Peace, Not Pork

Overnight Walk Donations Update

2011-03-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all, it's me again! I'm hanging out with Pushkin, the coolest cat ever. Love her to bits and pieces. :)

I am here to remind you that I am participating in the Overnight Walk that supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP] in June. On the night straddling June 4th & 5th, a few hundred, if not a few thousand of us will be walking approximately 18 miles. We all have trained and raised $1000 each (hopefully) to support AFSP's fight against suicide.

So far, I am up to $545, which is just over halfway towards my $1000 goal! I'm trying hard to think of ways to make fundraising fun. One idea is that for my birthday, I have a dinner/cocktail night at my house and instead of a card and/or gift, people put $5 towards my final goal. That way, my friends are giving a gift that means something. And, on a day that is celebrating a person's life!

If you feel inclined to make a tax deductible donation, please stop by my Donation Page and help me reach my goal! Many thanks in advance to everyone who is able to make a donation, no matter the size!

In the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, "Be Brave and Steady."

'Tis The Season To Be Giving

2010-12-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

This wouldn't be a generic, all encompassing blog without a seasonal request for giving, right? So, let me do my part...

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention does a series of small fundraising walks throughout the year, as well as one rather hefty one every summer. In June 2011, their 18-mile overnight walk will be taking place in New York City. I have decided to participate, and for quite a few reasons. Psychology & psychiatry and mental health awareness have always been topics I am passionate about. I also have been personally touched by suicide and feel I owe it to myself and everyone involved to accomplish this walk.

An 18 mile walk is quite a huge feat for a suburban Californian who would rather not depend on a car to get places. Sure, people walk 18 miles and more a day. I admire them for using their bodies as they were designed to work. With this event happening in just under seven months, I am following a training plan the organization has offered to participants. This will allow me to get in shape and prep my mind & body for a distance I am not used to covering in one go.

As I am already on a mission to better my eating habits, I know that the training will come much easier. Once June 4th hits, I will be feeling enlivened, excited, energized, and ready to knock out 18 miles on foot.

There is a fundraising requirement, of course. Each participant must raise $1000 by the time of the event. So far, I have raised $228. That is a great start, but I still have $772 to go!!! I ask you, dear readers, if you have $5 to spare this season, those dollars will be greatly appreciated! More is just as appreciated, but $5 is an amazing donation.

I plan on throwing a few fundraising parties between now and June. That way, there will be a lot more substance to where your donation goes. If anyone has any fundraising tips, I would love to hear! Please contact me with tips, questions, wise words, or general support: ellie.mchale@gmail.com.

Support Me! This is my fundraising page. Visit! See how I'm doing! Get to know the organization & event!

Thank you!

Raw Food Movement

2010-11-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Wow. Where did this year go?? I'm amazed at how quickly the time has passed.

For your sake and mine, here is an update about what has been happening. I've done well avoiding dairy all year, although I went through a tiny spell of eating pears with cheese. But, I'm gladly over that phase. The pears have remained a part of my diet, but the cheese has gone. My weight has become more of an issue lately. Sure, I'm coming into a PMS phase, so I'm a bit worked up about it right now. But, I've been overeating. I take full responsibility for my bad choices. With my weight being an issue and the fact I got yet another nasty cold type thing, I have decided to try a healthy detox cleanse.

I have been interested in the raw food movement for awhile. It has never been something I've wanted to do, primarily because I have felt it is too time consuming. Also, looking at the food choices I felt very limited as to what I could eat, leaving me dreading the food boredom that I assumed would follow. I have never been a fan of avocados, so having said food pop up in many recipes was off-putting. But... According to everyone who has ever tried it, I make some of the best guacamole ever. Therefore, I should probably start eating avocados, even if I have to whip up a batch of guacamole each time.

After browsing recommendations on Amazon and checking out what my local bookstore offers, I snagged up a couple books on Raw Food Diet. Ani Phyo seems to make it fun and she offers many recipes that actually sound appetizing. I purchased her book "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen" as well as Penni Shelton's "Raw Food Cleanse" as it offers great advice and guidelines for four different cleanses.

