go when we were ready to dine. Nothing worse than searching for vegan edibles when you are famished.

The list of vegan friendly and exclusively vegan places blew my mind. I clicked on menus, made a list of addresses and announced,"We are going on a vegan grub crawl, the heck with the museum." We hopped in the KIA with a credit card, the camera and an appetite for adventure. I felt like the female, kinder, vegan version of Anthony Bourdain. It was an absolute ball. I could do this for a living but it would require much larger clothes and a generous travel sponsor.

We had four different dining experiences in only three destinations because two of the places we wanted to try were in the same building. Bonus. Throughout the week, I will share all four with you in the order that we experienced them, starting with today's post from Dough Bakery and Guteinfleishers Vegan Deli. Now, if you find yourself in the Atlanta area you will have a few new places to check out.

Dough Bakery and Gutenfleischers share the same building. Both are vegan which makes decision making a welcome challenge. As you walk in. you are welcomed by the Dough bakery case which is adorned with familiar favorites like sticky buns and cinnamon rolls.

There are also epicurean offerings such as Grapefruit Ginger scones and German Chocolate brownies. They also have steaming mugs of coffee and soft serve ice cream cones. My mind raced as I began to order. "I'll have this for here, two of these to go..." I realized I was on joy and desire overload and had to reel it in, so I walked away to order my sandwich.

Gutenfleischers is the next counter over. They offer soup, sandwiches and deli salads. You may also purchase their meats and salads by the pound to enjoy at your leisure. The day we visited, their special was a Southern icon, the Pimento Cheese sandwich. I ordered mine with tempeh bacon, banana peppers, pickles and lettuce. Sandy ordered the Cajun slices with mozzarella cheese, spicy brown mustard, mayo and all the veg fixins. Both sandwiches arrived on the freshest oat bread with dill pickle spears.

I savored my sandwich like it was my very last meal. I had mistakenly given Sandy a half of my sandwich in a well meaning trade for half of hers. I made her trade it back. It was so outstanding. It was spicy, creamy and salty. The veggies were crisp and the spread was divine.

As I was polishing off my entire sandwich, I realized that I had broken the cardinal rule of grub crawling...never, ever finish anything you order. Taste and move on with a buxom doggie bag. Too late.

I left with a belly ache and two more destinations to go.

Grub crawling is so fun. In part deux and three I will tell you about two more Atlanta veg destinations, Revolution Doughnuts and Healthful Essence. They are worth the wait and your own visit.

Photo credit: Sherry

Hip Apotheca launches new vegan category

2013-05-13T08:14:00.001-05:00

It can sometimes be tough to find the vegan beauty products you are looking for, but it’s certainly possible. When companies hear that their shoppers are looking for cruelty-free, vegan products, they do listen. Thankfully, the natural and organic beauty retailer Hip Apotheca has recently launched a new vegan category which features over 200 cruelty-free skin, body, nail, and makeup products that are also suitable for vegans. Hip Apotheca has always sold products that are free of animal testing, but now they have extended their line to attract vegans as well.

Vegans know that if someone isn’t meant to be eaten, it shouldn’t be worn either, and this also goes for beauty products. Now that Hip Apotheca has launched a new vegan category, finding the perfect vegan beauty products will never again be a struggle. The line features brands such as One Love Organics, Yarok Organic Hair Products, skinnyskinny, John Masters Organics, LippyGirl Makeup, Scotch Naturals, Alima Pure, and mbeze. With the vegan population on the rise, companies are smart to include vegan products in their stores.

As if we are not already excited about Hip Apotheca’s expanded vegan product category, we are even more excited that so many options are available so that we can purchase everything we need right there on their online beauty retail site. Vegans no longer have to surf the web and purchase items from numerous websites, since Hip Apotheca carries everything from haircare, to bath and body, to cosmetics, skincare, and nails.

The online store even features products for men as well as fragrances and gift packages. This could certainly make things easier for non-vegan family and friends who are questioning what to buy the vegan in their life.

Be sure to check out Hip Apotheca’s vegan products and support a company that truly cares about its consumers, as well as the world as a whole.

Photo credit: Hip Apotheca

Remembering a Vegan Warrior

2013-05-01T12:35:00.001-05:00

In loving remembrance of a beautiful soul who has left this earth to continue his journey in another form...

Bud Burdick passed on Saturday, April 27th surrounded by family and friends in his Brooklyn home, after a bravely fought 10 month battle against Leukemia.

The first time I met Bud we were at a vegan potluck garden party at a backyard in NYC. I think we were both new to the city at the time, and so we each met many new faces that day. But his face lit up when we realized we were both from upstate NY, and we quickly shared our 'how did you become vegan?' stories, and bonded immediately. I will never forget the impression he made on me that very first day. Within 10 minutes of talking, I learned that this athletic, charismatic guy from Rochester was so much more than just another face. He was full of love, light, compassion and a beautiful energy that felt so inspiring to be around. I will remember his smile; a smile that radiated through IV lines and hospital walls. A smile that emanated pure joy. A smile that taught me deeper levels of compassion, acceptance, gratitude and love.

