How much water went into that steak?

In the spring, with the green hills and abundance of flowers, it might not seem like there's a shortage of water on our planet.  Unfortunately, this is the reality for much of the world, and we are moving into an era where control and distribution of water is becoming more and more important.  We know we can't live without water.


If we are to be proactive and head off a world water crisis, we need to consider how we eat.  According to the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization, 70% of all water usage is dedicated to factory farms and industrial agriculture.    It takes an estimated 1,799 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.  And 880 gallons of water for one gallon of milk (Source: Water Footprint Network).


I know it's unrealistic to think that everyone will go vegan.  But if people are educated about the amount of water that goes into the food they are eating and how this impacts the environment, hopefully they will make more conscious choices.     

Vegan Oasis in the Northwest

Could there really be such a thing as a vegan mini mall? I wondered as we drove through Portland, Oregon in the rain last week.  Living in the suburbs of Phoenix, I'm very familiar with the concept of mini (strip) malls, but the idea of several vegan establishments in a row was an exciting thought.


This vegan mall does exist, and it's a row of four vegan businesses at the northeast corner of Southeast 12th Avenue and Stark Street.  The businesses consist of:

• Herbivore Clothing Company - they sell clothing and accessories made from materials of non-animal origin.  They also have a good selection of books loosely centered around veganism.  Note to those with small kids: some of the words on the clothing are of the four-letter variety, which my son promptly noticed and vocalized.
• Scapegoat Tattoo - the ink used for the tattoos does not contain animal products.  We didn't enter the store, but peeked in the window.
• Sweet Pea Bakery - they offer vegan sandwiches, soups, brownies and more baked items.  In honor of our visit on St. Patrick's Day, my son purchased a shamrock cookie that he quickly devoured.
• Food Fight Grocery - This is a vegan grocery, and I was in heaven.  It's a small space, but offers many items I've had trouble finding such as vegan cheese, snacks, and more.  I purchased a few books and an egg substitute with which I can't wait to experiment.

If you're ever in the Portland area, I recommend a quick stop to these stores.  The mall was easy to find, parking was simple, and the employees were knowledgeable and friendly.  Each business has their own website, so you can visit them in cyberspace too.

Happy shopping!

A cautionary tale

Cold turkey is always a challenging way to change anything.  Even when becoming vegan.  


I'm often a person of extremes, and when I decide something, I jump with both feet.  I hadn't eaten any meat except fish for 3 years, and didn't think giving up fish and dairy would be that big of a deal for me.  I didn't realize that there's a period of detox - even from dairy - when you give it up all at once.


I spent the last week in Oregon visiting my mom, and was feeling exhausted and headachy.  I since found out that this was likely due to the period of detox that vegans often experience.  Though it's so good for your body, anytime you give up poisons (think how you feel when giving up caffeine), your body needs time to cleanse and it can temporarily weaken you.


So, I hate to admit it, but I did have some dairy while I was there.  It's also very difficult to be a guest in a meat-eating home without being prepared.  And I wasn't.  I learned a lot, however, and will arrive more prepared next time (think snacks).  In the meantime, I'm feeling much better and am more committed than ever to the vegan lifestyle!

Mac & Cheese(ish)

So you think Mac & Cheese has to actually have cheese to be good?  Au contraire!  


A friend sent me the link to the VegNews mac & cheese recipe a few days ago, and since I adore mac & cheese and thought I wouldn't be able to have it anymore, I thought I'd give this recipe a shot.  I'm SO glad I did!  This is truly delicious and met with my husband's omnivore stamp of approval too.  


I'm not much of a cook and it took me about an hour to make, but I'm not complaining and will happily spend the time to do it again often.  Check out the link and if you make it, please let me know your thoughts!


http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=40&catId=10


Happy cooking!

The Loving What?

As much as I love fresh veggies and fruits, I am usually loathe to visit a strictly vegetarian (much less vegan) restaurant.  Like many of you, I'm sure, I have a pre-conceived notion of an unfulfilling meal that tastes like cardboard.  I don't want to "get through it" just because it's good for me.  I enjoy eating, and I want my food to truly taste good.


But, in the spirit of trying new things and embracing veganism, I decided to check out The Loving Hut.  This is a chain of restaurants throughout the US (most of them in California) that only offers vegan food.  Their motto is "Be veg, go green 2 save the planet".  


The restaurant was in the corner of a strip mall.  I recruited my husband to try it with me and we were impressed with how clean it was.  It's spotless. Very minimalist decor with white tables and chairs.  You take a menu at the front, choose a table, and then walk up to the counter to order and pay when you're ready.  The waitress was very friendly and explained the menu options.  When we returned to our table, there was soup waiting for us in white bowls with the Loving Hut logo.


I ordered the Sweet and Sour Divine which used soy protein instead of chicken.  It was absolutely delicious - didn't taste anything like cardboard!  My husband had the Blissful Fried Rice and I kept stealing bites from his plate.  Truly tasty.  We also had Perrier and our orders came with rice.  Total cost of lunch for both of us was $19.


I've read about the TVs in the restaurant that show the founder, Supreme Master Ching Hai, in a loop on the screens.  We saw the weather in Africa, a few words from the Supreme Master, but the TVs were turned down and I couldn't hear what she was saying.  I didn't find it at all distracting or off-putting.


We will definitely be back.  I'm thrilled to have found a restaurant where I can happily eat anything on the menu!  

Can you be vegan and still eat out?

Yes you can, but how easy or difficult it will be depends a lot on where you live.  In large, urban areas, there are generally more vegan options than in rural areas.


I live in suburban Phoenix, but I'm on a side of town where there aren't many vegan options.  I also have friends who aren't interested in eating at vegan restaurants.  So I try to stick with more ethnic restaurants - Mexican and Asian are usually good bets.  If there's nothing vegan on the menu that appeals to you, my recommendation is to ask whether they would be willing to create something simple for you (i.e. a bean burrito with veggies at a Mexican restaurant).  If not, have a back-up plan (something you can order without the cheese, for example).  If your request is something easy that's within their area of specialty, my experience has been that most of the time they will be willing to accommodate.  Be sure to be very friendly when you ask!


Hopefully, as more people make these requests, more restaurants will add vegan options to the menu.  In the meantime, stay resourceful!