As the majority of the food I consume right now is raw, uncooked, and seems to be from soil to mouth, I understand I will have an easier time transitioning than some. One of my favorite snacks is fresh cucumber with apple cider vinegar and olive oil. I am also a huge fan of apples with raw peanut butter - you know, the kind you grind yourself. Sliced pears with agave nectar is also something I'll reach for if I am craving something sweet. In fact, there have been days when all I have eaten is blackberries, oranges, pineapple, watermelon, and cucumber. Sure, I probably shouldn't eat like that every day, but I've noticed how amazing I feel when I have days like that.

So, over the course of the next few weeks, I will be experimenting, looking into home sprouting, and testing the raw food waters. I really hope this will help get my body back to a healthy state. I'm tired of being overweight and getting sick at least twice a year. I miss the days a few years ago when I was slender, toned, and vibrant. I crave being healthy... Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be major challenges for me during this transition. But, I will find a way of creating dishes I can eat that go with the flow of the themes.

Good luck to me!!!

Soy... No-no??

2010-08-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

So, over the past few years, I've transitioned into a primarily vegan diet. While my fruit and vegetable intake has risen slightly [it was hefty to begin with], my protein intake has decreased slightly. The easiest way for me to supplement this deficiency is with soy products. When I eat soy, it is primarily in its whole form - the soy bean. Sure, I love soy dogs and soy veggie burgers, but I have kept those as a minimal part of my diet. Soy is everywhere and it is often one of the most common way many veggies seem to get protein.

But, the weight has piled on over the years and at a rate I find to be slightly unhealthy. A few years ago, after losing 30 pounds in a few months on a high protein, plenty of vegetable diet, I found that most of my protein was coming from dairy, primarily cow's milk & cheese. And, I was a naughty girl... I admit I ate the occasional bit of chicken. I did feel incredibly guilty every time I did, though. Once I cut out the chicken and the regular consumption of dairy, the weight slowly crept back on. Then, I went through a period of bad employment, leading to 3 months of unemployment. That made a dent in my self-esteem. I stopped exercising as much. I found that I was eating more potatoes than I needed to. You know, the usual slump. This lead to putting on the 30 pounds I lost... And recently, 10 more.

Now that I have had a full time job for a month and making it to the gym at least twice a week, I have the potential to be in a happier place. But, I'm not. I'm disappointed. I am trying very hard to shed this excess weight. But, it's not budging. In fact, it seems to be multiplying.

There are plenty of reasons why this is happening. And, I've come to the conclusion it is primarily hormonal. Sure, my metabolism is slowing as I am nearing 30, but it shouldn't be this slow. I have always had issues with my menstrual cycle, which is explained by a mild case of PCOS [hello stubborn weight]. I was also a varsity cross country and track runner in high school, which did a number on my hormones. And, now I am a vegetarian who uses soy as her primary protein source.

After reading plenty of articles and doing a bit of research, I have found that soy is possibly linked to hypothyroidism - the under activity of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism runs in the family on my maternal side [my mother had her thyroid gland removed, due to hypothyroidism].

This sparked a light bulb:
I should go soy free for a month!!!

Of course, that might not do anything. But, it's worth a shot, right?? So, starting today, August 13th, I am going to spend the next 30 days avoiding soy in any form. No soy lattes from Starbucks. No veggie burgers at friendly bbqs. No edamame with vinager and pepper. The latter leaves me feeling very heartbroken, as it is one of my favorite snacks.

From now on, my protein is coming from lentils, black beans, almonds, sunflower seeds, quinoa, dense vegetables, and flaxseed. Sounds entirely boring really, but as I have been in an adventurous mood lately, I am sure I can figure out a way to make my meals exciting.

I also plan on writing down everything I eat as a way to monitor my calories and learn more about my body. On top of that, I will do my best to exercise every day, even if it is just a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood.

Right now, I am going to finish my rice protein almond milk smoothie, eat half a cup of lentils I just cooked, and follow all that with a nice, juicy tangelo.

Wish me luck!!

