Reply to Alex Jamieson's "I’m not vegan anymore"

The vegan community is abuzz right now in response to Alex Jamieson confessing on her blogpost: "I’m not vegan anymore".


As I write this, I see there are hundreds of responses to her post--me included. This is what I wrote in reply to her post:


If you’re not feeling/being healthy eating only cruelty-free foods then you’re not eating vegan in the way you personally should eat in being vegan. It would be best to see a vegan nutritionist; I believe you never mentioned going to a vegan doctor. They do exist and can help you eat vegan in a healthy way designed for you.


Everyone can’t be healthy vegans *in the very same way*, as we all have different needs. But we all can be healthy vegans in a way designed for us as individuals.


I don’t doubt that you still love animals, but to love animals as much as you could and should, you would be vegan and get professional nutritional counseling to be a healthy vegan for the sake of your own body as well as for animals and the planet.




I really hope Alex goes to a nutritionist.

I don't believe I ever posted this story of my own life but I did have a break in being vegan. After years of being vegan, I noticed the enamel on my teeth was deteriorating. I thought it was due to lack of calcium, so still a vegan, I took calcium supplements in hope that would solve the issue, but it didn't help. I ignorantly thought it was because I stopped eating dairy and stupidly didn't go to a vegan doctor about it. I then started drinking milk again.


When I finally went to my dentist for a regular check-up, I mentioned this to him (who, by the way, is not a vegan), he said to me: "Your enamel isn't deteriorating because you're vegan. It's because you're using a too hard toothbrush. As the years went by, enamel starts to erode by using a hard bristle toothbrush and pressing too hard on your teeth with it. It has nothing to do with being vegan." I felt very stupid but quite happy with the news. I then stopped drinking milk and became vegan again.


Valuable lesson learned!


If you are having ANY trouble at all with your vegan diet for life, please, please, please see a vegan doctor about it--or possibly any doctor, as I said my dentist wasn't even a vegan dentist who told me I was wrong. But a vegan doctor may have more answers to whatever issues you are having, so see them.

Vegan Hummus Pizza

Eating pizza while watching the Academy Awards is traditional for me, but instead of making a vegan pizza with non-dairy cheese, I made a pizza substituting cheese with hummus! It was different and delicious!

Here's how I made it:

Prep Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 T. sugar
• 1 .25-ounce package active dry yeast
• 1 t. olive oil
• 1 t. salt
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preparation:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast, mixing gently until bubbles begin to appear on the surface. Let the mixture set for several minutes, or until a small layer of foam appears on the surface. Add the olive oil, salt, and whole wheat flour, mixing until combined. Add the all-purpose flour gradually, until the mixture forms a soft but not sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes or until elastic. Lightly oil the mixing bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with a dry towel and place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

2. Once doubled, punch down the dough. Knead for several minutes into a tight ball, then return the dough to the mixing bowl, cover with the towel, and let rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

3. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Lightly oil a pizza pan or baking pan.

4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to a circle of desired thickness, about 14-16 inches in diameter. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, top with desired toppings, and bake until golden brown, about 16-20 minutes.

For toppings, I added:

Mixing tomato paste with vegan pizza sauce
Hummus
Pineapple
Mushrooms
Vegan meatballs crumbled into small chunks
Powdered oregano

Unfortunately, I just took a photo of my pizza today, after I have already eaten half of it and as it is cold from being in the fridge. I place the hummus on top because I didn't want that heated too much so it went on last during the last minutes of baking, but you can put hummus on bottom as cheese would be if you like.

I'll definitely make this pizza again!

All Things Vegan!

In the past 2 weekends, I made it a point to go to 5 places where all products are 100% vegan. It was a fun experience!

My first stop was on Sunday, February 10. I had brunch at 10:30am at the Veggie Grill restaurant. I ordered their cheese veganburger, sweet fries carrot cake and lemonade. It was so delicious! I've never had sweet fries that good! The cheeseburger was one of the best I've ever had, and the carrot cake was fantastic--I loved the icing on it! The lemonade was fresh and good! The atmosphere is nice and quiet (but I guess it would be at that time), and very clean. The staff are very polite and asked me would I mention their restaurant to others--YES! Veggie Grill is national so if there is one near you, please stop by and order anything on their menu, knowing everything is cruelty-free.

After feeling very well fed and satisfied, I want to add I did go to Voodoo Doughnut afterward; it is not a vegan bakery, but they sell at least a dozen vegan doughnuts. I stopped there to pick up my favorite, their vegan Cock-N-Balls! That is the name!

