Over-fishing...is your sushi worth it?

lately I'm obsessed with over-fishing, and it seems that my sentitments are echoed around the world. Listen to the NPR story here.
There are healthy fish to eat: tilapia, sardines, herring to name few. Leave the big tuna to the big sea and eat what can easily reproduce. Simple as that.

That not all...think that cigarette you've stumped out on the beach will just...disappear? Not only is your health at risk, but fish too! read more here. Of course nicotine is toxic...just remember where you dump your butts.

I'm taking on this crusade. Protect our oceans!

4th of July musings

I'm not a fan of July 4th and I'll tell you why. Barbecues, people, barbecues. I can't recall a smell more offensive than that of a rotting, raw corpse upon which someone has smothered a greasy, red sauce and intends to call dinner hours later. Living in a tiny shot-gun apartment doesn't make it any easier. Anticipating all my neighbors grilling meats, especially those using that chemical fire-starter, has me shuddering with rage already. My weekend, inevitably, is either spent gagging on the odor or shut inside my hot apartment with doors and windows sealed tightly as waves of rotting meat stench roll by my windows, seeping in cracks and making me miserable. If people can't smoke cigarettes inside, than maybe they shouldn't cook meat outside. I think, and this is a big one, that I'd rather smoke a cigarette then be exposed to toxic meat smell. Walking home every day, I can pin-point the restaurants that contribute the most carcinogens to the environment and I wonder if normal people have any idea how offensive this stuff really is!
Even though I'm escaping out of the city this year, I recall last summer, where the same thing happened at an open camp ground. We could hardly find anywhere to settle down to eat our delicious, raw vegan picnic due to the mass-hysteria of barbecuing on July 4th.
Some people say, aw suck it up. I say, next time someone lights a toxic can of ass under your window, you can suck it up, buster. Cheers, and happy fourth to those individuals who find a quiet, undisturbed, unscented spot upon which to eat their nature's bounty.

Big Box lunch at KFC

When I first saw this Variety Big Box lunch from KFC advertised, my first thought was total disgust. I mean, have you looked at this lunch, that is meant to feed one human? No wonder we have an obesity problem on our hands. Who eats this crap? And more importantly who encourages us to eat this?
Who can possibly fit this in their body. Answer, many more Americans than you can imagine. And probably an entire village in Africa.
Who needs 3 types of fried chicken with a biscuit, gravy and mac-n-cheese? I guess obese people think they do, or at least that's what KFC is gonna tell you. What ever happened to a balanced plate? Where are the veggies? Oh, that skinny green leaf in that bulky sandwich hardly counts. And coleslaw slathered in artery-clogging mayo hardly constitutes a vegetable.

Oh KFC, just because you've so courageously stopped debeaking birds does not mean you have to serve more to the masses. It's counterproductive. And you are hurting people by serving this. Heart-attack on a plate, coming up.

Staying fit over the holidays

This is usually the time of year that I notice a couple extra pounds on my body with a shrug, oh well, I'll lose it after the holidays. I'm not alone in this response.
Here are some veg-friendly tips for staying fit over the next few months.

If you do the cooking, you have more control over what you eat. Have dinner at your house. Opt for steamed greens and squash with cold-pressed oils and fresh herbs, in lieu of rich casseroles or complicated dishes. The flavor and simplicity of the veggies outweighs those complicated, fattening recipes. This is the time of year you can splurge on high-quality exotic oils like macadamia and avocado to add extra flavor. I like to sprinkle veggies with raw sesame seeds for an extra crunch. If you are visiting family, bring your own healthy dish or two so you can enjoy those while eating just a taste of the others. My favorite: steamed kabocha squash with parsley, olive oil and sesame. It's a hit!

Bring a meat alternative: Last year I brought vegetable pot pie to my carnivorous "in-laws'". I made a spelt crust and filled the pie with loads of fresh veggies. I was more than surprised to see nearly everyone take a helping and hearing the oohs and ahhs. Some people even took two helpings. Make a lot, you'll be surprised how willing people are to try the veg option.

Stay away from soy margarine and stick with heart-healthy oils and herbs. Make mashed potatoes with olive oil; even soy milk and soy butter will add extra calories. I like to place a dish of oil mixed with salt and herbs in the fridge until it turns hard and use this as a delicious buttery spread.