His friends and family have asked that anyone who knows Bud share a 'What Would Bud Do' story, in loving tribute to him. For me, this is a simple question to answer:

What would Bud do? He would show up everywhere with a smile of pure joy. He would find the good in every situation. He would bring light and love wherever he was. While battling leukemia, he would walk the hospital corridors, using them as a track to stay active. Then when he was isolated to his room due to precautions to protect his compromised immune system, he would do pull ups from the shower rod, bedside Bakasanas with an IV line attached, and keep an ever present smile through it all, even taking the time to post self portrait photos of his hospital workout routine on FB to inspire others. He called it the Roosevelt Hotel, and his room was his gym. When I would go visit him, he would compliment me on my hair, as his hair was falling out. When I left NYC, he would text me from his hospital bed to see how I was settling in to my new home in Miami. At a time when most people would be the epitome of selfish, he remained selfless and giving. That's what Bud would do.

It's very difficult to come to terms with the fact that a soul as beautiful as Bud's had such a limited time on this earth. He had so much more to teach, to give, and to inspire. In tribute to him and his legacy, Bud's family and friends are asking that all who can, will support Bud's favorite cause and go Vegan for the month of May. This will be an annual event in honor of Bud Burdick. In this vein, his legacy and his lessons will continue to live.

Please take the 6 minutes out of your day to watch this tribute to Bud it in its entirety. Let his love, compassion and his amazingly positive energy fuel your day, and your life, with kindness and gratitude...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06pZaF5ULBI

Even when the teacher is gone, the lessons live on....Thank you for lessons Bud Burdick. Rest in peace my friend. The world is a better place for the brief time you spent here with us.

Lori Zito | @LoriZito
Lori is an animal-loving, life-loving vegan who is passionate about spreading the message of better health through a vegan diet. She works as a certified holistic health and nutrition coach, a yoga instructor, and a physical therapist. Learn more at her website Live In The Balance and follow her on Facebook.

The Gentle Chef Cookbook is an experiment in veganizing

2013-04-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

If you are the type of person who eschews meat or dairy analogues on principle or has a distaste for them, the The Gentle Chef Cookbook, by Skye Michael Conroy, isn’t for you. But if you, like many of us, love to veganize the meals you grew up with, this may be just what the book you’re looking for!

The focus of The Gentle Chef Cookbook is solidly on faux meat and dairy products. Fifty pages are dedicated to different seitan-based ‘meats’ alone. Other chapters cover soy meats and dairy substitutes. Combined, these analogue recipes account for about 1/3 of the book, and many recipes in the subsequent chapters incorporate them, for example the Seitan Asada Tacos (which uses one of the seitan recipes) or Creme of Mushroom Soup (which incorporates both the butter and the heavy cream substitutes).

As a reformed dairy addict without the patience for labor-intensive vegan cheese-making, I was especially interested to try The Gentle Chef’s reputedly easy cheese recipes.

The cashew-based Creme Cheese was simple, quick, and fairly convincing. The texture was wonderful, though it did have a touch of nutty flavor.

The Fresh Nut Mozzarella uses agar to form a firm block of cheese. While it’s not meant to melt and stretch, it captures the mouth-feel of cheese well. I found it a little flavorless, but sliced with tomato and basil, it made a wonderful vegan caprese appetizer.

If you’re not interested in making your own dairy or meat substitutes but still do use them, you’ll find much to enjoy in this latter part of the book, since the recipes can generally be made with store-bought substitutes as well.

While there are many international recipes, I appreciated that the book covers a great deal of traditional American fare, from Yankee Pot Roast to Chesapeake Bay Seafood Cakes. Party favorites like Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip or Macaroni Picnic Salad get a thoroughly vegan makeover.

The Gentle Chef Cookbook is a fun experiment in veganizing traditionally non-vegan foods. Was the experiment successful? I say yes!

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 credits: The Gentle Chef /Kasey

Why being vegan rocks

2013-04-26T09:21:00.002-05:00

Being vegan rocks. Not just because I can feel great about everything that ends up on my plate, but because I have never enjoyed food as much as I do now. Maybe that goes along with feeling good about what I am eating and knowing that I am eating compassionately at all times, but going vegan was the best decision of my life, right there with marrying my husband.

When I first went vegetarian, I did it for the animals. When I went vegan, I actually did it more with my own health in mind, rather than the animals. When I started to learn more about the horrors of the dairy industry, my own health slid to the side and I realized that I would be vegan for the rest of my life—not for myself, but for the animals. Whether I liked it or not, I pledged to stay vegan. It just so happened that I loved being vegan from the start, and have never felt a single regret. My only regret goes back to when I wasn’t vegan and how I wish I had gone vegan sooner.

There are so many reasons why being vegan rocks. The first reason is that vegans are doing their best to reduce pain and suffering in the world. It is something that you can feel good about on a daily basis, with every single piece of food that you put in your mouth. Every bite of food shows just how much you care about the animals, the planet, your own health, and the health and well-being of others.