She's Back!

2010-05-11T00:54:00.000-07:00

While readership might be exceptionally minute, I promise I haven't forgotten about my goal to adhere to a vegan lifestyle these past months. Things are going well, and for awhile I had gone pretty much dairy free. I do admit that I had a few moments of weakness and snuck some lil' queso scraps. But, nobody's perfect, right?

Dive into the depths of darkness in an elevator.

What? Oh, never mind...

Anyway, I am back to throw an idea out into the world. For a couple years now, I have wanted to open up a vegan bakery/patisserie/cafe. One that holds a magical, sensual, exciting feel of the chocolaterie in Chocolat. And, in a part of America that needs to learn how to be more open to the idea of an animal-free diet. There is a chance I might make a move to Savannah, Georgia. And, as many of you may know, animals are a huge part of their gastronomy. It would be great to try my hand at a vegan bakery in Savannah. But, I would need a lot of support - financially and in manpower. I don't have the money to do this on my own. And, I certainly cannot be in three places at once. As veganism is growing in popularity (and PETA's headquarters are on the East Coast), I am sure I could be able to find a solid group of veggie minded folk that would be willing to get the bakery up and running. But, this is an idea that could take a few years to finalize...

That is why I am glad Portland, Oregon is another option of places to move to. Portland is a very "green" city. And, due to the colder & more moist climate, it actually is a lot more green than the Bay Area. Vegetarianism and veganism are welcomed and embraced. I dig Portland, because it is full of creative, Earth loving people that are conscious of what they are doing for themselves and the environment they are living in. The move to Portland is the wiser choice. Not only is it closer to home, it is just as cheap as Savannah, but much more quick on the veggie uptake. Leasing/buying property could be easier, as a vegan bakery business fits in perfectly to the eco-friendliness of the city. Finding a solid team to help run the operation probably would be much easier, as it is rumored that Portland is on of the best cities for veg*ns. And, that doesn't surprise me. It seems like such a great place to grow vegetables. And, I really do love my plate to be full of green things...

Please, think happy business thoughts for me while I learn how to write up an amazing business plan/proposal. And, please think happy moving thoughts, as well!

Sweet Potatoes & Yams.

2010-03-04T00:21:00.000-08:00

Coming from a land outside these United States, I grew up without sweet potatoes and yams in my regular diet. Like oatmeal, these goodies were things that my mother told me I didn't like, even though I hadn't ever tried them. So, living my life convinced [by someone else] that I wasn't a fan, I avoided any dish that revolved around sweet potatoes and yams.

A couple months ago, after an invigorating Bikram session, I dropped into Whole Foods to make an unnecessarily expensive salad. I saw that they had baked sweet potatoes at their hot bar. I snuck a piece and I was amazed with the glorious taste in my mouth. What I was tasting was this buttery, sweet goodness. YUM! Ever since, these lil' tubers have been my new best friend.

Tonight, I had the kitchen all to myself. There were four yams hanging out in the fridge - mine, of course, as no one else in the house eats them. I chopped two of them up into cubes, zapped them for a minute or two in the microwave, and melted some vegan margarine in a pan. Plus, I threw some salt and onions in there while the margarine was melting. When the margarine was melted and the onions starting to brown, I threw the yams in there. With some stirring and flipping and general movement, I cooked the yams for about 5-7 minutes until they were soft enough to eat.

Let me tell you, this was a fantastic dinner. Sure, it would have been more complete if I had made a salad of spinach, edamame, celery, cucumber, bell peppers, tomatoes, and bean sprouts. But, I didn't have any of those at my disposal and I didn't feel like making another drive to a store that had fresh vegetables. It was too late and too wet outside. And, there is always tomorrow to reinforce my veggie intake. Anyway, the yams hit the spot. And, I have noticed that both yams and sweet potatoes seem to alleviate the emotional hooha that PMS puts us women through. Not only do they taste good, the starchiness of the food naturally boosts seratonin levels. And, they are naturally high in potassium and vitamin A. Potassium is great for regulating blood flow in the heart as well as alleviating muscular cramps. Vitamin A is great for the skin as it regulates oil production.

