What will the future look like?

Wow. What a difference a few weeks makes. When I posted last month for the first time in a few years, I wanted to get back to writing about vegan living with the occasional recipe thrown in. My husband and I moved to the country last summer and I wanted to explore through words if it was still easy to be vegan, even out here in the boonies. Now that seems a tad trivial, but I still want to write and post. So I’m going to. Some days I’ll write about vegan living, and other days I’ll explore new territory. Today is one of those days.

Scout. Rescued from the Humane Society of Tuolumne County on Dec. 31, 2019.

This morning I was walking my dog, Scout. I adopted him at the end of last year. I’m enjoying our morning walks. It gives me time to think without distraction. I usually leave my phone at home, which helps.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this week the entire state of California has been ordered to shelter in place indefinitely. The county I live in has set April 16^th as the end date, but who can say when this will all be over. While walking Scout, I was thinking about what is next for me.

Some of my goals for this year have been either completely scrapped or delayed indefinitely due to the pandemic. To be specific, I was mainly contemplating my work and career. Many people are experiencing a lot of anxiety over work and money, right now.

So I was wondering, maybe instead of worrying about what’s next because we are in uncharted territory, how about we as a collective start planning what we want the world to be like when this is over. I know I would like the world to be kinder, smarter, and healthier.

So, how will we adapt? What will be needed? Sure many of the same things as last week, but this is our chance to push the reset button and sniff out new opportunities. So, what will arise with that in mind? What will we create?

Red Lentil Soup

Hello friends! It’s been a long time–five years since I last wrote a post. Rather than go into a long story of where I’ve been for the past five years or how much the world has changed (OMG. Vegan food is everywhere!), I first want to make an offering: A simple, yet delicious recipe you can make in about 30 minutes. More soon. Enjoy!

Red Lentil Soup

Serves 4-6

1 tbsp olive oil (or small pool of olive oil in pot)
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin, ground
1 tsp dill, dried
1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder
1 tsp umami salt* (sub: sea salt)
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup red lentils, dried
1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped (stems removed)
2 tbsp lemon juice (or juice from one fresh lemon)**

In a large soup pot add a pool of olive oil over low-medium heat, add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cover with a lid and sweat for up to 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

While the onions are sweating, mince your garlic

Turn heat up to medium-high, add the garlic and stir just once or twice before adding the ground cumin, dill, chili powder, salt, and tomato paste. Stir and combine well. Add vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and lentils. Stir.

Cover and bring to a boil. Remove lid and reduce the heat to a slow simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the lentils are very tender and starting to fall apart. Turn off heat. Add the spinach and stir until wilted. Add lemon juice. Stir to combine. Serve and enjoy.

For a hearty meal, serve over brown rice, farro, or your favorite grain.

* When I lived in the Bay Area I would buy umami seasoning at Oaktown Spice Shop, an amazing bulk spice shop that I could browse for hours. You can buy it online too. I don’t live there any more but Trader Joe’s sells an umami salt also. Not as fresh, but does the trick.

**I like to use fresh ingredients but having a bottle of lemon juice at the ready is handy too.

How to Make Seitan Like a Pro

While living in Chicago, I attended a cooking demo at Native Foods, a vegan restaurant chain. I never pass up an opportunity to attend a free cooking demo because every time I learn something new. The Native Foods chef taught us how to make several recipes, including seitan—a meat alternative made from vital wheat gluten.

I’ve made seitan many times. The first recipe I learned was from a cooking class also in Chicago. It was good, but this Native Foods recipe is better. The first time I made it, I followed the regular recipe as is. I’ve attached a PDF of the handout from the demo below. You will see that the chef provides a couple of different spice combinations to change the flavor profile. You can adapt the recipe for a spicy Mexican dish or Swedish meatballs.

I had been wanting to make a summer sausage seitan for years and now I had a solid base recipe to use as a starting point. We ate summer sausage a lot when I was growing up and I remembered I liked the seasoning (as well as the fat and salt). This summer sausage seitan recipe is much healthier–lower fat and sodium content, not to mention no cholesterol.

Before we started cooking, we opened a bottle of wine and enjoyed it with homemade nut cheese and chips.

This past summer my husband took some of his colleagues to Native Foods while they were in Chicago for a conference. Alex, who is from France but lives in San Francisco, loved the food and enjoyed the meat-like dish he ordered. So, my husband offered up my services and invited Alex and his girlfriend, Nazanin, for dinner, where I would teach them to make seitan. It was a fun evening and I can’t think of a better way to introduce omnivores to vegan food. We made enough seitan so they could take some home. At the end of this post, you can see what they made back in their own kitchen. Seitan is a versatile meat alternative that you can use in a variety of dishes.

Summer Sausage Seitan (say-tan)

Adapted from Native Foods’ Homemade Seitan recipe

To start, make the broth to cook the dough in:

Broth

For the broth, start by filling a large stock pot with water, 2/3 of the way full. Then add:

• 1 c Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (or low sodium soy sauce)
• 6 cloves garlic
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves

Bring the broth up to a boil and reduce to a simmer for cooking the seitan.

Seitan
Makes two rolls

• 2 c vital wheat gluten
• 6 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 c vegetable stock (low sodium)
• 1/2 c Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (or low sodium soy sauce)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 cloves minced garlic

• 1/4 tsp chili powder (or ground cayenne pepper)
• 1-1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1-1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1-2 drops liquid smoke (optional)*

• Cheesecloth
• Cooking twine
• Skewers

Dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, chili powder, mustard seeds, black pepper, onion powder and coriander. Mix well.

In a smaller bowl, add the vegetable stock, Bragg’s, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and liquid smoke, if used. Whisk together.

Kneading the dough.

Little by little, add the liquid to the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix until the dry mixture is moist. You may need to add a little water to combine the ingredients, but you don’t want the mixture to be wet. Once the mixture is well combined, knead the dough with your hands for 3-4 minutes.

