Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world! We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that. If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.
Name: Laryssa Wirstiuk
Laryssa, Vegan for about a year
Where do you live? Jersey City
How long have you been vegan? Vegan for about a year, vegetarian about two years
What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet? My best friend throughout high school and college was vegetarian; I respected her decision to abstain from meat, but I never fully understood it. Never once believing that I could be vegetarian, I picked up Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” on a whim because I’m interested in food-related issues and admire him as an author. The book surprised me and inspired me to try vegetarianism for as long as I could. Almost two years later, I still abstain from animal products. This fact still surprises me.
What do you love most about being vegan? I love that becoming vegan forced me to open my mind about new ways to prepare food. A fiercely creative person at heart, I’m challenged by the task of finding and creating delicious meals among people who mostly eat meat.
What three items do you always have in your pantry? Chickpeas, veggie broth, rice.
What is your favorite vegan comfort food? Ramen from Souen Noodle in the East Village.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet? First, rid yourself of any preconceived notions you’ve ever had about vegans. The more I meet other vegetarians and vegans, the more I realize that they really don’t fit any kind of mold. Next, decide what kind of vegan YOU want to be. Reinvent the lifestyle according to your tastes and preferences. Remain open-minded and cultivate reverence for food.
Do you find anything difficult about being vegan? Being vegan is hard when I’m craving a particular dish or snack, but I’m somewhere that’s not very vegan friendly. Last weekend, for example, I was really craving a soy or almond based smoothie while out and about with my boyfriend. We found a few stores that sold smoothies, but either they used milk or they couldn’t even tell me what their smoothies contained.
Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add? I’m a creative writer and writing teacher who also does food writing for Jersey City Independent and NEW Magazine. Check out my blog about writing and creativity at www.craftyourdrafts.com or follow me on Twitter @ryssiebee!
Thanks so much, Laryssa! ”Eating Animals” made a huge impact on me, as well. In fact, I recommend it on my Resources page.
I can’t think of a better way to spend the first Spring weekend than by volunteering at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. This visit was so different from the last time we volunteered — last time it was a cold February day and it was snowing! This time we didn’t even need our jackets, and the critters were all out and about enjoying the rebirth of the season.
It’s safe to say that Melissa & I are officially hooked on volunteering here! While visiting the farm for special events and getting a farm tour is great and educational, you just don’t get this one-on-one personal access to the critters unless you take a day and go volunteer. We had a motley crew that hung with us the entire day — Beatrice, the beautiful white turkey, Timmy the heritage turkey, Star, the intersexed goat, one half of the Emmet/Jasper goat twin pair and Anne, the sweet goat with horns.
We happily cleaned up and refreshed the turkey pens, picked up pig poop in the pig pasture (a very strangely zen experience) and refreshed their hay, and then tidied up the main visitor arrival area in preparation for opening weekend next week! We are so grateful for having the opportunity to go and give back to the organization that has done so much for our lives, making such a positive impact and life change. It’s the very least we can do, and we love every minute of it. Now, when can we come back?!
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WFAS opens next Sunday for the season, offering farm tours until the fall. WFAS is only two hours from NYC and is the perfect place to get away from the city, trading honking horns and sirens for cock-a-doodle doo’s and moos! Or, if you’d like to make a weekend of it (highly recommended!) you can book a stay at their new Bed & Breakfast!
Living in Downtown Jersey City pretty much rocks… ask nearly anyone who lives here. We love Jersey City how folks in Williamsburg love their Brooklyn. We have Jersey City Pride. We’ve even got a t-shirt company that produces a shirt boasting “I F*&%ING LOVE JERSEY CITY“. We’re loud, we’re proud, and we love our city. I think there is a specific recipe that is conducive to extreme pride in the city in which you live. And it has everything to do with the perfect mix of community. We have an amazing community of small businesses, shops, restaurants, arts & culture organizations and we all seem to love to support one another. I really believe that Jersey City dwellers take buying and supporting local goods and services seriously. Even though we might pay more for something, we do it anyway because we love our community and the businesses that make it great.
A shop that exemplifies this mission statement of community is Kanibal Home.