So, for those of you who haven't discovered the joy of yams and sweet potatoes, please experiment and explore. There are so many more options than sweet potato pie with marshmallow [yuck] or bland boiled yams. Vegan margarine, salt, onions, and garlic always go with sweet potatoes and yams. And, don't you forget that!

Legumes=GENIUS!

2010-02-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

One of the small, mediocre jobs that I have entails making 100-200 cups of tea per weekend. During my mandatory 30 minute break, I venture over to the Tex-Mex restaurant in the mall. It's not the best Tex-Mex I have ever had and I'd rather prepare a huge pot of pinto beans myself. But, that requires time and constant gentle coaxing (or, so I believe). Often, I find that I don't have the time or energy to prep a huge pot of beans. But that's not the point right now...

On these half hour breaks, I order the same thing: rice and beans. Sure, they probably use some sort of animal byproduct in the prep and cooking of the beans, which is generally the case for authentic Mexican food. Unfortunately, I put aside that fact, because I see the bigger picture. Rice & beans is a perfect meal. It contains a little of everything basic: carbohydrates (including a good amount of fiber), a small amount of healthy fat, and protein. I am a firm believer that every meal needs to touch each three of those categories.

Yes, like the proper veggie lover that I am, I am a fan of carbs. Carbohydrates, if chosen wisely, are AMAZING. Fiber falls under the carbohydrate umbrella. And, any good doctor, nutritionist, and mother will tell you that fiber can make or break you, literally and figuratively. If you have too little fiber, your water balance is thrown out of whack, your body's ability to eliminate waste is highly diminished, and your body will have a harder time absorbing the nutrients that it needs. Too much fiber, and you are on the loo more often than you need. Just the right amount, and your body will love what you are doing to it.

My point is that legumes of all kinds are such amazing lil' nuggets of joy. And, I really do believe that I'd be happy to live on a diet of legumes and brown rice. Of course, that does, naturally, call for the use of tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, bean sprouts, celery, oatmeal, etc., because all those flavors and textures go so well with legumes! Really... Make yourself a lentil loaf with a side of broccoli and bell peppers. You'll be in love.

But, I don't know how to make a lentil loaf you might be thinking. Fret not my pretties. Along with vegan mac & cheese, vegan shepherd's pie, and many other meals, I will share my take on vegan lentil loaf. You know, ingredients, prep, taste, pictures, and general enjoyment of such goodies. :)

Remember, legumes are magical!

My oozing heart is full of love.

2009-12-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

Help Bella. That's all I can really say.

This darling, adorable, lovely lil' puppy named Bella just happens to have two paralyzed legs. Because her humans couldn't handle that minor fact, they surrendered her to the vet to have her euthanized. Yep, that's a little bit heartless, don't ya think?

Imagine if your child's legs or arms were paralyzed. You wouldn't tell the pedietrician to euthanize your child, right? So, think about it: you get a puppy and find out her back legs don't work. Instead of giving up and putting her down, you deal with what you are given. And, you give the dog the life she wants and deserves. If she could speak human, she'd say "sure, my legs are faulty, but they aren't going to kill me, so please don't kill me."

If the fight for the life of one little puppy isn't enough, remember that it is the holiday season, which is the perfect time to be giving. Instead of buying one extra unnecessary gift for someone you barely know, give them a card and bake them some [vegan] cookies and use the money saved to help Bella and other voiceless animals that have full, wonderful lives to live.

Her story, progress, and ways to help:
Help Bella
Bella's Progress
Second Chance Pets
Healing Hearts Sanctuary

Unoriginal Favourite Websites post.

2009-12-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

Although I have already shared a couple links with y'all already, I would like to compile a list of websites that I enjoy and/or find beneficial. Yes, really. It is going to be a list. Deal with it. Hehe.

