Vegan cuisine is much more than 'rabbit food'

I sure wouldn't mind seeing informative pro-veg articles in the news on a daily basis, and lately it seems as if I am. Here's another good one from the Auburn Journal's Food And Wine section:

And, for the last 23 years I have heard the same question, "So...what do you eat?" Usually followed by "rabbit food?"

It has occurred to me over the years that most people don't understand there's a different way to live and eat; which is a healthier, safer, better way.

So what do vegans eat? Surprising to many people, a lot of wonderful foods.

The writer goes into depth about some of the myriad options for a vegan diet. She also does a good job of explaining what vegans do not eat, and why.

Summing up, she keeps things in perspective for the average eater:

Being vegan does not mean giving up or doing without, it simply means paying attention and caring. Making lifestyle changes can be a difficult process, but as you evolve towards a vegan lifestyle you will find that the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.

Please be aware that as you try new products, especially if you believe that you are giving something up, you will need to give yourself time to acquire the new taste. It won't take long before the new becomes as familiar and enjoyable as the old.

I like how this article addresses these concerns. I don't remember seeing this bit about acquiring the new tastes in the other recent articles I've linked to. It's smart to manage expectations!

Tags: diet

Getting to the meat of a vegetarian diet

Another strongly considerate piece on vegetarian and vegan diets from Oklahoma's Enid News and Eagle. Other than the assertion that some vegetarians eat red meat occasionally (they may call themselves vegetarian but, if they eat any kind of meat, they are clearly omnivorous), the article is very even-handed, and leaves the reader with a positive impression of vegetarianism. In fact, the notion that one can be vegetarian and still occasionally eat red meat - while misleading - makes the diet that much more accessible for mainstream Americans living in Oklahoma and elsewhere. This ending best summarizes the piece:

There’s no question vegetarians must be careful planning diets to obtain essential nutrients. On the other hand, they are assured of abundant quantities of many important nutrients and antioxidants found only in plant products. And they face fewer concerns than meat eaters about saturated fats, cholesterol and excess calories.

Nutritionists stress the key to good health is eating a balanced diet including a variety of foods. In reaching that goal, vegetarians have no more and no less of a challenge than meat-eaters.

It's good that the author recommends careful planning, because too many people jump into vegetarianism carelessly and end up giving it up. With enough articles like this, parents will have enough information to stop freaking out when their children go vegetarian, too.

Tags: nutrition | health

Avid meat lover makes room for tofu in his menus

I don't know about you, but The Oregonian's title for this story certainly grabbed my attention. This isn't a groundbreaking piece, by any means, but I'm always on the look-out for titles oriented toward getting carnists to reconsider their attitudes about tofu and other "vegan" foods. I'm especially fond of the opening:

Despite being an unabashed carnivore, I like tofu, especially dense, chewy, very firm tofu. It has enough substance to be grilled, broiled or fried without falling apart, it's nutritious and, most importantly, it's cheap -- less than $2 per pound. Sure, tofu needs some gussying up with a marinade or a host of supporting flavors, but a tofu-based meal will never break the bank.

Nice comment from a carnist to remind other meat-eaters that veganism most certainly does not have to be expensive, right?

Tags: tofu

No carnivores for Mumbai, please

Financial Express (AP)

What's sad to me is that this sounds like Bizarroland, or an article out of The Onion:

"It's just not fair. It's a monopoly by vegetarians," said Kiran Talwar, 49, a prosthetics engineer who has seen vegetarianism take over restaurants and groceries all over his childhood neighborhood on posh Nepeansea Road.

"If you step out to eat, there's nothing for miles (kilometers) because everything around is veggie," he said.

Suburban supermarkets have been known to dump their non-veg foods overnight because of complaints from shoppers.

"We cleared our shelves of tuna tins and frozen chicken. We don't keep any nonvegetarian items now," said Neelam Ahuja, owner of the K-value supermarket. "Many customers don't like non-veg, so we stopped stocking it."