Divide the dough into two equal size pieces. Using your hands, roll into two loaves.

Tightly wrap each loaf in cheese cloth cut-to-size, tie up each end with kitchen twine, and then stick a skewer through each roll.

Using tongs, place each roll in the pot of simmering broth. Cover the pot halfway with a lid so the steam can escape. Simmer for 45 minutes, turn off the heat and let the seitan sit in the pot for an additional 15 minutes with the lid off. Using the tongs, lift each roll out of the pot and take the skewers out to make sure the rolls are well cooked. The skewers should come out clean (like using a toothpick to test a cake). If done, remove the cheesecloth immediately. (If you need to cook the seitan longer, try simmering in 3-5 minute intervals.)

*I have made this recipe with and without liquid smoke. Either way is great. If using liquid smoke concerns you, learn more about the potential risks here.

Native Foods Seitan Recipe

Once the seitan was done, we made pizza for dinner. It was a group effort. We made the dough using our bread maker. I like to chop the seitan into chunks and pan fry for a few minutes in a bit of vegetable oil. In addition to the seitan, the pizza included our homemade tomato sauce, three kinds of mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and Daiya cheese.

Daiya cheese is my preferred cheese alternative. It melts and has a good flavor. I suggest trying several vegan cheese options to find your favorite. There are many on the market but some melt better than others. While eating dinner, Alex and Nazanin wondered what in the heck was in the cheese and then asked what was wrong with eating dairy. Read this post on why vegans don’t eat dairy.

Daiya Cheese ingredients: Filtered water, tapioca and/or arrowroot flours, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and /or non-GMO expeller pressed safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein, salt, vegan natural flavors, inactive yeast, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, citric acid (for flavor), titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral).

As I mentioned, Alex and Nazanin took a roll of summer sausage home. They made Bolognese sauce with it. Before adding the seitan to the sauce, he turned it into “ground beef” using a blender. He calls it The Seitanic Pasta.

Ask a Vegan: How to be Vegan in a Meat-Eating Family?

Dear Christine,

I am a vegetarian in a meat-eating family. I would like to be a vegan but its difficult to even be a vegetarian. I am the primary cook in the family and while my husband and kids are supportive, they still want me to cook meat. How can I make my family happy and start to be a vegan? I have 4 kids at ages 12, 6, 5, and 2 — all picky eaters. I would love some advice. Thank you for you time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Sara

Hi Sara,

Thanks for writing. I understand that change is hard, especially when it involves other people. I find it hard enough to make changes for my sake. Add family to the mix and it can be downright overwhelming. However, it can be done. First, I’m wondering if you have explained to your family why you want to be vegan? It’s helpful to keep an open mind with these types of conversations, so that others don’t feel defensive. Everyone has a right to their own feelings and forcing change on others is a disaster in the making. You may want to watch Vegucated together? It’s a wonderful documentary infused with humor and facts — building bridges for veganism. This film may help open up your family to the idea of eating less meat.

Now to your real question: How can I make my family happy (at meal time) and start being vegan?

Begin by empowering your family in the kitchen. Teach them how to cook. Even supervised youngsters can learn to cook and help with simple tasks. Knowing how to cook will give them choices. If they don’t want to eat what you’re making for dinner, they can cook for themselves. I started cooking at a very early age because I was a picky eater. Cooking is a skill I wish more people had. It will serve your kids well for their entire lives. When people eat at home, they typically eat healthier — less salt, sugar, fat and calories — then if they eat out.  You may find your family enjoys planning meals and cooking together.

Mark Bittman wrote this wonderful essay in the form of a short e-book a couple of years ago called Cooking Solves Everything. If all families cooked together, the world would be a very different place.

An optimal vegan diet includes a variety of plant-based foods. I believe that everyone can find some vegan options they would enjoy, especially meat alternatives since meat is what your family wants. Seitan is an easy meat alternative you can make at home. The kids could help make this. (Soon I will be posting the best seitan recipe I have ever made.) You may need to experiment with different foods. You can also make a game of it by letting your children pick out a new vegetable to try each week. They are bound to find a few they like. Just make it fun for them.

Or, you could simply draw the line. I never had the chance to meet my husband’s mom. I have heard a lot about her over the years including her approach to mealtime. She had six kids and it’s easy to imagine there was at least one picky child in the bunch. When one of her children would say, “I don’t like this”, she would reply, “You must not be hungry then.” There was no special food offered to the complainer. There is truth in her words. She was teaching them to be grateful for the food in front of them. A truly hungry person would eat just about anything. But, we’re spoiled in our culture. We’re used to having our wants met at every turn. It’s estimated that we waste 40% of the food in the U.S., so there’s good reason to encourage a grateful attitude towards the food on our plates.

Or, you could continue “trying” to keep everyone happy with multiple entrees at one meal and drive yourself mad. I believe a happy mom makes for a happy family. An unhappy mom, not so much. Change isn’t always easy but if it’s important to you, then you deserve the opportunity to be successful at making the change.

Keep me posted,
Christine

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

Last night I went to a screening of the documentary, Cowspiracy. I recommend it for everyone, not just animal rights folks. Everyone. It’s loaded with relevant facts, humor and jaw dropping interviews. You will wonder how they pulled some of them off. Check it out when it comes to your city. Below is a blog post about the film provided by the Cowspiracy PR team. Read on…

If there was one single industry causing more destruction to the planet than any other, if one single industry was the leading cause of global warming, water depletion, deforestation, ocean “dead zones,” species extinction—wouldn’t you want to know about it? Wouldn’t you expect to hear about it? With countless environmental groups and NGOs out there, surely combating an industry that harmful to the earth would be their biggest cause, right?

What if the reason the world’s top environmental organizations weren’t talking about it was fear?

