Lifestyle

Eating Vegan on $21.00 A Week: The Food Stamp Budget

In life there are many different social classes, interest groups and economic situations. But no matter what a person’s financial status, not a soul should be denied healthy, sustainable food based on income. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Even in a good economy, more families fall into a lower income tier than into a wealthy one. This means severe rationing of portions and supplies - most of the time at the expense of fruits and vegetables, with quick meals and chips and soda being cheaper options. It shouldn’t be a luxury to be able to eat healthily and ethically. Vegan Hope posits a challenge to turn this “status” quo around. Here are their guidelines:

1. For one week you agree to live on a $21.00 food budget (per person in your household). This is the Food Stamp Budget.
2. Do not use any equipment that costs more than $15.00, with the exception of the following: oven, microwave.
3. Spices that you currently have can be used, but you should subtract $3.00 from your total food budget per person.
4.I personally use no oil or spray oil (nor do I recommend anyone use it). However, that is not the purpose of this challenge, if you are someone who uses it I will be asking you to deduct $3.00 from your food budget.
5. Write about the dishes you make including ingredients and the cost per meal.
6. Include a shopping list.

I was pumped about this task for a few reasons.

A. I am faced with budgeting for food on a 20-something’s income
B. I am limited as far as where I can do my food shopping - my feet, public transportation or a bike has to be able to take me there. This is a problem many low-income families face as well. Limited transportation and limited resources make eating healthy (or gasp, vegan) even harder.
C. It is a chance to show just what kind of choices families have to make when trying to stretch $3.oo a day as far as they can.

So here’s how I ate. For one week. On $3.oo a day. Journal style.

I tweaked the spice allowance slightly by combining only the few extras I used into one $3.00 subtraction. My initial $3.00 deduction includes: oil/vinegar, mustard, peanut butter, and salt/pepper in very small rations. So I started the week with $18.00 to spare. ($21.00- $3.00 for spices/butter = $18.00)

DAY ONE
I started the week by making a careful list of what I would eat using the items I already had in my house. My first breakfast was to ration a package of Vans Vegan/Gluten Free Waffles laying in my freezer. ($3.00 for 8 waffles) I allowed myself 1 waffle. (Total $0.38) *Check out the shopping list at the end of the post for full items and prices for each. It’s ok, you can check my math.

Lunch consisted of a peanut butter & banana sandwich (ahem, thank you Elvis), using a banana I had ($0.20), 2 tbsp. peanut butter (included in my $3.00 spice allotment) and two slices of bread ($0.30). (Total $0.50)

Dinner was leftovers! Nothing gets thrown away when you have to make every penny count. A leftover taco salad helped me save money. It is a simple recipe (and it’s one of my favorites). Using 1 red tomato, shredded lettuce, black beans, re-fried beans and tortilla chips, it’s a healthy and tasty meal on the cheap. And the cost? Well, let’s get ready for some slightly complicated math (come on, I majored in Journalism). I had half of the original meal leftover (from before the challenge). I ate half of that for dinner. So we’ll be dividing the prices in fourths. (1/4 red tomato $0.25 + shredded lettuce $0.15 + tortilla chips $0.50 + 1/4 can black beans $0.45 + 1/4 can re-fried beans $0.37 = $1.72)

Day 1 total: $0.38 + $0.50 + $1.72 = $2.60
$18.00- $2.60 = $15.40 left for Day 2

DAY TWO
Repetition is the name of Day 2 as I have a tendency to run late for work.

Breakfast: 1 Vans Vegan/Gluten Free Waffle (Total $0.38)

Lunch: I made a salad and took it to work. It was simple and healthy and consisted of lettuce ($0.20), 1/4 tomato ($0.25), 1/2 cucumber ($0.50), oil/vinegar (included in the initial $3.00 spice allotment) and a FREE banana that my office sets out on Monday mornings, much to my approval. (Total: $0.95)

Dinner: Craving something resembling a carb after walking in 100-degree heat I made cold pasta salad. You’ll notice I use the term “salad” for anything I decide to throw together in a pot or bowl. The whole thing was, just my style, easy and cheap. Using a coupon for a $1.00 box of generic wheat pasta (1/4 box for $0.25) with oil/vinegar and salt/pepper (included in allotted $3.00 for spices) and 1/2 red tomato ($0.50) it was a nice refreshing dinner for a total of $0.75.

Day 2 total: $0.38 + $0.95 + $0.75 = $2.08
$15.40 – $2.08 = $13.32 left for Day 3

Another thing to point out is that I live within walking distance to a farmer’s market. That is how I can afford super cheap veggies. BUT many farmer’s market do not take the food stamps debit card that now replaces paper food stamps because they don’t have the equipment to run them. Without the leisure of cash, people relying on public transportation and food stamps may have even more limited resources for healthy food.

