My Vegan Journal

Great news! All charges against Amy Meyer have been dropped!

If you’re out of the loop on the story, here’s the gist of it, in Amy’s own words:

“I visited the Smith Meatpacking Slaughterhouse in Draper, Utah because I have heard numerous reports that any bystander standing on the public thoroughfare could witness the horror of cows struggling for their lives as they were led to their violent deaths. What I saw was upsetting, to say the least. At all times while I documented this cruelty, I remained on public property. I never once crossed the barbed wire fence that exists to demarcate private and public property.”

Despite being on public property, Amy Meyer, 25, was charged with a class B misdemeanor for agricultural operation interference – a crime punishable by up to 6 months in jail! Prosecutors filed the charge in Draper’s justice court Feb. 19 after Meyer reportedly used her cell phone to film the Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Co. 11 days earlier.

Amy was the first person in the U.S. to be charged under an “Ag Gag” law, but I doubt she’ll be the last.

If you’re interested in finding out more information on this issue, Columbia School of Law is holding a special panel discussion on the implications of Ag-Gag laws, which outlaw the taking of photos & videos on industrial farms that would document animal abuse as well as workers’ rights violations & environmental problems. It will be streaming LIVE today from 7-8:30pm EST. You can watch HERE.

The new Ag Gag laws should outrage you from both a human rights AND animal rights standpoint. And if you don’t have one in your state, one may be coming soon…

This year, under the pressure of BIG Ag lobbyists, ten more states have introduced anti-whistleblower bills: Arkansas, California, Indiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Vermont. If slaughterhouses have nothing to hide, and are acting with the law, why are they SO scared of someone filming footage while standing on PUBLIC property? How these laws can pass in ANY state, just blows my mind!

Thank you to ALL of you for being a voice for the voiceless.

And a special thank you today, to the wonderful, Ms. Amy Meyer.

As most of you have noticed, along with a wave of posts about Saint Patrick’s Day, March suddenly brings an influx of all sorts of postings about the Natural Products Expo held twice a year… once on the East Coast in the fall and here on the West Coast in March. So what’s all the hub-bub about?

The Expo is a place where lots and lots of folks gather to display, eat and talk about the latest “natural” foods and products. Some of the booths have little private meeting areas where I’m sure a lot of deals are made between buyers and manufacturers.

There are over 2,000 exhibits, lots of guest speakers and book signings, as well as (and most importantly to ME) lots and lots of new and innovative vegan food to taste!!

The first time I went to the expo was back in 2005 when I was looking for healthy snacks for public schools! And although there were lots of vegan products back then, I can assure you, 8 years later, there are MANY more now! And that’s great news! For us, AND for the animals!

Since the general public doesn’t usually attend this industry trade show, I thought to share with you a few photos I took last year so you could see some of the highlights!

There’s lots of vegan ice cream and chocolate! And there’s plenty of kale chips and healthy crackers too! Mary’s Gone Crackers has lots of snacks that make for a great late night study treat… those crackers are one of those things you can just munch on all night to stay awake and not feel bad that you ate a bunch of junk when the cracker bag is empty because it’s so healthy! (If you don’t mind the occasional not so healthy study snack – check out Trader Joe’s “Baked Snack-O’s” – sooo good! They taste kind of like “Funyuns” lol)

There are also petitions to sign – such as the Non-GMO-Project, etc. And awesome decor in the bathroom stall. I couldn’t resist… it’s a funny flier!! “Looking for a Good Time??! Vegan Shreds with Benefits lol! I may be the only blogger that snaps pictures inside a bathroom stall… but you know, for you, anything!

They also have vegan fish items… such as vegan prawns, but fake or not, I don’t like anything that tastes fishy. Which is a shame, since I’m missing out on seaweed which I know is super healthy.

They also have less processed foods such as frozen fruits and veggies and an array of vegan vitamins and bath & beauty products too! All around, a super great event and I’m super excited to attend once again. Will report back with the new scoop as soon as I see what’s in store for vegans this year!!

Now if only I had a “DO NOT GET FULL” button I could push for the day… without fail, I always, ALWAYS, fill up long before I finish tasting everything!! It’s not fair. Will do my best to sample as much as possible!

Have a beautiful and vegantastic weekend everyone!

I had to take a couple of months off from writing on the My Vegan Journal blog and facebook page so I could focus on my studies. Mission accomplished! WHEW! I think that’s an all time record for me… and although I really missed chatting with everyone, it really IS a good idea to disconnect from social media every now and then! If you can, try to see if you can “disconnect” from twitter, facebook and pinterest for a day or two… or even a week. Or perhaps limit your use to a certain time of the day. It’s easy to get swallowed up by the internet and forget that there’s all sorts of other cool ways to learn and interact with the world! Like hiking, or tea with a friend, or simply reading a book!