Kanibal Home 213 Montgomery Street Jersey City, NJ 07302
Kanibal Home opened not long after I moved to the neighborhood and I’ve been a fan ever since. Kanibal Home stocks a well-curated shop full of vintage and modern curiosities, hand-made jewelry and goods, refurbished vintage furniture, clothes and accessories, and gift items. I’m always popping in when I need a birthday present for a friend, or even just to check out the jewelry selection that week as a present for myself. Their items are often one-of-a-kind, and they’re always adding new finds. It’s a treasure trove of the unique. So imagine my surprise and delight while checking out the handbags last weekend…
THEY'RE VEGAN!!!!!
That’s right folks. My favorite shop in downtown Jersey City stocks vegan handbags and shoes. I. Was. So. Excited. I had no idea… all this time had gone by and I never even thought to ask about their bags! It took that awesome multicolored handbag for me to even ask. And you bet your bottom dollar I purchased that bag right then and there!
I was able to stop in yesterday to chat with Kristen, the shop owner, a little bit more about her selection. While Kristen isn’t vegan, she does enjoy a mostly plant-based diet, which I think is a great thing. It was interesting to learn that she purposefully chose to stock vegan bags and shoes in the store. She said that nowadays there is a proliferation of vegan bag companies — distributors are even putting VEGAN or PETA FRIENDLY on their labels. She loves that the bags she carries are at a great price point (hey, me too!) and that even non-vegan customers are enthusiastic about the products. Around 80% of customers think that the bags are leather, so once they find out they aren’t, it opens a dialogue and helps people realize that it is possible to get high quality, affordable products that don’t harm animals. I also asked if she has a large vegan/vegetarian clientele, and she said that she does and is very pleased to be able to serve them as well as keeping within the aesthetic of the shop.
Spring & Summer shoes on the way!
As a vegan who loves handbags and purses, it’s so fantastic to know that I now have a place to go, LOCALLY, that stocks what I’m looking for. No more will I need to venture to Target and spend money on a cheaply made bag that will break in two months and probably made far, far away in crappy working conditions. I can now walk down the street, to a local store, and purchase an affordable, quality, vegan bag from Kanibal Home.
Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world! We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that. If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.
Stacy De-Lin, Vegan for five months
Name: Stacy De-Lin
Where do you live? New York City
How long have you been vegan? Five months!
What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet? I’ve been a vegetarian for years, since my teenage years. I’m Italian-American and getting rid of meat was difficult, but I always thought to myself the old adage, “I could never give up cheese!” Truthfully though, I think that for a lot of years, I tried not to read things about the egg and dairy industry as a way of keeping it out of sight, and out of mind. Then last winter, my husband and I took a trip to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Once we saw the battery cages and the cows that would have been taken from their mothers and sold as veal, we couldn’t put it out of sight anymore. We took the plunge after that trip and never looked back.
Additionally, I am a physician, and I work with so many patients whose health problems are nearly exclusively diet-related, like Type 2 diabetes and obesity. When counseling my patients on nutrition, all of the evidence points towards a vegan diet as the most healthy. Meat, dairy and eggs are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. It’s hard to ignore.
What do you love most about being vegan? So many things! I love to cook, and being vegan has opened up a whole new realm of cooking and baking to me. I love being part of a vegan community– knowing that there are so many great people out there who are compassionate and caring too. And of course, there’s the old Franz Kafka quote: “‘Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you any more.” It’s very, very true.
What three items do you always have in your pantry? Only three?? Ok…. Daiya Mozzarella, Gardein chicken, Raw Ice Cream Company’s mint chocolate chip flavor. (Don’t worry, I’ve got some vegetables in there too.)
What is your favorite vegan comfort food? People always say brunch is the hardest thing to give up when vegan, but some of my favorite vegan foods are brunch foods! My top comfort food is tofu scramble with potatoes and Field Roast sausage. I love starting my weekend mornings with some hearty scramble.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet? After putting off a transition to veganism for some time, taking the plunge was so much easier than I thought. Find a good community– online or otherwise– to help you with the transition and give you support. You will feel better, more healthy, with a freer conscience.
Do you find anything difficult about being vegan? Surprisingly, the food part for me isn’t hard at all. The most difficult part has been the social aspect. My family has had a hard time adjusting and friends don’t always understand. But being a new-ish vegan, I know that in time the people who love me will adjust, and in the future will always make a dinner reservation where there are vegan options!
Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add? I love being a vegan! If you haven’t taken the journey already, there’s no time like the present. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Thanks Stacy! I love to hear about other vegans who have been inspired to go vegan by the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary – just like me! If you’d like to get in touch with Stacy, feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to get you in touch with her.