DAY THREE
It’s the story of my life: I was running late and forgot to eat breakfast…which made lunch harder to wait for, but I didn’t want to spend any extra dough–However misfortune (a.k.a lack of planning) struck again and I realized I forgot my lunch. Dun dun dun, this isn’t starting off well. (Note: I’m emphasizing this lack of planning to say that people living on a very thin budget have extra stresses every morning to plan out how NOT to spend money. How many times have you been faced with that struggle?) Luckily, nuzzled in the back of the work freezer I found my lone Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable Burrito, which cost more than I would’ve wanted to spend had I brought home-cooked food — racking up $1.79. I also grazed the free snacks at work–which once again, I realize not everyone has the luxury of doing.

Once at home I decided to chow down on the last of the taco salad for fear of it going bad. For a total of $1.72. (See Day 1 for taco salad calculations).

Day 3 total = $3.51 ($1.72 + 1.79)
$13.32 – $3.51 = $9.81 left for Day 4 (To put it in perspective this is now $2.45 per day)

DAY FOUR
In the morning I survived on free coffee at work to get me through to lunch. I guess I’m not much of a breakfast person. Shun me if you must.

Lunch: I brought a homemade sandwich [(2 slices of bread ($0.30), lettuce ($0.15) and onions ($0.10)] using a small amount of mustard (included in my $3.00 initial deduction) Lunch total = $0.55

Dinner: Brown Rice and Greens

• 2 cups spinach ($0.50)
• 1 cup brown rice ($0.32) with salt/pepper

I only ate half of the recipe and saved half for work the next day. ($0.82 divided by 2 = total of $0.41)

Day 4 total: $0.55 + $0.41 = $0.96
$9.81 – $0.96 = $8.85 left for Day 5

DAY FIVE
Breakfast: 1 slice of toast ($0.15)

Lunch: Brown Rice & Greens leftovers from last night ($0.41)

Dinner: Hodge-podge stir-fry

• sauteed zucchini ($0.50)
• onions ($0.10)
• red bell pepper ($1.00)
• 1/2 package frozen spinach ($0.50)
• salt/pepper (included in original $3.00 subtraction)

Dinner came to a total of $2.10 divided by 2 = $1.05

Day 5 total: $0.15 + $0.41 + $1.05 = $1.61
$8.85 – $1.61 = $7.24 left for Day 6

DAY SIX
Back to my old tricks for breakfast, I grabbed a vegan waffle on my way out of the house. Not quite “Lego my Eggo” for a measly $0.38.

Lunch: Finally getting the hang of eating half and saving half, I enjoyed my zucchini stir-fry from the night before, totaling $1.05.

Dinner: Lazy Rice and Beans (A variation of this recipe).

• 1 can black beans ($1.75)
• 1 tomato ($1.00)
• 1 onion ($0.10)
• salt/pepper (included in $3.00 deduction)
• 1 stalk celery ($0.50)
• 1 cup brown rice ($0.32)

It isn’t quite the creole cuisine you southerners have become accustomed to but if you use enough pepper, it’s ALMOST like Sriracha. (I’m just kidding Sriracha, you know I love you.) Using only half, this dinner dish cost $1.84 ($3.67 divided by 2)

Day 6 total: $0.38 + $1.05 + $1.84 = $3.27
$7.24 – $3.27 = $3.98 left for DAY 7

DAY SEVEN
Breakfast involved, guess what? A WAFFLE. ($0.38) Luckily I love them.

Lunch: Leftover faux Red beans & Rice for $1.84.

DINNER of DAY 7: My favorite thing ever. 1 Taco Bell bean burrito. Not the healthiest. But an end of the week, Friday night treat. Sales tax aside, this little baby with no cheese and done up the Fresco way cost a lovely $0.89.

Day 7 total: $0.38 + $1.84 + $0.89 = $3.11
$3.98 – $3.11 = (drumroll?) $0.87 to spare at the end of Day 7. You know what this will buy me? A delicious COLT 45. (Well, with the help of a little spare change.)

A lesson to be learned. Plan ahead. Only buy what you need. And save up for a wonderful Friday treat.

—————————-

My food items :
2 cans of black beans (estimated $1.75/can)
1 can re-fried beans ($1.48/can)
Tomatoes (A bunch of 4 is $4.00, so one is $1.00)
Head of lettuce (From farmer’s market for $0.75)
Package of pasta (3 packages for $3.00)
Package of vegan waffles ($3.00 for package of 8)
Tortilla chips ($2.00/bag)
Onions ($2.00/bag)
Potatoes ($2.00/ bag–$0.20 for one 8 oz potato)
Frozen spinach ($1.00/bag)
Brown rice, precooked ($0.16 for 1/2 cup)
Bread, whole grain ($1.79/loaf or 12 slices)
Banana ($0.20 per banana at the farmer’s market)
Zucchini ($1.00 for 1)
Cucumber ($1.00 for 1)
Celery (1 stalk about $0.50)
Red bell pepper ($1.00)

Vegan College Professors: Progress and Discrimination

Imagine walking into a university classroom and seeing college students engaged in a debate over the ethics of animal agriculture, or better yet, a lecture on how to best enact change for animals in our legislature. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Within the last few years, there has been an increase in animal welfare or animal-rights-related courses in schools around the United States.

