There’s always room for Jello.

Tags: gelatin, jello, vegan, vegetarian
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Remember all those colorful commercials showing Jello jiggling, and wiggling, and children smiling and laughing. Many of us have enjoyed Jello molds, or just a parfait filled with puddings and Jello.

Did you ever wonder what was in Jello? Gelatin is the main component of Jello. It is also used in other items like marshmallows, peeps, and gummy bears. It’s also used as a thinkening agent for other items like puddings, jams, yogurts and other everyday food items.

So what is gelatin? Gelatin is is a translucent, colorless, odorless,  tasteless solid substance, made from the collagen inside animals’ skin and bones.

It is a protein produced from collagen extracted from the bones, tissues, organs and some intestines of animals such as domesticated cattle, pigs, and horses.

Wait, did I just say cattle, pigs, and horses? Yes, I did. So let’s get this out of the way, Gelatin is NOT a vegetarian or vegan product.

Knowing what you know now, you may not look at that dessert the same way again.

Tasty vegan foods kids will love.

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Vegan healthy doesn’t have to be tasteless. At least that’s what I found out about a new line of vegan foods now available at my local supermarket. That product is called gardein™. (A combination of “garden” and “protien”) Now I’ve tried several different “chicken-like” vegan products, but none compare to gardein’s products.

What is gardein?
Their web site, www.gardein.com, describes it as a tasty plant-based food with a meaty texture. It’s made from soy, wheat, and other plant proteins. It is 100% vegan, and is made from non-GMO products.

How is it prepared?
gardein is pre-cooked and edible cold, but is taste best when heated. It can be baked, broiled, grilled, BBQ’d or prepared by any other means. They even have already prepare items like Beefless pulled-shreds.

Does gardein come prepared?
gardein comes seasoned, and in some cases ready to eat. They have their gardein buffalo wings, and even Beefless Tips skewers. There are even ready to eat items that are ready in minutes, like Santa Fe Good Stuff (Chick’n stuffed with black beans, and corn), Chick’n shreds, (great for a salad), and many more tasty items.

How do I prepare it?
Lucky for you, in most cases you don’t need to do anything but heat it. But, if you are up to the challenge, visit their web site for some great recipes, including Chick’n Parmesan, Beefless broccoli sir fry, Chick’n pot pie,  and more.

When it comes to combining quick-and-easy with quality and taste, gardein has you covered.

For more information visit gardein.com.

Vegan cookbooks are sprouting up everywhere

Tags: books, cookbooks, Recipes
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Not only is the internet a great source of vegan recipes, but now many vegan’s are writing cookbooks to help others. Like I’ve always said “We’re not just about salads”. There are so many different things you can create that are vegan. It’s great to see people making an effort to open people eyes to vegan cuisine.

Don’t want to take the big plunge? Start with Meatless Mondays and go from there.

I’ve listed a few vegan cookbooks here to get you started.

The 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes: Amazing Cookies, Cakes, Muffins, Pies, Brownies and Breads	The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet
The Vegan Cook’s Bible	Meatless Burgers: Over 50 Quick & Easy Recipes for America’s Favorite Food

Animal Friendly Holiday Gifts

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A company called Vegan Chic is offering consumers a great selection of animal-friendly footwear. Vegan Chic carefully researches every manufacturer they deal with to make sure that their products are 100% vegan.

Whether you’re looking for dress shoes or vegan flip-flops, they have a huge selection of men’s, women’s and kid’s products.

Looking for some colorful shirts made of hemp? Check out GoodHumans.com for a variety of “Hawaiian” shirts and more.

Not into hemp? Check out ShirtsOfBamboo.com or BambooClothes.com for shirts made from bamboo.  Yeah, I know. You’d think these shirts would be stiff, but they are not.

You see. There is a wide variety of materials we can use instead of leather, and wool. Make the choice today to spare the life, and/or torture of our precious animal friends.

Vegan vs. Vegetarian

Tags: definition, vegan, vegetarian
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I think there is some confusion with people as to what the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is. Some think its the same thing, and they are way off. First let’s talk about vegetarians.

There are many “levels” of vegetarians. Dictionary.com defines a vegetarian as “a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.” (more…)

Catering to that vegan guest this Thanksgiving

Tags: guest, thanksgiving, vegan
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If you have a guest this Thanksgiving that is vegan, don’t freak out just yet. The rule is simple, “If it comes from an animal, they won’t eat it.” This includes butter, eggs, milk, and cream. Okay, so you’re freaking out now because you don’t know how to cook without the needless slaughter or abuse of an animal (Sorry, had to say it). Don’t fret, it’s not as hard as you think. (more…)

We’re not just salads you know.

Tags: salads, tofurky, vegan lifestyle, veganism
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Why is it that everyone thinks that vegans only eat salads?

There are so many vegan options out there today, its impossible not to find something to eat. The company that makes Tofurky, a vegan turkey roast alternative, also makes Tofurky slices, which is lunch meat. This along with veggie cheese, or rice cheese slices, makes a great sandwich or sub. There are vegan hot dogs, sausages, burgers, even ribs. You can even find vegan shrimp, and fish.

Vegan products are made out of vegetable proteins. What most people don’t realize is that seasonings make the flavors we are use to, not the actual product. Look at the ingredients of a hot dog and you’ll see.

Remember, vegans also eat rice, pasta, and potatoes. A box of spaghetti and a jar of pasta sauce (not meat sauce) is vegan.

Going vegan is not as tough as it was several years ago. Today’s choices make a vegan lifestyle not only tasteful, but much healthier.

Don’t modify my food.

Tags: gmo, monsanto, non gmo
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Scientists have been working on ways to modify our food. For years a company called Monsanto has been creating seeds that grow plants that don’t die when sprayed with weed killer. Imagine what you would have to do to the plant to make it not die from a chemical designed to kill it. The same modifications go all the way into the food.

Now, scientists in Australia have created an apple that last 4 times as long, and is more rot resistant.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer my fruits and vegetables as nature intended, not as science intended. Always check the ingredients for “NGMO: or “Non-GMO” (GMO = Genetically Modified Organisms)

Eat organic! Eat local!

Nothing cool about hunting.

Tags: human extinction, hunting, population
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There is nothing cool about hunting. Sunday November 15th is the start of hunting season. You know, that special time when drunk men wearing plaid walk into the woods with a loaded rifle and shoot defenseless animals. Very cool.

When someone protests hunting, people always talk about “thinning the herds”. Apparently there is a limited number of deer, bears, moose and other wildlife that is considered acceptable for the planet. What about thinning the human herd? No one ever says “We have too many humans.”, even though we do. Scientists have determined that under “natural” circumstances, the planet can sustain 2 billion people. There are currently over 6 billion people on the planet. So tell me, what herd needs to be thinned?

If you talk to human population control, people often freak out. But shooting wolves from a helicopter is okay.

The human species is very hypocritical.

Why humans are more like herbivores than carnivores.

Tags: diet, eating, herbivore, meat
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Are we carnivores, omnivores or herbivores?
If you compare us to other herbivores, you can see that we are more like them, than unalike. The similarities are show that humans may in fact be herbivores, and that our meat-eating lifestyle may be responsible for many of our health issues.

Here are some comparisons of different aspects of our bodies that compare us to true carnivores. (more…)