Please note, I have moved my blog to wordpress. Please visit here: http://allthingsveg.wordpress.com/

Ohio Exotic Animal Tragedy

Photo: AP

The forced slaughter of innocent, exotic animals: It's up to us to prevent this from happening again.

The image of dozens of exotic animal corpses splayed across a field in Zanesville, OH, is not one that will soon leave my mind. Photos of this tragedy spanned the Internet this week, and the public's outrage is clear. At this point in time, I only hope that this outrage is not soon lost. Now is the time for people to take the opportunity to contact Ohio officials and other state governments around the country, so that this does not happen again. Start by contacting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to share your feelings about their lax exotic animal laws.

Find out where your state stands on laws relating to the private possession of exotic animals.

Foie Gras Cruelty

Conduct a Google image search for the term "Foie Gras" and the top two rows of results will display just as many images of pate elegantly placed upon a gleaming white plate as they will images of insufferable cruelty against the animals from which this so-called "delicacy" is harvested.

Foie gras (literally translated from French to English as the "fatty liver"), is the result of force-feeding ducks and geese through long metal pipes, which are violently shoved down their throats, causing their livers to expand and rendering them immobile. Not to worry, because only 12-18 days after this process, the birds are slaughtered and their fatty livers served up for the enjoyment of restaurant diners across the world. What’s poor quality of life if only momentary?

Foie gras has caused much controversy and is back in the news again. This time in today's edition of The New York Times. The article, "In California, Going All Out to Bid Adieu to Foie Gras," reminds readers that in eight months, the sale of foie gras in California will become illegal. This law was voted into place by the majority of the state's citizens. In backlash to the law, a group of chefs and restauranteurs recently hosted a dinner in which all eight courses contained foie gras.

The author of the The New York Times article attempts to share both sides of the foie gras controversy, but fails when he ends up comparing the impending foie gras ban to the Prohibition era. This is an unfair comparison as the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s had nothing to do with the unnatural suffering inflicted by humans on other living creatures -- completely different controversy.

People who see no wrong in the production of foie gras argue that the birds like to be fed.  While many disagree, this is beyond the point.  Regardless of whether or not the birds approach the feeders for food, the end result is that their bodies become deformed to the point of incapacitation.

Proponents of foie gras production also see a slippery slope in regard to being told what they can and cannot eat.  This is also beyond the point. Many meat eaters today would agree that factory farms are inhumane, and are in support of more humane farming.  There should be no fear here on the part of carnivorous diners that ending the abuse of animals on foie gras farms will instantly dictate that they no longer eat meat. It is simply a step toward a more humane culture.

Foie gras, which was originally a French delicacy, is a big part of some European cultures. Yet, the sale of foie gras has been banned in over a dozen European countries. Why? Because it is cruel. The fact is that, in addition to the suffering that occurs when a bird’s liver expands to 10 times its body weight, birds on foie gras farms are crammed into small cages and often have their throats punctured during the force-feeding process.

If foie gras has been banned in many European countries for its unequivocal cruelty, then why not in the US?  Still unsure as to whether your state should partake in the sale of this unnecessary item? Watch this video and decide for yourself:



Sir Roger Moore (aka James Bond) narrates the Animal Protection & Rescue League's animal cruelty investigation of the "foie gras" industry in the U.S. and in France. For more information and to get involved, visit www.StopForceFeeding.com.

Top 5 Places to Shop for Vegan Shoes

Ava Pump from Novacas

Shopping for cruelty-free shoes is one of the biggest challenges a vegan faces. In the past, one could easily find non-leather shoes at stores such as Payless, but these products were often of low quality -- not to mention uncomfortable! Happily, this is beginning to change as veganism becomes more prominent in today's culture. After years of searching, I'm happy to share the best places to shop for vegan shoes:

5. Target

While not exclusively vegan, Target offers quite a few non-leather shoes, including work shoes, sandals and some great fall boots. Target is a useful option for vegans because of its accessibility. In addition, Target's One Star brand has a line of purses which are most often vegan. All materials are listed on the tag inside the purse.

4. Alternative Outfitters

This online shop sells a variety of vegan shoes. In addition to vegan shoes, this online shop sells vegan bags, jackets and accessories. Visit Alternative Outfitters for hip, youthful vegan style.

3. Zappos

Everyone's favorite online shoe store caters to vegans! That's right, Zappos allows shoppers the ability to search by category, and one of those categories is "vegan." Zappos will sort through all the name brands it carries and provide you with the non-leather, non-wool options.

2. Sudo Shoes

"Walk with principle." That's the motto of Sudo Shoes, located on Mass Ave. in Cambridge, MA, right outside of Boston. The store offers a variety of exclusively vegan brands. Right now the store is local, but the company plans on starting an online store very soon.

1. Moo Shoes

All the style you'd expect from a Manhattan-based shoe shop -- minus the all the leather! Moo Shoes is one of the first shoe stores that catered to vegans. Moo Shoes makes its hip New York offerings available online for all.

Indulgence: Vegan Ice Cream Sundae

 

Smooth, rich ice cream, whipped topping, chocolate sauce... How am I going to give this up?