While animals have long been the subject of biology and veterinary school courses, new classes in the humanities and social sciences departments look at the role and treatment of animals in society. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, more than 120 law schools in the United States and Canada offer animal law courses. In 2000, just nine law schools offered courses in animal law.

Peter Singer, famous for his book Animal Liberation, is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University. In his courses, he discusses the ethics of animals in research. Tufts University’s Center for Animals and Public Policy “advances research, policy analysis, education and service pertaining to the important roles animals play in society, and explores the ethical implications of the human-animal relationship.” They offer a masters degree in Animals and Public Policy as well as animal ethics coursework in the veterinary school.

In 2008 the Humane Society of the United States established Humane Society University as an institute of higher learning with animal-focused degrees. At this institution students can earn a Bachelor of Science degree or a graduate certificate in Animal Policy and Advocacy. The university offers a wide range of animal and leadership courses including Farm Animal Welfare, Wildlife Policy, Research Animal Policy and Global Animal Issues.

Not every vegan has the luxury of attending a school that offers these types of courses. Therefore, it is beneficial for vegans to teach courses at any university, even if the course does not center around animal or vegan topics. Think about how beneficial it would be to have a vegan religious studies professor who can teach about religious texts on animal treatment, a nutrition professor who discusses the benefits of a vegan diet, a philosophy professor who holds a debate about animal ethics, a business professor who teaches students how to run a non-profit organization, or a medical school professor who uses cadavers for dissection instead of animals.

However, despite the success stories of professors who are pioneering animal courses at their universities, there are still many setbacks for vegan professors. Vegan Mainstream recently talked with Christine, an online college professor who fears that she will lose her job if her university’s administration finds out that she is vegan (she works at a private institution). Christine did not even feel comfortable giving her full name during the interview for fear of retribution.

Read her interview from the Vegan Mainstream newsletter archives.

Talk to us: Have you ever felt discrimination at work as a result of being a vegan? Have you seen positive changes for the animal rights movement in post-secondary institutions?

A Good Time for Vegan Change

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For many of us, college or university is a fundamental time of personal, emotional and intellectual development. We learn a great deal from books, professors and lectures, and yet most of us experience our most profound personal growth outside of the classroom. For a vegan, college is a wonderful opportunity to learn and reflect on the lifestyle – and it is a chance to share your beliefs with others. At college people are open to new ideas – many are looking for change. What better environment will there ever be to share your thoughts and ideas about veganism?

I became vegan before attending Vassar College, a small, liberal arts school located in upstate New York. But my position that veganism was the way to go was undoubtedly solidified when I joined this campus filled with smart, interesting people who were mostly, unfortunately, not living vegan lifestyles. Many students, faculty and staff embraced vegetarianism, but were lacking some of the bigger picture truths about eggs, dairy, and other animal products. Others were altogether unaware of the politics around the consumption of animal products.

I was frustrated at first, not understanding why brilliant, compassionate folks would be so shy about giving up their ego-driven desires for animal products. Couldn’t they see the ozone depletion they decried in their environmental studies classes was directly linked to the very thing they had eaten for lunch not an hour before?

I eventually got over my attachment to what other students and faculty were doing, and then I could focus on what was really important–promoting veganism through positive actions that were modeled on the goal of creating community and showcasing the joys of a plant-based lifestyle.

While my collegiate veg-eating peer group was smaller than I had hoped and anticipated it would be, my school provided me ample opportunities to expand my awareness of vegan-related issues. It also enabled me to help promote plant-eating throughout the community by way of alliances with other tireless veggies on campus who wanted to see real change in terms of shifting the tide towards better lives for non-human animals and human animals, both on campus and on the larger planet.

There are many ways to get involved with vegan-related issues on a campus. Through my college’s animal-rights group, we were able to put pressure on the staff at dining services to offer more vegan options, including special vegan-themed meals and catered movie nights. Showing that vegan food can be delicious is a great way to draw non-veg friends and acquaintances into the cause. The key is to show people that veganism can be easy and fun, at the same time slipping in some education about the movement, and why the compassionate choices they are making at that event can be a significant and feasible long-term lifestyle choice. It’s a great idea to establish relationships with people who run the dining facilities in order to ensure that vegan items are in fact vegan, and that there is a rotation of healthy, organic plant-source only options available for students, faculty and staff.

Because abstaining from eating animal products is just one aspect of being a dedicated vegan, our campus group also reached out to the local community. We did this by hosting open animal rights-themed lectures and other events. There are many causes to shout out for – one example is that schools often deal with issues surrounding animal testing in the science departments. These days it’s even easier to spread the word about your cause as the Internet is making it easier to share information, and social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook and blogs are great promotion tools.

As one of the editors at my school’s newspaper, I had the opportunity to write articles on vegan-related topics. But you don’t have to be a dedicated editorial grunt to get your voice heard in the campus paper or other news outlets. A great strategy is to send letters to the editor and be proactive when you witness animal-rights-related injustices, or see an opportunity to relate a vegan subject to what’s happening on your campus. Every bit of input makes a difference in getting your voice heard in the name of spreading awareness about compassionate living.

