"But I Could Never Give Up Cheese"

If only I had a dollar for every time someone told me that.

Fellow humans, you absolutely can give up cheese. Like with anything else, you must first want to give it up.

"Give up?" I actually dislike that phrase intensely when it comes to transitioning to a vegan diet. Once you read books like Eat To Live and The China Study, you'll be running from cheese, trust me. Once you read about factory farming, you'll want absolutely nothing to do with the production, sales, and consumption of cheese (or milk, eggs, and meat, for that matter). Once you learn that so-called "organic" and "free range" farms do not actually translate to "cruelty free" farms, you'll know better than to put cheese anywhere near your mouth. You'll also know better than to trust the dairy industry, which thrives on America's cheese addiction.

Once you've stopped eating cheese for a while, and you feel more energetic, awake, and alive - not to mention, less bloated and less gassy - you'll become intoxicated with the way you feel when you don't eat this crap. You'll feel better about living in accordance with your beliefs, and that will be utterly empowering.

photo cred

Once you educate yourself about the truth, you'll realize there is nothing to "give up," but only more knowledge, wisdom, and empowerment to gain.

But don't take my word for it. Go, educate yourself. Learn. See. Experiment.

Food Choices By Numbers

According to a report by Kling and Hough (2010), of the organization, Brighter Planet: 

Click image to enlarge (photocred)

And there you have it!

Review of Gardein's Seven Grain Crispy Tenders

Ah, vegan meat. My boyfriend and I just tried Gardein's "seven grain crispy tenders." Even though I find the packaging a little annoying, I thought the actual tenders were pretty great. Could use a little salt. Still pretty great, though. J thought it was the best store-bought faux chicken nugget he'd ever tried. We both agreed that Gardein really nailed the breading on these. Nice and criiiiispy!

(photocred.)

Oh, and as the company points out (on the package), these little nugs have "ancient grains" in them. Ancient grains. Since when did people start calling kamut, quinoa, and millet by their historical origins? I've been seeing this everywhere lately! Pretty sure it makes us look stupid, as though we don't know much about our food (oh, wait...). And how is it that Gardein has a copyright on kamut? Whaaaat?

But I digress. And I will buy these again.

Waaant moooore. (photocred.)

Go See Bold Native NOW

A few weeks ago, I had the luck of meeting Casey Suchan at a friend's birthday event. She told me about her new movie and said it'd be screening that following Saturday. I told her it was my birthday that day, and so I'd probably be doing something celebratory. This seemed to produce excitement rather than disappointment, which confused me at first, as I was basically telling her I wouldn't be able to make it. Her response?

"It's my birthday, too!"

As a wishful believer in the zodiac, I simply can't say no to someone that shares my birthday. This is what ultimately convinced me to go see the LA screening of Bold Native last weekend, and I'm so glad I did. Even though I've been vegan for over five years now, I felt transformed after leaving the theater that night. It's the kind of movie that leaves an imprint on your visual cortex and lingers in your moral conscience. It's also the kind of movie that leaves a small mark on your partner's hand, from squeezing it so hard.

I urge you, go see this movie. No matter who you are, it will challenge you. And it could change your life.

You know it's good when I buy the shirt.

If you happen to live near Brown University, you can see it today, for FREE, with FREE vegan Indian food. This is a wonderful opportunity!

If you don't see your city or university on the list, email them to request a screening.

Doooo it nowwww!

Interviews: Ashley Chafin: Don't Try to Out-Veg The Veg*ns

CYoFC: Describe your current diet/lifestyle (vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, pescetarian, freegan, flexitarian, omnivore with vegan tendencies...etc.).

Ashley: I'm a strict vegetarian but not quite vegan. There is no cheese or dairy in my house, but I will have pizza or mac and cheese occasionally when I'm out. I try to stick to goat cheese.

CYoFC: For how long have you been a strict vegetarian?

Ashley: I've been vegetarian since I was 16, so 18 years.

CYoFC: What prompted you?

Ashley: The scene in The Silence of the Lambs where Hannibal is asking Clarice how she felt when she heard the lambs screaming. For real.

CYoFC: I hear you, that scene is enough to convince anyone. What were the challenges to becoming this sort of vegetarian? What about current challenges, or aspects of being an almost-vegan, vegetarian that you don't like?

Ashley: It's never been hard for me to not eat meat. There were things I didn't consider, like broth in soups, etc. So there were some accidents. In college, I would have to walk back into the kitchen to look at the soup ingredients. I was a horrible vegan in college, just eating fries and bagels, it's easy to carb overload. What I don't like now is so much vegan food is soy based. Also asking if rice, etc has broth in it, I never know whether to believe the cooks!