Would you still want to know?

None of this is hypothetical. That’s the situation worldwide right this instant, and that’s the story filmmakers Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn set out to uncover in their feature length documentary, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, now showing in select cities.

They say getting to this point hasn’t been easy: “Unlike a lot of documentaries, we haven’t been able to speak openly about this film,” Andersen said. “Until now. Most films have websites, social media campaigns, and fundraising campaigns, before production even begins—but due to the controversy of this subject, we’ve had to stay silent every step of the way, in fear of being shut down.”

“Journalists and activists trying to expose this industry in the past have been sued, placed on domestic terrorist watch lists, followed by the FBI, arrested, and imprisoned, simply for speaking out, or trying to expose this industry’s atrocities.”

But they kept going. And now, after more than a year of secrecy and hard work, Cowspiracy is out. Their Indiegogo campaign was a huge success, hitting their first funding goal in just six days, and now they’re aiming for the money to create an even larger impact: adding subtitles to Cowspiracy in more than ten languages, German and Spanish dubs, international screenings and better global distribution and promotion. Plus a 50 minute educational edit of the film.

“We’ve been getting tons of support and requests from all walks of life,” Andersen said. “A lot of educational institutes, a lot of teachers, professors, everyone from elementary school teachers to high school to universities, they all want to show this to their students, which is so, so awesome because this information has to get out there.”

So what about you? Want to learn “the sustainability secret”? Check out the Cowspiracy website, Indiegogo campaign, Facebook and Twitter to learn more and stay up to date with this incredibly important project.

Take Action
Host a screening in your city.

Practically Green

Simple Steps to Preserve the Planet

In my efforts to be “green”, which you can read about here and here, I have adopted new ways of doing a lot of things over the years. It hasn’t always been easy. I’m as resistant as the next person when it comes to change. But I’m learning that once I make a change and it takes hold, it becomes easier to make the next one.

You must start by picking the low hanging fruit. Choose the easiest step to take and proceed from there. This applies to changes of all kinds, so feel free to adopt this mentality towards going vegan, getting fit, learning a new subject, etc. For me, the key is taking control and doing something—that always makes me feel good. It keeps life fluid and interesting.

If you want to incorporate more eco-friendly practices into your life, then you will want to follow this blog for the next few weeks. I plan to post about 30 eco-friendly steps that have become a habit for me. Of course this wasn’t always the case. I’m an example of how one can change. I hope that my story not only educates others but inspires at least one person to become more eco-friendly.

According to a United Nations report on Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority Products and Materials, “We must start looking into our everyday activities if we truly want a green economy—for developed and developing countries.“

Let’s start with the most common and easiest actions you can start today. In the coming weeks, the practical steps I offer may seem more challenging, but with a bit of effort, you can make them habits too.

Small yet Powerful Actions to Set You on the Path to Greener Living

1. Bring your own shopping bags. By now, you probably have more than enough reusable shopping bags on hand, so store them everywhere. Keep a small compactable one in your purse or backpack, and several larger bags in your car. This way you always have them available. The trickiest part about reusable bags is remembering them in the first place. Once it becomes a habit, this step is a no-brainer, especially if you live in an area where you have to pay for bags.
2. Carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go—no exceptions. Years ago the place where I worked provided bottled water to its employees. (Sadly, I was on the wellness committee that suggested this “improvement” of providing employees with bottled water in the late 90s.) But as I began to wake up to the issues, I realized that bottled water was wasteful (even if you recycle the bottle) and I could make one simple change, which would make a big difference. I stopped using the free bottled water at work and began using a reusable bottle and filling it with water from the drinking fountain. This reduced my impact on the planet by approximately 750 plastic bottles a year. Now multiply that by 1,000 employees from one company and you begin to see the big picture—750,000 bottles a year. On a more positive note, the company has since switched to filtered water to reduce its impact on the planet. You can also use a reusable coffee mug when picking up your morning coffee.
3. Let dishes air dry in the dishwasher. This is a new one for me, and admittedly, I don’t like it. I would like to empty the dishwasher when the cycle is done, not after I open the door and let the dishes dry, which inevitably takes several more hours! But if I do it long enough, I’m certain I will get used to it. Becoming an environmentalist requires the ability to make adjustments to your lifestyle even when it might be “inconvenient”.  Bonus: Run full loads only.
4. Use paper bags instead of plastic when scooping kitty litter. (My cats revolted against the kind you can flush, so I’m stuck with the clay litter.) No need to bury plastic bags full of kitty waste in landfills indefinitely though. At least by using paper bags, there is a possibility of it breaking down. You can purchase brown paper lunch bags for a couple of bucks and they do the job quite nicely. Also, remember to save any paper bags you collect when making a purchase.
5. Buy fruits and vegetables grown closer to home—at least on this continent. Obviously farmer’s markets are great for buying local produce but when you live in a colder climate they aren’t always an option. You can still avoid buying produce from the other side of the world. Consider the transportation impact of shipping produce from one side of the world to another. This step was a tough one for me initially. There is a week or two every year that I can’t find apples from anywhere but someplace far away like New Zealand. I had to accept that I would have to go without apples for a couple of weeks. On the bright side, it’s an opportunity to try a new fruit or vegetable that is grown closer to home at that time of year. It took some time to get in the habit of reading the labels to find out where the produce was grown, and in fact, sometimes the store signs are wrong. Once it becomes a habit, it’s a simple yet powerful principle to follow.
6. Print on both sides of the paper. Simply change your printer settings to print on both sides automatically, especially at the office where they typically have fancy printers. We have a laser printer at home that will allow us to do this manually. See if yours does too. There is also a toner-saving setting on laser printers that you can select to reduce the amount of toner used.
7. Choose your transportation wisely. Walk, ride a bike or take public transit before driving when possible. If you need to drive, slow down and keep a steady pace to conserve fuel. So, I’m not an expert at this but I’m learning not to punch the gas as soon as the light turns green. I’m a work in progress. Also, share a ride or carpool when it makes sense.
8. Use what you have. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized something that seems to be a critical life lesson: I usually have what I need, and if I don’t, it will show up soon. It’s not a concept I grew up with but it’s almost always true for me. If you don’t believe me, try living with this motto for a while and see what happens. Sometimes it might mean you have to get creative or forego something shiny and new for an older model, but there you go, you have what you need. Keep in mind there is a difference between what you need and what you want. Give it a try, see what happens. By living this way, I consume less.
9. Buy less stuff. We live in a consumer culture and most of us were raised to consume. It’s a hard habit to break but it’s worth it. The rewards are huge and include saving money and spending less time running errands (and driving around) on the weekends, which leaves more free time for fun. We live in a world full of abundances, but we don’t need all that is offered. In fact, after years of buying less, I encourage everyone to try out the “less is more” concept.
10. Get a library card. Use the library as your first option to read a book or magazine. Check to see if your library has a “hold” option, so that you can order the book online and when it is ready, the library will notify you that it’s available for pick-up. This efficient process sold me on using the library regularly. If you need to buy a copy, find it used or purchase an electronic copy, before buying it new. Books and magazines are also great for sharing. Try paperbackswap.com to trade with other bookworms.
11. When you do need something, buy it used. Frequent thrift stores, yard and estate sales, and check craigslist.com to purchase used goods before buying what you need new. Even better than buying something used, see if you can borrow what you need from your friends and neighbors, such as tools or rarely used items. Check to see if you live in a community with a tool-lending library. Bonus: Join freecycle.org to find things you need for free.
12. Fix things. Consider repairing things before replacing them. I don’t think of myself as Ms. Fix-It, but when I have fixed things in the past, I felt a sense of satisfaction. The projects I have tackled have been small, such as replacing the battery in an iPod. First I watched my husband do it, then I did one on my own. I have also repaired a blender. Even if you think you can’t do stuff like this, I encourage you to give it a try. You might surprise yourself.
13. Reuse and repurpose things. Recently I decided I needed a watering can for my garden. I figured I would find one at a yard sale soon enough, so I didn’t consider buying one at a store. Until then, I would use a pitcher from our kitchen. I had never mentioned this to my husband, but one day when I was about to recycle a kitty litter jug, he said:”You sure you don’t need this for anything else?
    I responded, I don’t think so.
    How about a watering jug for the garden, he asks.
    Brilliant! I need one of those.”