The Kind Life (Site tied to Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet.)
Barnivore (Growing list of which alcohol is or is not vegan friendly.)
Peta and Peta2 (I'm not a guerrilla veggie, but hey, they have great info!)
Urban Decay Cosmetics (All of their products are cruelty free, and a good majority of their products are vegan friendly.)
Farm Sanctuary (An organization which has two locations that takes in rescued farm animals. Got the chance to meet the guy who founded it. Very sweet guy. And, actually responds to personal emails.)
Peta Kids candy reference (I often times get a sweet tooth. And, look, Mamba makes the cut!)
Vegan Action (An overview and support service to help educate about veganism.)
Compassionate Cooks (A local lady who has a great podcast, two cookbooks, and lots of great info!)
Vegan Lunch Box (Great blog for anyone who wants inspiration for their own lunches.)
The Post Punk Kitchen (Edgy, fun, and wonderful forum for hip veggies.)
Poopie Bitch (She kind of amusing, and she actually seems to list the nutritional info of some of her recipes.)
Urban Vegan (A lady who's cookbook I've been meaning to buy. Her food looks so yummy!)
Bay Area Vegetarians (Only because I am a Bay Area resident...)
Vegan Cupcakes (I just bought their book a little bit ago and cannot wait to experiment!)

I am sure I will be updating this list over the course of the next year, but this is a great start. It might just be a reference for me. But, I hope that any of you reading this will check out these site and enjoy them as much as me!

Vegan Beer & Wine.

2009-12-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season to be merry. In the spirit of merriment, holiday parties are usually rampant - even in this tough economic climate. And, due to people needing to be more mindful about their spending, BYO-whatever is much more popular than it has ever been.

Many casual parties often have an unspoken BYOBeverage rule. So, why not use this to educate friends on the joy of cruelty free drinks, alcoholic and non?

A great resource is Barnivore. It offers a list of beer, wine, and liquor that are animal byproduct free. It also lists which companies are not vegan friendly or offer just a selection of vegan friendly options. I am glad to see so many common beverages fall into this list.

Some of my favourite brews (out of a rather extensive list):
Alaskan Brewing Company, Anchor Brewing Company, Butte Creek Brewing (I've been to the brew pub attached to the brewery), Chimay, Deschutes Brewery (Been there too), Dos Equis, Full Sail Brewing Company (Another favourite I've been to), Redhook Ale Brewery, Rogue Ales (they have a Honey Wheat and some cask beers that aren't vegan friendly), Sierra Nevada Brewery, and Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (w00t, a local!!).

And, a few of my favourite wines:
Big Sky Vineyard, Red Truck Wines, The Other Guys, Three Loose Screws, and any of the red (not including Rose) options from the Yellow Tail wines. The great thing about Yellow Tail is that they provide nutritional information on their website. This info includes whether or not the wine is vegan friendly.

When it comes to wine, it seems to be much more difficult to make vegan options. Some vineyards use fish byproducts to thin out the colour of white and rose wines. And, some vineyards use gelatin as a sweetener and/or thickening agent for red wines. With beer, some manufacturers use the same fish byproduct use in white/rose wines. Many manufacturers still use bone char as a filtration system, instead of the just as effective wood char.

So, for any of you considering bringing beverages to a party and want to play it safe, please consider Barnivore as a resource. It also has a section for liquor, but as I generally don't drink anything alcoholic other than beer and wine, I'll let you peruse at your own leisure.

In an upcoming blog, I will discuss vegan friendly soft beverages and great ideas for food items that one can bring to parties that have that BYOWhatever rule. :)

The Kind Diet & The Kind Life

2009-12-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. She has a website linked to this book, entitled The Kind Life, which is a great tool to use for longtime vegans, as well as people who are reading the book and just getting started in the veg*n lifestyle. It has information about food, health, home style, fashion, and the environment.

Currently, the first picture I see is a bowl of Mac n' Cheese, one of my ultimate comfort foods. This is a post she made today sharing the recipe. I will definately be sure to copy this one down and give it a go sometime in the next couple weeks.

I highly suggest that anyone reading my lowly little blog takes a gander at The Kind Life. I appreciate that someone is using their fame in a positive light and are able to make vegan awareness and education that much more accessible...
...Not to mention groovy.