CYoFC: There are a lot of soy-based vegan products out there, and there's such controversy over it. I've yet to determine what to believe myself. And with regard to hidden meat, it is always a leap of faith to trust that cooks and wait staff have your dietary interests in mind. Good for you for checking the kitchen's labels yourself! Do you plan on remaining vegetarian? If so, what motivates you?

Ashley: Yes, forever. It never even crosses my mind to eat animals. Sometimes I have nightmares I have eaten a cheeseburger and I wake up in a cold sweat. I get nauseous when I see people eating chicken, it just freaks me out.

CYoFC: Why should other people strive for a vegan diet?

Ashley: There are so many reasons to list. For your health, for animals, for the environment.

CYoFC: Do you have any tips or advice for people who are just starting out with a vegetarian-type lifesytle?

Ashley: Don't forget hidden ingredients. Also, try not to be judgemental. I have met vegetarians who eat gelatin, or who eat bacon in ice cream, and I want to scream "then you aren't vegetarian!" But try to remember that every little thing helps. Don't try to out-veg someone.

CYoFC: I completely agree - every little bit DOES make a difference. What are your favorite foods?

Ashley: Hummus, Broccoli, Spinach, Curry, Sunshine Burgers. Guac, Kettle Chips.

CYoFC: Describe what the giving-up-cheese process was like for you.

Ashley: I've been vegan twice, cheese wasn't so hard, but giving up regular cupcakes, foods that had milk in them was hard.

CYoFC: Now for the age-old question: Are you getting enough protein?

Ashley: Probably too much, like most Americans.

CYoFC: Thanks, Ashley!!!

For more information about the misconceptions about protein in America, check out this article written by Monique Gilbert, a certified personal trainer/fitness counselor. (I warn you, though, she's says mostly good things about soy. ;)) You can also check out this article at The Cancer Project, which is a part of The Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine.


You can read more about Ashley here.  Please commission her for pet portraits or buy some paintings!

Raw Vegan Ice Cream & A Call To Arms

I haven't posted in about a month! It's almost fall now!? Where does the time go? Summer was here just a second ago, I could've sworn...

But enough small talk. Let's discuss more important matters, like ice cream. One of my roommates and I recently made "banana soft serve" ice cream, ala Gena's recipe on Choosing Raw.

And wow.

This is literally the simplest, most delicious dessert recipe I've ever come across.

Ever.

And it's healthy! Like, really healthy. All you do is peel some bananas, break them up into chunks, freeze them, and then blend them in a food processor. That's it. No need to add any sweetener or thickener or anything. The result truly resembles the texture, consistency, and taste of soft serve ice cream, yet it remains vegan and raw. Really.

Of course, you can add whatever you want to it. My roommate and I experimented with frozen mango chunks, frozen blueberries, and frozen strawberries. We both liked the tanginess that the mango added. I wouldn't recommend frozen strawberries, as they watered down the overall flavor a bit (though our strawberries may've been a little freezer burnt, oops).

Tonight I had dinner with my friends, queerveganrunner and her partner, and they told me that they tried the banana thing last week, too (insert necessary "guess great minds think alike" gush). Anyway, apparently they added peanut butter and topped it with smashed dark chocolate, which they recommended pretty highly. I'd love to hear about others' experiments with this recipe, should you try it, which you absolutely should.

In other news, I'd love your help with getting the word out about chooseyourownfoodchain. For one, I'm always seeking additional people to interview. So, if you know anyone who is vegetarian, vegan, or semi-veg (this includes meat minimalists and flexitarians!) and who might be interested in answering interview questions, please send them my way! You can also "like" chooseyourownfoodchain on facebook, to receive additional updates from my little corner of the plant-based world. Finally, if you're so inclined, please do spread the word about this blog. Let's keep people connected in our collective re-examination of the food chain.

Thanks and happy fall, everyone!

Pumpkin spice and everything nice,
CYoFC

Interviews: Shenee: A Native South Texan Pledges Vegetarianism For Life

CYoFC:  Describe your current diet/lifestyle (vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, pescetarian, freegan, flexitarian, omnivore with vegan tendencies...etc.).

Shenee:  I am a vegetarian, although because of my vegan boyfriend I eat a mostly vegan diet due to his delicious and constant cooking. For my own part I don’t purchase dairy products or eggs, but I occasionally eat a piece of cheese or two when I am at one of my many nanny houses.

CYoFC:  A vegetarian with vegan tendencies! For how long have you been vegetarian?

Shenee:  I have been a vegetarian for 8 years.

CYoFC:  What prompted you to become a vegetarian?

Shenee:  I had been considering becoming a vegetarian for a long time when one day during my second year at university I read a quote in some Buddhist literature that bluntly stated how selfish it is to consume “flesh of other creatures in order to fatten our own flesh.” That is really what did me in. But I also found inspiration in my mother who is a vegetarian and was since I was a child, however she never forced her dietary habits on my siblings and I.