Being vegan is not a diet, and that is another part about being vegan that rocks. Instead of going on a diet, I just eat well all the time. Being vegan means that you eliminate all the most harmful things for a person to ingest, such as animal and their by-products. Even though I am eating many of the same things that I always did, I am using different ingredients in familiar recipes, which happen to be much healthier ingredients. I can eat cookies and cake and not get sick from eating them, and I never feel bloated or heavy after eating vegan desserts. Plus, they are so much more delicious!

Being vegan opens up your eyes to so many things in the world that may have once been hidden. When you go vegan, you are no longer blind to the pain and the suffering in the world. While it might feel good to live in ignorance, when you do open your eyes, you finally feel free to make your own decisions and break away from what’s “normal” or “socially acceptable.” You also start to realize that if what’s “socially acceptable” means murder, abuse, and greed, you no longer want to be a part of it. You start to realize what you are meant to do in the world, and this is a pretty freeing feeling.

Being vegan means you are constantly thinking about ways to improve the world. When you start to try amazing new foods that are completely cruelty-free, you start to wonder why other people won’t bother to do the same. We are given all of this amazing food for a reason, so why are people choosing to not eat it? Why do people choose death over life? Why do they allow animals to be killed when they don’t need to be, and why do people consume animals and their by-products when it’s putting their own health in danger?

Aside from gaining a clean conscience and living a lifetime of activism, being vegan also opens up your eyes to all of the amazing food that we are naturally provided. People tend to think that being vegan would be “boring” or “dull," but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Isn’t it boring or dull to be making the same foods all the time and not trying different ingredients or stepping outside of the box? Omnivores limit themselves far more than vegans do, especially when they say things like “I could never be vegan” or “I could never give up cheese." Omnivores limit themselves to animals and their by-products, while vegans are trying everything from sea vegetables to nutritional yeast, to tempeh and seitan, plus so much more. Vegans have a long list of foods to eat, and the variations never end.

Vegan meal plans are far more interesting than chicken, steak, hamburger or pork chops, but most of all, the knowledge that no animals are being harmed in the making of a meal is the absolute best part about being vegan.

Being a vegan is easy, inexpensive, delicious, exciting, and compassionate. Plus, it’s healthy and it’s green and eco-friendly. There are so many reasons why being a vegan rocks, and I suggest that you try it for yourself. Do it for yourself, the planet, and for the animals. Never rely on somebody else to change the world. Who else will do it if you don’t?

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/kriztofor/4546416325

President Obama Rides to Horses' Rescue

2013-04-23T12:25:00.001-05:00

Buried deep in President Barack Obama's 244-page budget proposal is this gem: a reprieve for America's horses. The new budget plan includes a request for Congress to reinstitute a prohibition on the funding of U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at horse slaughter plants, which would effectively put the kibosh on budding plans to resume slaughtering horses on U.S. soil. Translation? The Obama administration wants horse slaughter to stay illegal in the U.S.

A similar spending prohibition was implemented in 2005, but it was struck down in 2011. And now several companies are trying to reopen horse slaughterhouses in New Mexico and other Western states.

This defunding measure would be an invaluable stopgap to prevent horses from being slaughtered in this country while Congress debates the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, which would not only outlaw horse slaughter in the U.S. but also close the loophole that currently allows horses to be cruelly shipped to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. This bill must pass or American horses will continue to die—even if it's not on our own soil.

What You Can Do

Please contact your congressional representatives and urge them to support this budget measure. And to protect horses in the long term and prevent them from being shipped over the border to slaughter, please also urge them to support the SAFE Act.

Source: PETA

Alisa Mullins is a senior editor for the PETA Foundation. She regularly contributes to PETA's Animal Times magazine, and her writing has also been published in The New York Times, The Charlotte Observer, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Reader's Digest, Newsweek, and many other newspapers and magazines. Her proudest achievement was participating in a sit-in at Calvin Klein's office that led the designer to swear off fur. Alisa is an avid gardener and HGTV addict who is never happier than when she has a shovel or paintbrush in her hand.

PETA | PETA.org | Facebook | Twitter
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters. PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry.

Photo credit: PETA

Earth Day is a day to celebrate Mother Earth and recommit to protecting the splendor of our planet

2013-04-22T09:18:00.000-05:00

Today is Earth Day 2013, a day to celebrate Mother Earth and recommit to protecting the splendor of our planet and our own little piece of the world.

For Indraloka, Earth Day signals a time of beginnings. After winter’s fallow season, spring brings a myriad of gifts: sunshine and longer days, verdant hills, hummingbirds, tulips, and…a lengthy To Do list.

This year, celebrate Earth Day with Indraloka while helping to make a difference in the lives of more than 170 animals, including horses, cows, mules, pigs, turkeys, chickens, goats, sheep, lambs, dogs, cats, ducks, a very special goose, and a most spectacular peacock.

