Category Archives: resources guide

Oct 4

Top 5 Eating Habits to Heal the World

Top 5 Eating Habits to Heal the World

1. Support local growers, be it through farmer’s markets, farm-fresh food box deliveries or just keeping your eye out for local labels at the grocery store.

2. Go vegetarian or reduce meat/dairy intake–meat production uses up to 20 times as much energy as growing grain.

3. Choose fair-trade coffee, sugar, chocolate and anything else you can find fair-trade so you can be sure you’re not supporting “sweatshops in the fields”.

4. Buy certified organic to avoid pesticides and spare waterways, wildlife and workers troubled encounters with toxic pesticides.

5. Pass on resource-intensive, packaging-heavy fast food and heavily processed junk.

Aug 19

Spork Online Vegan Cooking Classes!

Spork online is  my favorite online cooking site. Spork online makes a great gift for anyone currently seeking to eat healthier or looking to reduce their meat consumption, it is even a great site if you are already vegan. Spork online has a variety of recipes, even for the most picky of palates. This site makes a great gift for your self or someone else looking for an answer  what do vegans eat?

Spork Foods is a Los Angeles-based gourmet vegan food company owned and operated by sisters Jenny and Heather Goldberg. They offer in-person cooking classes in Los Angeles (www.sporkfoods.com), in-home healthy eating consultations, and recipe development, as well as on-line cooking classes (www.sporkonline.com).

Their love of food started at a young age, when they experimented with recipes in the kitchen with their parents and grandparents.

Jenny and Heather feel like twins, separated by three years.  They both studied Environmental studies in college, and decided then and there to go vegan – forever.

Since their love of cooking was so deeply ingrained, they resolved that becoming vegan would not stand in the way of creating recipes with amazing taste, texture, and flavor.  Jenny soon started veganizing all the girls’ childhood favorites, and their friends would always appear at the door, hungry.  The natural next step was for Jenny and Heather to work together and create Spork Foods and now Sporkonline!

Their recipes are easy to re-create and are sure to impress even the most avid meat eaters! They want you to use these recipes with pride, and show people how incredible, colorful, satisfying, and uplifting food can be.

Jenny was trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Culinary Arts in New York City and has over five years of professional cooking experience. Her perfume is the scent of freshly baked cinnamon rolls or garlic and onions, depending on the menu for class.

Heather has a decade of experience in the environmental non-profit world and makes a morning smoothie that is so delicious it would make anyone happy to start their day!

Together, as sisters, they put their love and care into all the recipes they create.  They hope you will get as excited about vegan food as they do!

May 14

Milk does a body good?

From Milk Factory to Table in Ten Easy Steps!

  1. Artificially inseminate a cow
  2. Inject antibiotics into a cow (because corn fed cows have E-Coli)
  3. When the cow gives birth to a baby, take the baby away (ya, okay, so the mother’s gonna mourn and cry for 5 days…)
  4. Sell the calf for $300 for veal ($10 if the calf is sick from malnutrition from not drinking it’s mother’s milk) or kill it by hitting it with a hammer (normal practice) and leave it to die for up to 48 hours
  5. Milk the cow for six months while it lactates (that milk was supposed to be for the calf you killed)
  6. Pasteurize the milk to kill the E-Coli and Salmonella bacteria.
  7. Bottle the milk and pour down the drain any excess milk you produce (the Milk Industry/Board has quotas).
  8. Ship the milk to the store.
  9. Buy the milk.
  10. Feed the milk to you and your kids (with the antibiotics in it and the side effects).

If this upsets you and you don’t want this to occur, simply pick the first step you’re actually involved in today and stop doing it. That actually breaks the cycle.

So where does this "really" come from?

Sound easy?

Need alternatives (they taste different but one of these you’ll like):

  • Soy Milk
  • Almond Milk
  • Rice Milk
  • Hemp Milk
Mar 26

Are Your Pets Prepared For Disaster

The recent disaster in Japan is a subtle reminder that life threatening disasters can occur very quickly and anywhere in the world. Pets and other animals need to be included in family emergency and evacuation plans.