The line was remarkably short as I was only about the 30th person in line. If you are familiar with both Portland, Oregon's own Voodoo Doughnut bakeries, you know being the 30th person in line is a pretty good spot! The lines at both places are ALWAYS long--and I'm not exaggerating, although I've heard if you stop by after midnight, there's no line (they are open 24 hrs.). The staff is always happy so I figure they must be paid with all the vegan doughnuts they want! =)

My vegan Cock-N-Balls was extremely good, which I had for my dinner dessert.





Next stop that day, I went to Portland's Mini Mall. My first store at the mall and the second 100% vegan shop I went to was Food Fight! grocery store. The grocery store is very small, about the size of one of those gas station food stores, or corner market stores. But there is a lot of merchandise: pre-packaged food on shelf and frozen, including ice creamy desserts, cooking/baking items, health, beauty and cosmetic products, etc., all 100% vegan. I needed some new lip balm so I bought their lip balm by Crazy Rumors.

Next door to Food Fight!, I went to Herbivore Clothing Company. They sell a lot of unique clothing and accessory items and books as well. They also sell jewelry, buttons, stickers and magnets with the vegan message. It's a fun store to check out. I got another different vegan lip balm there from Booda Butter. I'll compare the two and see which one is better.

My last stop on that Sunday was next door to Herbivore Clothing Company. It's Sweetpea Baking Company. It was indeed a very sweet day for me in more ways than one as I got my 3rd sweet vegan item of the day: a peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookie! I've had their cookies before and this is the best in their bunch! I saved that cookie for Monday's dessert as 2 desserts is more than I usually have in one day.

A week later, today February 17th, I went to my 4th 100% vegan place, Loving Hut. It's a very pretty, clean restaurant with very good food too! I ordered  their Hawaiian vegan burger with french fries. I had their "Orange Joy" drink which tastes like a tangerine smoothie. For dessert, I had my very first vegan cheese cake--so delicious!!

I plan to stop by all the places I mentioned here. The customer service at all places (including Voodoo Doughnut) are excellent! It was such a joy visiting 4 totally vegan places, and I hope to go to more in the future.

Wearing the Vegan Message

 I have been trying to think of another way to spread the vegan/cruelty-free message when I'm out and about. I don't own a car so bumper stickers are out. The message would have to be on my body or at least my handbag.

I checked out various jewelry but I think messages on jewelry--even a necklace--are too small to always notice. Plus, I always wear a necklace watch, and Unitarian Universalist, Wicca and Saint Dymphna charms around my neck in a necklace which could cover the vegan jewelry in moving around.

Patches can't been moved easily when I change handbags or clothing. I thought seriously about a cap but I don't always wear a cap.

So, I decided on a button! I can easily take it off and put it anywhere--clothing or bag. Average size buttons are large enough to be easily read (most are 2 inches around), and an added bonus is buttons are very cheap!

I went online and found two amazing websites with over a thousand vegan buttons here and here. Boy, did I have fun reading so many buttons!

Many were cute--so cute I felt the message was not taken seriously enough. Others were so in-your-face blatant to the point of sounding rude (true but  rude!), and a lot were spot on perfect. One of my favorites is the button above but I decided to get this one below, as it best represents my ministry:

Vegan Is Love: Having Heart and Taking Action

Author-illustrator Ruby Roth, introduces young readers to veganism as a lifestyle of compassion and action in her book, Vegan Is Love.

Roth illustrates how our daily choices ripple out locally and globally, conveying what we can do to protect animals, the environment, and people across the world. Roth explores the many opportunities we have to make ethical decisions: refusing products tested on or made from animals; avoiding sea parks, circuses, animal races, and zoos; choosing to buy organic food; and more. Roth’s message is direct but sensitive, bringing into sharp focus what it means to “put our love into action.”

The book also features back-of-the-book resources on action children can take themselves.

Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals

 

 

Scientists have long counseled against interpreting animal behavior in terms of human emotions, warning that such anthropomorphizing limits our ability to understand animals as they really are. With "Wild Justice", Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce unequivocally challenge this long-held view.

 

Marrying years of behavioral and cognitive research with compelling and moving anecdotes, Bekoff and Pierce reveal that animals exhibit a broad repertoire of moral behaviors, including fairness, empathy, trust, and reciprocity. Animals are incredibly adept social beings, relying on rules of conduct to navigate intricate social networks that are essential to their survival.

 

Bekoff and Pierce draw the conclusion that there is no moral gap between humans and other species: morality is an evolved trait that we unquestionably share with other social mammals.

 

The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy and Why They Matter

Based on award-winning scientist Marc Bekoff’s years studying social communication in a wide range of species, this important book shows that animals have rich emotional lives. Bekoff blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that common sense and experience have long implied. Filled with Bekoff’s light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we treat them.