As I transitioned to the vegan lifestyle I knew the things I'd miss most.  Turns out I don't have to miss anything at all! Vegan ice cream products sure have come a long way since tofutti.

Today, I put together a vegan sundae with some of may favorite vegan products: So Delicious Chocolate Velvet Soy Ice Cream, SoyaToo Rice Whip and Organic Chocolate Sauce.  All these ingredients are available at most local Whole Foods markets.

Nowadays, most larger grocery chains, like Ingles, Stop & Shop and Shaws, will at the very least carry dairy-free ice cream brands. My current city of Brighton, MA, even has a local ice cream shop called 3 Scoops that offers homemade vegan ice cream choices.

After years of taste-testing dairy-free frozen desserts, I'm happy to share my results!

Top Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts

 
Purely Decadent - The vegan answer to Ben & Jerry's. Pint-sized packages of soy milk or coconut milk-based ice cream mixed with tasty treats like cookie dough, peanut butter, or chocolate-covered almonds. The coconut milk-based options have become very popular as of late. They are sweet and yummy, but for a richer, more traditional ice cream-like taste, go with the soy. This brand is produced by Turtle Mountain, which also makes So Delicious. Try the Mocha Almond Fudge!

So Delicous - This is a great choice if you plan on slathering on the dairy-free whipped topping and chocolate sauce. This brand also makes some delectable mini ice cream sandwiches.

Larry and Luna's Coconut Bliss - Creamier than the Purely Decadent coconut milk desserts, but with fewer interesting flavors. One distinct bonus is that this brand is all organic!

Tempt HempMilk - I once devoured a pint of the mint chip helpmilk product.  However, if you're just starting out as a vegan and not used to the taste of hempmilk, try above options first. 

Almond Dream - Great texture. Limited flavors. You may also want to try making your own almond milk ice cream. 

RiceDream - I find this has an unpleasing aftertaste and tend to stay away from it. 

Tofutti Frozen Dessert Products - Edible, but they have a strange chemical-like aftertaste of which I'm not a fan.

The challenge of being Vegetarian in social situations.

"You don’t eat meat? How about some chicken, then?” I’ve heard this offer many times from relatives, friends, and wait staff, always given with the best of intentions. As a vegan, it’s often hard to communicate my dietary restrictions, but more difficult is conveying why I choose this lifestyle without insulting people in social situations.

I decided to become vegetarian at age 11. My parents adjusted to the idea fairly quickly. However, I recall many childhood nights at friends’ houses, watching TV in one room, while in the adjoining kitchen, a mom sautéed hamburger or boiled some hotdogs. As the smells of cooking flesh would waft toward me, I’d start formulating explanations for my refusal of the inevitable dinner offering. “No thanks, I don’t eat animals,” was usually all I’d muster. With concern, the chef would always offer some alternative, usually chicken or fish, apparently not classifying these as animals. Walking home hungry, I’d wonder, “Did I sound ungrateful? Was she insulted? Does she get it?” Even then, I realized I was making some sort of social faux-pas.

Since childhood, I’ve been through it all – weddings, dinner parties, funerals – always trying not to insult my hosts by refusing food. These events have given me opportunity to explain my choice in many different ways. And it’s gotten easier. Over the past 10 years, numerous health, environmental, and ethical arguments for a vegetable-based diet have been widely accepted. I’ve argued them all, and for the most part my omnivore inquisitors see my point. However, I am most often met with resistance when I explain, first and foremost, I feel it’s morally wrong to eat animals. Is this explanation not valid? Do people feel judged, preached to, or insulted? I walk a fine line between expressing myself and sounding self-righteous. Simply put, where most see “meat,” I see an animal, and cannot bring myself to be a part of its death and consumption. But I’ve learned when it is and is not appropriate to say this (RE: not at the dinner table). People may not understand, but I’ll continue to pass on the chicken.

Have you ever thought about becoming a vegetarian?

Have you ever stared down at your plate and contemplated the fact that the meat on it was once a living, breathing being?  Have you ever wanted to live a more compassionate life toward animals? Have you ever seen a documentary such as Food Inc. and turned away in disgust? Whether for moral, ethical, environmental or health reasons…


Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I could be a vegetarian?”

This sentence is one I hear from people repeatedly.  It is typically followed up by the clause, “…but it’s too hard.” I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

I have encountered many people curious about making the lifestyle change, many of whom have made steps in this direction. Going “veg” does not need to happen overnight. For some, it never fully comes to fruition. I have friends who have decided to simply cut out beef or decided that pork or poultry is not for them. These steps make a difference – to your health, your emotional well being, and your environment.

I also have friends and family members who are living veg lifestyles and are constantly questioning certain decisions: “Is it okay to eat seafood?” “Can I be a vegetarian and still wear leather?” “How do I know if my shampoo is vegan?”

This blog will examine all things veg – whether it’s how to take the steps toward vegetarianism, the best vegan establishments at which to dine, discussion on the environmental impacts of the meat industry or the best place to buy vegan shoes.