In fact the Humane Society Of Canada has said that more then likely people won’t leave their homes during a disaster unless they can take their pet with them. I know I’d be one of them. So be prepared so you both can make it out safely.

Why you shouldn’t leave your pets behind

The BCSPCA advises against leaving your pets at home when you evacuate during a disaster. You don’t know what will happen to their surroundings during an emergency, Or when you will be able to go back to get them. What’s not safe for you is not safe for them.

How to ensure their safety

The first thing is to start with being prepared. Having things like animal emergency alert stickers on your windows and doors are so important, this will help rescuers know that your pet could be inside. You can obtain stickers from most pet stores. In the case you do not have anything indicating a pet is inside attach a note on your front door or window that will alert rescuers to the presence of a pet. This could also be something you put in your emergency kit. Other helpful things to put on your note are the name of your pet, age, breed and color,  as well as alternate contact numbers are  also helpful.

For large pets or farm animals, the Humane Society has a field guide for farmers and livestock owners of how to prepare for an evacuation.

How To Prepare

Ensure adequate identification. A collar can only do so much. This can get separated from your pet’s body, or the tag might be too damaged to read. Microchiping is a better option. You can have your vet insert a microchip under your pet’s skin, which should hold his identification and your contact information. Make sure you keep this up to date. And have alternate contact numbers just in case. We all know the story of the two dogs in Japan that made headline news. Well guess what? they were saved and they both had microchips so they were united with their owners very quickly.

Plan where to go. Shelters for people might not take animals. Some hotels will accept animals conditionally. In case you need to evacuate, make sure you will be going to a pet-friendly place.

Ensemble a disaster kit. You prepared a disaster kit for your family. So include items meant for your pet too. These should be in a waterproof container, and should include the following:

  • Veterinary records (In case of pet left behind)
  • Pictures of your pets (In case of lost or pet left behind)
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight or any light source
  • Any Medications
  • Pet clean-up supplies
  • Extra leash and collar
  • Extra food, treats and water for your pet good enough to last two weeks
  • Small Blanket
  • Pet carrier

Have your pet carrier handy. You will need to transport your pet during the disaster, so have a pet carrier that is adequately sized. If you have birds, rodents, amphibia or very small animals cats or dogs you will need something portable so you can easily transport your pet safely.

I suggest watching a movie called MINE, Mine is a documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst disasters in modern U.S. history.

This gripping, character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determines the fate of the animals and the people involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion. MINE examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other. Available on Netflix.

Stay safe, I hope that we never need to put any of our Emergency Kits to use, at least I know you and your companions will at least be prepared, just in case.

Jan 30

The Dairy Alternative

I have had a lot of friends ask me lately about dairy alternatives, since I’m sure there are lot’s more people looking for alternatives I thought I woud write a short blog post on your options for dairy alternatives.

For every dairy product, there is a cruelty-free alternative. Choosing alternatives for cow’s milk offers you lower fat and calories and also contains no cholesterol. In addition in your choice to go dairy free, you choose in avoiding casein , did you know that dairy products don’t provide your body with calcium, in fact milk products deplete your body of calcium contributing to osteoporosis. Not to mention the in-humane reasons to avoid dairy. With todays options it’s so easy to avoid dairy.

 

 

MILK

Soy, rice, hemp, or any nut milk like almond can replace cow’s milk in any recipe. Soy and rice milks are available in a variety of flavors including plain, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.  For desserts, try using almond, oat, or coconut milk.

For whipped cream, try Rich’s brand nondairy whipping cream, beaten until stiff peaks form. You can find it at most specialty stores like Whole Foods, Choices, Capers. If they don’t carry it ask them to bring it in for you.

For buttermilk, combine one cup soy milk and one tablespoon vinegar.

Silk brand creamer makes an excellent coffee creamer.

