Just Some Thoughts

I read an online article not too long ago that gave me some things to think about regarding why someone may not want to become vegan. I have never been one to push my lifestyle or beliefs on anyone; I am simply here to encourage and offer support if they do decide to lead a vegan lifestyle. Just this past week, I have been able to do just that because my younger sister decided to become a vegetarian for ethical and health reasons, like I did over one year ago. But the article that I read gave reasons against such a lifestyle, saying, "If we did not milk cows, they would explode," and "farmers would lose their jobs if we were all vegan," and my personal favorite, "animals do not have feelings."

I am a very open-minded individual, so I took the time to think about these arguments. I do agree that cows should be milked in order to live and that farmers would lose their jobs. However, I think it is wrong to say that animals do not have feelings because if the writer of that article had watched even one documentary on the food industry, they would see the pain that animals go through, and feeling pain is most definitely feeling.

The problem with these arguments is that this person, and probably some others against veganism, blatantly say that all vegans think everyone else should become a vegan too. Speaking for myself, I can say that this is not the case. Of course it makes me happy every time someone says to me, "I want to become a vegetarian," or, "I think it's cool that you're vegan," because they are showing interest in my lifestyle that I feel passionately about. But this does not mean my ultimate goal as a vegan is to convert everyone that I meet, as if it's some meat-free-egg-free dark side and I try to lure people by saying, "C'mon, we have dairy-free cookies!" My ultimate goal is only to make a difference with the life I've been given, and help to educate people who ask to be educated.

I truly believe not being a part of the harming of animals, not being responsible for another living being's life, is the most compassionate way to live. I applaud anyone who chooses to do the same.

CW

Vegans In The Limelight

If you need more of a reason to become vegan other than the ethical argument that it is the most compassionate way to exist, why don't you take a look at this shortened list of celebrities who have dedicated their lifestyles to saving animals by going vegan or vegetarian?
Some of them might surprise you!

Al Gore politician, advocate and philanthropist
Alanis Morissette singer
Albert Einstein renowned scientist
Alicia Silverstone actress
Alyssa Milano actress, singer
Anne Hathaway actress
Ariana Grande actress, singer
Aristotle Greek philosopher
Ashley Judd actress
Avril Lavigne musician 
Bill Clinton former American president
Billy Idol musician
Brad Pitt actor
Brandy R&B singer
Brigette Bardot French actress 
Buddha Indian Saint and Spiritual Master
Christina Applegate actress
Demi Lovato musician
Doris Day actress
Ellen DeGeneres T.V. personality
Emily Deschanel actress
Emily Dickinson writer, poet
Flo Rida rapper
Fran Drescher actress
Franz Kafka Jewish writer
George Bernard Shaw writer
Gandhi Hindu spiritual leader
Gwen Stefani singer
Jack Johnson singer
James Cameron director
Jamie Lee Curtis actress
Jared Leto actor, singer
Jason Mraz singer
Jean-Jacques Rousseau philosopher
Jenna Dwan-Tatum actress, dancer
Jenny McCarthy actress, model
Jesse Eisenberg actor, playwright
Jesus Christ Jewish Rabbi, Saint and Mystic 
Joan Jett punk rock musician and singer
John Lennon Beatles singer and songwriter
Jonathon Taylor Thomas actor
Kaley Kuoco actress
Kate Winslet actress
Kelly Clarkson pop singer
Ken Bradshaw pro surfer
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda politician, former president of Zimbabwe
Kristen Bell actress
LaToya Jackson sister of Michael Jackson
Leo Tolstoy Russian writer and philosopher 
Leonardo da Vinci Italian painter and inventor
Leona Lewis British popstar
Liv Tyler actress, model
Louisa May Alcott American writer
Michael Jackson singer, King of Pop
Mr. Spock fictional character of Star Trek
Natalie Portman actress
Nelly rapper, musician
Olivia Wilde actress
Paul McCartney musician, singer and songwriter, guitarist of The Beatles
Pierce Brosnan actor
Pink singer
Plato Greek philosopher and student of Socrates
Portia de Rossi actress
Prince musician, singer and songwriter
Ralph Waldo Emerson writer, poet
Rosa Parks civil rights activist
Ru Paul entertainer, drag queen, activist
Russel Simmonds music producer, co-founder of Def Records
Russell Brand actor, comedian
Sara Silverman actress, comedian
Seal singer and songwriter
Shania Twain singer
Sir Isaac Newton physicist
Socrates Greek philosopher
Susan B. Anthony women's suffrage pioneer
The Roots all veg band
Tobey McGuire actor
Usher singer
Vanessa A. Williams actress
Vanilla Ice American rapper
Voltaire French writer and philosopher
Woody Harrelson actor, environmental activist
Zendaya actress, singer

There are hundreds of vegan and vegetarian celebrities and famous people of the past. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes:

"Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism, it can change the destiny of humankind." Albert Einstein 

