All of us are struggling with the new reality of life with COVID-19.
Here is the first in a series of tips for taking care of yourself and our community of human and non-human animals during this uncertain time.
Whatever your reasons for going vegan or switching to a plant-based diet are, good for you. You’ve taken a step toward a better world.
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Gretchen Rubin
“The best is the enemy of the good.”
Voltaire
These two quotes are a great reminder. When we move to veganism or a plant-based diet, it is not about perfection. It is about improving today compared to yesterday, or this week in comparison to last week, or even this year compared to last year. It is about improving the lives of animals, humans, and the planet we share.
There will be occasions on this journey where you mistakenly order something that is non-vegan, or you are served something that is non-vegan or has non-vegan ingredients. You haven’t failed if you choose to scrape off the non-vegan item and eat the meal anyway! You’ll learn, you’ll have more information for next time, and you’ll adapt.
Did you hear about the person who sued Burger King because they didn’t disclose that the Impossible Whopper was cooked on the same grill with the beef Whopper? I understand their concern, but the reality is beef, chicken, pork, and the like are not allergens and your favorite restaurant is not necessarily obligated to tell you your vegetables or your salad were prepared on the same surface or pan as animal-based items. It’s important to keep in mind that the surface your plant-based burger is cooked on does not change the number of animals slaughtered for food. That said, if this is a concern for you, be sure to ask about it before you order.
Some of us on this vegan or plant-based journey are doing it in a house full of meat-eaters. In the beginning, the temptation to eat foods you aren’t eating anymore or someone in your house eating the vegan leftovers you brought home last night can be real problems.
Educating yourself about the realities of animal agriculture, getting to know the personalities of animals at a local farm sanctuary (subscribe to CAA’s newsletter for information on tours!), and reviewing your goals for moving plant-based can help keep you on track.
If you slip and have a piece of non-vegan cheese, or you add egg-based mayo to a sandwich or dish by mistake, get over it and keep moving forward toward your goal, whatever the reason you are on this journey.
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
The Vegan Society
A plant-based diet is a diet consisting mostly or entirely of foods derived from plants, including vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits, and with few or no animal products.
Wikipedia
If an abundance of incredible plant-based food isn’t reason enough to go vegan, here are a few more.
If you became vegan or plant-based to improve your health, or you want the health benefits but you became vegan for the environment or to save animals, remember you can be vegan or plant-based and still eat unhealthily. Eating healthily still takes work and time, and as I said earlier, good is greater than perfection.
I love that Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat exist today. While eating an Impossible Whopper or other highly processed vegan foods every day is not going to improve my health, it’s nice to have the option when you wish to indulge or treat yourself on occasion.
Whatever your reasons for making the switch, never forget that you’ve taken a bold step that benefits animals, the environment, and can improve your own health! Here are three key ideas to keep in mind to make your transition to vegan or plant-based diet successful:
Ultimately, going veg is a journey, so be sure to enjoy it!
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This article was originally published in the 2020 issue of Twin Cities Veg Living.
Henry Patterson is a St. Paul, MN, native, one-time resident of California vegan for the last 7½ years, and currently a caretaker to two healthy 5-year old vegan Basenji dogs, Emi and Lokan. His path to veganism was not overnight; it was a journey through pescetarian to vegetarian and finally to vegan. The journey was not perfect.
Welcome to April! You might have heard the title we’re exploring. There’s a plant-based documentary with the same name. This month, we’re trying out recipes from Gene Stone’s cookbook, Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health.
Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health, by Gene Stone, 2012.
Optional recipes:
Vegan Recipe Club meets Tuesday, April 21 at East Lake Library, 2727 E Lake St, from 6:30-7:30pm. Questions? Email info@exploreveg.org or message us on Facebook.
The contestants of the 11th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off brought the heat! Over 240 attendees savored vegan chilis created by community and professional contestants while being introduced to animal protection, environmental, and food waste issues.
Learn how to make whole, unprocessed foods shine as they work for the benefit of your health this March, as we explore recipes from Cathy J. Fisher’s cookbook, Straight Up Food: Delicious and Easy Plant-Based Cooking Without Oil, Salt, or Sugar.
CAA welcomes Abby Medberry to our board of directors. Read on to learn more about Abby, why she became vegan, and how she got involved with speaking out for animals and CAA.
Welcome to February! This month, we’re exploring recipes from Candice Hutchings (aka The Edgy Veg)’s self-titled cookbook, The Edgy Veg: Carnivore-approved Vegan Recipes and working on creating exciting and satisfying seitan-based recipes as well as some creamy desserts.
While anytime is an amazing time to go vegan, using the motivation from a New Year can provide a great incentive to start. Many decide to try plant-based eating for the month, a movement called Veganuary.
We’re here to help. Share this on social with friends and read on for a few ways to make this month a plant-powered success.
Happy New Year and welcome back! This month’s recipes dive into Nava Atlas’ Vegan Holiday Kitchen cookbook, inviting you to create a hearty Shepherd’s Pie, Couscous dish, Peanut Soup and more if you choose!
This cookbook is full of warming stews, seasonal roasts, and desserts that will bring all of the classic flavors of the holidays. Will you answer the call and get creative in the kitchen?
Vegan Holiday Kitchen, by Nava Atlas, 2011 — TX837. A8473 2011
Optional recipes:
Vegan Recipe Club meets Thursday, January 21 at East Lake Library, 2727 E Lake St, from 6:30-7:30pm. Questions? Email info@exploreveg.org or message us on Facebook.
Our work together in 2019 helped spare the lives of an estimated 252,000 animals!
Whether you volunteered on a planning committee, outreach event, or attended a potluck, we want to extend a HUGE thank you for all you’ve contributed to the movement in 2019.
Scroll down to see a video slideshow with highlights from 2019. We hope you’ll join us at one or more of these events in 2020.
The Vegan Chili Cook-Off brought Twin Cities restaurants and community chefs to compete. Hundreds of community members came to rate the samples and learn how tasty vegan food can be as well as the power a plant-based diet has to help end animal suffering.
Video outreach, leafleting, and sanctuary tours helped over 6,500 people understand the realities of animal agriculture, the individual personalities of farmed animals, and take meaningful steps toward a plant-based diet.
Together in 2019, we:
All of this work was done through CAA programs including the Explore Veg Mentor Program, Bridges of Respect, Twin Cities Veg Week, Food Giveaways, The Wholesome Minnesota cafeteria change program, the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge, Cooking Demos (thanks Coco and Lala, Hark Cafe, and Dustin Harder!), and the Vegan Recipe Club.
Last, but not least, we combined all of this into a huge one-day festival, Twin Cities Veg Fest, which drew 10,000 people to learn about and celebrate the benefits of plant-based living.
Our programs are supported by a staff of two, hundreds of volunteers, and hundreds of donors like you. We so appreciate all you do for farmed animals! Thank you for joining us in 2019!