Now that I’m back, I’ll start right where I left off! Vegan Cheese!! I found some really scrumptious vegan mozzarella shreds at Trader Joe’s and I think they’re fantastic! They melt really well too! I’ve tried them on vegan pizza and baked eggplant – both came out delicious! And what I really love is how easy it is to make a super quick breakfast with them too! When I’m in a rush, I simply take a very thin slice of onion and put it on a vegan english muffin (also at trader joe’s!), sprinkle some cheese shreds on top and pop it in the toaster oven for a few minutes!

And voila! A Vegan Hot & Cheesy Muffin!

Obviously, it’s a very “all-white” meal and I always encourage everyone to eat colorfully to get the maximum health benefits, so have some fresh fruit or a smoothie too, if you can! Another great thing about this new cheese is that there’s no palm oil in it, so you don’t have to worry about hurting the orangoutangs.

Another new vegan cheese that’s about to hit the market is from Daiya – Cheese Slices!!! For sandwiches!! In cheddar, swiss and provolone! Mmmmm… I am so excited about them! They are making their debut at the Natural Products Expo later this week in Anaheim and I will be there to try them out… provided that they can convince me in person that the palm oil they use doesn’t hurt the orangoutangs.

Here’s what they have to say about it on their website:

“All of the palm oil we source is from Brazil (which is not a natural habitat for orangutans.) Our supplier, which is certified by EcoSocial and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), works with several independent farmers to replace slash and burn practices with a sustainable organic system. The company helps preserve forests surrounding the plantation by only replanting oil palms in degraded areas.”

I’ve read SO much about the harm caused to orangoutangs due to palm oil cultivation – it makes me SICK – and I don’t want to play any part in hurting them. Let’s hope this new Daiya cheese truly is cruelty~free!

I hope everyone is doing well!! And enjoying lots of scrumptious vegan food! Feel free to leave a message here or on facebook if you need any “vegan” tips! Until next time…

Bon Vegan Appétit!!

I just deactivated it for a little bit… one of my new year’s resolutions for 2013 is to spend a little less time on social networks, so I’m taking a little facebook “breather” – but I’ll be back over there soon! I did this for a little bit last summer too –> Facebook Summer Break

In the meantime, I’ll still post here now and then, so stay tuned!

Here’s something my favorite bookstore posted today. I love it! If you’re ever in Portland, check out Powell’s Books. It’s amazing! Floors and floors of new and used books. SO much fun!

My next post will be about the new vegan cheese I found at Trader Joe’s!! Have a great weekend everyone!

Oooh, this came out so good!

I wanted to try out my new glass straws today, so I made some super sweet and healthy spinach smoothies!

I used organic blueberries (phytonutrients & vitamin C!), bananas (potassium & manganese!), raw spinach leaves (vitamin A!), vanilla almond milk (calcium!), vanilla extract (it just tastes good lol!), almond butter (protein!) and flax meal (for iron, calcium, fiber & omegas!).

Just add the ingredients to taste! I made two smoothies and just “eye-balled” it by starting of with 3 ripe bananas and a handful each of blueberries and spinach. No recipe needed! Obviously the less almond milk you add, the thicker it will be – so adjust according to how you like your smoothies!

As for flaxseed, did you know that way back in the 8th Century King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it? You should try adding it to smoothies now and then. I love it! I use a ground flax seed meal – which by the way, flax seeds, once ground, should always be stored in the fridge.

The combo of green from the spinach, blue from the blueberries and brown from the almond butter, will give your smoothie a “unique” green~grey coloration, but don’t be fooled! With the ripe bananas, this smoothie will be SUPER sweet and delicious! And healthy too!

Have a plant STRONG day! Cheers!

Baked potatoes seem like one of the most perfect foods. You just pop them in the oven, and an hour later, they’re ready to eat! But I always feel like I’m wasting all of the energy of an oven baking at 400 degrees for an hour when there’s only 2 potatoes in there, so now I always pop a few more yummy foods into the oven at the same time!

Tonight I baked butternut squash and beets too! All you do is cut a piece of butternut squash, remove the seeds, and then top it with whatever seasonings you like. If you’re in a savory mood, you might want to add a little sea salt, pepper or curry powder… whatever suits your fancy! Tonight, I added organic brown sugar to mine… it turned out super yummy!

