Update

It has been exactly a month since I last blogged here. I haven't forgotten about you all!  Life has gotten in the way unfortunately but I have been taking pictures and saving tons of information, so hopefully we can get this site active again!  I want to thank everyone for so much support in running this blog and getting people excited about vegan lifestyle options. I couldn't have done it without you !

So, here is a picture of what was for lunch! A salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, and a Boca chickn patty :)  
 

Question - Becoming a Vegan

"I've been thinking a lot about trying to go vegan (even if it's only for a week), but I get overwhelmed because if animals aren't IN something that I want to eat or use, they were harmed to make it. I'd really love to hear about your transition to veganism. I'd also be interested in a post about your favorite vegan-approved products (health & beauty AND foods!)"

This is a really great topic to discuss. I get asked a lot how to transition from your old lifestyle into the life of being a vegan without feeling overwhelming guilt for not knowing everything. Even if you don't stay a vegan, you still have the option to pick products that are animal friendly. Being educated is key!

Its very important to decide why you want to make the change and to draw guidelines for yourself.  For some people, easing into the change will be easier, while others will want to jump in 100%. You'll need to decide which products you want to cut out first if you are going to ease into the change. When I first became a vegan, I started with food products first, then transitioned to other lifestyle products (clothing, material, beauty products, etc.). The most immediate change you can make is to your diet. My transition was quick due to my milk allergy but you can go at any pace that is comfortable for you.

• Learn to read labels. The main things you want to avoid are any kind of meat (lard, by-products, chicken/turkey stock), dairy products (milk, cheese, whey, buttermilk, butter, lactose, lactic acid, casein), eggs, and anything made from animal bones (gelatin) . Most companies will bold products for allergy reasons, but at least glance over the entire list for anything that could possibly sound like it might be related to an animal. They only have to list things that will cause an allergic reaction. You will also have to decide for yourself if you will consider honey to be vegan or not vegan. If a product is labeled to be a 'cheese alternative' or 'meat alternative', check to make sure it is vegan. Many cheese alternatives have milk or casein in them, as well as many meat alternatives. When it comes to food, home made is best. Eating out will be tricky but always ask questions. Some companies, like Amy's and Whole Foods, are proud to put 'vegan' on their products. Learning vegan recipes or how to use vegan foods will also help your transition. I started this blog to teach people how to make simple meals that won't cost a lot and don't involve crazy ingredients that you have never heard of before.

Here is a great site that shows some hidden animal products http://www.cyberparent.com/nutrition/hiddenanimalsfoodproducts.htm

• Reading labels can also be applied to clothing and beauty products. My biggest secret - Trust most store brand products and avoid almost every major brand.. 'Knock off' products are made to be cheaper, and usually contain different materials. Avoid suede, fur, and leather when buying shoes, belts, couches, cars, etc. Most store brand clothing will use a fake suede, fur, or leather. Always read the labels of cosmetics and beauty products. Almost every big cosmetic company does test on animals. If a company does not test on animals, they will be proud to say so. Question any product that does not state that no animals were used in testing. Google search a list to print out and keep with you when you go to the store. There definitely are some gray areas, where companies will test the ingredients on animals but not the final product. It is incredibly hard to know whether or not they did use animals but you can always call or write to the company and ask questions.

• Reward yourself! Being a vegan is a huge lifestyle change that shouldn't be taken lightly. Whether you go vegan for a week, a year, or a lifetime - YOU can make a difference in the life of animals. We, as consumers, have the ability to control what is in demand. We can successfully lower the prices of healthy foods and animal friendly foods. Remember - if you mess up or accidentally consume something not vegan - it's okay! Accidents will happen. I didn't become a vegan years ago and get where I am today without making mistakes! I've accidentally eaten products that had eggs or dairy in them. We learn from our mistakes and move on. Education is so important and google is your friend in this. Google and ask every question you have. If you are having doubts about why you are doing this or ready to give up because it is too hard, google some images or videos of what happens to these animals. It is truly heartbreaking and enough to make anyone want to be cruelty free.