 

EGGS

For your baking needs you can buy EnerG egg replacer from choices. whole foods, or even Safeway. Want  eggs for breakfast? try a tofu scramble, Oprah likes it too!  or try my fave Tofu eggs benny

 

CHEESE

There are plenty of convenient alternatives to cheese

Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative by Follow Your Heart brand comes in mozzarella, nacho, Monterey jack, and cheddar flavors and contains no casein (a milk derivative). You’ll find it in natural food stores or online at ImEarthKind.com.

Daiya Cheese, also a good brand and it melts, again containing no casein.

Parmesan cheese, try Soymage vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast flakes. nutrition yeast flakes are good in soups and stews or add to cream soups. I know that Choices carries a vegan parmesan but I can’t think of the name.

Try making your own nut cheese, great for parties.

 

SOUR CREAM, CREAM CHEESE

Tofutti brand makes a wide variety of soy cheeses, including nondairy cream cheese, as well as vegan sour cream and ice cream. The sour cream is better than the cow milk version in my opinion.

 

COTTAGE CHEESE, RICOTTA CHEESE, FETA

Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese can be replaced with crumbled or seasoned tofu. To turn your tofu into feta try following this recipe , Feta Cheese Recipe from

 

MAYONIASE

Vegenaise is an excellent alternative to mayonnaise.

 

MARGERINE

Earth Balance can be used in place of any recipe that calls for butter or margarine, or try it on it’s own.

 

YOGURT

Try Silk or Whole Soy brand vegan yogurt alone or in a recipe.

 

ICE CREAM

There is a wide variety of vegan ice cream available on the market. Try Soy Delicious, Soy or Rice Dream or Tofutti, my favorite brand is Larry and Lunas Coconut Bliss.

 

CREAM SAUCE

You can easily replace a cream sauce with nuts, cashews work best. Never heard of making cream sauce with cashews? Click here for the recipe.

 

Jan 19

Animal Issues



Animals Used for Food

Factory Farming
Old MacDonald’s Farm may not be as pleasant as you’d thought.
Dairy and Veal
Dairy cows suffer greatly. Like all mammals, they must have babies to give milk. The veal industry is a result of the calves that are born.
Eggs
Egg-laying chickens are some of the most abused farm animals on the planet.
Organic and Free-Range Meat
Organic, free-range, free-run—what does it all mean, and how “humane” is it?
Foie Gras
24 million ducks and geese die every year for the foie gras industry, which is illegal in Holland, Sweden, Israel, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Environment
What does more damage to the planet than all the cars in the world put together? That’s right—it’s animal agriculture.

Animals Used for Clothing

Canadian Seal Hunt
Canada’s annual commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. 275,000 will be killed this spring.
Fur
50 million animals die every year for fur. Many of them will be skinned alive.

Animals in Science

Vivisection
A cruel relic of earlier centuries, animal experimentation is no longer necessary and may actually be impeding our scientific progress.

Animals in Entertainment

Rodeo
Despite being marketed as the sport of wild, rank beasts versus brave men and women, rodeo is in actuality just another form of brutal animal abuse.
Dec 14

Looking For A Great Gift? Skinny Bitch

Ok I LOVED Skinny Bitch. I can see why it was a New York Times best seller. I couldn’t put it down. After I finished reading it I went out and purchased a copy for each of my girlfriends. Already being a vegetarian and all about healthy ethical eating, this book opened my eyes even further. Skinny Bitch gives you the inside scoop to all the consumer lies that are being told. Skiiny Bitch goves you the skinny on what’s really in your food.

The writing is hysterically funny and witty. If you’re a guy don’t feel left out, there is a Skinny Bastard written for you too.

Stop being a moron and start getting skinny! “If you can’t take one more day of self-loathing, you’re ready to hear the truth: You cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth every day and expect to lose weight”

Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are your new smart-mouthed girfriends who won’t mince words and will finally tell you the truth about what you’re feeding yourself. They will guide you on making intelligent and educated decisions about food.

This book makes a great gift for any lady or man (Skinny Bastard) under $15.00. Even if you don’t want to be a vegan or vegetarian you want to be healthy right?