Here are 10 simple ways to show your support for our planet and our beloved animals:

Plant and tend to the sanctuary’s organic herb and vegetable garden, which will produce nutritious fresh veggies for the animals.
Donate and plant fruit trees on the farm. Our barns and pastures are chock-full of sweet-toothed critters. Animals love fruit.
Put up fencing around the new pastures, which will enable the sanctuary to initiate rotational grazing for better holistic animal and pasture care. We’ll be using fence posts from PasturePro; consider donating a post or two. Each post costs $7. After the long winter, we also need help with repairs to existing fencing and to the barns. Round up a group of friends and make a day of it. It’s a great workout, and we’ll help you keep your energy up with yummy snacks.
Spring Clean the barns! It’s way more fun than it sounds.
Build a pond. Creekside Gardens in Tunkhannock will be installing a brand new goose and duck pond, replete with wetlands and waterfalls. Help out with the installation, or help us purchase materials. Use the Donate button to help give our water-loving birds a new home.
Groom the horses. Everyone enjoys a good spring makeover.
Become a regular volunteer. The sanctuary needs your help. Sign up for a weekly or monthly shift: feeding animals, picking up produce at Wegman’s, helping out at events, cuddling cats, walking dogs, singing to pigs. The animals love your company. And if you live far away, we have plenty of jobs for virtual volunteers as well!
Sponsor an animal. It’s the next best thing to taking one home.
Donate. 100% of your tax-deductible gift goes directly to caring for the animals.
Spread the word. The more people who know about Indraloka’s important work with animals and sustainability, the better.

Set amid the gently rolling Endless Mountains, next to a wooded creek, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary is blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania. Indraloka is a pioneer of sustainable practices in Pennsylvania. The Sanctuary’s education programs are presented to students of all ages.

Indra Lahiri | Facebook | Blog
Mehoopany, PA Indra is the founder of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, an all-species safe haven for animals that would otherwise have been euthanized or slaughtered. Indraloka is founded on two principles: 1) the earth itself and all life are sacred and 2) we are all related. Indraloka supports animal rescue groups by providing a lifetime home for animals that are otherwise unadoptable, and also rescues farm animals from cruelty. Indra has dedicated her life to helping previously traumatized animals heal and rediscover joy, love, and trust. In the process, the animals she set out to help have become her greatest healers and teachers.

Photo credit: Indraloka

US VegWeek 2013 kicks off on Earth Day, April 22

2013-04-19T13:33:00.000-05:00

US VegWeek 2013 begins on Earth Day, April 22 running through the 28. US VegWeek was started by Compassion Over Killing 5 years ago with the ambition of dedicating a week each year to commit to eating meat free. The goal is to bring awareness to the great alternatives that are available that not only offer health benefits, but help to reduce our carbon footprint.

Many of you who subscribe to the This Dish Is Veg are well aware of the benefits this change can have on your health and the earth. It is a good time to share this message with friends and family and see if they are up to the challenge. Please visit the US VegWeek 2013 webpage not only to sign up for the pledge, but to find great resource links and events near you.

John Himmelberger | Blog | Facebook| @johnhimm
Maryland John lives in Maryland where he works as a sales manager. John and his wife Eileen’s pursuit to achieve optimum health combined with a desire to send a strong message to factory farming, inspired them to examine what they put into their bodies. Now a vegan, John has great admiration for groups like Farm Sanctuary and hopes to influence others by sharing his positive experiences.

Photo credit: Compassion Over Killing/Us VegWeek

Hootenanny’s silence

2013-04-16T13:09:00.001-05:00

Here I am again.

It’s not a bad place to be. It’s kind of beautiful, although there is a longing in me as well… a sadness at my own frailty…my inability to solidify what I sense and see and hear beyond the physical realm. I know she’s not that far away. I can feel her here next to me, just beyond the veil. But I can’t see her anymore–I can’t touch her. I hear her voice, but it has an ethereal quality to it, not like the laughing bleat of her earthly voice.

Hootenanny is gone.

After thirteen years by my side, my naughty little goat has crossed from this plane to the next, and I can’t see her anymore. I will never catch her butting defenseless roosters, bullying horses out of their food, sticking her tongue out at the pigs as she refuses to let them enter their own house, gleefully eating produce freshly donated by Wegman’s, playing tricks on volunteers as she follows them around “supervising” their work, or sleeping peacefully after a long day of mischief in a soft pile of hay, her head resting on her beloved Ruckus.

I never believed in the maxim that we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. Hootenanny was a naughty goat, sometimes even a bully, and I plan to speak of her that way. I loved her maddening antics. I can’t tell you how many times Hootenanny outsmarted me over the years, and I found myself running in circles as she dodged and jumped and narrowly escaped me while I tried in vain to get her to go hang out with the other goats and stop harassing the rest of the peaceful animals at Indraloka.

I remember one time, about five years ago, there was a teenaged boy cleaning the barn. I went to check on him, and found Hootenanny, a broom in her mouth, chasing him around the barn! Shaking with suppressed laughter, instead of coming to his rescue, I quietly backed out to get my camera. Alas, by the time I returned, the volunteer had managed to get his broom back and was busily trying to pull Hootennany’s head out of the feed bin, where she was gorging on sweet feed.