Some of my favorite food brands 

• Boca
• Earth Balance
• Amy's
• Wegmans
• Whole Foods
• Dominex
• Silk
• Tofurky
• Annies
• Yogi
• Purely Decadent
• Van's
• Vegan Gourmet
• Daiya

My favorite non-food companies that don't test on animals

• Wet N Wild
• Almay
• MAC Cosmetics
• Mary Kay
• Nature's Miracle 
• Physician's Formula
• Revlon
• Seventh Generation
• Tressa
• Urban Decay

Here is a nice list of animal friendly companies  http://punkrockbarbiedoll.tumblr.com/donottest

My biggest tip - If you are going to try veganism, please give it a month of serious commitment. If after a month you find it just isn't for you and that you can't make it work, then at least you gave it a good shot. If you give up before then, you really haven't had enough time to get used to it. It really is a lifestyle change and you can't change your whole life in a month.

Good luck to everyone and I always welcome questions! 

The reality of being a vegan

Lets get deep for a minute about what veganism really is. 

Being a vegan is hard. It introduces you to a world of caring.

Before I became a vegan, I cared about the world, about animals, about the effects of my behaviors on the environment. But I never really cared - not like I do now. I didn't watch documentaries about slaughterhouses and the type of abuse that these animals go through, only to become food for someone else. I didn't realize the awful life these animals life - the females always being pregnant to produce milk, the young being ripped away to be slaughtered if they didn't fit up to the standard of a dairy cow (or any other 'food' animal, not just cows), how some of these animals are sexually abused by the workers before dying. I just knew that eating meat was wrong and if I wouldn't  go out and personally kill an animal to eat it, why would I buy it at the store? But it goes much deeper than just that.

When you start looking into different sections of the world - how they use animals for different things - it starts to become sick. 

Shark fining, leaving them for death after cutting off their fins for soup. Massive dolphin slaughters for sport - gathering them in a cove and killing thousands of them at a time. Animal testing - burning, mutilating, scarring, deforming every type of 'cute furry animal' that you might even have at home for a pet. Dog fights, dog baiting, bear fights, bear baiting, bull fights. The list goes on. Keeping dolphins, whales, and other animals in captivity for 'show' when they are known for self inflicting pain to the point of suicide. We force animals to commit suicide for show.

We destroy our oceans. We destroy our animals. We destroy our forests. We destroy our environment. For what? For food? For our beauty? For shoes? Fashion? Furniture? For nothing.

We live in a day and age where those that live a privileged life can afford to maintain a lifestyle free of cruelty to others. This includes more than just eating meat, dairy, eggs, etc. It pours into the rest of your life - looking at the tag to see what your shoes are made of, avoiding buying a car that has leather seats, not buying the nice suede sofa, buying mascara/shampoo/lotion that hasn't been tested on animals. You start to care about where your products came from. You care about their history and go the extra mile to make sure nothing was harmed in the process.

But sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough. From the comfort of my home, my privileged life, I can't possibly do enough. I can spread my knowledge, raise vegan children, buy safe shoes, avoid products that test on animals. But it doesn't stop the deaths. It doesn't stop the abuse. There are animals out there suffering for your right to live a 'free' lifestyle and not care where anything comes from. Why do we jail people that abuse cats and dogs but allow slaughterhouses to stay in business? If I eat cat then I am a freak and a murderer but if I eat a hamburger, I am normal. It isn't right and I can't grasp how it is 'normal' in today's society.

How am I supposed to look my daughter in the eye and tell her that all of this is happening in the world and I can't stop it? How can I possibly tell her that this is all we can do? This is all we can do.

I will leave you with this. A list of companies that test on animals. Please, whether you are a vegan for ethical reasons, health reasons, weight loss - Whatever. Please read this and make the decision to help save a life. Speak for someone that cannot speak for themselves. Attached is their addresses where you can write them as well.

(I do not want to spam you with images of rabbits, dogs, monkeys, etc. missing their faces and body parts because of testing)

Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.armhammer.com  

�Bic Corporation, 500 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460; 203-783-2000; www.bicworld.com  

Chesebrough-Ponds (Fabergé, Ponds, Vaseline), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-743-8640; www.pondssquad.com  

Church & Dwight (Aim, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Close-up, Lady’s Choice, Mentadent, Nair, Orange Glo International, Pearl Drops), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.churchdwight.com

 Clairol (Aussie, Daily Defense, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23, Procter & Gamble), 1 Blachley Rd., Stamford, CT 06922; 800-252-4765; www.clairol.com 

Clorox (ArmorAll, Formula 409, Fresh Step, Glad, Liquid Plumber, Pine-Sol, Soft Scrub, S.O.S., Tilex), 1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; 510-271-7000; 800-227-1860; www.clorox.com  