The Witness

 

Transformed by the love of a kitten, a tough New York City construction contractor is inspired to rescue abandoned animals, become an animal activist, and take his message of compassion to the streets.

The Witness is an award-winning film that has changed many lives.

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home

 

 

Inspired by the idea that one person's change of heart can change the world, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home explores the ethical awakening of several people who grew up in traditional farming culture and have now come to question the basic assumptions of their way of life. The 78-minute documentary features seven remarkable individuals engaged in a courageous struggle of conscience, each trying to re-integrate the parts of themselves that were fragmented by expectations and experiences that went against their deepest natures. The film provides insight into their sometimes amazing connections with the animals under their care, while also making clear the complex web of social, psychological and economic forces that have led them to their conflict.

Described by many viewers as a life-changing experience, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home shatters stereotypical notions of farmers, farm life, and perhaps most surprisingly, farm animals themselves.

 



I'm glad their website, Tribe of Heart, gives the correct definition of being vegetarian as many people--including me sometimes--tend to automatically think if a person says they don't eat any animal products at all, they must be vegan--not so!

 

Vegetarian

"A diet that includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains and is free from all animal products including dairy and eggs. Also used to describe a person who eats such a diet. Common confusion: Often mistakenly used to describe those who do not eat flesh but do consume other animal products such as diary and eggs. Such a diet would be more accurately described by the term ovo-lacto vegetarian."

http://www.tribeofheart.org/peaceablejourney/mediabase/1363.htm

So remember, all those celebrities announcing to the world that they are "vegan" because of their change in eating are not vegan--they are vegetarians.

 

Peaceable Kingdom's definition of vegan is found at: Peaceable Journey: Food & Daily Life: Vegan 

Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good

 

 

Pleasurable Kingdom, by Jonathan Balcombe, presents new evidence that animals--like humans--enjoy themselves. From birds to baboons, insects to iguanas, animals feel good thanks to play, sex, touch, food, anticipation, comfort, aesthetics, and more. Combining rigorous evidence, elegant argument and amusing anecdotes, leading animal behavior researcher Jonathan Balcombe shows that the possibility of positive feelings in creatures other than humans has important ethical ramifications for both science and society.

 

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals

Animal behavior expert Jonathan Balcombe makes the case that animals, once viewed only as mindless automatons, actually have rich sensory experiences and emotional complexity. Drawing on research, observational studies, and personal anecdotes to reveal the full spectrum of animal experience, Balcombe paints a picture of the inner lives of animals that diverges from the “fight or die” image often presented in the popular media. He challenges traditional views of animals and makes the case for why the human-animal relationship needs a complete overhaul.

Dogs recognize unfairness and rats practice random acts of kindness. Chimpanzees can trounce humans in short-term memory games. Fishes distinguish good guys from cheaters, and birds are susceptible to mood swings such as depression and optimism. With vivid stories and entertaining anecdotes, Balcombe opens the door into the inner lives of the animals themselves.

A Dog Named Leaf

In 2006, Allen and Linda Anderson adopted a cocker spaniel from an animal shelter and named him Leaf. Seven months later, the dog was turning the couple’s home into a war zone, and they were regretting their impulsive choice.


Then one day Allen, who had spent eight years as an active duty police officer and had survived so many close calls, received a phone call that made him think his luck had finally run out. Allen had an unruptured brain aneurysm that would be fatal if not operated on immediately. And the surgery might be fatal, or very debilitating. Having seen his father live for years with the effects of a massive stroke, Allen was thrown into a panic that the worst fate might not be death.

What Allen didn’t know is that what would save him was a miracle--their dog named Leaf...

 

Allen Anderson’s new book A Dog Named Leaf, shares life-changing events that confirm the reality of heaven and spiritual benefits of adopting a rescued dog who might be destined to rescue you!

 

Allen Anderson and his wife Linda founded the Angel Animals Network, which helps people discover the benefits of human-animal companionship.

Animals and World Religions

In this wide-ranging and perceptive study, Lisa Kemmerer shows how spiritual writings and teachings in seven major religious traditions can help people to consider their ethical obligations toward other beings.

Dr. Kemmerer examines the role of nonhuman animals in scripture and myth, in the lives of religious exemplars, and by drawing on foundational philosophical and moral teachings. She begins with a study of indigenous traditions around the world, then focuses on the religions of India (Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain) and China (Daoism and Confucianism), and finally, religions of the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

 

At the end of each chapter, Kemmerer explores the inspiring lives and work of contemporary animal advocates who are motivated by a personal religious commitment.

Animals and World Religions demonstrates that rethinking how we treat nonhuman animals is essential for anyone claiming one of the world's great religions.