CYoFC:  That quote is really quite eye-opening. Were there any challenges to becoming a vegetarian? What about current challenges of being vegetarian, or aspects of vegetarianism that you don't like?

Shenee:  At the time that I became a vegetarian, I was living in Texas, but not in Austin, mind you, but South Texas. Of course my mom was supportive of my decision, but most of my family didn’t understand. In the beginning I also faced some resentment coming from ignorant people who felt that because I was a vegetarian automatically meant that I was judging them for continuing to eat meat. That is the most annoying thing I have had to deal with.

CYoFC:  I've heard that from a handful of vegetarians and vegans. It's a shame that some individuals feel judgment where there is none - makes it difficult for genuine communication to take place. Do you plan on remaining a vegetarian? If so, what motivates you? If not, what motivates you to change?

Shenee:  I haven’t eaten meat for 8 years and I will never eat meat. I must admit that I did eat fish on three separate occasions when I was living in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

I will continue to be a vegetarian throughout my life due to my conviction that it is not necessary for me to eat animals in order to survive. It is as simple as that.

CYoFC:  Right on. Why should other people be vegetarian?

Shenee:  To each their own. However, people would become a lot healthier if they no longer ate meat. Case in point, the options at a fast food joint would be substantially limited. Mainly this comment is targeted towards the fattest and most unhealthy people in the world, Americans. Recently I had a friend from Japan come to visit. When I asked him if there were any vegetarians in Japan, he responded by telling me that the Japanese diet consists mainly of vegetables, rice and fish, so culturally there is no need to become vegetarian. In Japan there is no stigma against not eating meat at every meal.

CYoFC:  That's so fascinating. Many people probably don't think about vegetarianism cross-culturally. It makes so much sense, though. Cultures in which vegetables are a main focus of the traditional cuisine wouldn't even have a need to put a name to a diet consisting of mostly vegetables. Do you have any tips or advice for new vegetarians?

Shenee:  Just ignore the haters. I came to realize that their animosity is a product of their guilt of being meat-eaters. Also, buy yourself a good vegan cookbook. Then when people ask you “what can you eat…salads?” you can come up with a long and quippy retort.

CYoFC:  Good advice. I'm curious; what are your favorite foods?

Shenee:  Pan-seared tempeh with spicy tomato sauce, split pea soup, CHOCOLATE MUFFINS, vegan reubens

CYoFC:  Sounds delicious! Much love for the vegan reuban right here.


Shenee currently lives in Los Angeles. She is a part-time nanny for a ton of different families and also works in two different kid-oriented stores. As she puts it, "My life is full of other peoples’ children and I love it." She also enjoys craft nights with her girlfriends, cooking vegan food with her boyfriend, napping with her cat Henrietta, experiencing live music and watching movies in the theatre all alone.

Interviews: Muckford: "I Never Changed My Mind, I Just Stopped Thinking About It"

CYoFC:  For how long have you been vegan?

Muckford:  Roughly ten years, but not uninterrupted. I backslid into vegetarianism for a little while, as I tried to make the adjustment to dating/living with an omnivore... then I met another vegan, which helped motivate me to get back on track again. Like anything else, it's easier to keep up with it when you've got a support system. (I was spoiled early on by a wonderful husband who'd been vegan for many years, and was able to accomplish all kinds of delicious culinary feats.)

CYoFC:  What prompted you to become vegan?

Muckford:  Well, I guess there was both a gradual process, and a more immediate catalyst.

From the time I was an infant, I loved animals of all kinds. At age 4, when I first learned that hamburgers were made from cows, I remember bursting into tears and refusing to eat them. My mother told me that while in her house, I'd eat whatever she fed me -- but when I turned 18, I could eat whatever I wanted!

Throughout most of the rest of my childhood, I somehow got gradually desensitized again. Eating meat was just something that everybody did, as a part of "normal" everyday living. That made it easy for the moral objections I had as even a youngster to slip into the back of my unconscious. I never really /changed my mind/... I just stopped thinking about it.

As a teenager, I began to think a little more. Philosophically, I agreed with the idea that other animals have as much right to be here as we do, and that we should avoid causing them pain. Inexplicably, however, my abstract philosophical leanings didn't actually translate into a concrete lifestyle change until I met my husband (now ex).

Prior to meeting him, I don't think I'd ever /heard/ the word vegan before. He explained what it meant, and his reasons for choosing the vegan lifestyle. Once I was enlightened as to the horrible way that factory farms operate, and the cruel and unnatural conditions the animals are often kept in (cages so crowded they can't move, deprivation of fresh air and natural sunlight, debeakings, etc), I felt I couldn't in good conscience do /nothing./

CYoCF:  Were there any challenges to becoming vegan? What about current challenges?