    You see, he thinks like an environmentalist, always trying to reuse something before recycling or throwing it away. I have yet to adopt this skill, but hopefully it will rub off on me over time.

14. Turn the thermostat down and set it on a timer. Believe it or not, our heat comes on in August and would run all day if we didn’t set the thermostat on a timer. Not only does this conserve energy, it saves us money. (You will find that the more “green” you become, the more green you will save.)
15. Avoid plastic bags in the produce section. I used to use plastic bags when buying produce. I would reuse the bags when I scooped the litter boxes. I don’t use plasic bags anymore, but I do wash the produce very well when I get home and store it in seal-tight containers to keep it fresh. This works even better than bags. You may need to stock up on containers for this purpose but it’s worth the investment.
16. Buy dry foods in bulk. If you shop at a market that offers bulk foods, then start stocking up on foods such as rice, beans, cereals and oatmeal, nutritional yeast, spices, etc. Skip the plastic bags though and bring containers or use paper bags from the store. I know people who are against buying bulk foods because they fear germs and contamination. I am not afraid of germs, so I shop in this section every time I go to the grocery. Most of the time you will save money and you will likely save on packaging that either needs to be recycled or will end up in a landfill.
17. Bring your own takeaway containers. When you eat out and want to bring leftovers home, consider bringing your own containers, especially if a restaurant uses Styrofoam. My husband and I created a “car kit”, which is a bag full of reusable containers, plates, coffee mugs, and utensils, so that we can eat on the go and bring leftovers home with less impact on the planet.
18. Stop using plastic storage bags. I prefer using containers because they are easier to clean and last longer. Almost anything that lasts longer is better.
19. Change your light bulbs. If you haven’t done this yet, then do it now. Today. It’s a ridiculously easy way to conserve energy. We recently moved to Berkeley, CA. I found a service where a couple of college kids come out to your home and complete an energy assessment. Not only do they offer you ideas for ways to reduce your home energy consumption, they replaced every light bulb in the house with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). This saved us quite a bit of money, since the house includes many built in light fixtures that had incandescent light bulbs. If you happen to live in the East Bay, I recommend this service, or check in your area for a similar one.
20. Grow your own food. Start a small garden. You can use containers, your front lawn (scrap the grass!), or join a community garden. The options are endless these days. Think how proud you will be to eat food you grew with your own two hands. Every time I look at my spinach sprouting and growing a little more each day, my heart swells with pride.
21. Wash clothes in cold water. You will save energy by not heating the water. I switched to using all cold water a few years ago and my clothes still get clean. Remember, no step is too small.
22. A toaster oven uses less energy than a conventional oven. So does a microwave. On that note, you will use less energy to heat food and water in the microwave than on the stovetop. It’s all about reducing our consumption of just about everything.
23. Let food cool before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. If you pop a hot dish into your refrigerator or freezer, the unit will need to work harder to keep it at the set temperature. So let your food cool on the counter before you store it and you’ll keep the temperature consistent inside the unit which helps control the amount of energy used.
24. Change your showerhead. Changing your shower head to a low-flow version will save you hundreds of gallons of water a year. It may take some time to get used to a less powerful spray, but you will get used to the change in time. I did.
25. Pick up trash. When you’re out and about, pick up litter when you see it. Since I started hiking in the park nearby, I occasionally see trash on the trails. I have begun the habit of picking it up because I want to keep the park clean. You may think, “Well, I didn’t throw that Fritos bag on the ground, so it’s not my job.” Here’s the thing. I know you didn’t and I didn’t leave the bag of dog poop under the tree either. I don’t even have a dog. But if I don’t do it, who will? Just like anything else, when you take responsibility for something (like wanting to make the world a better place), then watch how your thoughts and actions change to match your intention. Also, according to author Malcom Gladwell of The Tipping Point, there is evidence that when people are vigilant about keeping an area or building clean that has a history of trash, graffiti or vandalism, eventually the good guys win. Choose an area beyond your front yard, such as your block or local park, and when you see trash or recyclables, pick them up.
26. Go vegan. The UN reported in 2010 that “Animal products and fossil fuels dominate contributions to global environmental problems.” Plant-based foods are a more sustainable option, especially whole fresh foods.
27. Use your voice. Educate yourself on an issue, such as clean water, oil production, or landfills, and become a voice for the environment. Whether you’re out there on the front lines at a demonstration against Chevron, an armchair activist writing letters to the editor, or somewhere in between, it’s important to remember that every action you take as an individual matters, because all of us together add up to a whole lot of people.
28. Bring your own lunch. When I was working in an office, I was astounded by the amount of garbage one company produced at lunch time alone, so I started bringing my own lunch. By packing a lunch, you will reduce your impact on the planet and likely your waist-line. I know I eat healthier when I make my own food in lieu of eating out.
29. Learn to live without air conditioning. This isn’t a simple step for some, me included. It’s ridiculously hard to live without air conditioning when you live in a hot and humid climate. I know. Read about it here. Fortunately, we moved to a cooler climate this year and I no longer “need” air conditioning. Perhaps you can reduce your use of air conditioning. Last summer I used it less than 10 times during Chicago’s very heated summer. My body began to adjust to the heat and air conditioning felt really cold.I’m still terrible at this. Recently my husband and I visited Boston. It was August and humid. There’s nothing like a little a/c to fight humidity as far as I’m concerned. As soon as we checked into our hotel room, my husband turned off the air conditioning and opened a window. I immediately started complaining that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the heat and noise. On and on I went, knowing I would lose the battle, which I did. It’s almost as if I live on auto-pilot. After living with air conditioning for over 40 years, it’s a tough habit to break. My motto: Do the best you can.
30. Buy recycled products. Whenever you are buying something new, consider buying a recycled version such as toilet paper, copy paper, purses made from plastic bottles, etc. People are creative and making more and more products from recycling other products. It’s fun to see what these creative souls come up. Keep an eye out for more products like this.