So you see, she was not a good goat. And she was certainly not a gentle goat. Hootenanny was a funny, fierce, stubborn, clever, naughty goat. A goat not easily forgotten. That was my girl. My maddening, ridiculous, lovable little instigator.

A few months ago, Hootenanny fell ill. Despite the valiant efforts of a team of vets and round-the-clock care here at the sanctuary, she fell into a vicious cycle, improving slightly for a few days, and then coming down with new symptoms over and over again, growing weaker every time. Ruckus, her best friend and lifelong companion, spent many an hour grooming and comforting her. Their love for one another was complete, all-encompassing, and unconditional.

On the first full day of spring, in the quiet of the afternoon as the cows and horses napped in the breeze, Hootenanny called me to her side. She fell silent as I knelt beside her, collapsing in my arms. Bent over her with my arms beneath her head, we made close eye contact as I said, “It’s okay, baby. I love you.”

The Anishinaabe death song welled up from deep inside me. The Anishinaabe people say that during the fourth stanza of the death song, the spirit crosses to the star world. And if the eagle comes soon after, we know that her spirit has safely arrived.

I looked her in the eye, cradled her gently, and sang with love, concentrating on her ease and comfort through my tears. As the song began, her eyes flickered for just a moment with her old spark. At the fourth stanza, the light in her eyes faded and her spirit gently lifted out of her body. I cried a bit more and laid her to rest.

Less than an hour later, an eagle swooped down all the way to the barn door, circled the pastures a few times, and then flew high into the sky, fading from sight.

Photo credit: Indraloka

The TofuXpress makes a great addition to any tofu eater's kitchen

2013-04-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

After using the TofuXpress for the past several weeks, I feel it has come time to share my thoughts on the versatile kitchen gadget. From the moment I received the package in the mail I knew we would form a special bond.

Here are some of the perks of the TofuXpress:

I no longer have to leave my tofu sitting on the counter under a pile of unstable heavy items; the device fits right into the fridge. Also, there is also no need to worry about spilling a plate of water or using paper towels.
I really like how the TofuXpress covers the tofu from all sides, which helps prevent the tofu from absorbing odors and flavors from other foods in the fridge. It also helps the tofu hold it's shape while being pressed.
I feel that it presses tofu faster than piling things on top of your tofu. I also found that, it is more convenient than other tofu presses I have used (ones that require you to periodically tighten screws or risk disfiguring the tofu).
It doubles as a perfectly sized marinating dish and comes with a lid. Again, this is great for storing marinating tofu in your fridge for hours without spills or the concern of your tofu absorbing other flavors. I also use the unit to store unused portions of opened tofu and as a place to hold my frozen tofu as it thaws.

The TofuXpress has many other uses too:

Use it to make pressed salads- a big benefit to those following a macrobiotic diet.
Press water out of thawed spinach.
I like to use it to press water out of zucchini for use in falafel or zucchini bread.
You can make your own greek yogurt or yogurt cheese from plain soy yogurt (requires additional attachment and a cheesecloth).

The only cons that I have found are: The TofuXpress works best with traditional sized blocks of tofu, the tofu I purchase is too large to fit in the press at one time. Also, from reading other reviews, I heard that over stuffing results in the product breaking.

The press is a little tight-fitted for marinating. After I press my tofu, I cut it and return it to the TofuXpress- applying the marinade between layers for better coverage. Also, the marinating dish top that is designed to be stored underneath the press doesn't always stay put.

All said and done, the TofuXpress makes a great addition to any tofu eater’s kitchen. The pros far outweigh the cons. The device benefits your kitchen by reducing pressing time, keeping things off of your counter, and reducing the chance of a mess, all while improving the texture of your tofu.

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: TofuXpress Disclaimer: TofuXpress provided a sample product for review

Meghan Telpner's 'UnDiet' is a breath of fresh air

2013-04-16T12:14:00.001-05:00

Meghan Telpner’s ‘UnDiet: Eat your way to vibrant health’ is a breath of fresh air amongst the get-thin-quick fad diets currently littering bookstore shelves.

This book was born from Meghan’s own health struggles. It took three years of suffering through a laundry list of painful symptoms and subsequent testing before being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease.

When conventional remedies failed her, Meghan took her health into her own hands and embarked on a journey that led to a cure and the UnDiet revolution.

Almost immediately after delving into chapter one I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and breathed an enormous sigh of relief when reading number six (A cute outfit doesn’t mean much when you feel like total crappola) from the list of ‘Ten things you’ll learn undieting to vibrant health.'

Chapter two, The UnDiet Foundations, may be the most important chapter, not only for your physical well-being, but your mental health as well. It slowly chips away at all of the misinformation we’ve been fed about calories, weight loss, health washing of food labels and helps instill a new found confidence and trust in our own intuition.

Of course no health tome would be complete without recipes and UnDiet is no exception. They are arranged according to chapter and displayed in full color glory. While I was hoping for an abundance, there is more than enough to get started towards your most vibrant, beautiful life.