[Being part of a generation in which "Clueless" has been one of our staples, I have always been fond of Ms. Silverstone.]

Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal.

2009-12-11T13:13:00.000-08:00

May I please say that Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal with a dash of Enriched Soy Dream milk is fantastic?

For the longest time, my mother was convinced she couldn't stand oatmeal. That spilled over to me and she told me I didn't like it, even though I don't really remember ever saying "ewh, I hate oatmeal." In fact, I used to sneak oatmeal as a kid. Like a kid in the cookie jar, I'd do my best to make sure my mother never knew I actually loved oatmeal. So, in my later years, when I started cooking and preparing food for myself, I'd proudly whip up a batch of Quaker Oats with some salt and margarine on a cold and rainy day. This always got odd looks from my mother, saying "I thought you don't like that stuff."

It was about a year or two ago, my mother discovered Steel Cut Irish Oats in Trader Joe's. She goes through phases where she'll obsessively cook things. Oatmeal was one of these things. And, she didn't just cook enough for one person to eat breakfast. Like any Irish woman from her generation, more is better. She'd make enough to feed a family for three days. Of course, me being the oatmeal fan that I am, I'd eat a bowl for breakfast and lunch. Hey, if it's there, I'm going to eat it. True story.

Today has been gloomy, grey, and wet outside. It is one of those days that makes people want to stay inside with sweatpants, a good book, and a bowl of something warm and tasty. I decided that oatmeal was the way to go. Sure, it was one of the few animal byproduct-less things in the house that is best served warm. But, even so, slaving over a pot of Dahl just didn't cut the psychology.

While I was diligently stirring the rolling oats, I decided to try something out. People seem to have their oatmeal swimming in [cow's] milk, right? And, often times oatmeal is prepared with milk, yes? I wondered what the oatmeal would be like with a splash of soy milk. I dropped some in as the oatmeal was still cooking. It looked a little bit unappealing. I like my oatmeal looking manly and rough, and this concoction looked a bit froo-froo for my liking. But, I knew that the oatmeal would continue to absorb the liquid, so when I poured the oats into my bowl, I topped it off with one more splash of soy milk. A few minutes later, when I was ready to dig in, I approached with caution...

And, it was the most exciting thing I have ever tasted. I've found another way to enjoy my oatmeal. Let's not forget I can be cool and American now, with my milky oatmeal.

So, here's what I used and how I did it:
-Half cup (dry) of McCann's Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal;
-One and a half cups of water;
-Couple teaspoons of salt (I love my oatmeal salty, not sweet);
-Approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of a cup of Enriched Soy Dream milk.

I put the water and salt into a smallish saucepan and let it come to a small boil. Then I added the oats. For about 6 minutes, I gave the oatmeal a steady stir, with intermittent breaks. At about 5 minutes in, I added a splash of soy milk. After pouring it into the bowl, I added one more splash and gave it a good stir. A couple minutes later, it was perfect and ready to eat.

For those of you who have a Trader Joe's nearby and want to try this out (if you already haven't), you can get all of these ingredients there. No, I do not work for TJ's in any way, although, I should be given some sort of lifetime discount, because I am one of their biggest fans. [FYI, I have noticed that TJ's have the cheapest Tofurkey products in the Penninsula.]

So, I am off to read some more of Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet" as I snuggle in bed with my cat Pushkin.

Hefty 2010 Goals.

2009-12-10T23:58:00.000-08:00

Oh, jebus... Hello! And, welcome to the start of what could be the most important and exciting journey I have ever taken.

Okay, so that might be a bit of an exaggeration. While this decision is HUGE (and I do mean life altering) and very exciting, it is just as important as quite a few decisions I have made and are going to make at some point in my long life. [Let's hope for some longevity, and comfort too!]

Sure, I am alluding to this grand decision and you have absolutely no idea what it is. Don't you worry your pretty little head off. I'll totally get to what it is.