Pumpkin Hominy and Bean Chili

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1-1/2 cups cooked kidney beans (or a 15 oz. can, drained)
1 cup cooked hominy (or a 15 oz. can, drained)
1 can pumpkin puree
1 can roasted tomatoes, diced
2 cups water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon chili powder, more or less to suit your taste buds
1 teaspoon sea salt

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until soft, about five minutes. Add the mushrooms and green pepper to the pot. Cook for another five minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed above. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for approximately 30 minutes. You may want to add more water, so keep an eye on the pot. If the chili becomes too thick, add more water as needed. Salt to taste and serve immediately. It’s delicious served with skillet corn bread from Veganomicon, which Well Vegan posted here.

Green Tip: Instead of buying canned foods, such as beans and hominy, try buying the dry version and cooking them beforehand in a pressure cooker. Buying foods in the bulk section, typically saves money and packaging that either needs to recycled or thrown away. Bring your own containers when you can.

Bridging the Gap, Part II

In Bridging the Gap, Part I, I wrote about my journey from being a greenish vegan to becoming a vegan environmentalist—a label I’m hesitant to own. But since I’m committed to personal growth, social justice and my yoga practice, earlier this year I joined the Global Seva Amazon Challenge organized by Off the Mat, Into the World (OTM) as a means to take a bigger step towards embodying environmentalism. (Seva means selfless service in Sanskrit.)

OTM, a national yoga non-profit, “uses the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and to ignite grassroots social change.” Each year OTM chooses a global issue in an underprivileged community to address through grassroots fundraising and awareness, inspiring yogis all over the world to participate. The people who sign on to this challenge develop leadership skills through fundraising and educating others on the issue(s).

In the past, OTM has raised significant funds ($1,000,000 in 2012 alone) and supported humanitarian projects in India, Haiti, Uganda, South Africa and Cambodia. Until this year, projects have addressed human rights issues, but in 2013 OTM decided to tackle environmental justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which happens to also be a human rights issue.

Seva Amazon was of particular interest to me because it shines a light on an issue that affects environmental ethics, animal protection and human rights. I had been feeling a deep need to do more—get my hands dirty—and this year’s beneficiary, the Ecuadorian Amazon and its people, moved me to say yes. When I first learned about this challenge back in 2008, I never imagined I would have the courage to take on a challenge of this magnitude. Each Global Seva participant commits to raising significant funds. The participants who raise $20,000 will travel with OTM staff on the Bare Witness Tour to Ecuador to work with partners benefiting from our fundraising efforts.

Indigenous people, wildlife and the forests are feeling the effects of oil production and deforestation in the Amazon. Funds raised through the challenge will benefit Amazon Watch, Cofan Survival Fund and Timmy Global Health. The following types of projects will be supported:

• Clean drinking water for indigenous and farmer communities directly affected by oil contamination in Ecuador’s northern Amazon.
• Construct and staff a ranger station to help the Cofan Nation patrol and protect their ancestral land from illegal logging, mining, and oil exploration.
• Empower frontline, indigenous healthcare workers to promote public health education and provide care to their communities.
• Construct a rural medical care facility and overnight residence for families living in remote areas of the rainforest.
• Support advocacy efforts on behalf of indigenous and environmental organizations demanding justice in the northern Amazon (regarding the 30 year lawsuit against Texaco-Chevron) and protesting Ecuador’s 11th Round of oil licensing in Ecuador’s southern Amazon.