‘Start Sipping’ introduces the morning green juice shazaam and herbal mocha latte and a simple yet delicious one-pot stir-fry can be found in my favorite chapter, ‘Making love in the kitchen,' which will turn cooking from a chore to a joy faster than you can say "Susie Homemaker."

UnDiet is a fun and gentle approach to health that offers tips and tricks to incorporate gradual changes along your journey to your best self and is written with such love, humor, and honesty you’ll feel like you have your best friend holding your hand every step of the way. Want to win your very own copy of Meghan Telpner’s UnDiet? Follow me on twitter @jessdanov and tell me what being healthy means to you! One lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday April 19 by 5pm.

Jessica Grosdanof | Bio | Website
Toronto, Canada Jessica is a Toronto based actress who has been working in film, television, and theatre for the past seven years. She has recently taken a leap of faith and co-founded Empty Suitcase Theatre, a company that strives to produce shows that put strong women front and centre. She is a proud Canadian, vegan, and crazy cat lady.

Photo credit: Undiet Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher

The top ten workout songs for April

2013-04-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

Collaborations reign in this month's workout playlist. Justin Bieber lent Will.I.Am a hand on the latter's latest. Italian super producer Alex Gaudino turned the mic over to Jordin Sparks. Lastly, Pitbull and Christina Aguilera urged folks to seize the day--while seizing, for themselves, the hook from '80s classic “Take On Me.”

Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred--the web's most popular workout music blog.

Alex Gaudino & Jordin Sparks - Is This Love - 129 BPM

Miranda Lambert - Mama's Broken Heart - 112 BPM

Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks - 107 BPM

Will.I.Am & Justin Bieber - #thatPOWER - 129 BPM

Kylie Minogue - Timebomb - 128 BPM

Afrojack & Chris Brown - As Your Friend - 128 BPM

One Direction - One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) - 163 BPM

Pitbull & Christina Aguilera - Feel This Moment - 137 BPM

Avicii - Silhouettes (Syn Cole Creamfields Mix Radio Edit) - 128 BPM

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis & Ray Dalton - Can't Hold Us - 148 BPM

To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.

Posted by Chris Lawhorn from RunHundred.com.

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

Tips for being eco-friendly in the kitchen

2013-04-12T10:43:00.002-05:00

There are many ways to live sustainably in all areas in life. Here, I want to share a few ways to be eco-friendly in the kitchen. If you already do all of these eco-friendly actions, consider them friendly reminders.

Use sponges, brushes, and towels made from recycled and/or sustainable material.
Soak dirty dishes if necessary instead of leaving the water faucet on while washing. This will save time and water.
Unplug appliances when not in use. This will save both money and electricity.
When using the stovetop, use the burners efficiently. For instance, if you're cooking food in a small saucepan then there is no need to use the large burner; use the small one instead.
When waiting for the hot water, filter the cold water in a filtration pitcher such as a Brita pitcher. Use this for drinking water for either yourself or your pets. You can also save cold unfiltered water for your plants.
Try to keep the refrigerator door shut as much as you can. Leaving the door open for too long can make the fridge work even harder to keep the food inside it cold. An unnecessary open fridge door can cost you more money on your electricity bill.
Hand wash dirty dishes instead of using the dishwasher. It saves you money and burns calories so it's a win-win situation.
Keep vegetable scraps for either homemade vegetable broth or composting.
Use cloth towels instead of paper towels. If you must use paper towels, make sure they are made from recycled fibers such as the ones sold by Seventh Generation.
Use homemade cleaners instead of commercial, high-toxic ones. There are many recipes for DIY homemade cleaners all over the web, many of which consists of baking soda, lemon juice, and/or white vinegar.
Keep food jars and containers to store bulk items like beans, nuts, seeds, and trail mix.
Replace your kitchen lighting with energy-efficient lightbulbs.

Joanna Tenderro | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+
San Diego, CA Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Joanna has been vegan since mid-2010 and is passionate about nutrition, animal rights, eco-friendly living, and yoga. She's studying to major in the field of nutrition to counsel and educate those around her about living and eating healthy... the vegan way.

Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/62904109@N00

Chipotle tries taking tofu mainstream

2013-04-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

Chipotle Mexican Grille, the chain restaurant famous for its massive burritos and natural ingredients, is testing the waters with a new vegan protein option.

Known as "Sofritas," this shredded, seasoned tofu item is being offered alongside Chipotle's usual proteins—chicken, steak, barbacoa (shredded beef), carnitas (pork), and beans. Sofritas was first tested in seven Chipotle restaurants in the San Francisco area, but has now been released in 18 additional shops throughout the rest of Northern California.

The braised Sofritas tofu is organic and GMO-free, in keeping with the Chipotle philosophy of minimally processed food. Sofritas will be made available as an option in all of Chipotle's burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads.

In 2010, Chipotle experimented with a meat alternative known as "Garden Blend," but was never fully satisfied with it. Chipotle admits that Sofritas was "conceived with vegetarians and vegans in mind," but hopes to make it "so delicious" that it will have broader appeal.