It can also be useful to reach out to professors and staff who are vegan, or whom you think would be open to learning about the benefits of being veg. These people often have years of experience debating theories and defending their positions in front of their academic peers, and are often (but not always) great communicators. Get over your fear of discussing relevant issues with higher-ups and you may be surprised at the positive feedback you can get from working with your educators to promote your cause.

Now that I’m out of college and have a vegan job, I can see how my passion for promoting peace on the planet was truly nurtured in college, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether or not you plan to work in a so-called “vegan” career, college is a great training ground and a real forum for change – both at your campus, and on the wider planet.

How the Internet has made the vegan lifestyle more accessible

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Via the Internet we have access to a plethora of information at a moment’s notice.  In essence, this makes everything easier - from gaining extra math help to learning about the latest celebrity breakups. In today’s technological world, online encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/), have taken the place of more traditional information sources, like the Encyclopedia Britannica. Just turn on a computer near you, fire up your favourite web browser and a world of information awaits. No matter how niche the market, or how obscure the item/idea you are researching, you will find it via Google. These days, it’s difficult to imagine what the world was like before the World Wide Web. It has made the world a smaller place, helped us to create networks we never would have had access to before, and opened up a whole new and varied marketplace. The Internet has become a source for people searching for lifestyle changes or different cultural aspects of existence.  For the vegan movement, the effect of this change is immeasurable. Because with this burst of new and free information, the vegan lifestyle has become much more accessible to people.  

What is a vegan, anyway? 

For starters, the Internet has raised awareness about what a vegan is, and what veganism means.  Before the Internet existed, people had to research their interests in hard copies of books, newspapers and journals.  This took time, and perhaps more importantly, a deep and sincere desire to initiate the research.  Now, search engines can provide any answer with the click of a button.  Open door number one: when information is easier to find, more people will find it.  Now, anyone who is the slightest bit interested can explore the benefits of a vegan lifestyle with ease. 

Is casein vegan? 

The Internet has also made it easy to find out what you can and cannot eat as a vegan. Dietary restrictions and substitutions can be found on many vegan-friendly websites.  Baking a vegan cake is as simple as opening a Betty Crocker cookbook; just find a recipe online for a vegan cake and follow the steps.  Finding out specific ingredients that are used in foods without a label is made possible (and easy!) by the Internet. Need some cooking ideas or tips? There are scads of delicious and healthy vegan recipes posted on blogs and websites every day! If you have access to the Internet, there is no excuse for not knowing (or learning) how to cook a vegan meal.   

Let’s go shopping! 

In the same way cooking is easier because of the Internet, so is grocery shopping.  There are sites that are uniformly created to help people shop for food on a vegan diet.  There are similar sites that are set up to help tell the difference between organic and non-organic produce, as well as what secret non-vegan ingredients are snuck into items at the last minute. 

Vegan shopping sites, like Vegan Essentials, have also made being vegan a lot easier. Even if you live in a town or city that does not boast one vegan store, you can find vegan items by shopping online. From a business owner’s perspective, the increased exposure that the Internet provides to the global marketplace has made it possible and more lucrative to set up shop – anywhere – as a vegan business owner. 

Watch your garden grow 

Want to be certain about where your food is coming from? With local food movements an increasing number of people are looking to grow their own fruits and vegetables these days. But if you’re not a gardener already, where to start? Well, the Internet of course. All the information you could ever need about gardening can be easily found by a few hours of online searching.  Now all the secrets to magical soil and healthy vegetable and fruit gardens are yours to discover! 

Growing awareness for compassion 

The ugly truth about animal cruelty and abuse has become more widely known because of online technology. The web is a great disseminator of information – it not only allows us to find information easily, but it allows us to share it quickly and widely.  Because of videos and photographs that have been shared via the Internet, information about factory farming, animal cruelty and many other issues to do with health, compassion and the environment have been brought to the attention of the general public.  This has affected the vegetarian and vegan movements across the globe, and directly relates to the purpose and existence of veganism.  

The world is an ever-changing canvas, as are vegan campaigns and efforts.  As new technologies and strategies emerge, the Internet helps to raise awareness for them.  New and veteran vegans can investigate relevant projects online, or get involved in organizations or programs that are working toward a particular goal that speaks to their heart. Information is a powerful thing, and with it comes expandable education.  People never stop learning, and the Internet is helping new generations to be more astute and passionate by tapping into the world’s knowledge bank.

How to communicate the message of veganism successfully

Most Americans will likely tell you they strongly oppose animal cruelty. They will denounce animal exploiters like Michael Vick as villains, spend hundreds of dollars a year on their companion animals, express outrage towards BP for damaging wildlife in the gulf and stand up for a dog left chained outside in a thunderstorm.

There remains little question that humans care about some animals.