Before committing to this challenge, I knew next to nothing about the country of Ecuador and the most I had raised in one year for one cause was about $2,500 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer years in 2004. Through individual giving and two fundraisers, I have raised over $4,100 for the Ecuadorian Amazon. I will be fundraising through the end of the year with additional events, such as a yard sale and another yoga benefit.

This challenge has been an eye-opening experience, and the more I learn, the more I understand how my actions affect others. Every time I drive a car, I consider if I could be using an alternative mode of transportation because knowing that my need to get somewhere fast may make others suffer. I’m currently looking for a job and the location is becoming increasingly more important. It will need to be closer to home to reduce my impact. Then there are my long, hot showers. Despite the changes I have made over the years to be greener, the road is long. I’m not ready to call myself an environmentalist, but I’m on my way.

Outing a Friend: A Transition Story

Today my friend, Lisa Lubin, over at LLWordTour agreed to be outed as a wanna-be vegetarian after she shared her transition story with me. With her permission, I want to share our recent correspondence about transitioning to the veg lifestyle. She has been moving in the direction of vegetarianism for a while. I think her story is a good example of the struggles people go through. I know it wasn’t easy for me to make the change. It was a lot easier to “compartmentalize”  the issues and continue to eat animal products.

Recently I was having brunch with a new friend who is also vegan. She mentioned that she thought vegans were doing a disservice to others when they say it’s easy being vegan. (Ouch!) But, I do agree with her despite the title of this blog.

The thing is is that vegans need to be cheerleaders for the people willing to make a change—any change—in the direction of compassion for animals. I didn’t always feel this way. This feels soft, gentle—even uncertain. This is not how I normally respond to people and situations. So as others change, I find I’m changing too. Meeting people half way—cheering them on with each success and supporting them when they struggle. And yet, I’m still being a voice for the animals.

Hi Christine,

Did I tell you I finally watched Vegucated? I am really trying to transition here. It’s taking years and I am still not sure where I’m headed, but I am happy where I am now and how far I have come. I haven’t bought meat or milk of any kind for home for 2-3 years, and now I’m mostly choosing veg options at restaurants. I really want to cut out pork next. I rarely eat chicken and don’t miss it at all. I think I will still eat the occasional bacon or prosciutto and a burger every now and then…and cheese. But I am excited to keep going in the right direction. I am excited about finding some farms in NJ near Chris where I’m comfortable buying eggs. I’m excited about this challenge. It’s hard and heart breaking at the same time. I really struggle with the hypocrisy of how much I love animals and then occasionally eating something that I KNOW suffered and lived a shitty, sick life that would make me crumble if I saw it in person. EVEN animals raised a ‘bit’ better…I know I still wouldn’t be happy with their existence for them. SIGH…

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

It’s good to hear from you and thanks for sharing your transition story. It took me 19 years to become vegan but when I did, I did it “cold tofu” in a way. Had I done it in a more conscious and step-by-step way, I probably would have been able to make the transition sooner. Hindsight is 20/20. Anyway, what I did experience once I decided to give up all animals products is a freeing of the mind. I was carrying around a lot of guilt for eating animals that I knew suffered and once I committed to being vegan, it was such a gift (and relief) to not feel this guilt anymore. I only say this to let you know what you could possibly expect as you move down this path.

On the other hand, it hasn’t been an easy journey despite the title of my blog. It’s absolutely easy to eat vegan and avoid wearing animal products, so that is why I chose that title. Initially, I thought finding vegan food and clothes would be hard. It hasn’t been at all. What is hard, is the social aspect. Sometimes—even after eight years—it’s hard for me to stand by my values when I know that means I will be left out, not invited, seen as radical, etc. My whole life I have just wanted to fit in and this lifestyle certainly does nothing to facilitate fitting in. It really just widens the gap. People are often offended by my not eating meat and what that really means is that they feel judged…which I’m not judging, but they are judging themselves. I had an experience recently with family that really broke my heart. I haven’t been so hurt in so long and it was about food. I’m still recovering from it. The thing is though is that I will not waiver from where I stand. It is too important to me and in my heart, it’s how I want to live. So, I understand your journey and understand it’s not easy. I’m glad you watched Vegucated. I thought it was a really well done documentary. I’m here if you need me.

Christine

Bridging the Gap, Part I

If you’re a vegan, do articles like this annoy you? You know the ones by environmentalists who talk at length about the hardships of a vegan diet despite the fact that choosing a plant-based diet is one of the best choices for the planet? Before I read, What I Learned from a Month of Eating Vegan, back in April, I had been thinking about the gap between the animal welfare and environmental movements. From what I know about both, the gap is wide, although, in my mind, they are complimentary. If you believe in one, then shouldn’t you embrace the other as well? Taking care of animals and the planet is necessary to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Let me back up and explain how I got to this point. My first recollection of the environmental movement was my senior year in college back in 1991. It sounded like a good idea. “Count me in” I said, but I never considered myself a tree hugger. Over the years, I moved in that direction at the speed of a turtle. I tote my re-useable water bottle and shopping bag with me everywhere I go. I take public transportation. This is the easy stuff. There are some things—the harder stuff—I have not been willing to change, such as long, hot showers and air conditioning, to name a few. I never even gave these comforts a second thought until I met my environmentalist, vegetarian boyfriend, who is now my husband.

When we met, I naively thought our values were similar enough that we would complement each other. This will be great, I thought.  And yet, these values have been the subject of many heated debates and disagreements over the past three years.

How can you feed your cats meat and call yourself a vegan?

I’m not giving up air conditioning. I’m burning up!

