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“Radical” Youth? Profile of a Young Vegan

Katie Vann — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:25 +0000

It was once stated, “Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move on.” If the youth of the world does not produce enough force and fervor to bring about change, “the world grows stale and stagnant and sour in decay.” (William Allen White)

Daphnie Vega is one young vegan who questions and challenges the status quo. At the age of 15, she went vegan after hearing another high school classmate give a talk about vegetarianism. Her parents were not vegan. Her friends were not vegan. She did not have an adult vegan figure encouraging her to make this lifestyle change. Instead, Daphnie decided to make the choice on her own. In a world where most high schoolers try to fit in, Daphnie enjoys standing out and standing up for her beliefs. Dahpnie recently sat down to chat with Vegan Mainstream.

VM: How old are you, and how long have you been vegan for?

Daphnie: I am 17 years old. I started being a vegan when I was 15, on January 31st 2009.

VM: What prompted you to become vegan, and did you encounter any problems with your family or friends not accepting your choice?

Daphnie: There was a girl in my French class who was a vegan, and she spoke to the class all about vegetarianism. The talk inspired me to do the same.

VM: Are your parents vegan as well?

Daphnie: My parents are the opposite of vegan. They do support me, but they continue to eat meat just like most people do.

VM: What do your family and friends think about your lifestyle?

Daphnie: My parents at first thought that I was crazy, but no matter what I do in life they will always support me. My friends just thought I was doing the right thing. I actually inspired my best friend to become vegan. She has now been a vegan for 6 months, and we both love making vegan treats together.

VM: High school is usually a time when teenagers want to just “fit in” with the crowd. Is it hard being a vegan in high school? Are there vegan lunch options at your school?

Daphnie: In my high school I like to stand out! I like informing my classmates that being a vegan is good not only for your health but for animals and even the planet. I am currently a senior, and since school just started we always have to introduce ourselves to the class and the first thing I always say is that I am a vegan and an animal rights activist. Being a vegan in high school is not hard at all. In fact, I love how people know me as “the vegan girl”. My high school does not offer vegan lunches, but they do serve salads. It’s not the best thing in the world, but I deal.

VM: What type of challenges do you face as a vegan?

Daphnie: The challenge I face the most as a vegan is the lack of protein. I do remember when I was 16, I had to be rushed to the hospital because I did not feel well. I ended up having walking pneumonia. My mother said it was because I was a vegan. I’m not too sure if that was the case, but she seemed to think so. Another challenge that I face is having to defend myself when people tell me that being a vegan isn’t going to stop people from killing animals. Most of the time I just brush it off, but sometimes it really hurts.

VM: What are some of your favorite vegan foods? Do you prepare all of your own meals, or does your family cook vegan for you?

Daphnie: My favorite vegan foods are Tofurkey with rice and lentils. For a snack my best friend and I always make our special vegan cupcakes, and we eat them with some almond soy milk. Yum! I prepare my own meals sometimes, but my mother has attempted to make meals as well, but it doesn’t always go too well.

VM: Do you do any type of activist work?

Daphnie: I protest a lot at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, or should I say “Kentucky Fried Cruelty”. I go with my best friend, my mom and my little sister. I have also done some petitions for PETA2 to get people to stop killing seals in Canada and to get vegetarian options in my cafeteria, but not a lot of people signed them so I was unsuccessful in that.

VM: Aside from being a vegan, what else are you interested in?

Daphnie: I love to listen to The Beatles, and it is a funny coincidence that Sir Paul McCartney is a fellow vegan! As for sports, I love figure skating.

VM: What are your plans for the future?

Daphnie: In the future I am planning to attend Pennsylvania State College and major in meteorology. I love science and everything that has to do with tornadoes. You can say I am an “adrenaline junky”. I hope to become a tornado chaser and move to Tornado Alley.

VM: What advice would you give vegans and vegetarians your age?

Daphnie: The advice that I would give to other vegans and vegetarians is to just think about all those poor, innocent animals that die every single day because of our nation’s greed.

Vegan Uncensored: No Vegans in the Peace Corps!

Guest Contributor — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:22 +0000

“So, if it was a choice between being vegan and joining the Peace Corps, you’d answer . . . .”

“Vegan,” I filled in. He had asked it nonchalantly, just another question in a long interview that covered many aspects of my life. No, I wouldn’t mind taking out piercings. Yes, I’d be willing to cover up my tattoos and dress modestly. Yes, I understand I might have to conform to certain cultural traditions that I might disagree with. I admit I was caught a little off guard, but I wasn’t really taken aback by the bluntness of his statement. I quickly answered vegan, trying to help the recruiter build an accurate picture of me. I didn’t realize that that moment was—in effect—the end of the interview.