Say no to the roll. Offer baskets of pita wedges or homemade flax bread. If you are eating stuffing this holiday, then all the more reason to avoid that bread, there is no need to double-down. Keep in mind, oftentimes at Thanksgiving, stuffing is prepared inside the turkey. Gross! This year I'm going to take a stab at a raw nut-based stuffing with flax seeds and seasonings. I'll keep you posted with a recipe following the holiday.

Be inventive with cranberry sauce. One year my friend arrived at Thanksgiving with the most delicious homemade cranberry sauce made with spears of fresh rosemary and chunks of mandarin oranges. It was the best cranberry sauce I ever tasted and inspired me to never open that can of sugary jello-like sauce. Make your own being creative and use your sweetener preference, like agave or date syrups.

Don't shirk the salad! I was always given salad duty on the holidays for my knack of putting extraordinary ingredients into one giant bowl. Start with a mix of organic greens and go nuts. Sprouts, radish, shredded carrots, along with dried fruit and nuts always make a great base. Add an unusual veg like artichokes or avocado to make it that much better. Don't offer heavy dressings. Make a simple olive oil and lemon vinaigrette and no one will go without a huge helping of salad.

Egg Nog: For those of you who indulge in the typical eggnog, lighten it up with some soy milk. Yesterday at Whole Foods, I noticed that Rice Dream is making an eggnog for the holidays, that would be a better option than the rich-soy-based version. You can always water it down with some plain rice milk and don't forget the nutmeg for added energy!

Crudite: Avoid the rich cream-based dips, and load up on raw veggies. Make some flax chips to replace those fattening potato chips, served toasted pita wedges. Make your own vegan pate, by using a combination of veggies, nuts and spices, this also makes filling for tomorrow's sandwich. This year, I'm going to make a raw cashew-based sour cream and chive dip. Salsa, though not typically festive for these holidays, offers a refreshing flavor. Today, you can get all types of fruit salsas. Check out your local natural grocer to see what they have.

Dessert: Go easy. Have just one slice of pie. There's no need to deny yourself that delicious pecan pie after carefully saving calories all dinner. Opt for a homemade version, if you can. Eat fresh fruit also. It may seem lame to eat only one, but you'll be the only one with energy after mealtime.

Go for a walk. Holidays are a great time to catch up with that long lost relative. Offer to go for a walk around the block, play an active game with your niece or nephew. Alone in the big city? T-Day is great time to go window shopping! Keep off those extra pounds and spark your metabolism.

Have just two. Holidays are the time of year when we like to drink. Unfortunately, alcohol is loaded with empty calories. Have just two drinks, enjoy them, savor them, but say no to a third. Bring a high-quality wine to enjoy and when it is done, say no to more.

Most of all, have fun. Embrace the flavors of the harvest, sit back and laugh and eats lots of good food.

become a Vegan mentor!

I dropped in on a conversation between co-workers and students the other week, and they dragged me in with, "You're a vegan aren't you? Constance is considering going vegan."
Because of tricky digestion, her Dr. advised her to stay away from meat and dairy, and from what I gathered, she ate it often. I started talking about health and digestion and all the good things being a vegetarian does to the body and mind. Pretty soon, I had the pescatarian considering a return to vegetarianism, and Constance, well, I promised to bring in some vegan cookbooks that I thought would work for her student budget and busy life.
After giving the books to her and telling her she can always ask for help, I crossed my fingers and hoped that she would follow through.
A week or two later, I saw her on the street and asked her how her diet was. She told me, "I'm never eating meat again, I feel great!" We were both running late, so few words were spoken, but I'm anxious to see how it all pans out in the end.
Become a vegan mentor! It's fun and rewarding!

as good a time as any

With major flooding severely impairing crops in the Midwest, one can only forecast higher prices for a commodity known as corn. Corn is used to feed livestock, and it's only natural that the US will see dramatic rises in everyday favorites, like milk, cheese, beef and pork.

You know what that means? Take the plunge, go vegan, save yourself some money.