As for the beets, all you do is chop off the top and the little root on the bottom, and voila!

You can bake your veggies however you prefer, but I find it easiest to use a little bit of foil for each one. I found pre-cut foil at the Dollar Store that works perfectly… and it works out to only being 4 cents per piece of foil, so you can’t “beet” the price lol. And if it’s not too messy, you can re-use it again.

I just think it’s so fantastic to be able to put three delicious items into the oven, with very little effort, and walk away… come back an hour later, and dinner is pretty much prepared all by itself. No recipe either!

I also cooked up some veggie burgers and beautiful organic collard greens to go with it too – taking less than 15 minutes.

If you’re wondering what’s on my scrumptious baked potato, it’s Follow Your Heart’s new “Pesto Vegenaise” – it is fantastic!

And I drizzled a little balsamic vinegar on the baked beet… SO good!

So if you’re a “new” vegan, don’t overwhelm yourself with lots of complicated recipes… make it easy on yourself! A scrumptious, healthy, colorful plate is easier than you think!

Bon Vegan Appétit!

That’s right! Today the Los Angeles City Council did it again, showing they’re a friend of the animals and of wellness for all! Just last month they passed an ordinance banning “pet” stores from selling bunnies, cats and dogs from breeders in hope of placing millions of homeless animals into loving homes instead.

It’s a tough act to follow so quickly, but they did it! The Los Angeles City Council just declared that ALL Mondays shall be “Meatless Mondays!”

The resolution contains powerful language in support of treating animals compassionately and touts the health benefits of a plant based diet:

“Whereas, recent studies and reports have demonstrated that we can lower our carbon footprint simply by reducing the amount of animal-based foods we eat; and

Whereas, the American Dietetic Association recognizes that reduced meat consumption decreases the risk of various health problems, stating, “Scientific data suggests positive relationships between a vegetarian diet and reduced risk for several chronic degenerative diseases and conditions, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and some types of cancer”; and

Whereas, a growing number of people are reducing their meat consumption to help prevent animal cruelty.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Los Angeles Hereby declares all Mondays as “Meatless Mondays” in support of comprehensive sustainability efforts as well as to further encourage residents to eat a more varied plant-based diet to protect their health and protect animals.”

As L.A. City Councilmember and co-author of the resolution, Ed P. Reyes put it, “When dealing with issues as big as global warming, or even as personal as battling diabetes or obesity, it’s easy to feel helpless, like there’s little we can do to make a difference. But the small changes we make every day can have a tremendous impact. That’s why this Meatless Monday resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.”

Bravo!!!!

You can read the FULL (and brilliant!) text of the Meatless Mondays Resolution HERE.

And here are some Plant Based Food Ideas for you! And cruelty~free alternatives to use in lieu of eggs too!

Have a happy and healthy day!

BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT: A Southern California news station broadcasted their undercover investigation of stores which claimed to sell “faux” fur. Salespeople at stores, which included Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, and Loehmann’s, ALL asserted that items labeled “faux fur” were NOT real fur… but a fur expert took the items apart and confirmed that despite the label, they ARE real fur. Disgusting!!

Beware of “faux” fur and “faux” fur trimmed items. MANY are mislabeled. Cruelty is never in fashion!

Well, if you’re like me, you’ve probably “pinned” or “liked” lots of nifty tips on how to make eco-friendly, natural household cleaners. The problem was, I just never got around to making any of them… until now! Better late than never!

It’s not only inexpensive, but it works REALLY well! I don’t know why I didn’t make some sooner. In addition, unlike lots of the traditional store-bought cleaners, this one is vegan and cruelty~free, which means no bunnies had to have it stuck in their eyes to tell us the obvious… it hurts! Duh! So leave the bunnies alone!

All you do, is re-use one of your empty spray bottles (clean it out well) – or if you don’t have one, I found spray bottles at the dollar store for… you guessed it! One dollar! lol

Then just fill up the bottle half way with plain “white” (although it’s actually clear) vinegar. And then fill up the rest of the bottle with water!

Then if you want to, you can add a few drops of essential oils. I used lavender and sweet orange… Mmmm! If you don’t have any essential oils, another option is to put the vinegar in a glass jar and let it sit with orange or lemon peels for a couple of weeks to absorb the citrus oil. Whatever suits your fancy! I usually say “season to taste!” but with this I’ll say “fragrance till happy!”

And then, clean! I’ve actually been a little more excited about cleaning since I made this over the weekend… which is always a good thing!

Have a healthy day!