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At that point, I had been vegan for 3 ½ years. I had come to the decision slowly, first being vegetarian for a couple years. I had no guide down this path, no one inspiration. I thought about numerous factors and decided that vegan was the right choice. I didn’t have much support either, in the beginning. I was surrounded by meat eaters and it was rare to find a vegan. I persevered and while sometimes my choice made it difficult to find food, it was never impossible. With a little planning, it wasn’t even a big deal. In those few years, I had lived in the Netherlands, Italy, Japan and a few places in the U.S. I had traveled in Morocco for a few weeks. I survived, I stayed healthy—and I learned how to ask for vegan food in a few different languages.

I think my desire to join the Peace Corps was related to my veganism—my desire to lessen suffering in the world overall, to contribute what I could to the world and enjoy myself in the process. I researched the Corps extensively before I decided to apply. Their website said many vegetarians had served successfully and stressed the importance of being flexible. I also found blog posts of a few vegetarians currently serving. I didn’t find much about vegans serving, and it is more restrictive, but after my research I decided it would be possible. I could be flexible—I wouldn’t mind skipping a meal or monotonously eating the same food if it was vegan. However—as I found out much later–that was not what they meant.

I started the application process and it took three months to get the interview. I filled out a long application, wrote essays, and got recommendations. I went through a slew of paperwork: ensuring I could take care of my student loans while serving, a notarized statement from my mother saying she would take over my credit card payment if necessary, official college and law school transcripts. I had to be fingerprinted and send those cards in. Through it all, I was in constant contact with my recruiter. When he had received everything, we scheduled an interview. On an incredibly hot day in July, I boarded a Chinatown bus in Philly and went up to New York City for the interview.

I was dressed professionally and arrived early. Already off to a good start, I thought. At an early point in the interview I mentioned being vegan and he said we’d discuss that later. We talked for maybe half an hour before it came up again. He gave me scenarios:

“What if the village chief slaughtered a goat just for you?” he asked, looking up.

“I wouldn’t eat it,” I answered.

I found the question odd. I wasn’t someone who occasionally ate meat. I thought the word “vegan” made it clear that I did not eat animal products under any circumstances. These few scenarios ended with the question about joining the Peace Corps or being vegan. Then we moved on. At the end of the interview, he had me fill out a vegetarian questionnaire with a few more scenarios. I thought I gave thoughtful, well-reasoned answers—yet my responses always stated that I would continue my vegan diet. I gave him my questionnaire, he read my answers, and then he started to wrap things up.

As I was gathering my things, I asked what the next steps in the process would involve. He talked about medical checkups in the next few months and the availability of assignments. Then, he paused.

“But, actually, I can’t move forward at this point,” he stated.

“What do you mean?” I asked. I thought the interview had went well.

With this,” he indicated my vegetarian questionnaire, “I can’t move on unless you’re willing to be flexible.”

“I am,” I responded, “I know my diet will probably have to change. I’m willing to occasionally skip a meal or eat the same foods.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

I don’t remember the exact wording of the conversation after that, but his point soon became clear. He never actually said it, I admit. But to him (and the Peace Corps?) being flexible meant being willing to eat meat. He didn’t mention my vegan choice of avoiding eggs and dairy, all the examples involved meat. The questionnaire said of vegetarians, “While some have found adequate food items in the country’s diet, many more have had to adjust their diets in order to remain healthy and maintain good relations within their communities.” It suddenly dawned on me, “adjusting your diet” meant being willing to eat meat. To me, that made no sense. A “flexible” vegetarian would then be an omnivore. He made it even more clear.

“Earlier, when I said you could be vegan or join the Peace Corps. . . that’s pretty much the choice. It’s one or the other.” He stated it so directly; I was surprised. I hesitated.

“I wish I would have known this earlier,” I quietly replied.

“Well, I didn’t know you were vegan,” he said.

I wanted to scream, “You didn’t ask!” and inform him that the website said vegetarians were ok. I was too upset. I told him I would consider “being flexible” and left the office. He gave me a day to decide. I didn’t know it at the moment, but my mind was already made. I talked to friends that evening. Some suggested I lie and agree to be “flexible”. That’ll show ‘em. They say I can’t be vegan, but I will! I considered it, but decided against it. It didn’t seem like the best way to start out my years serving and I thought it might come back to haunt me. I knew what I would choose, it just took me a while to admit it to myself. I had already invested so much time. And letting go of the Peace Corps meant throwing my life up in the air for the next few years. But I knew what it would be. The next day I made the decision. Vegan.