So, you want to make the meatless transition, but don’t know where to begin? Don’t you worry your pretty little face… you’ll be surprised to learn that the majority of what you already have in your cabinets is most likely vegan. Aside from your known dairy and meat products, you’ll have to go through your cupboards and check out every label. It’s shocking to learn how many processed food items contain milk products, so set those items aside to donate to a local soup kitchen. We shouldn’t be eating so many processed foods anyway. From now on, you’ll make it a habit to check the ingredients list of every processed food item you might purchase. A good habit to get in to, don’t you think?
Rices, spices, oils, vinegars, pasta (eggless!), grains, oats, all of these items can stay. If you aren’t sure if the item is vegan, again, just read the label.
Next, take a look at my suggested list of pantry staples.
Assorted selection of fresh and frozen organic fruits & veg at all times!
Soy or nut milks
Tofu
Tempeh
Seitan
Soy sauce/tamari
Vegenaise (vegan mayonnaise — so yum!)
Salsa
Nuts and seeds – raw cashews, raw almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, macadamia nuts, etc.
Vegan sugar (aka not white sugar, which is processed with animal bones.. YUCK! Sugar in the Raw, or another comparable sugar will be what you want to look for)
*avoid Hijiki at all costs! It contains large amounts of arsenic! Blech!
The biggest change you will notice is the switch out of dairy items with their non-dairy counterparts, and the addition of tofu/seitan/tempeh and other assorted “faux meats”. That’s it! Most of the items in my list can be found in a non-vegan kitchen as much as a vegan kitchen. After all, it is all food that everyone should be eating anyway. So, take a deep breath, it’s all going to be fine. Just think – you’re going to be making such a huge impact for the environment, the animals, and most of all, your health.
Are you a reader who is already vegan? I would love to hear what items are pantry staples in your home. Let me know in the comments section!
One of the most fun things about being a vegan these days is that it seems like every couple of months, a new vegan product comes out on to the market! Such is the case with Field Roast’s new Frankfurter.
As Field Roast produces my favorite vegan italian sausage, it was exciting to hear that they were coming out with a dog. Field Roast’s products are made from “grain meat” – grain meat (its origins are from waaaaaay back in 7th century China) is formed by the kneading of wheat flour dough until the starch totally comes out (known as Mien Ching – Buddha’s Food). I’m sure there’s a more scientific way of explaining this, but I think that description serves our purpose. Its kind of in the seitan family, if you’re familiar with that. Anyway, Field Roast has mastered the grain meat and their products are full of flavor and are honest to goodness deliciousness.
I have tried other vegan dogs before, most reminding me of the “soft” hot dogs that you get from the hot dog vendor. Those are all well and good, but I used to LOVE those really chewy ones, the kosher ones, the ones that popped when you bit into them (you know the ones!)… and the rest of the dogs always just fell flat. Enter, Field Roast Frankfurters.
Vegan Chili Cheese Dogs with Daiya Cheese and an unremarkable canned vegan chili.
So they might not have the pop, but the texture is there. They are hearty, you can really sink your teeth into them, and taste really yummy. The texture was one that if I didn’t know it was vegan, would probably worry once I took my first bite. It was that similar! These would be a killer addition to the pantry of someone transitioning into a plant-based diet. I wish I had thought to take a photo of the dog after having taken a bite, but alas I didn’t — next time I eat one I will try to remember to do that. I am excited to see how these guys fare on the open flame and summer is just around the corner to give them the ultimate test — the grill!
All in all, I would definitely buy these again (they run around $7-8 bucks in my area) and recommend them to fellow vegans. Have you tried these doggies? What did you think?
I’m pleased to present a brand new feature of Jersey City Vegan: Vegan Like Me! Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world! We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that. If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.
Christine Goodman, Vegan for 8 months
Name: Christine Goodman
Where do you live? Jersey City
How long have you been vegan? Almost 8 months (I was vegan back in the 90′s as well)
What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet? During my first foray into veganism in my 20′s, I was careful to qualify my diet choice with statements like, “I’m not doing this for any political reason, or to ‘save the animals’ or anything like that. I just feel better doing it.” I felt that it was my responsibility to make others feel comfortable about my choice to be vegan. These days, I am committed to being a vegan because I feel it is important to stand up for what I believe in. I was floored by the amount of greenhouse gasses meat consumption creates — more than all of the transportation systems and cars of our world combined. As a species, we have evolved beyond the need to eat animals to survive. So I am making a conscious effort to reduce my footprint on the world, to make smarter choices about what I am putting in my body, and to stop contributing to over-fishing, factory farming, and non-organic foods. I was eating a lot of fish before I became vegan in 2011 and I was concerned about fishing in the Gulf — we don’t know what impact the BP oil spill will have on the fish there, fish that’s being sold to us in stores today.
