Here’s some info to help those who aren’t exactly sure what a vegan is…
Vegan: Pronounced Vee-gun. Someone who lives without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people AND the planet. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with nothing coming from animals – no meat, milk, eggs or honey (for example). A vegan lifestyle also avoids leather, wool, silk and other animal products for clothing or any other purpose (ex: cosmetics, toiletries, household goods, etc).
People choose to become vegan for ethical, health and environmental reasons. You can free up crops to feed hungry people, and reduce your contribution to animal suffering and global climate change by choosing a plant-based diet.
Let’s consult Steven the Vegan for further information on vegan cooking…
Since vegans are few and far between people often are confused about what a vegan will eat. People sometimes assume that we only eat tofu and mushrooms, but Sara & Jo actually hate both tofu and mushrooms, so you will never find them in our recipes. We actually eat a huge variety of plants, and many omnivores are surprised by the variety and general yumminess in our food. A few of the things we eat are: rice, quinoa, millet, pasta, carrots, broccoli, spinach, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, peppers, peas, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, kale, potatoes, flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), oats, walnuts, almonds, pecans, mangoes, bananas, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, oranges, grapefruits, kiwis, coconuts, olive oil, chickpeas, pinto beans, black beans, tea and chocolate.
Sounds good, huh?
Yes it does! Great site.
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I hate tofu and mushrooms too! 😉
It makes me feel so much better when I realize how many vegans there are. I’m the only vegan or vegetarian that anyone knows of in my small suburb of San Diego. It’s extremely hard, especially because my parents reverted back to omnivores, but I know that I’m doing a good thing for everyone, even if they don’t realize it. I’ve been a vegetarian my entire life and just recently became vegan, about four months ago, and it’s people like you that give me hope and inspiration that the world will improve and soon all violence and cruelty will be diminished. Thank you so much for doing everything you do. ~Ahimsa!
Thank you for stopping by the Primate Ahimsa, and commenting!!
You have no idea how great that makes me feel! I’m the only vegan in my area that I know – the few other vegans I know are a plane ride away (and Jo and I are the only vegans in the immediate family). It can seem a bit disheartening being so isolated, or at least feeling isolated and different, from everyone that you choose to be a part of your daily life. Obviously being a vegan helps the animals and planet, but sometimes we vegans forget that we are a part of the world too..and that in helping other beings we could also be helping ourselves in the process. After this recent election, I feel like – for the first time in a long while – there is hope for humankind, and with hope comes the potential for change. Reading your comment has sparked a new hope in me, so thank you!
And you know, our brother is stationed in San Diego, so we know first hand that there are some yummy vegan-friendly joints in the San Diego area..now if we could just find the vegans, eh?! 😉
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who can’t stand mushrooms! (but I do like tofu!)
Ugh…they are so gross! So slimy…so…fungal!
Exactly!!! My sister-in-law uses cream of mushroom soup in green bean casserole (which I LOVE) – and even the little tiny bits of the mushrooms skeeve me out! I pile them neatly into a corner of my plate. 🙂
I have it in my wedding planner contract that I require a vegetarian meal, but I think I need to update it to include that I cannot have mushrooms because it seems to be a typical thing for the veggie meal to be a stuffed portabella!
Sara, If I have to hear you bashing Mushrooms, tofu or avocados one more time, I am going to eat a puppy…ok no, Im not going to eat a puppy.
About our convo last night about beer and wine – most red wines contain egg whites to reduce tannins – but, most beers are vegan. Watch out for honey beers because I think they contain something that isn’t vegan. I am not sure what it is though? Honey? Haha.
Interesting – Company email (January 2012):
“In regards to your question, 14 Hands wines are not vegan. While we do not make a practice of using animal products in our wines, we may, on occasion, resort to the use of egg whites (on a very small scale) to reduce excessive or harsh tannins. We do our best to manage tannin pick up in the wines during fermentation but, every once in a while, a wine is
too big, too tannic or too drying to fit the 14 Hands profile. So, we will, from time to time, rely on the very effective, natural and traditional method of softening the wines by egg white fining.
Check out vegan beers http://www.barnivore.com
Yep.. we actually have a link to Barnivore.com on the right-hand column of links (see Blogroll). 🙂 Since I don’t drink that often anymore, I hardly read it these days..but thanks for the info! ..and the reminder about Barnivore’s awesome reference potential!!
I also hate tofu. In fact I don’t like soy products as a whole. It’s so hard to find a decent vegetarian/vegan cookbook without half or more of the recipes containing tofu. For some reason most people seem to think that if you don’t eat meat you HAVE to eat tofu. And forget about buying veggie burgers. All of the ones I’ve seen have some soy product in them somewhere. Thankfully that is no longer a problem since I created my own kick-a$$ veggie burger recipe! 🙂
Thanks for the great site. I always come here when I want to try something new!
hello,
found your site while searching for healthy muffin recipes. it is a very nice site, thank you for sharing. i have found myself more and more sickened with meat products and the ranching/meat industry in general. i really don’t know where to start though with the replacement of meats in my diet. can you recommend some sites/books? thnk you.
Well, what I would recommend is not thinking about “replacing” the meats that are in your diet..and concentrate more on simply increasing the amount of veg you consume. Instead of filling the space on your plate with meat, allow the veg to invade and take over 🙂 Most newbies are concerned with getting enough protein, when the truth is people tend to eat more protein than is necessary for normal day-to-day function. As long as you’re eating beans, pulses, grains, etc..you’re most likely getting enough protein (*disclaimer, I’m not a medical doctor and only blood work and how your body feels can tell you if you’re getting enough protein). I eat beans at almost every meal, and my protein is always on the high side of the spectrum.. never in fear of not getting enough. Veggies have more protein than people think.. You do want to perhaps take a B vitamin supplement, for sure initially until you get your vegan legs under you..and then (as I do) occasionally when you begin to feel the need – I take one maybe every few days..about 2-3 times a week or so.
Some good books include: “You Don’t Need Meat” by Peter Cox for informational purposes, and there are some recipes at the end. “Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen” and “Vegan With A Vengence” cookbooks are also very useful – awesome recipes.. Any of the sites on our blogroll are highly recommended as far as information and recipes go.
Wow, well said. I’m just going to print this out and hand it to Family friends when they start asking the inevitable questions. Much cleaner;)
@Dave, animal products to actual animals in the making and processing of alcoholic beverages? Ack! I had no idea. I like the occasional glass of wine or drink to sip… but this knowledge may put a stop to that.
@Sara, glad to find your blog (search for squash pancakes) … bookmarking the barnivore.com site, too. Thanks!