So no Peace Corps for me. I wrote a long email and copied in the New York recruiting office, the head of the Peace Corps, and their complaint office. I never received a reply from any of them. Just to be clear, I’m not asking the Peace Corps to change their policy. Maybe it is efficient if they only accept omnivores. I think it’s a great program (obviously, I wanted to join) and a wonderful choice for many people (including vegetarians, from what I read online). I wish they were able to take dietary considerations into account when assigning volunteers. The vegetarian questionnaire says the Peace Corps “cannot guarantee you an assignment that will enable you to maintain your dietary preferences. . .”. I would not have minded waiting longer for an assignment where it would be easier for me to be vegan; I would even be willing to do the research on the food available myself. Unfortunately, that’s not their policy.

I do think that they should be straightforward about their stance. If their website had stated, “We cannot accommodate vegans and vegetarians unless they are willing to eat meat sometimes,” (I’m using their definition of “flexible”), well, then, I probably would not have spent the three months applying. My recruiter said, “I am not allowed to move forward with your application unless you are willing to be flexible.” He implied that it was policy or someone above him that made the decision, not him. I just wish I had known.

It all worked out ok for me in the end. I’m now at a fabulous job with a great group of people. I don’t have to cover up tattoos or take out piercings, and vegan food is abundant. The day of my Peace Corps interview was a very tough day for me, but it led me to where I am now. And the next time someone gives me an ultimatum that involves ___________ or being vegan, I won’t hesitate to answer.

Lala Stone lala.stone@googlemail.com

Vegan Uncensored is a weekly space on this blog where people can bring interesting topics of discussion to do with veganism to the fore. Read it, respond to it, pass it on to your friends – vegan and non-vegan – through Facebook, Twitter, or by sending them a link to this blog. Do you have a vegan issue you’d like to see in this space, or are you interested in being a guest contributor here? Email editor@veganmainstream.com.

Making the Vegan Grade: The Egg Recall

Jacob Martinez — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:00:55 +0000

Image used under Creative Common license courtesy of Flickr user darrenhester.

More than half a billion eggs have now been recalled due to a recent salmonella outbreak.

Half a billion. 500 million eggs. I can’t even wrap my head around that number, or the number of hens required to produce that many eggs.

Sure, I’ll be one of the first to let out a huge sigh of relief and be glad it’s not spinach again, (remember how horrible that was?). But what I want to consider today is: what does this egg recall do for veganism? Does a recall of this size and scope have a positive effect on veganism or a negative effect?

And with that, I welcome you to Making the Vegan Grade, a new segment of Vegan Mainstream’s blog that will publish bi-weekly (every second Wednesday). In MVG I’ll discuss a hot topic and rate its impact on veganism for good or for bad. I’ll be giving these items a grade somewhere on the scale of -5 VMs to +5 VMs. Stories that will have an overall positive effect on veganism will be closer to +5, and stories having a negative impact on veganism will be toward the -5. Got it? Great. Read on. Share your thoughts, then pass it along. Please feel free to comment and agree or disagree, so long as you do it civilly.

According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 1,000 people have gotten sick from tainted eggs and more than half a billion eggs have been recalled. Stories are coming out about the cleanliness of egg producing facilities and the situation is further complicated by the alphabet soup of agencies assigned to regulate egg production. The Food and Drug Administration regulates safety while the US Department of Agriculture regulates the consistency of color and size of eggs sold together. Ever wondered what Grade A, Grade AA, and Grade B means? Nothing more than similar sizes and colors. Also, these categorizations are not required – they are just a (paid-for) stamp so the eggs can be priced higher.

I’d like to think a recall of this magnitude will encourage people to explore egg substitutes and eventually try veganism, and I’m sure some will. But ultimately, I imagine most will return to their egg-eating ways. In 1972, a man named Anthony Downs published an article describing what he called the Issue Attention Cycle. In a nutshell, Downs’ theory is that at any given time a problem exists which only a few people know. At some point there is an “alarmed discovery” where the public first hears of the problem and demands a solution. This is followed by a realization of the true costs of solving the problem, a decline in interest, and finally, a sort of existence where the problem is seen to be under control.