What do you love most about being vegan? I love everything about being vegan! I am a superhuman superpowered superstar! I love that I have become adventurous with cooking and discovered new dishes and new ways to prepare vegetables and grains. I feel great, I love knowing that I am making my little contribution to the planet.
What three items do you always have in your pantry? Coconut oil, brown rice, and refried black beans.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet? If you expect the process of becoming vegan to be about denying yourself, that is what the process will become. If you expect the process to be about discovering a bounty of foods that are good for you and nourishing to the soul, that is what you will find.
Do you find anything difficult about being vegan? At first, I really missed having big plates of cheesy nachos. But I don’t really miss that anymore because I make my own vegan nachos at home now and they are SLAMMIN!
Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add? “I’d like to plug an awesome free podcast from Citizen Radio — it’s called RED RADIO. Erin Red is a rockstar and I recommend all vegans (and non-vegans) follow her on twitter @erinred and download her weekly podcast. You can find it for free on iTunes. If you’d like to follow me on twitter, come on in the water’s fine: @goodman_is_here“
Thanks so much, Christine, both for participating in Vegan Like Me and for being such a great supporter of Jersey City Vegan! *high five*
Lets get something straight right off the bat: vegans are at no more a risk of vitamin or mineral deficiency than omnivores. A well planned vegan diet is eleventy kabillion times more nutritional than your average omnivore. The American Dietetic Association has even stated:
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes.” (Source: ADA – eatright.org)
Ok so maybe it’s not eleventy kabillion times more nutritious, but typically, “Average vegan diets tend to be deficient in three nutrients, whereas average omnivores tend to unfortunately be deficient in seven.” Dr. Michael Greger explains it best:
So what three nutrients do vegans need to be conscious of? The Vegan Three, in no particular order:
Calcium
Iodine
B12
Some folks may argue protein and Vitamin D to be in that list as well. So I’ll discuss those two, too.
Calcium Calcium = milk, right? Naw. That’s so Dairy Council of you! We’ve been brainwashed from such a young age and for so long that if we don’t “Got Milk” we’re gonna get osteoporosis and suffer from calcium deficiency. Not true at all. In fact, the US has such high rates of osteoporosis and other bone issues despite the fact that we consume so much dairy. I could go on and on about the ickies of dairy, but that’s a whole blog entry in itself. After all, calcium isn’t naturally found in milk — cows (are supposed to) eat grass. Lets just go straight to the source, yeah? Where vegans get their Calcium: kale, broccoli, collard greens, and fortified nutmilks and tofu. PLUS! Calcium in kale and broccoli is absorbed twice as well as the calcium in milk. So booyeah to that!
Iodine
You mean, salt? Say what? No, actually most folks get their iodine from dairy products because cows teats and milk storage containers are cleaned with an iodine solution that then seeps into the milk. Geeee-ross, right? Folks don’t need a lot of iodine in their diets (only about 150 micrograms a day) but its important for thyroid function. If you use salt in your cooking, use an iodized salt. Or, add sea vegetables to your pantry. A sprinkle of Sea Seasonings once in a while on your salad should do it. Finally, you can always take a supplement.
B12
This one I will give to the omnivores. Yes, this is vitamin typically cannot be found in a vegan diet without consuming a supplement/fortified food. You know why? Because it’s a bacteria that is found in the digestive tract of animals that is absorbed into their bodies which are then eaten by folks who eat them. So how do we non-flesh eaters get our B12? Fortified soy/nut milk or cereals, Nutritional Yeast (more on the delicious Nutritional Yeast forthcoming) sprinkled on salad or pasta, or a supplement. I take a B12 supplement 3 times a week as well as Nutritional Yeast sprinkled on my salad every day. I’m a fiend for Nutritional Yeast. It’s totally yum.
Protein
I hate to even acknowledge this, but will because it’s probably the most common question I ever get asked. There is protein in EVERYTHING! There is protein in all vegetables! Protein in tofu. Protein in soy milk, beans of every shape, size, and color, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, oatmeal, pasta, broccoli, corn, etc. etc. etc. If you eat a varied and complete vegan diet, protein is the least of your concern.