If Sofritas are a hit, might we see other popular restaurant chains following suit with vegan options? One can only hope. In the meantime, look for Sofritas to appear on a Chipotle menu near you.

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

This Dish is Veg will not be censored

2013-04-12T09:38:00.004-05:00

Last night, TDIV received an email from the Google AdSense team, requesting that we remove content they deemed as "violence" from the site. Specifically the information located on this post:

Chained, kicked, and beaten: Graphic animal abuse exposed at UK circus
http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2011/04/1450chained-kicked-and-beaten-graphic.html

We are assuming it's this video that caused the issue:

Shocking new ADI cruelty exposé shames UK circus industry from Animal Defenders on Vimeo.

The video shows undercover footage taken by Animal Defenders International revealing the unbelievable cruelty that took place at a UK circus. Animals are kicked and beaten while shackled in heavy chains.

Of course, this is not the only video on our site that shows horrific cruelty toward animals.

At TDIV, we report the truth. More often than not, the truth is hard to take... definitely hard to watch. But facts are facts -- and we must continue to help educate the public about the horrors that certain animals in our society face.

We will absolutely not comply with the request to remove the information. And, we have made the decision to remove all Google Ads that serve the site. Google AdSense is the sole revenue generator for TDIV, however, we have worked for years to expose animal cruelty and will definitely not tolerate being censored.

________

4/11/2013: Original email from the Google AdSense Team

Google AdSense: You have 3 working days to make changes to your site

Hello,

This is a warning message to alert you that there is action required to bring your AdSense account into compliance with our AdSense program policies. We’ve provided additional details below, along with the actions to be taken on your part.

Issue ID#: 21267949

Affected website: thisdishisvegetarian.com

Example page where violation occurred: http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2011/04/1450chained-kicked-and-beaten-graphic.html

Action required: Please make changes to your site within 72 hours.

Current account status: Active

Violation explanation

VIOLENCE: As stated in our program policies, AdSense publishers are not permitted to place Google ads on pages with violent content. This includes sites with content related to breaking bones, getting hit by trains or cars, or people receiving serious injuries. More information about this policy can be found in our help center ( https://www.google.com/adsense/support/as/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=105954 ).

How to resolve:

If you received a notification in regard to page content, please either remove the content from your site or remove ads from the violating pages. If you received a notification in regards to the way ads are implemented on your site, please make the necessary changes to your implementation. We will automatically review the site again after 72 hours. You do not need to contact us if you make changes. Please be aware that if changes are not made within the required time frame, ad serving will be disabled to the affected website listed above.

Additionally, please be aware that the URL above is just an example and that the same violations may exist on other pages of this website or other sites that you own. To reduce the likelihood of future warnings from us, we suggest that you review all your sites for compliance. For more information regarding our policy warning notifications, visit our Help Center: https://support.google.com/adsense/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1378153&ctx=topic.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

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.

Reflections of a new vegan

2013-04-05T09:57:00.001-05:00

I'm a vegan stay at home mom of 2 kids. My son is nine and my daughter is two. Our family which also includes my fiance, has only been vegan for three months, but so many great things have happened in that short time that it feels like this is the way it’s always been for us.

For ages, I have been interested in food and would call myself an on again/off again vegetarian. I was very well aware of where meat came from but chose blind myself to how meat was produced and the actual effect that the whole process has on us, animals, the environment and our economy.

After reading countless Facebook posts from my many vegan friends about various topics, I decided that it was time. I went to my local library and checked out Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I came home and talked to my fiance about it and he was totally on board. That night we watched Vegucated and I guess you can say the rest is history.

We were both hooked on learning everything vegan, I couldn't get enough information. I was reading everything I could find on the internet, asking my vegan friends a ton of questions and watching every movie I could to learn the truth about our food.

Then I got overwhelmed. There was so much information out there, and when you start to not only see with your own eyes what is happening to all those innocent animals -- but start really reading the labels of the food in your cupboard -- it starts to get disheartening. Plus it was not just me that I needed to change but also my fiance and two kids. I was so worried that everyone was not going to like changing how they ate and that my kids would not be getting the proper nutrients.

However, in this whole process, each day gets so much easier. I am now eating fruits and vegetables that I had only previously eaten very occasionally. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes more than I ever did before because with vegan cooking even the simplest dish has many different ways it can be prepared. My kitchen gadgets have multiplied and just this past week I made my first loaf of whole wheat bread in a bread machine. I am also very fortunate in the fact that my fiance loves to cook and we have spent many hours in the kitchen together, cooking, laughing, talking and learning.

He’s so great about trying new things; he was even a good sport when he had to try my first failed attempt at making seitan wings. The only thing since we've gone vegan that he couldn't stand to eat. I don't blame him; it was very rubbery and gross. I did not get discouraged, instead tried again and have since figured out a better way to make it.

My son is doing well with the transition and even talks about opening a 100 percent vegan restaurant, and always asks if the food we used to eat can be made vegan. I’m really proud of the progress that he has made in such a short amount of time. My daughter loves pretty much everything that we've given her to try. The advantage is that she's so young, being vegan will just be natural for her as she gets older.