The Mad Cowboy

Howard Lyman, the former cattle-rancher turned vegetarian who is probably best known for getting Oprah to say she'll never eat another burger, was on Coast to Coast Saturday night, http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/05/18.html, discussing the USDA's new bill, The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and Mad Cow disease in America. Mad Cow and avian bird flu loom as some of the biggest threats to mankind and unbeknownst to us, our government is turning a blind eye to the situation and keeping their fingers crossed. Makes you feel safe, right?Haven't eaten meat in a decade and think you're in the clear? Hungry yet? Mad Cow can incubate in your system for years! By now, most of us know that animals prepared for human consumption are more than likely injected with hormones, coated with chemicals., mishandled, deprived of necessary sunlight and pastures and possibly diseased. Lymnam's interview goes into much much more and I urge you to take a listen.
As a seasoned vegan I know damn well what happens to cows in slaughterhouses and on dairy farms and that's one of the biggest reasons why I don't eat meat. For Howard Lymnan, a fourth-generation cattle rancher who got a tumor after pouring chemicals on the backs of cows, he is vegetarian for the plain reason that humans in general have to much protein, cholesterol and fat in their diet, coupled with the insider knowledge of what, exactly, goes into our food supply. Coast to Coast is on late at night, but that didn't stop me from staying up into the wee hours entranced by his tales of truth and horror.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was put in effect in order to place stricter penalties on those who try to discourage others from the consumption of animal products. Because Animal Rights activists serve as bigger threats than other terrorists? uhhmm ...But even if you speak the truth?

Can't get Coast to Coast? then check out the Lymans' website: www.madcowboy.com

Diet restrictions lead to love

When I read this article, I thought about, with great disgust, all the meat-eaters I dated before I found my one true love, who also happened to be a vegan. Thank god! Food is for sharing. It makes life that much sweeter.
However, one of the women featured in the article is celiac, and by the end she's eating offal and foie gras. We all know how terrible foie gras is, but what is offal? Offal is the entrails and internal organs of a butchered animal. Awful is more like it. Read it here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/dining/13incompatible.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=a41dd0de79221f23&ex=1203051600

I love this article double because it uses the word "vegangelical". I will be stealing that, though I have to add that this habit Americans have of running words together to create a new mega-word is becoming tiresome, and we have no one to blame for that but Rachel Ray.

healthy eating and guilt on Top TV shows

Anthony Bourdain, who is famous for his self-professed dislike of vegetarians, had a moment last week on his trip to the Greek Islands. Having to take part in a sacrificial ceremony of the senseless slaughter of an adorable sheep for food even had Anthony wishing for a veggie burger. See, he had befriended the little lamb unbeknownst that it would soon be slaughtered. I had a hard time watching most of it, but he had an even more difficult time chewing, swallowing and digesting. I know I'm not alone in the theory, if you can't kill it you shouldn't be eating it. Anthony, maybe it's time to change your evil ways...

One of my new favorite shows, "Breaking Bad" on AMC, stars the father from Malcolm in the Middle, as a high-school chemistry teacher who discovers he has terminal lung cancer and as a source of a second income to save his family, unbeknownst to them, starts up a mobile Meth-lab in an RV with a former pupil and high-school drop-out. I know, what a premise! One of the first scenes, the family eats and has a discussion about vegetarian bacon for breakfast because it has no cholesteral. Of course it is met with the typical negative fanfare from the carnivoric cast, but hey, we are making waves with this whole vegetarian diet thing. One day at a time, but progress is progress.

An answer to our prayers?

Just when I was asking who would stand up for global warming and animal consumption as directly linked issues, who should come along, unsurprisingly, but Sir Paul McCartney. I heard mention of this crusade on Keith Olbermann last night but no matter how hard I tried this was all I could come up with. http://www.ecorazzi.com/2007/12/19/paul-mccartney-urges-world-to-go-veggie-for-the-environment/ More on this later...
This article refers to Sir Paul and his advocacy of rat's milk for optimal nutritional value but he was only saying that because he must have recently read "Diet for a New America". Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Diet-New-America-John-Robbins/dp/0915811812) and it is also available via Google Books. If you haven't read it and you're vegan or thinking about becoming vegan, you should.
I came across this article, for all you Prius lovers, of this incredibly pertinent article.
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0120-20.htm It's extremely well-written and if you don't want to take the time to read Diet for a New America then this is a quick, less graphic and detailed summary of the main issues surrounding veganism and global welfare.