This has happened time and time again, and the non-vegan public consistently responds accordingly. Remember all those beef recalls? So many people talked of giving up beef for good, until they determined the costs to be too great. And now the public at large continues to eat beef in record amounts. I imagine lots of people will give up eggs for a time, and maybe some life-long vegans will come out of it, but eventually interest from the masses will wane. Many will return to eating eggs without thinking about it, but I also have faith that some will see the benefits of expanding horizons.

My cynicism notwithstanding, if we can convince someone to try going without eggs just once, that is a victory. It may not stick today, but it’s a seed, and once planted that seed may continue to grow and blossom into something days, weeks, and months from now. I’m not happy about the egg recall by any means, but I’m going to give it +3 VMs. Today, more people are aware of the dangers of centralizing our food sources, the unsanitary nature of factory farms, and hopefully, the conditions the hens are kept in. It is, of course, up to us to help turn that knowledge into action.

THE EGG RECALL: +3 VMs

Interested in seeing what’s coming up for the rest of the week on Vegan Mainstream? Watch our weekly blog video!

10 Ways to Reach Kids with the Vegan Message

Lisa Cottrell-Bentley — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:00:06 +0000

Talking to children about veganism is an important thing to do, but when you’re talking to other people’s children, it’s easy to get into hot water–fast. It’s best to keep in mind that reaching your own children with the vegan message is completely different than influencing other people’s children. It’s inappropriate to preach to other people’s children without their parents’ permission (and even then it’s quite inappropriate if the child isn’t interested and initiating the continuing discussion). Yes, you can be passionate and true to yourself at all times, but you must first be respectful or you won’t even be heard. This is true even if you are related (maybe even especially if you are related).

My 10 tips for reaching other people’s children with the vegan message:

Never lie. Children are naturally curious. If one asks you what you are eating, or why you won’t have a bite of his chicken, tell the truth–gently. Once a child truly understands what veganism is, they almost immediately comprehend the importance of being a vegan. I once had a girl proudly tell me that she was a vegetarian and then tell me about the McDonald’s french fries she ate once a week. I had to tell her about the beef powder in those fries… She wasn’t very happy, but she was glad to know. What she did with that information was up to her.
Talk about animals. Children naturally love animals. It came as a shock to my older daughter when she found out that people ate chickens. She thought chickens were lovely, sentient creatures. She was right. When talking about animals, talk about their personalities and how smart they are–especially the pigs, chickens, cows, and other animals the humans around you commonly eat. Kids don’t want to eat creatures who have personalities.
Wear your message. The “I am not a nugget” and other kid-friendly vegan promotional buttons and stickers are cute, adorable, and get the message across without showing blood and other horrors of killing animals for food (plus kids really like stickers!). The PETA Kids site also has fun games, free comic books to order, and much more! It’s truly a great resource.
Let it be known that not all people feel the same about food. I’ve had children tell me quite adamantly that all people need meat and milk to be strong and healthy. I’ve gently told these children that not all people feel that way and that I found that my family doesn’t need animal products at all, and we are much healthier now. They’ve been surprised and doubtful, but a seed was planted.
Buy only vegan-friendly kid products as presents. It’ll come as a lovely surprise to your kid-friends that vegans have plenty of amazingly fun and cool toys and games that are vegan, including phone covers, shoes, bags, and other traditionally non-vegan products.
Know your vegan nutrition. If a child’s parent comes up to you after they’ve heard you say something to their child, be prepared to state factual information only about children’s nutrition. If you don’t know what this means, check out Raising a Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World or PCRM.org or DrMcDougall.com.
Buy vegan-friendly kid books and keep them around your house or business. There are many cute vegan books for kids these days. Some include: That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals, Benji Bean Sprout Doesn’t Eat Meat! (the neat loaf in this book is delicious), and my own Wright on Time children’s chapter book series. Considering a book, but aren’t sure if it really is vegan-friendly? Check out VegBooks reviews. If they don’t have the book you are wanting to know about, contact them!
Feed them delicious kid-friendly vegan foods! People often think that kids will only eat bland and boring foods. This just isn’t true. Kids do, however, like to eat foods they are familiar with. If you are feeding kids you don’t know for the first time, find out their favorite foods and make vegan versions of them. I’ve yet to have a child tell me a favorite meal I couldn’t veganize. Ready to get more creative? Check out the Vegan Lunchbox, or take the kids grocery shopping and have them pick out fun fruits and veggies they’ve never tried.
Point out vegan role models. In today’s world, there are thousands of vegan athletes, vegan movie stars and other famous people, and vegan children saving the world. Point them out to the curious kids around you. State their veganism matter-of-factly. Be a role model for them!
Seriously–don’t preach. I’ve heard it said that a person needs to be told things three times before they’ll remember it and seven times before they’ll believe it. I couldn’t find the source for this, so it might be anecdotal. Whether it’s scientifically true or not, don’t try and shove all seven of those times into one meeting. It just won’t work, it’s rude, and it has huge potential to backfire (making the person adamant that they never want to be a vegan).