Seriously, if I woke up tomorrow and saw this in the L.A. Times, I would have to think I was dreaming.

'Nation' is food for thought

Heh-heh. Here's your food for thought (Newsday.com):

"If this doesn't make you a vegetarian, nothing will," one journalist could be heard muttering upon leaving a screening of the movie at this year's Cannes International Film Festival.

Tags: Fast Food Nation

Junk Food, Vegan Style

Newsweek | Periscope | Sweets (MSNBC.com)

It's always nice seeing "vegan" in a headline. All the more so that this headline is in a widely-read national magazine and is generally a fun take on being vegan. I gripe a bit sometimes about how Newsweek goes from being borderline responsible about nutrition to being glib about it, but I have to give credit for this one:

It's just not as hard to be a vegan these days. For too long, adherents to vegan diets were prevented from any decent indulgence; they were more or less relegated to the produce aisle. But now vegans have options like jelly beans, ice cream, potato chips, cookies, cakes, gummy bears and hot dogs—all tailored to an animal-product-free diet. Whole Foods prepares vegan pudding and chocolate cake and carries vegan cookies. Vegan foods are "a growing category for us," says Perry Abbenante, national grocery coordinator. "Five years ago, there were not that many vegan products, and they were not that good. The people eating them were dedicated."

But isn't one of the benefits of veganism a healthy lifestyle? "These people are taking out eggs and meat and dairy; eating some extra sugar isn't going to cancel that out," says Lauren Farnsworth, general manager of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sun Flour Baking Co., which makes vegan cookies and brownies. "They are taking the cholesterol and saturated fat out of their diet." Ryan Kellner, who owns Mighty O Donuts in Seattle, says response to his vegan treats has been overwhelming. "People need fun food," Kellner says. "You can't work all day; you've got to play a little bit, too. That goes for everybody, vegans and nonvegans alike." Krissi Vandenberg, of the nonprofit group Vegan Action, says, "It is really nice to be able to get online and order rich, decadent vegan truffles on Valentine's Day."

Special thanks to Sun Flour for hitting me with this at MySpace. I guess that site really is good for something...

Tags: junk food | vegan

Get set to go veggie

Well, good on the UK's Daily Record for putting this in their news section.

After all, that this is National Vegetarian Week (in the UK) may be news to some readers. This article is a bit fluffy, but it is unapologetically pro-veg, and it might get some people to consider the concept of vegetarianism a little more deeply as a result of reading it:

...it's not just animals' lives that the ever growing army of health-conscious vegetarians are saving - cutting out meat and meat by-products can help prevent heart disease and many forms of cancer, and provide many other health benefits.

To mark National Vegetarian Week, many unhappy meat eaters are considering making the change, but may worry about making the transition to the way of life.

Here is our guide to help you make the shift away from the meat counter...

1 WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

A VEGETARIAN is defined as someone who doesn't eat meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, or slaughterhouse by-products like gelatine. You can eat grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit. Free range eggs (never battery eggs) and dairy products are acceptable if you don't go vegan.

You can also eat meat substitute products such as tofu, soy bean and Mycoprotein (e.g. Quorn).

Vegetarianism goes back to the ancient Greeks, and before 1847, when The Vegetarian Society was formed, non-meat eaters were called Pythagoreans, after mathematician and triangle fan Pythagoras, who was the first renowned vegetarian.

2 IS IT ALL JUST BEAN SPROUTS AND BROCCOLI?

A LITTLE imagination goes a long way and the list of acceptable stuff is longer than you'd expect. Most pizzas are vegetarian, and food product ranges such as Quorn or Linda McCartney provide veggie alternatives to traditional dishes, including burgers, chicken and sausages, with all the taste kept in.

3 WHAT ABOUT MISSING OUT ON THE PROTEIN IN MEAT?

YOU can easily get everything you need from a well-balanced veggie diet - protein also comes in dairy products, eggs and nuts as well as in other foods such as certain pulses and grains.