Muckford:  There were some foods I really missed at first -- cheese and crackers used to be one of my all-time favorite snacks. But a short moment of gratification isn't worth supporting a corrupt industry and causing innocent creatures to suffer. I do my best to remind myself of that fact. Other people probably would have thought I was a somewhat unlikely candidate for vegetarianism, as I've never been a particular fan of vegetables. And it's true that at first, I was kind of a junk-food vegan. I subsisted largely off of peanut butter sandwiches, pasta with marinara sauce, and vegan doughnuts... but over time, I gradually exposed myself to new foods and tastes, and discovered some absolutely /marvelous/ additions to my dietary repertoire.. including hummus (which I may never have tried if not for my veganity!) and cous-cous (mmmm, give me some of that five-spice moroccan cous-cous salad...). In time, I even began incorporating more vegetables (spinach is great if you saute it with vegan margarine and garlic... kale is great steamed, as a leafy bed for some "shells and chreese", a Nature's End mac'n'cheese substitute).

But probably the biggest challenge to becoming vegan, and maintaining the lifestyle, are social pressures... a lack of understanding from friends and family about what veganism is, why it's important to me. Friends sometimes feel inconvenienced by having to choose restaurants that serve veggie dishes, or feel awkward or embarrassed as I rattle off a list of questions concerning ingredients to the waiter. Then there are the occasions like office birthday parties... when well-intentioned folks have purchased or prepared a cake for me, and I can't eat it. Those can be a very delicate situation to navigate. Each person handles it in his or her own way. I think the key to remember is that it's most awkward at FIRST -- if you inform the people you meet about your veganism, and explain to them what it means, they won't be taken by surprise, and thus won't be as likely to be irked or offended. Some friends have actually really enjoyed taking up the challenge of making vegan dishes and desserts for me. Others, I simply reassure that they don't have to worry about me when hosting parties at their house and such -- as I'll bring some dishes of my own, or will "bring my own baggie." It's perfectly possible to handle the socially awkward moments, especially with experience, but I do still think it's probably the most difficult thing about maintaining a vegan lifestyle. You may also face strong criticism from some, especially at first. Often, those we are closest to (who liked us perfectly fine the way we were BEFORE) resent even the smallest sign of change. My mother called me a "fanatic" when first she heard about my veganism. Nevertheless, she gradually adjusted to the idea, and nowadays there's always a tub of hummus and a carton of soymilk waiting for me in the fridge when I drop by to visit!

CYoFC:  Why should other people go vegan?

Muckford:  Well, in addition to the animal welfare-related ethical concerns, there are environmental reasons... and health ones. High cholesterol runs in my family, and has been a problem for me (along with my weight) since I was a child. A combination of vegan diet and regular exercise brought my blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides in line for the first time in my life. From studies I've read, a vegan diet seems to reduce the rates of all of the most common causes of death in wealthy nations: obesity, heart disease, come cancers. I think it closely approximates a Mediterranean diet, which is touted by many health professionals as a model diet to follow in terms of its health benefits.

CYoCF:  Do you have any tips or advice for new vegans?

Muckford:  Take it one day at a time, and don't get upset with yourself if you make the occasional slip-up or mistake. There are lots of foods and other products with hidden animal ingredients. You just do the best you can and learn as you go. There are many great vegan resources on the web, and you can always try seeking out some local vegan groups on meetup.com or a similar social networking site.

CYoCF:  One last question.  Are you getting enough protein?

Muckford:  Some days I get more than the recommended daily value, and some days less. I sometimes track what I eat on livestrong.com, and that helps to give me an idea of how I'm doing. "Smart dogs" (the tofu version of hot dogs!) and veggieburgers are a good way of giving myself a mega-boost in a day when I'm falling short, and I loooove Bolthouse Vanilla Chai Protein Shakes! I haven't had any problems.... but I do take a vegan multi-vitamin to be on the safe side (I had problems with anemia even in my pre-vegan days, so I try to be particularly careful to get enough iron). When you buy vitamins, don't forget to check if they have fish-derived or gelatin ingredients. (I've accidentally bought brands that do on several occasions.)

CYoFC:  Sounds like you know how to get your protein just fine. You might also like to try incorporating more beans into your daily diet - any kind will do: lima, pinto, garbanzo, white, black, black-eyed peas, navy...


Thanks, Muckford!


Muckford is currently completing a psychology internship in the NYC area, and, thus far, has specialized in working with adults with chronic severe mental illnesses and the homeless population. He also enjoys hiking, reading fantasy and sci-fi books, and other "ultra-geeky" pursuits (such as playing Atari-2600, and joining the occasional Dungeons & Dragons game).