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Gandhi

"I have since an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." Leonardi da Vinci

"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." Abraham Lincoln

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages." Thomas Edison

CW

Satisfying Substitutions

For every non-vegan food, there is an equally delicious vegan substitute! Don't believe me? Below is a list of my personal favorite vegan-friendly foods I have discovered thus far in my journey to a better lifestyle!:

Non-Vegan Food                                           Vegan-Friendly Food

Milk                                                                 Silk Soymilk, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze milk

Eggs                                                               Tofu scramble

Cheese                                                            Follow Your Heart vegan gourmet spreads

Butter                                                              Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread

Yogurt                                                             So Delicious coconut milk yogurt

Ice cream                                                        So Delicious coconut milk ice cream flavors

Sugar                                                              Woodstock Farms Organic Pure Cane Sugar

Chocolate                                                        Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips

Corn dogs                                                       MorningStar Farms meatless corn dogs

Chicken nuggets                                             MorningStar Farms meatless chicken nuggets

Hamburger patties                                          MorningStar Farms veggie patties

Taco meat                                                       Gardein beefless ground

Shrimp                                                            Vegetarian Plus shrimp

Whipped Cream                                              Soyatoo! Whippable Soy Topping

These are only a few vegan substitutes that I keep stocked in my fridge at home. Going vegan is not a new concept, which means that fortunately for us modern vegans, there are many brands out there that are delicious and just as great as their non-vegan substitutes. Also, did you know that Oreos, potato chips, Sourpatch Kids, Hershey's chocolate syrup, Ritz crackers, kettle popcorn, Italian salad dressing, Luigi's Italian Ice, Mrs. Smith's Dutch Apple Pie, Pillsbury crescent rolls, Aunt Jemima whole what pancake mix, and Jell-O instant pudding are all vegan-friendly? You don't have to cut out as much food you regularly eat as you may think.

Realizing that it is very possible to go vegan by knowing you don't have to give up your favorite foods makes the whole idea less intimidating! Just another reason why going vegan, even short-term, is a great life choice.

CW

Go Vegan, Get Fit

For a while now, I have been obsessed with my health and working out. I often go for long runs, but when it is colder in the mornings, I look up workouts online and do them at home. From doing this, I have generated a list of my very favorite workouts, the ones I find most effective but least agonizing.

For ABsolutely toned abs:

Glamour Magazine's Kate Upton Abs Workout

This workout takes me about 20 minutes and makes my core feel tight and toned. With being a vegan and eating healthy to increase the metabolism, it is easy to blast extra fat from your core area, and this workout definitely helps.

For strong and powerful legs:

Health Magazine's Gorgeous Legs Workout

The key to this workout is the resistance you put on your legs, which is why the side-stepping movement with the bands is my favorite and works most effectively.

As for your entire body:

Women's Health Mag Total-Body Toning

David Kirsch specifically designed this series of moves to tone your entire body and it definitely does.

CW

Too Delicious

I have been a vegan for one month now, which has given me plenty of time to learn a thing or two about vegan cooking and baking. Along with the recipes I have tried, I have found a few great vegan recipe blogs that I am sure I will be spending a lot of time scrolling through in the future.

I have designed a three-course meal combination with my favorite recipes thus far, which I am sure vegans and non-vegans alike would enjoy!

For the appetizer...


http://www.moreveganblog.com/2014/03/06/tempeh-blt-wraps/

The idea of eating lettuce filled with more healthy food may turn you off to the idea that vegan foods can be incredibly delicious in every sense of the phrase. But honestly, these Tempeh BLT Wraps from MORE. are incredibly delicious.
I found tempeh bacon at my local Meijer, and followed the recipe as directed. This is a very quick and easy appetizer to prepare, and there is so much flavor in every bite. I give this recipe a 3 out of 5.

For the main course...

Vegan fettuccine alfredo?! I couldn't believe it.
I am obsessed with fettuccine alfredo, but sadly, it is not vegan. So like every craving I have, I simply find a vegan substitute for the foods I love.
A second vegan food blog I love is Oh She Glows. The blog does not allow me to post pictures from their site, so if you would like to see how my dinner turned out, visit the link below.
I give this dish a 4 out of 5 because it was creamy as promised, but I suggest adding strips of a veggie patty or vegetables to add to this great dish.

http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/20/cauli-power-fettuccine-alfredo-vegan/

For dessert...


http://minimalistbaker.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-cup-cheesecakes/

My oh my, these Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes are to-die-for! I am the only one in my family who is a vegan and I'm fairly certain I had only gotten the chance to eat two before they had "mysteriously" disappeared.
This recipe is straight-forward and comes from another blog I love, Minimalist Baker. Instead of buying the mini peanut butter cups, I used crushed Oreos and they were still delicious. I give this dessert 4 out of 5 stars because they were incredibly addicting, but probably would have been better with the peanut butter cups.

CW