First, let me give you a little bit of a background:

This journey of mine dates back to a time when neon leggings were only just falling out of fashion and GAP was at the height of its preppy, yuppie, San Francisco chic fame. I can vividly remember the cute shorts my mother had bought me. They had mini black and white checks. I had already gone off fish by then. For some reason, as I was developing into a surly teenager, my taste for anything sea related had gone bitterly sour. Yes, at 12, I was an avid seafood protester. But, it was around this time of warm summer evenings, and fantastic after school social events on the soccer fields that horror stories of fish and various seafood offerings were told by my peers. These urban legends were the official end to my desire to be within 500 yards of anything edible that came from the sea. And, to this day, I still gag every time I have to walk past the seafood section of any grocery store just to stock up on bags of frozen edamame. It is such a joyful experience.
It was around this time that I slowly found myself going off all sorts of cooked animals. I found myself gulping down bolognase sauce just to avoid wasting food and to make my parents happy. I'd avoid eating turkey at holiday dinners and load up on vegetables. [Trust me, I was just as tired as everyone else. Potatoes have the same effect that turkey, apparently has. Quite frankly, I don't believe the turkey-tryptophan discussion. I believe that, in America, when a family has a large turkey dinner at any designated holiday, it's the overeating that makes people tired, not the turkey.] And, when any kind of pig selection was offered to me, I'd want to eat it, but chose not to. Why? I don't know why I chose not to initially. Then, after years of not eating any pig byproduct, I got violently sick the one time I did. Spending the better part of a day and into the night with your face in the toilet will put you off the cause.

So, over the span of seventeen years, I've basically been a lacto-sometimes ovo-vegetarian. It wasn't until two or three years ago that I stopped eating eggs and avoided as many foods as possible that had eggs in the ingredients. And, last year, I cut chicken (the last, very scarce amount of meat I ate) out of my diet. And, this year, my dairy intake has decreased significantly.

This decision, which I will explain momentarily, has been a long time coming. A large part of me is full of this nagging compassion. Even as a child, I felt a tiny amount of guilt every time I ate an animal. Lucky for me, my developing body correlated with my brain. My cheeks, taste buds, tongue, tonsils and throat all managed to get nervous and faulty when they'd come in contact with various animal products. My brain managed to psych them out.

So, my decision for 2010 is to attempt dietary veganism. Because I have lived so long eating a primarily plant based diet, I feel I am well prepared for this transition. Sure, it'll be difficult. I do have a weakness for milk chocolate. I also sometimes get a major jones for a slice of Pizza My Heart's cheese. And, yes, I will occasionally enjoy a Guiness, which is the only way you can get me to knowingly ingest fish byproducts.

Why, you might ask, did I say "dietary veganism"? Well, let me tell you this. All of the clothing I purchase for myself [I/myself] are animal byproduct free. I am a huge cotton fan. And, if someone else purchases me clothing and/or accessories, they choose animal byproduct free stuff, or I am just polite and accept the gift. Nobody's perfect, right? And, as far as my hair/skincare and cosmetics go? I always buy cruelty free, and do my best to buy animal byproduct free. But again, nobody's perfect.

With that said, I have always tried to do my best to be a saavy consumer with both food and non-food related items. I might end up buying something with beeswax in it. And, I often get snipped at for buying something with a lanolin ingredient in it. But, often times, a synthetic form of lanolin is used. Science is pretty forward moving these days. All those dermatologists and cancer researchers behind many skincare brands know ways of making synthetic forms of ingredients that once came from animal byproducts. And, with research, said scientists are finding that many plant based sources work just as efficiently as these animal sources. Hey, guess what? These plant resources are much more renewable and much cheaper to obtain! Wow! What a breakthrough!! Easier and cheaper to access! Whodathunkit?

This blog is going to journey the next year (and a bit) of my life. It will even include vegan friendly xmas meal contributions that I make to a primarily omnivorous group. And, I am even going to attempt vegan gingerbread. I've been jonesin' for some killer gingerbread for a couple months now. It will take a few attempts, as I've never made any kind of bread. But, it'll be worth it...

Please come back! Laugh with me! Or at me. Really, I don't mind if you do.
And, remember to love all living beings around you...
...Because Karma is a fierce creature.