Vitamin D The first things people might think as to where you can get vitamin D is either the sun or milk. Vitamin D is actually not found in any foods naturally. The vitamin D that is found in milk is there because its been added in via supplement into cow’s feed. Ten to fifteen minutes in the sun during mid-day hours is a great way to get your vitamin D. If you can’t manage that, your fortified nutmilk or cereal will contain parts of your daily intake as well. Or if you still are nervous, you can also take a supplement. (I take one!)
If you’re interested in learning more about vitamins and minerals in a vegan diet (which you totally should!), check out the book Vegan for Life by Jack Norris, RD and Virginia Messina, MPH, RD. This is my nutritional bible. Its comprehensive, easy to understand, full of charts and graphs and all the bells and whistles to help you learn and feel confident about your nutritional intake.
I must disclaim: I am not a doctor or nutritionist! All of the information I have presented here I’ve gathered from reading books by professionals. It’s all ingrained in my noggin from having to recite the answers for the inevitable 20 questions vegans get asked about their nutrition. Please do your research, read the book I recommend, and absorb as much as you possibly can on this topic.
The Vegg is the world’s first vegan egg – and a product I’ve been excited about ever since I heard about it! I knew it was something that we’d want to try, particularly because Melissa loves to cook weekend breakfasts for us. I purchased a packet at the Vegetarian Food Festival last weekend from the Vegan Bodega, excited to see what was in store for us.
The Vegg is completely cholesterol free, gluten-free, no trans fats, ten calories per serving and 10% of the proceeds from each purchase goes straight to Compassion Over Killing, a great animal advocacy group. You can use The Vegg in any recipe that calls for eggs.
Yesterday was the day! We were going to try the Vegg! Melissa decided to make french toast, as that is one breakfast dish that we both love and have missed (french toast with just soy milk is not the same).
The makings for a delish Saturday morning breakfast
Here is what you will need:
Melissa’s Vegg French Toast
2 tsp Vegg*
1/2 c. water*
1/2 c. soy milk (or other nut milk of your preference)
1/4 tsp vanilla
Cinnamon to taste (a few shakes)
*as per Vegg’s website, 1 tsp Vegg powder + 1/4 c. water = 2-3 yolks
Inside the packet of Vegg
Combine the Vegg and water in a mixing bowl until smooth (10-15 seconds)
Measure out The Vegg!
It even SMELLED like eggs!
In a separate, shallow bowl, combine soy milk, vanilla, & cinnamon and mix thoroughly. Add Vegg mixture.
Voila! French toast mixture that looks just like the real thing!
Coat both sides of your favorite kind of bread with the french toast mixture.
Dunk!
It even coats like eggs.
Coat your pan with your favorite vegan butter (we love Earth Balance) on medium-high and place your french toast in the pan to cook.
Cook til golden brown
Cook for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown.
Looking delicious.
Serve with real maple syrup and your favorite vegan sausage.
Blueberry smoothies, french toast & vegan sausage - a yummy Saturday brekkie.
Perfect french toast crust.
This product has revolutionized the vegan breakfast! Now we can enjoy our french toast the way we did when we were kids, a beautiful french toast crust with NONE of the guilt about supporting the egg industry. Hats off to you, Vegg, for creating such a fantastic product.
The speakers and organizations at this food festival were as informational and plentiful as the actual food. It’s only fitting that they include animal rights organizations as they are the ones that advocate on behalf of the animals that most folks only know as food.
Mercy For Animals had an incredibly compelling booth which hit you as soon as you walked into the main hall. They had a big sign that read “Get paid $1 to watch a four-minute video” along with volunteer who would approach fellow attendees asking them if they’d like to make a buck.
Mercy for Animals booth at the 2012 Vegetarian Food Festival
On the table, they had three mac computers set up, with two sets of headphones per computer (so you could watch with a friend), and chairs. On those computers they had a four-minute video, a compilation of footage of factory farms edited together that shows what chickens, pigs and cows are forced to endure in order to end up as food on your plate. I was fascinated by watching people as they watched the video… some you could see the shock and horror on their faces – appalled, with their hands over their mouths, sad eyes and physically wincing as they watched the footage. Some couldn’t finish the video, standing up saying it was too much for them to take. Some watched and not a blink of an eye, almost like they were watching something boring. At the conclusion, they were handed a vegetarian starter kit along with their dollar. More often than not, during the time I observed the booth, folks put their dollar directly back into the donation jar on the table.