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Hills Pet Nutrition, Mennen, Palmolive, SoftSoap, Speed Stick), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 212-310-2000; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com  

Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.covergirl.com  

Dial Corporation (Dry Idea, Purex, Renuzit, Right Guard, Soft & Dri), 15101 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 5028, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2199; 800-528-0849; www.dialcorp.com  

Johnson & Johnson (Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Rembrandt, ROC), 1 Johnson & Johnson Plz., New Brunswick, NJ 08933; 732-524-0400; 800-526-3967; www.jnj.com  

Lever Bros. (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com  

L’Oréal (Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena  Rubinstein, Lancôme, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy), 575 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017; 212-818-1500; www.loreal.com  

Max Factor (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 

45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.maxfactor.com  

Mead, 10 W. Second St., #1, Dayton, OH 45402; 937-495-6323; www.meadweb.com

Melaleuca, 3910 S. Yellowstone Hwy., Idaho Falls, ID 83402-6003; 208-522-0700; www.melaleuca.com  

Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive), 191 E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-3151; 973-631-9000; www.colgate.com  

New Dana Perfumes, 470 Oakhill Rd., Crestwood Industrial Park, Mountaintop, PA 18707; 800-822-8547 

Noxell (Procter & Gamble), 11050 York Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2098; 410-785-7300; 800-572-3232; www.pg.com  

Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble), P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201; 800-543-1745; www.oilofolay.com  

Oral-B (Procter & Gamble), 600 Clipper Dr., Belmont, CA 94002-4119; 415-598-5000; www.oralb.com  

Pantene (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-945-7768; www.pantene.com  

Physique (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-214-8957; www.physique.com  

Playtex Products (Banana Boat), 300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880; 203-341-4000; www.playtex.com  

Procter & Gamble Co. (Clairol, Cover Girl, Crest, Gillette, Giorgio, Iams, Max Factor, Physique, Tide), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com  

Reckitt Benckiser (Easy Off, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Old English, Resolve, Spray ’N Wash, Veet, Woolite), 399 Interpace Pkwy., Parsippany, NJ 07054; 973-633-3600; 800-333-3899; www.reckittbenckiser.com  

Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com  

Schering-Plough (Bain de Soleil, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl’s), 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, NJ 07033-0530; 800-842-4090; www.sch-plough.com  

S.C. Johnson (Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, OFF!, Oust, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Windex, Ziploc), 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403;  800-494-4855; www.scjohnson.com  

SoftSoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com  

Suave (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-782-8301; www.suave.com  

Unilever (Axe, Dove, Lever Bros., Suave, Sunsilk), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com  

For a full list of brands you CAN buy from without adding to this,

GO To: www.punkrockbarbiedoll.tumblr.com/donottest

Keep the list, and refer to it next time YOU buy your beauty products.

Neti Pot

I apologize for the severe lack of updates lately. I've been hit with the flu pretty hard and today is one of the first days I have been able to stand for more than 5 minutes at a time. I'm pretty sure my couch has a nice me-shaped indentation in it from this past week.

Instead of a food post, because I haven't eaten anything in roughly 7 days and I don't think I could even look at food right now, I'm going to post about something that has been helping me for years with getting rid of colds (and preventing them).

Most people look at me with a shocked and disgusted face when I recommend these. Even my own boyfriend refused to try it for years until recently when he came down with a sinus infection that he couldn't shake. Within days of using this, it was gone.

What is it? Its a Neti Pot. The neti pot works by sending a warm stream of saline through your nose, into your sinuses, and back out your nose. It works wonders and I don't know how some people live without it.


It can be made out of anything - they all work just as well. I personally use a small plastic one with a handle. You can buy a kit at Walgreens or Cvs that comes with a neti pot and saline packages. You mix 1 pack with 8oz of warm water then pour into your neti pot. Tilt your head to the side, breathe out of your mouth, and let the water pour through your nose! Do both sides to make sure you get everything out.

Basically, this is what you are trying to achieve... (and no, this isn't me - I don't look this good while sick)

Good luck, have fun, and hopefully I will be back next week!

Coming soon...

Sorry for the lack of updates and recipes lately. We've been away on a family trip and haven't had time to cook! 

Coming soon on the list of posts...

• Vegan Chocolate Pudding
• Electronic Cigarettes - What are they, how to use them, and how to buy one
• Vegan Thanksgiving ideas
• Eating on the go - What to pack
• Vegan Pumpkin Pie