Yes, it is possible to reach other people’s children with the vegan message, but it’s important to do it appropriately. If you aren’t a child’s parent, you must remember to treat the child’s parent respectfully. This can easily be done while you stay true to who you are as a vegan, with tact, fact, and politeness.

Not Back to School–Vegan Unschooling Style

Lisa Cottrell-Bentley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:47 +0000

It’s that time of year again: back to school time, or in my family’s case: Not Back to School Time!

It saddens me when I hear parents expressing their gratefulness to be rid of their kids after a long summer with them. For my family, we all cheer at this time of year for very different reasons. Why? Because we’re vegan unschoolers who are now going to be spending even more time together.

Unschooling (quick definition): living life as though school doesn’t exist; life long learners; autodidacts

With school back in session, we’ve been spending more time at our local family-friendly locations. Here are several things we’re able to do now:

Go to local museums, ceramics shops, bowling, tour places (pizza place, copper mine, planetarium, etc.) without long crowds.
Go on trips, still using “summer” discounts, to tourist attractions around the country (we’re currently planning a several-week-long Amtrak trip; kids are 1/2 off!). My daughters are both planning several short and long trips they want to take over this upcoming “school” year. We would not have the freedom, or the money, to go on these trips if we had to do them only in-between school sessions.
Go swimming at public pools without a wait, or crowds. Since it’s still in the low 100F’s, cooling off in a pool is lovely and refreshing.
Go grocery shopping during the day with lines 1/2 their summer length.
Movies! We can now pick up matinee pricing again without hunting for seats, even at the “cheap” theaters.

While we’re sad for the kids who don’t love school (and happy for those who do), we thoroughly enjoy the added freedom we have as a homeschooling family at this time of year. Want to share some of our unschooling joy in your household? Consider these activities:

Declare at least one weekend day a “no homework day” and a “no work day” (turn off those cellphones, too). Go somewhere beautiful and fun as a family (there are scenic places everywhere on Earth)! Enjoy a vegan picnic or other outdoor activity. Really breathe in the surroundings, fully appreciating each moment. Life isn’t about school and work, it’s about our connections and relationships with other people. Who are the most important people to you? Spend more time with them. Invite others over for a vegan BBQ (I recently had grilled watermelon and pineapple–wow!).
Make lovely vegan meals up well in advance, and pack your whole family’s lunches with love and joy. Every member of the family will appreciate yummy foods which remind them of home. It’s even better if you’ve made the meals together (but not everyone likes to cook, so don’t force it–find new autumn vegan recipes together if your family does enjoy this). Put love notes in your spouse and children’s reusable lunch bags/boxes.
Plan now for fun things to look forward to during school breaks and weekends. Do your kids really want to go and see friends in another state, or grandparents in another country during their winter break? Help them plan it, figure out the costs, and think of ideas of how to pay for it (together as a family). Make all of your desires known to the world and others might want to help you make your travel dreams come true. Consider couch surfing or house swapping to make this more affordable.
Schedule fun. This might seem silly, but not every moment needs to be a “learning opportunity” or a way to sneak in a “moral lesson”. If this is hard for you, actually write down “FUN” on your family calendar.
Above all, make time to enjoy the people in your life. Go on long walks together. Don’t overplan anyone’s schedule, especially your children’s. Allow each of you to have free time alone, and together. Celebrate all your successes together. Chop up some delicious late summer fruits and veggies. Enjoy the coming crisp air and the loveliness of now.

Vegan Uncensored: Why it’s so hard to be a vegan kid

Guest Contributor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:16:18 +0000

: Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have three nephews who have been vegetarian since birth. They are some of the healthiest-looking kids you could hope to see – and despite the concern of the meat eaters in their lives, they’re energetic and active. Their parents have been vegetarian for about 15 years, and have always resolved to let the kids make their own decisions about food once they are old enough. They talk to their kids about why they eat the way they do, and as they have felt it is age-appropriate, they have been very frank about factory farming and the health reasons for not consuming meat.