Another advocacy group on hand was my personal favorite, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. This organization, hands down, is the reason I became vegan. They had a lovely booth set up, complete with their fantastic gear along with faithful volunteers ready to speak with you about the farm. Their latest big development is the opening of their new Bed & Breakfast, The Guesthouse at Woodstock Sanctuary, which is located right next door to the farm and available for members to stay at when they come to volunteer. Only two hours from Manhattan, WFAS is the perfect destination for a day trip, to get out of the city and meet your meat, and hopefully plant some seeds into adopting a plant-based diet. Hey, it worked for me!
Eat kale, not cow!
I had the pleasure of meeting Juno, Rescued Beagle. Juno’s story had a sad start, but the happiest of endings. Juno was formerly a laboratory beagle for household items and cosmetics. She had no name at that time, just numbers, tattooed in her ears that left a permanent reminder of her past.
Juno's mommy showing us her ear tattoos.
Juno’s mommy told us that her life changed forever when she was chosen to take Juno home as her adopted family! She also told us that when she first brought Juno home, she was very afraid, and still slept on the hard floor, backed into a corner, even though she was given nice fluffy soft beds to sleep on. It was from that point on that Juno’s mom decided she would do everything she could to educate folks about the importance of choosing cruelty-free products in their homes. They are working on a cruelty-free products app that you can download to your phone so you can have all of that information on hand at all times. For now, they have a comprehensive Compassionate Shopping Guide on their website that is print ready.
Her tips are simple and smart. Here are a few of my take-aways:
Pay attention to the unit price. That’s the price that is usually in the little orange box when you’re looking at the price tag on the shelf at the grocery store.
Join a CSA – Community Sustainable Agriculture or shop a local farmers market
Shop the perimeter of the store.
For those who think being vegan is too expensive, consider this: 4oz of beans costs 10 cents. Beef costs 14 cents and OUNCE! Some are 17 cents, and tenderloin is 94 cents an ounce making the same sized portion $3.72 cents!
The two books I purchased at the festival.
I purchased her book which lays out her money-saving techniques as well as a comprehensive cookbook section. Each recipe even has how much it will cost you to make it! Highly recommended!
The speaker who I was most excited about seeing at the festival was Dr. Michael Greger. He is the founder of nutritionfacts.org which is my go-to site for nutrition facts and figures. He reads all the big medical studies that come out and presents them to us in laymen’s terms so we can understand them.
Dr. Michael Greger
I can’t recommend his website and videos enough! He presents the case for a plant-based diet time and time again. His presentations are witty, informative and most of all QUICK. In this day and age, no one ever wants to sit down and read anything, much less a study from a medical journal on information that is pertinent to everyone. His videos solve that problem completely. Here is one of my favorites, clocking in at a whopping 1 minute and 26 seconds.
The Special Saturday Night event featured a screening of Vegucated with the director and one of the cast members. This film is brilliant – it documents three meat eaters and challenges them to go vegan for 6 weeks. It chronicles their journey, their ups, their downs, challenges while being on vacation as well as trips to some farms and a vegetarian convention. After the screening we had a talk back with Marisa Miller Wolfson (Writer/Director) and Tesla Lobo (cast member). We were happily informed that all three of the folks featured are still enjoying a plant-based life today!
Marisa Miller Wolfson (Writer/Director) and Tesla Lobo (cast member) of Vegucated
Jenny Brown, one of the founders of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary gave a passionate talk after the film. She discussed the mission of WFAS, her experience and journey as a vegan and provided an honest and inspiring perspective into the lifestyle. I felt I was in vegan church! Jenny’s passion and drive is so apparent while watching her speak. It makes you want to join her plight, and speak up on behalf of the millions of farm animals in this world that are enslaved for food. I have visited WFAS on a yearly basis over the past 5 years so I’ve had the opportunity to see her speak several times and every time I’m left inspired. She also had some great news to share: she is coming out with a book! Entitled Lucky Ones, its is available for pre-order on Amazon, iTunes and other major booksellers. Congrats, Jenny!
Jenny Brown, co-founder of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary (and my personal hero!)
And that, my fellow plant-based foodies, are my highlights from the 2012 Vegetarian Food Festival. I’m already excited for next year’s festival… who’s coming with me?