Yet, these same individuals who scream at the television set when Michael Vick’s story appears on the news and who grieve for months after the passing of a companion animal later sit down to their dinner tables and consume meals of animal flesh and milk laced with the cruelty of the dairy and meat industries. Worst of all, these individuals often don’t think twice about it or recognize the obvious contradictions.

Thus, the problem remains for vegan and animal rights activists: how do we influence people who care so much about some animals but completely disregard others?

Vegan communication messages often fail because of the message receiver’s frame of mind. In communication theories, a frame refers to preconceived stereotypes and the individual’s background, which influence how an individual responds to a message or understands an event.

Framing is used in psychology and media studies to influence the way someone responds to information. By nature, psychologists argue, humans are “cognitive misers”, meaning our brain prefers to do as little thinking as possible when being prompted for an answer. In other words, if someone is asked his or her viewpoint on meat, rather than deliberate on the issue and consider all sides, it is likely that he or she will instantly draw upon past experiences (the individual’s frame of mind) and voice an opinion. Most people grew up eating animal products and being told it was morally acceptable to do so. This frame of mind influences their current decisions because it is easier than re-evaluating what they have been told their whole lives.

If you ask an animal-rights activist about animals, their answer will indicate that they regard animals as individuals with emotions and the ability to suffer – and individuals who are in need of rights. If you ask a meat-consumer about animals, their answer will often indicate that they think of animals as property, or things used for human economic gains. This varying frame of reference is where the problem lies.

So how do we, as vegans, create effective messages that reach non-vegans?

First, we need to consistently infiltrate the mainstream media with stories about animal emotions and suffering. For example, last week the cover story of TIME magazine featured an article on animal cognition. It presented the idea that animals are smarter than we think and feel pain just as much as humans do. Because the article was not written by an animal rights organization, nor did it proclaim in red, bold font “murderer”, it allowed readers to approach the content without the stereotypes often placed on animal rights organizations.

Secondly, we should promote all the benefits of veganism, not just the ethical argument. Inform individuals on the health benefits of a vegan diet. Tell others why we need to stop consuming meat for environmental and global health reasons. Find the issue that the individual relates to and feels strongly about—it may not be the ethical issue for everyone.

Thirdly, we should each identify our audience’s frame of reference and change messages based on the individual or group.

Lastly, we need to teach our children to respect all life and do harm to no other living creature. It is likely more effective to shape younger generations’ experiences and background with animals so they have a more tolerant and open-mind to the message of veganism.

Body Language: Actions Speak Louder than Words

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Everyone has heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words,” but have you ever given it a sober second thought?  The roll of a pair of eyes or a strong stare can actually have more of an impact than a firm word or a harsh sentence.  By the same token, a loving touch can be a more affectionate gesture than saying the words, ”I love you”. So there is truth to the saying; actions do speak louder than words.

This is an important thing to consider in the context of being vegan: our actions as individuals can impact the way people perceive vegans in general. Our body language can affect, and maybe even determine, our success in conversations about veganism with non-vegans.

Communication is important in any kind of relationship – a friend, a family member, or a co-worker. And non-verbal communication is just as important – if not more so – than the words that you speak when you’re trying to get a point across. All kinds of emotions are shown through body language or facial expressions: aggressiveness, attentiveness, dominance, relaxation, romance.

It’s important to be aware of what your own body language is saying to other people – if you’re involved in a conversation with someone (especially when you are talking to them about veganism), try to demonstrate open body language to let them know that you’re open and not being confrontational.

Vegans tend to have strong pride in their lifestyle. We hold animals next to our hearts and are committed to consuming a plant-based diet.  Many people that we encounter on a daily basis don’t understand these convictions. They may be interested in our reasoning, or they may be completely closed off to the idea of veganism.  Reading their body language is a good indication of where they stand on the issue, and what kind of approach will be most successful in broaching a conversation with them.  If you are able to successfully read their body language, you can have a positive pre-meditated reaction through your body language.  If someone closes their arms when they’re talking to you, make sure your arms are open and relaxed in a non-threatening way.

It’s important to spread the passion of veganism with a positive outlook.  Even if people don’t adopt the lifestyle, it’s imperative that they know our convictions come from happiness and love.  Next time you’re in a conversation with someone, try this experiment. Stop for a second and note what your own body language is saying about you; then study the body language of the person you are talking to, and see if it aligns with what they are saying.