Ok, so I’m not a famous celebrity or personal trainer… and I’m not a doctor or scientist either. But I am a Health “Teacher of the Year” and started teaching my students about Monsanto and GMOs back in the 90s when they first emerged, nearly 15 years ago. And more importantly, I’m simply someone who cares and I’m outspoken about things I believe in.

Which reminds me of a bumper sticker I had plastered on my podium when I was teaching which read “Speak your Mind, even if your Voice Shakes.” And I do.

Here’s the thing. I understand both sides of the abortion debate. Affirmative action too. Even the death penalty. And although I feel very strongly about where I stand on these issues, I still can see the reasoning behind the other side. I really do. But labeling our food?? I can think of SO many reasons why I have a right to know what’s in my food, but not a single reason why I shouldn’t have a right to know. Thank goodness this isn’t a debate competition, because honestly, if someone gave me the “other” side to argue, I’d flat out lose & simply walk away with my head down.

We’re not talking about a “ban” here. We’re just asking that if a food is genetically modified, that it be labeled as such. Over 60 other countries label food which is genetically modified. Even China and Russia, which Americans so often view as suppressive and anti-human rights, have the right to have their food labeled if it’s a GMO. Yes, we’re behind China and Russia on this one. It’s mind boggling.

I’m not going to write much about the technical mad scientist “frankenfood” side of GMOs, because I’m sure you’re already aware of how it basically works. Chemical companies such as Monsanto claim that through the recombination of DNA, GMO food items become bigger, grow faster, and are more resilient to bugs. But there are many, MANY studies that show that there have actually been less crop yields and more pesticide use since the introduction of GMOs. Not to mention the ugly “strong-armed” legal impact on small farmers – many have been driven out of business. I suggest watching “Food Inc.” if you get a chance. The politics behind GMOs are enough to make any caring person shudder.

There are also conflicting reports as to the health effects from GMOs. And the problem is that while we’re trying to decide if they’re “good” or “bad”, we’re releasing these genetically modified foods into nature, and we will never be able to get them back… it will never be the same again. 95% of all corn in the U.S. is already genetically modified. I fear that soon we won’t have to label it because we’ll know that ALL corn is GMO corn. Unless we grow it naturally ourselves, or buy from a small local farmer, we won’t have a choice but to eat it.

And on a personal note, as a vegan, I think I have a right to know if there are fish genes in my tomatoes. Why oh WHY would I ever want to eat a fish when I want to eat a tomato? The thought of it is sad and repulsive to me.

The point is – there are two sides to the GMO debate. Is it safe? Is it not safe? I know what I believe, but I can argue both. And I’m not paranoid of GMOs. I usually buy organic, but if I’m at a party and they’re serving GMO chips and salsa and I’m hungry, I’m going to eat some. Chips and salsa everybody! Whoohoo! However, there are NOT two sides to the right to LABEL GMOs.

People try to argue that the proposition is “poorly written” and it will cost lots of money. In fact, the deceptive NO on Prop 37 campaign tells us it will cost families over $400/year if it passes. Well, you know what? Companies write “New and Improved!”, “New Larger Size!” and “New Flavor!” all the time on their products – so why is it so hard to print “GMO”? It’s not hard; it’s easy.

As for lawsuits and regulation costs?? Well, just label it and there won’t be a problem! Yes, there’s a problem if someone lists dairy-free and there’s milk in the item. The item is generally recalled and they can face lawsuits from people who are allergic to dairy milk. Doesn’t that seem fair? It’s something we’re putting into our bodies and we’re trusting you to be truthful. Label the food properly, and nobody gets hurt. It’s 2012. We expect no less.

And you know what’s really funny? So many people are saying, “Hey, this is a job for the legislature; it shouldn’t be an initiative… it’s poorly written.” And these SAME people are the ones who are always complaining saying government is too BIG and the government can’t get anything done. Well, here ya go. The people took some “initiative” in California and did this themselves! They wrote it, they signed the petition, and here we have it! We didn’t need the government! This is the will of the people and it didn’t cost a zillion hours of high priced time from senators and members of the assembly in the capitol. WE did it. So stop telling us we need to go through the “government” first. If we want the right to know what’s in our food, we shall have that right.

So please, VOTE YES ON CA PROP 37! Thanks to Monsanto and others spending almost $50 million dollars to flood the media with misleading commercials and radio ads, the proposition is slipping in the polls, so each and every vote counts. We need you! And remember, it’s not a ban… it’s simply the right to know.

Next up? I want to know what’s in all of those funky, unlisted “natural flavors” lol. Well, I do! And I think I have a right to know that too.

Have a beautiful day everyone!