We can’t buy apples from New Zealand.
But I want apples!!!!

I don’t want to bring my own containers to Whole Foods. What a pain!

I have come to the conclusion that even though I have chosen to be vegan (and it is good for the environment), it’s not the only thing I can do. I have heard other vegans say things like “It’s okay if you take long showers, you’re vegan!” I’m not sure that it is and I certainly can’t complain about environmental meat eaters like in the article above if I’m not willing to do more myself. It’s easy to throw stones. It’s much harder to look at my own actions and see where I can improve. Because ethically speaking, I know that taking care of the environment is just as important as taking care of the animals.

Earlier this year I changed the header on my blog from simply It’s Easy Being Vegan to It’s Easy Being Vegan and Green. It’s a step in the right direction, even if I don’t yet believe it. In terms of change, I’m in the early stages of Action, just not entirely committed. As for the long showers and air conditioning? I still take long showers but not nearly as many, and we live where we no longer need air conditioning (lucky break!). I also no longer buy produce from the other side of the world. I sometimes bring my own containers to the grocery to buy bulk foods, and when I don’t, I use paper bags instead of plastic.

The more I move in the direction of being an environmentalist, the more I understand how we are all connected and how my actions affect others, including the environment.

Lessons Learned from Being Vegan

In 2012, I wrote 365 daily vegan tips on Facebook to make it easier for those interested in becoming a vegan. Some of my favorite tips were published in the first week including:

Tip #5: Do not miss meat, eggs, dairy, leather, wool, etc.The book, Voices from the Garden, presents the stories of 45 vegans. The story, Because I Care, by Erin Moore stuck with me. One sentence helped me immensely: “There is no point to missing it, because I will never have it again, and that would be torture.” This concept allowed me to let it all go—the desire to consume or wear animal products. Think about it. Why miss something you have decided to give up?

This concept can apply to almost any type of chosen change, such as packing up your belongings and moving across the country from Chicago to Berkeley, CA. For the past six weeks I have lived in one of the most beautiful places—the Bay area, specifically Berkeley Hills. The house we are renting has a view of the Bay. There are hiking paths just minutes from my front door that lead me to views of amazing vistas. This unique neighborhood combines homes of varying sizes and architecture mixed with a variety of flora all situated on a mountain with winding roads and hidden paths. I could walk along the winding streets for hours continually finding something new or unexpected. I have also been lucky to encounter wildlife, such as deer, hummingbirds and geckos. I’m in love with my new neighborhood.

When I left Chicago after 18 years as a resident, I was excited to leave the urban grime behind. I don’t miss stepping around the trash on my daily walks, but I was also well aware that I would miss my friends, job, yoga class, routine and Lake Michigan. So for the past six weeks, my mind has been on the Midwest—so much in fact that I keep wondering when I am going home and then I realize I am not. I am home and I am also homesick.

But as I was riding the BART into San Francisco this morning, I remembered tip #5. Do not miss what you gave up. When it comes to being vegan, I don’t miss any of the foods I willingly eschew. I never looked back, but lately I have been in a constant state of looking back, yearning for what was. But remembering this lesson brightened my day and I knew what I needed to do—be here, be home. (It also helped that I made a new friend too.)

What have you learned from being vegan that applies to other areas of your life?

In Loving Memory: The Story of Moose

Update: This was written and posted in 2011. I’m reposting because Moose passed away on June 3, 2013. Moose was rescued from a research lab. Animal testing stinks. Learn more here. Never buy products tested on animals and always choose adoption over buying an animal. Rest in peace, dear Moose.

When I first met Moose, a gentle Greyhound, he slowly walked up to sniff me. Then he slowly turned and walked away. I guess you could say he just wasn’t into me. It was obvious he wasn’t your typical dog. He didn’t bark or run up to the door when I arrived. He hesitated. He moved slowly. Moose didn’t act like a regular dog.

The Lab

That’s because he’s not. He lived in a research lab at Iowa State University for four-and-a-half years as a test subject in the racing chemistry lab — receiving regular injections of drugs. Just like in human sports, performance enhancing drugs are sometimes used in the greyhound racing industry. And just like in human sports, they are illegal. Research labs like the one at Iowa State pump Greyhounds with these drugs to find the threshold for testing “positive” for the illegal drugs.

People breed Greyhounds to race. It’s likely, although the specifics are unknown, Moose was not a good race dog, so his people sentenced him to the research lab where he lived until his “uncooperative” behavior was his ticket out of jail. Proof that being a rebel isn’t always a bad thing. Fortunately the research facility moved Moose to a local animal shelter rather than euthanize him. When I contacted the shelter about adopting a greyhound, the clerk who responded said it is rare that they have greyhounds for adoption. Fran Horvath* of Skokie, Illinois adopted him after being alerted that a Greyhound was at the Iowa shelter.

We often hear about the inhumane treatment of race dogs. We don’t typically hear about other greyhounds related to the same industry but used for experiments. Moose lived in a research lab and mostly confined to a cage. Although the lab personnel said they walk the dogs daily, this did not seem true. The pads on his paws were as smooth as a day-old puppy when Fran adopted him. “He could pee in a cup on command and they (researchers) were proud of that”, says Fran.

Coming Home

She knows because she called the school to gather information on him after the adoption. “Moose didn’t have any affect. When I looked in his eyes, they were blank,” says Fran. “He was broke. Unfamiliar with grass, bugs, flies, cars, airplanes, doors and stairs, Moose was clueless about living in a home. Everything was new to him and very scary,” according to Fran.