Famous Quotes to Keep in Your Vegan Pocket

With more than 200,000 words in the English dictionary, we vegans still sometimes find ourselves at a loss for words during those inevitable conversations that follow the question, ”Why are you vegan?”. Here are ten inspiring/witty quotes that can help you say it better…

1. I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.  - A. Whitney Brown

2. Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.  - Albert Einstein

3. The human body has no more need for cows’ milk than it does for dogs’ milk, horses’ milk, or giraffes’ milk.  - Michael Klaper

4. If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.  - Paul McCartney

5. One farmer says to me, “You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make the bones with;” and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying himself with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.  - Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

6. My perspective of veganism was most affected by learning that the veal calf is a by-product of dairying, and that in essence there is a slice of veal in every glass of what I had thought was an innocuous white liquid – milk.  - Rynn Berry, quoted in Joanne Stepaniak, The Vegan Sourcebook, 1998

7. To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.  I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body.  - Mahatma Gandhi

8. Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.  - Samuel Butler, Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912

9. 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 A. Edison

10. I will not eat anything that walks, runs, skips, hops or crawls.  God knows that I’ve crawled on occasion, and I’m glad that no one ate me.  - Alex Poulos

Proceed with CAUTION with your Vegan Words

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me…

Remember that ol’ schoolyard rhyme? Is it true? How important are words to our everyday lives?

To most people, the nuances of finding the specific word for a situation is the most important thing of all. Language is vital for comprehension.

Words are tools we use in order to be understood by others, and they create our reality. If our definitions of those words aren’t the same, do we truly know each other?

What is your goal in sharing your life, your words, with others? To empower them? To bring them down? To have an intimate relationship? To bring them information and understanding of who you are? Consider your goals as you consider your words (especially with children).

Humans have been attempting to communicate with each other since the beginning of time. Through writing, we’re now able to reach masses of strangers daily. Yet, do we truly understand each other?

Want to truly influence others? Consider your word choices!

Use these phrases and ideas when in a tricky vegan situation:

Don’t use these (unless you are with other vegans or you are trying to defriend whoever you are with):

If you have a friend, colleague, or family member who is truly interested in your vegan lifestyle, give them a pamphlet from Vegan Outreach, direct them toward PCRM, feed them a gloriously delicious (and healthy) vegan meal, and, most of all, praise them where they are (not where you wish they were). Everyone needs to grow and move forward at their own pace, or it’s not real growth.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
— Anonymous

Travel Tips: Ten Budget-Friendly Vegan Items for the Outdoors

Now that summer is almost over, many people are scrambling to take that last minute hiking trip or purchase tickets to one last outdoor concert. Groggy, fall weather is around the corner. And if you’ve been spending up a storm this summer, you may be looking to be a little more conservative with your money as well. Here are ten items that are nice-to-haves on your outdoor vacation, be it a hiking trip, a week-long bike ride or a weekend on the lake. These items are all vegan, practical for outdoor travel – and they won’t break the bank either.

1. GRANOLA — If you’re anything like me, you need something to munch on during long hours of riding in a car, or to keep your strength up during rigorous activities like hiking. Granola is cheap and easy to stock up on. Clif Bars are another tasty vegan snack that are good for either the office, or as sustenance while exploring the outdoors.

2. SPIRITS – Doesn’t it seem only right to bring along some libations during a summer journey? If it’s your thing, then how about toting along some Jameson Irish Whiskey for the road? Any good backpacker would tell you that’s how it’s done. Bring it along in a perfect aluminum flask at your hip or in a jug (if you can carry it) and you’ll feel like you’re really surviving the wild, wild west. To make it wallet-approved, share it with your buddies. Just a little goes a long way.

3.  WATER CONTAINER — You’ll be dehydrated if you partake in athletic endeavors in the blistering August sun, so don’t forget to bring along water to keep you fresh. Get a reusable bottle that you can drink from again and again – but before you buy, do your research. Sustainablog has a list of water bottles that are BPA-free (you should be fine if your bottle was purchased after 2008).

4. SPARE T-SHIRTS — You never know when you’ll sweat through, spill on or just plain lose an article of clothing. Come prepared for anything by buying extra T-shirts for your arsenal. Plain T-shirts usually cost less than $10 and you can find organic ones for comparable prices to regular cotton.

5. EXTRA FLIP-FLOPS — As Lieutenant Dan says, “Two standing orders in this platoon: One, take good care of your feet, Two, try not to do anything stupid, like getting yourself killed.” Regardless of what you’re doing all day (hiking, camping, swimming, sitting in a car, etc) it’s important to let your feet breathe in your down time. While you’re cooking out at night, lounging in your hotel room, or trotting down to the beach for a late night swim, flip flops will give your tootsies a break from constricting tennis shoes and rejuvenate you for the next day. Old Navy flips are vegan and have about a million different colors for under that $10 mark. Oh, and try not to get yourself killed either.

6. JOURNAL — Instead of hauling around a giant SLR or your new Polaroid, (no matter how indie they make you feel), how about bringing a notebook or journal to jot down your thoughts and experiences? It will be great to look back on what you were thinking as things were happening. And if you must, you can post your notes to your Tumblr as soon as you get back.

7. SUNSCREEN & LIP BALM — It’s important to not let your skin and lips bake while out in the summer heat. It can make your time outdoors miserable and give you some sorry battle wounds when you get back. Here’s a list of cruelty-free vegan sunscreens and insect repellants. I’m a personal fan of the Kiss My Face brand and most will run you just under $12. For lip balm, try The Merry Hempsters (under $5).

