Thinking about going veg? Here are a variety of resources to help you on your way.

Eating Out

Looking for veg-friendly dining in the Twin Cities area? Check out this list for some restaurants that serve reliably good vegan options. You can also visit happycow.net for worldwide guides to veg-friendly dining.

Eating In

If you’re wondering how to make some awesome vegan meals at home, check out our recipe archive, which features lots of vegan options for main dishes, sides, appetizers, soups, sandwiches, breakfast, desserts, and more. We also have a monthly Vegan Recipe Club and occasional Vegan Cooking classes that can help you with at home cooking. Check out the Event page for details. In case you missed a Vegan Recipe Club meeting we archive the recipes that were used. Also, the internet abounds with free vegan recipes.  Check it out!

Staying Healthy

Educate yourself about plant-based nutrition starting with this food guide for vegans. It’s a simple overview on how to stay well nourished on a vegan diet. For more information, check out the book Vegan for Life by Jack Norris, RD, and Ginny Messina, MPH, RD.

Finding Community

Feeling the support of a like-minded community is vital for continuing on the path to plant-based eating. Visit our event page to learn about upcoming activities in the Twin Cities area. If you live elsewhere, search online for a local group and make connections through social media.

Getting Inspired

Veg Living Magazine

Each year CAA publishes a magazine called Minnesota Veg Living (formerly Twin Cities Veg Living). It encourages people to embrace their empathy for animals and move towards a more plant-based diet. encourages people to embrace their empathy for animals and move toward a plant-based diet. The magazine also highlights our programs and celebrates the work being done around the state by businesses and individuals that enable people to live more compassionately as well as sanctuaries that provide safer spaces for farmed animals. You can view past issues here.

Blog posts

Go to our blog page to see stories of CAA projects, volunteers, sanctuary residents and successes. Of particular interest may be a series we did in April of 2023 that featured tips and recommendations by the community of books, films, how to talk to friends and family about being vegan, vegan nutrition, being plant-based on a budget, etc. Check it out!

Recommended books

We asked our volunteers which books have most inspired them to embrace empathy and go vegan, and we got a variety of responses. These may be a great place to start!

1. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
2. Main Street Vegan: Everything You Need to Know to Eat Healthfully and Live Compassionately in the Real World by Victoria Moran
3. Why We Love Dog, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism by Dr. Melanie Joy
4. Comfortably Unaware: What We Choose to Eat Is Killing Us and Our Planet by Richard Oppenlander
5. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Dr. Michael Greger
6. The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory by Carol J. Adams
7. Dominion: The Power of Man, The Suffering of Animals,  the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully
8. Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World by Bob and Jenna Torres
9. Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg
10. Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Peter Singer

Having an Impact

If you’re inspired to help create a more compassionate world, consider volunteering with CAA. Choose from a spectrum of volunteer activities, everything from helping out at a potluck to planning the next Twin Cities Veg Fest. You can also help with outreach, engaging the general public to raise awareness about farmed animal issues.

If you’d like to learn more about effective animal advocacy, take a look at these guides and how-to’s.

• Planning a Veg Fest from Start to Finish
• Planning a Large Potluck
• Guide to Taking Pictures for CAA
• Guide to Running Effective Meetings
• Guide to Effective Leafleting
• Guide to Effective Tabling
• Guide to Pay-Per-View
• Guide to Etiquette and Frequently Asked Questions
• Guide to Effective Postering
• Guide to Designing Posters and Flyers
• Guide to Effective Chalking at the U of M
• Guide to Being a Friendly Animal Advocate

We hope that these resources will help you to continue on your path of compassionate living. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns. We’re here to help!

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