They have had their issues over the years, including hot-dog lunches at schools, other parents and family members who are concerned because they are “too skinny” (although in fact they are all a very healthy weight) and family members who have surreptitiously taken them out for fast non-vegetarian food (resulting in some very sore bellies). Still, I think it’s safe to say that being vegetarian hasn’t been a huge deal in their lives – that’s the way they eat, and that’s that. They talk about it, it’s part of their life – but that’s the way things are. The boys spend a lot of time with me and my husband, and we have also been vegetarian/vegan for years, so that has also helped to ‘normalize’ the way they eat. As they get older, however, and spend more time outside of the home with friends, issues are starting to arise, and I have realized recently how tough it can be to be a vegetarian or vegan kid.

It’s not about being vegan or vegetarian per se – it’s about being different. Because when you’re a kid, a lot of the time you just want to fit in. I remember that feeling myself. And it takes a while to get to the place where you’re confident enough to say – no, I don’t believe that – I do things differently – no matter what the issue is. I don’t have children, but I admire the way my sister is handling the situation she is faced with – she supports her boys with information and discussion, but gives them the space they need to make their own decisions now that they are getting to be old enough.

It’s hard to watch my nephews coming home from school crushed because they haven’t been invited to a birthday party because they “can’t” eat what the rest of the kids are eating. It’s hard to hear that they are being ridiculed by their peers because they eat “weird” things like tofu. We all know that kids can be cruel, and they will pick up on the smallest differences. Our challenge as parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents is to find a way to help our kids get through this difficult time, to give them just the right mix of support and space to come to terms with what is happening. Never has it been more important for us to be good role models, to show them how to be leaders - how to stand up and fight for compassion.

My feeling is that at least one or two of my nephews will decide to eat meat every chance he gets, at least for a while. But my hope is that because their parents have instilled and promoted a compassionate worldview in them, that will stay with them and serve them in the way they choose to live for the rest of their lives.

Here’s a video and some cool sites I have found on vegan parenting that may be helpful/inspiring to all you vegan kids and/or parents out there:

(There are a series of these videos on YouTube – a unique way of getting your 11-year-old involved in the decision to be vegan!)

VeganKid Blog

Becoming a vegetarian

Real Vegan Children

Being a Vegan Kid (Vegan Outreach)

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

Jessi Stafford — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:00:38 +0000

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)

A Good Time for Vegan Change

sarahsuperb — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:47 +0000

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.

Vegan Learnin’: Back to School! [image]

Shelly D — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:23 +0000

Vegan Uncensored: The Way to My Vegan Heart…

Guest Contributor — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:05 +0000

Image: Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There is an old saying that goes, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Even though the adage is somewhat antiquated, being reminiscent of a time when the most important thing in life was to ‘catch a husband,’ it came to mind the other day – in somewhat of a more modern context – when I was musing about the fact that vegans are viewed by many people as ‘extremists’, ‘emotional’, and sometimes even ‘flaky’.

This seems completely backwards to me. Even if we only choose to look at some of the issues on the very surface of veganism, how can anyone who takes a good look at the way animals in factory farms are treated today walk away and say, “what’s wrong with that?” How can people who truly do care passionately about many things – social justice, environmental issues, and other animal welfare issues (like the eradication of puppy mills) – sit down and salivate when their evening flesh is set before them? I know more people like this than I know vegans. I don’t get it.

I know it’s not that the information is not out there – because it’s easy to find if you’re looking. I will not believe that the majority of people just don’t care if an animal lives a life of torture so they can eat their nightly meal. And so the conclusion I have to draw is that they refuse to know because the change seems too big, and the reality is too scary. There is plenty of brainwashing that has been going on for years by the dairy and meat industries, and that has been tremendously helpful in keeping the ugly truth from people. I am somewhat heartened by the fact that there is a big crack in that façade, and an increasing number of people are beginning to peek through.

I don’t know about other vegans out there, but I’m sick of being labeled as ‘fringe’ and ‘radical’ just because I actually think about what I eat and the way I live my life. I’m tired of being different because I value the lives of other creatures, not just humans. SHOULDN’T THIS BE VIEWED AS NORMAL? They say people live up to what is expected of them. What if we started expecting people to live compassionately, not forgiving ignorance of reality, nor excusing this ‘mainstream’ carnivorous lifestyle? It’s a major shift that needs to take place in the collective consciousness. The way to my vegan heart? Give me a carefully prepared, delicious vegan entrée of any kind – and the contents of the plate will feed not only my body, but also my heart, mind and soul.