8. BACKPACK — This might seem like a given if you’re camping or hiking, but if you’re used to traveling out of a suitcase, a backpack might get overlooked. You never know when the opportunity will strike to get out for the day and sightsee or explore. JanSport has been in business for over 30 years and their Heritage line of backpacks pay homage to the first backpacks created by JanSport’s founder in the 60s. Not all are vegan, but many are made of nylon instead of leather so you’ll just have to dig around a bit (prices vary by retailer). Backpacks may not be the least expensive item on your trip but if you inherit one from a family member or borrow one from a friend, it doesn’t have to break the bank. If you do drop some dollars on one, make sure you put it to good use and get your money’s worth.

9. VEGGIES! – Run by your Farmer’s Market on the way out of town and pick up a bag of fresh fruits and vegetables to nourish you on the road and during your adventures. Easy to share and cost-sensitive, these should be a no-brainer for any vegan trek. Eat them before your granola of course, because they won’t last forever!

10. BODY & HAIR SOAP — And finally, a vegan’s gotta get clean (at least once a week?) so save money and time by buying an all-in-one vegan soap bar. Even if hygiene isn’t a priority, these little guys will provide a refresher during a stint of sleeping on the ground. You can even find eco-friendly bars that won’t poison the water hole. Try Castille or Dr. Bronner’s (under $5) brands for yummy-smelling, inexpensive bath bars.

And now, a little advice from a friend. Be reasonably prepared. Don’t take tools that you might not use because it adds extra weight. For more backpacking and outdoor travel advice check out the Vegan Backpacker.

TALK TO US: What are your favorite outdoor summer activities? Do you have any travel tips about must-have products? Feel free to share.

Interview: Young Filmmaker Nadia Masoudi Takes Action for Animals

Photo courtesy of Nadia Masoudi.

No one is too young to make a big change in the world. Filmmaker and animal activist Nadia Masoudi has been proving that for a long time. Masoudi started as an early teen and now, at 18 years old, she is anticipating her first animal rights documentary, which is set to release in the summer of 2011. Through her compassion for animals and filmmaking talents, she is beginning on her journey to bring about positive change in the world. Vegan Mainstream recently had the chance to sit down and talk to her about her efforts.

Vegan Mainstream: Tell me a little bit about yourself and why you became vegetarian at the young age of 12.

Nadia Masoudi: …I am an animal rights activist and the filmmaker of the upcoming documentary film “Don’t Eat Me.” I became a vegetarian at the age of 12. Before then I was always contemplating being vegetarian, [it] was something I did on and off again…Me and my dad always saved a lot of [animals]. For example, if there was a spider in our  house, we would set it free as opposed to crushing it. Or if we found a turtle in the middle of the road, we would bring him to a forest or pond area. So I’ve always loved animals and not until I was 12 years old did it really hit me that being vegetarian was something that I needed to do if I really loved animals.

Also, I  had a bad experience when I was with my dad. We went to the store and we picked up…some ribs - I wasn’t eating red meat then but he was. He asked me to go and get them a couple days later from the freezer, and it was the most disgusting sight I’ve ever seen. The ribs resembled human flesh so much, and it just grossed us out so badly that it turned me off completely from all meat…I became vegetarian that day and so did my dad…

VM: What prompted you to transition to a vegan at the age of 16?

NM: …I never really ate or drank milk or ate eggs or dairy products — I wasn’t big on them. But I would eat stuff like cake that had milk and egg products in them. [Then] at the age of 16, I learned more about dairy cows and egg-laying hens and what they actually undergo. [I learned that] eating dairy products and egg products [contributes] to the slaughtering of them, as well as to factory farming. I learned about how they live in horrendous living conditions, and they’re injected with hormones that are bad for the animals as well [for] us. It’s something that I didn’t want to partake in anymore, so I became vegan at that age.

VM: What is the main vision behind Animal Freedom Day (July 24)? How successful was it this year? What are your hopes for next year (July 23-24, 2011)?

NM: …We created it to try to promote our cause further, and it’s also the climax of the film “Don’t Eat Me”. With Animal Freedom Day, there is a whole concept behind it of how we can bring about a vegan world. [During the] first year of Animal Freedom Day, we asked everyone to go vegan for one day. In the second year [we will ask people to go vegan for] two days, third year three days and so on. So, by the year 2375, we hope that the world will be fully vegan, since [we] would have gone a full year of being vegan. I know it’s way out there in the future, and I would obviously love for the world to be vegan sooner, but it’s a set time that we’ve put out there so we at least have somewhat of a goal to accomplish by that time. We have different goals around how you can help animals and help yourself, help world hunger and the environment — it’s all part of Animal Freedom Day.

This year it was very successful, I think, for the first year. It’s the year we’ve launched it and it got a lot of media attention. A lot of people became members even on the Facebook page and the social media pages for it. There’s a lot of people attending and liking it and following it, etc. I’d say in total we had over 500 different members for the first year, and I was really impressed with that, and a lot of people did watch it online too. It was a success for the first year. We worked hard at it, so I’m glad it paid off.