Moose adapted slowly. In the beginning, he lived in his crate in Fran’s bedroom. Regardless that he could come and go as he pleased, he only left to eat and go outside to do his business. Early on there were many times he didn’t eat all. After a year, he began to trust Fran and her kids. It took Moose a bit longer to accept Fran’s husband. It’s been 6.5 years since the adoption and Fran has seen many improvements. She says,

“Moose spends time with the family now as opposed to hiding in his kennel day and night. If we are in the living room, he follows. When I go to bed at night, he follows. He asks for food and enjoys treats. He was completely unmotivated by food for years. What dog turns his nose up at food?

He plays with toys and collects hats that he steals from my son, Mike. He didn’t know what to do with a toy for the longest time. One day he started carrying one of Mike’s hats in his mouth and took it outside. Now Moose throws them up in the air and catches them. He pounces on them. As soon as any one of us comes home, he goes to his toy basket and very specifically picks one to take outside. Every time, no exception.

It took several years to get him to walk to the end of the block. At first we walked out the front door and came right back. Eventually he would walk down the sidewalk, which is maybe 20 feet. Slowly, he walked further and further. This was over several years. Very slow going. Now he walks to the end of the block and back. He actually asks to go for a walk and won’t stop nagging until you take him. He cautiously enjoys it.

Now he takes an interest in seeing who is at the door. For the first few years if someone came over he would hide in his kennel. He loves to look out the window and see what’s happening outside,” says Fran.

Love Makes all the Difference

Moose is one of the lucky ones. Here’s how to help other greyhounds:

1. Learn more about the perils of the greyhound racing industry at Grey2K USA or The Humane Society of the United States.
2. Do not support dog racing. Say no when invited to the tracks by friends, family or co-workers and let them know why. (Avoid horse races also.)
3. Adopt your next dog from a shelter or rescue group. To adopt a “retired” greyhound, check out The Greyhound Project to find a group near you.
4. Raise awareness and share Moose’s story with everyone you know. Most people don’t know this side of dog racing. Forwarding this story to just one person will help. They may send it to another and so on. That is how the power of one works.
5. For general information on animals used for experimentation, click here.

*Fran Horvath is a friend and former yoga student of mine.  She owned and operated Ethical Planet in Evanston for several years. Her new venture is Greenout Cleanout, offering sustainable estate cleanout services. Find her out online at greenoutcleanout.com. If you have specific questions about greyhounds, Fran offered to share her knowledge. Email her at fran@greenoutcleanout.com.

Review: Dr. Furhman’s One-Day Immersion in Chicago

by Nikki Horvath

Growing up with a vegan mother makes for an interesting adolescence in the kitchen, especially when the rest of the family eats the Standard American Diet. I was always open to my mom’s “crazy” ways. I also thought it was cool that she was different from the other moms—despite not understanding all of her lifestyle choices. Then one day the flood gates opened.

I watched some documentary films I found around the house (The Witness and Mad Cowboy). If you’ve seen them you may relate to the overwhelming sense of emotions that followed: grief, confusion, anger, compassion and betrayal. This is where it all started—my inevitable exposure to animal cruelty in the meat and dairy industries. I couldn’t deny what I was seeing. But for me, making what seemed like such a big change from everything I thought I knew seemed like it was going to be an impossible task—even with having my own mother available with knowledge and open arms. Like many who embark on this journey I had a difficult time connecting the suffering of these poor, beautiful creatures from what was on my plate. I needed to cross that bridge at my own pace.

From introduction to intrigue I threw myself into the nutritional aspect of plant-based eating and veganism. While immersed in books, films, published studies, articles, lectures and the like, I came across one stand-out source of information—Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Many of the foremost experts on plant-based nutrition had an impact on me, such as Dr. Colin Campbell, Dr. Michael Gregor, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Alan Goldhamer, and enthusiasts like cowboy and former cattle rancher, Howard Lyman, and actress Alicia Silverstone.

While most, if not all plant-based doctors, nutritionists and health practitioners agree on 90% of what the others are teaching, there was something about that 10% difference of Dr. Fuhrman’s approach that screamed “YES!” to me. So needless to say when I found out he was coming to Chicago for a one-day health immersion, I jumped at the chance to attend and I was not disappointed.

Recipe of the Week: A Beautiful Salad

From my sister’s kitchen…

Israeli Couscous and Radish Salad
Serves 6-8

Ingredients
1 cup couscous
1 bunch radishes, sliced thin
2 stalks of celery, sliced thin
1 bunch dill, chopped

Dressing
5 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp white pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the couscous according to the package instructions and let cool to room temperature. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and let chill in fridge until couscous is room temperature. Now mix the couscous with the radish, celery and dill in a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Toss until the dressing covers the salad well, then serve.

Quick and Easy Vegan Brownies

Update: A reader mentioned her batch didn’t turn out as moist as mine looked in the picture below, so I have updated the instructions. I always appreciate comments on recipes, so I can make them better for all of you.

Yesterday it was cold and snowy and I was craving chocolate — brownies to be specific. I found a recipe online and started baking. When you have a well-stocked kitchen, it’s easy to cook and bake on-demand. This recipe is adapted from A Delicious Healthy Vegan Recipe for the Common Brownie on Ecorazzi. I substituted apple sauce for the oil and added chocolate chips. My craving was definitely satisfied. Give it a try the next time you want a chocolate treat.

Quick and Easy Vegan Brownies

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup almond milk, unsweetened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)

Combine the dry ingredients and half of the walnuts in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients plus the chocolate chips and stir until evenly combined. The mixture will be thick. Add additional almond milk as needed to combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Secret tip: Ever since I learned to bake as a child, I almost always add more liquid than a recipe calls before. I follow the instructions and then add more liquid (water works most of the time) to the batter just before it’s ready to go into the baking dish. I mix the additional liquid into the batter and then pour it into the pan. The extra liquid tends to make for a moister end-product. In this recipe, I used extra almond milk as suggested above.

Spread into an ungreased 8×8 glass pan, top with the remaining 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30-35 minutes. To determine if they are done, insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies. If it comes out clean, they are done.