Something I have noticed since going vegan (besides feeling better and having more energy) is that I cannot see a billboard, watch a commercial or walk by the meat section of the supermarket without thinking about the truth behind how it got there. Sometimes I feel like just shaking people and asking them what is wrong with them.

I try to remember that we cannot be angry vegans, rather vegans who like to talk openly and compassionately without making others feel bad. I have learned in the past few months that when people ask you questions about being a vegan, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say when you talk to them in a positive way.

Is being vegan hard? Absolutely not! The only people that say that it is are not vegans. The produce section is full of things we can eat, with endless possibilities of how to cook them. And being vegan now is not at all like it was 20 years ago; there are so many vegan products online, in stores, restaurants and bakeries. It's amazing the things that are out there now if you just do a little research.

Social media has been a huge help to me as well, I am a member of a local vegan families group on Facebook and it's great. Any type of question I have, I can ask it there and get a straight forward non-judgmental answer from veteran vegans or noobies like myself. It’s great support and that is exactly what you need when diving head first into veganism. It’s nice to not feel alone in a mostly non-vegan world.

Since becoming a vegan it didn't take long for me to want to start making some changes in the world. I didn't think that I would find something so quickly but I did by way of the NY State WIC program. My daughter is currently enrolled and I went to my local WIC office to get her new checks, armed with a note from her pediatrician stating that my daughter was now on a vegan diet and that we would like dairy alternatives in her WIC package instead of the usual milk, eggs and cheese. Little did I know that NY State does not allow vegan children this option, the only way is if the child has a milk protein allergy.

My daughter's case worker was very helpful and advised me to make a formal complaint. When I returned home that afternoon, that is exactly what I did and the ball started rolling. In this whole process I have met, talked to and have established a relationship with many wonderful vegans in different fields that have been helpful in pointing me in the right direction to the next step in getting this policy changed. I have sent several letters to elected officials and have started to hear back from their offices with most of them agreeing with me. The most common complaint during this whole thing (besides the price) is that there is not enough demand for dairy alternatives to vegan children so I have constructed an online petition for people to sign so that I can show that there in fact is. As a result of me rallying to see some change in the NY State WIC program I have been fortunate enough to become the volunteer events coordinator for ASHA, a local farm sanctuary that is opening this summer in Newfane, NY.

Becoming a vegan has been the best choice for me and the people in my family. My mom has even gone veg since finding out about our change. Every day is an adventure in making new foods, trying new things and reading new material.

Our family just celebrated our first vegan Easter, complete with paper mache eggs for the kids to decorate, baskets with toys and vegan goodies and a full vegan brunch. It was a really awesome day and I am so happy that my family was able to celebrate it in a completely cruelty-free fashion.

Sara Till | Petition | Facebook| Twitter | Blog
Lancaster, New York I am a stay at home mom with two kids. My son Evan is 9 and my daughter Marley is 2. When I am not busy making my families vegan meals from scratch or spending time with my kids and fiance Robert, I am the volunteer events coordinator for ASHA, a farm sanctuary working to make a great home for rescued animals. I'm also fighting to get NY State to change its WIC policy for vegan babies and children who can not receive a soy package without a milk protein allergy.

Photo credit: TDIV

Poll reveals majority of Americans oppose cosmetic testing

2013-04-03T09:47:00.001-05:00

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently launched a new initiative, Be Cruelty-Free Week, aimed at ending animal testing for cosmetics. The initiative urges consumers to become involved through awareness and by carefully choosing what products they support with their purchases. This announcement comes out at a time when the European Union has put forth measures to ban selling cosmetics tested on animals anywhere in the world.

A nationwide poll conducted by Lake Research Partners revealed the following information.

67 percent of voters oppose testing cosmetics on animals
68 percent of voters know that animals are used for testing cosmetics
3 out of 4 voters say they would feel safer, or as safe, if non-animal testing methods were used
72 percent of woman, the majority of cosmetics buyers, greatly oppose animal testing
70 percent, most woman feel that animal testing of cosmetics should be illegal

Head over to the HSUS's Be Cruelty-Free web site to learn more.

Photo credit: Michael Joosten

Cruelty-free savings: Compassion Couture's Earth Month Fashion Sale is on

2013-04-03T09:25:00.000-05:00

Compassion Couture is an online store that takes a fashion-forward approach towards living an ethical lifestyle. All of their shoes, bags & accessories are 100% animal friendly, vegan and produced by labels that incorporate sustainability into their practices. It is founded by two sisters that are on a mission is to find a balance between their values and their passion for style. Gotta love that mission!

In honor of Earth Month, Compassion Couture is having a HUGE sale. But act quick, it's runs for 7 Days Only! From April 1st – April 7th, receive 20% off full priced items with code: EarthMonth20.

You can also receive 10% off already reduced items with code: EarthMonth10. Perfect timing to spruce up your cruelty-free wardrobe!

Photo credit: Compassion Couture