For next year, as I mentioned, it’s going to be two days. And next year also we’re planning, hopefully, to release the film “Don’t Eat Me” on Animal Freedom Day… But until then, I have lots of plans.

We are releasing a new campaign. It’s been linked with the Veg Pledge, which is what Animal Freedom Day promotes, and it’s called “What’s Up Doc?”. I’m going to be [approaching] different, more political people and asking them to take the Veg Pledge for one day. In doing so, they have to go vegan for one day and try to promote it to their city, town or country to do the same thing. The whole “What’s Up Doc?” — it’s a carrot that they take, which signifies that they’ve taken the Veg Pledge…We already have a few political persons behind us, and now we’re reaching out to more. I’m trying to reach out now to [Canada's Prime Minister] Stephen Harper to try to get him to take it, as well as the Queen, and hopefully either Michelle or Barack Obama. And eventually I’m planning to go to the United Nations and get them to take the Veg Pledge. All we’re asking is just one day to promote veganism…

VM: Who are some of your celebrity supporters?

NM: …We started off very small contacting Karen Dawn, she’s the author of “Thanking the Monkey“, and that book was really inspirational to me. So I asked her if she’d come on board and give an interview for “Don’t Eat Me,” and she was very interested. So from there, I had her support, and I contacted more people, and I started building up more and more.

Then I thought, ‘it’s time to reach out to the celebrities now, because they would definitely help to get this movie more attention’.  So I reached out to their agents, and I provided them with the synopsis, the intent of the film, what I planned to do with it when it’s released, and how I would need their help. A lot of celebrities were actually very intrigued by it, and they thought it was a great idea and they wanted to help out. Either they helped out with supporting it or providing us with an interview or even a voice over for one of the animal characters  for the story part of the film, “Don’t Eat Me.”

VM: What can people expect from your upcoming film “Don’t Eat Me”?

Photo courtesy of Nadia Masoudi.

NM: They can expect a very unique documentary, a lot different than all of the other animal rights and vegan documentaries, in my opinion. It doesn’t just show the negative side of everything. It shows the positive side… I want to show that, you know what, I used to eat meat too. We all once did, and if not, that’s great, but I’m sure most of us did. So I want to show that there are alternatives, there’s solution and a way to help the world and to help the animals.

It’s very unique, because people can expect a story from it…We went to South America and filmed tons of footage of animals. Each of those animals has a different story, and a personality and characteristics. A lot of them are voiced by some of the celebrities that we have on board. Each story kind of segues into an interview that I’ve conducted with different people from around the world. So it’s a very unique documentary, and it’s going to be very emotional — it’s going to make people laugh, cry, feel angry — all of those types of feelings it will hopefully bring about.

VM: How can people get more involved and improve the welfare of all living creatures? Tell us about your 10 guidelines.

Photo courtesy of Nadia Masoudi.

NM: [First, what] I would tell people about how to get involved is to go vegan. I think that’s the most important thing you can do to help yourself, the animals, the environment, world hunger and all of those things - is to go vegan…

But going vegan is not just about your diet – it goes with all of the other guidelines. It goes with not wearing animal clothing or using products that were tested on animals. People have to be more conscientious and start reading the labels of what they’re buying and just make an effort to try to better your own life and the lives of the animals.

One of our other guidelines is that we’re trying to pass legislation to [ban] advertisements of raw flesh and meat appearances. So to help us with that, we need more people to sign up. I encourage people also to go to Animal Freedom Day’s website and sign up and become a member…that’s one step forward to a vegan lifestyle.

VM: For those people who can’t seem to go fully vegetarian or vegan, what is your advice to them?

Photo courtesy of Nadia Masoudi.

NM: My advice to them is that everything takes time. For some people, it’s a lot quicker than others…everyone is different. So [my advice is to] take it one step at a time – even if you want [to take] one month to cut out all red meat, and then the next month chicken, and the next month fish, and the next month seafood, and then dairy and eggs. Hopefully by then, you can adapt to a vegan lifestyle. If not, I encourage people at least to follow Animal Freedom Day, and to be a part of it, because all we asked this year is one day and next year is two days. That’ s something that anyone can accomplish.

VM: How do you use social media outlets to spread the word about your cause?

NM: We are on Facebook right now, both Animal Freedom Day and “Don’t Eat Me.” “Don’t Eat Me” also has a Twitter page, so I encourage my friends and family to help out and support it. From there, it’s kind of like we pay it forward. I ask them, and then I ask them to ask their people and they do the same. It just gets bigger and bigger. With the media helping out and getting involved, that’s really been helping it spread even more. It’s getting there, it’s definitely growing.

Check out Animal Freedom Day on Facebook and “Don’t Eat Me” on Twitter.

Masoudi is an ambitious 18-year-old woman. Along with launching Animal Freedom Day and debuting her upcoming film, she incorporates her beliefs and passions into her personal life. Her cats Pink (orange cat) and Floyd (black cat) are lucky to have a responsible owner who is working hard to help the world transition to veganism.