4 WHO ELSE IS VEGGIE?

THE following stars are all vegetarian: Fearne Cotton, Thom Yorke, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Paul McCartney, Clint Eastwood, Josh Hartnett, B.B. King, Alicia Silverstone, Moby, Martin Kemp, Orlando Bloom, Shania Twain, KimBasinger, Tobey Maguire, Morrissey, Andre 3000, Natalie Portman.

5 HOWSHOULD I GO ABOUT IT?

THE Vegetarian Society (www.vegsoc.org) advise you to tell all your friends and family, once you are fully armed with all the info and facts you need to explain your decision. Then it's wise to invest in a veggie cook book so you can learn that it's about more than salads and baked potatoes.

You should start gradually, adapt meals using meat substitutes and develop a balanced diet you're happy with.

To start, you always should check ingredient lists to make sure there's no gelatine or other animal by-product such as animal fat in your foods.

6 WHAT DO I NEED TO EAT?

ACCORDING to the Vegetarian Society, your daily diet must include: three/four servings of cereals, grain or potatoes' four/five servings of fruit and veg' two/three servings of pulses, nuts or seeds, two servings of milk, cheese, eggs or soya products' a small amount of vegetable oil and marge or butter, yeast extract with vitamin B12, such as Marmite.

7 HOW MUCH HEALTHIER IS A VEGGIE DIET?

STUDIES have shown that vegetarians intake five per cent less energy as fat than omnivores, have a daily intake of a quarter less fat and have a much higher intake of polyunsaturated fat (the good stuff) than saturated fat (the bad stuff). There's also an increased intake of vital vitamins, nutrients, complex carb and fibre, and lower intakes of sugar and salt.

8 WHAT HEALTH BENEFITS ARE THERE?

Veggies have lower risk of coronary heart disease, and have much lower blood cholesterol rates than their omnivorous counterparts.

Studies show heart disease mortality rates to be 61 per cent lower in male vegetarians, 44 in female.

Vegetarianism is often accompanied by low heart pressure, lower obesity rates.

Bowel conditions such as Diverticular Disease are less prevalent among veggies, while they are half as likely to develop gall stones and they are less likely to develop kidney stone problems.

Studies show that women who eat no meat are less likely to develop osteoporosis, appendicitis, gout, hiatus hernia, constipation, haemorrhoids and varicose veins.

All-in-all, a worthy advertisement (you have to say it with a British accent) for vegetarianism, though I thought it was surprising that -- while there was a side note made about eggs in the first tip -- no such commentary was laid out for dairy, the consumption of which supports another cruel industry, and one that contributes to the consumption of veal. Not exactly a vegetarian choice.

Otherwise, big thumbs up for all the pro-veg articles lately, and hopes of more to come this week.

Tags: National Vegetarian Week

New mayor puts veg in focus

lewestoday.co.uk (Sussex, UK)

Sweet. More positive feedback to reinforce my belief that more vegetarians should get into politics:

It will be a meatless year in civic Lewes under the mayorship of vegetarian Merlin Milner.

Merlin, 42, of South Street, is a strict vegetarian, but that doesn't mean the food served at mayoral occasions won't be delicious.

'I want to encourage local business in every way and that includes providing local food,' he said, shortly before being made Mayor of Lewes on May 18.

'I want use local produce as far as possible, including wine from Plumpton and Breaky Bottom and beer from Harveys.

'We are surrounded by countryside and we were a market town. We should celebrate our vegetables.'

To further make his point, Merlin, a business consultant, is to hold a special event during his year for allotment holders and schools with kitchen gardens.

I like the emphasis on wine and beer. Now that's how one governs, and animal-friendly, too!

Tags: politics

Meat The Parents - They're Veggies, Y'Know

Thread, Ltd. (New Zealand)

Here's another pro-veg article. Not exactly The Wall Street Journal, but it's always nice to see positive press for vegetarianism, especially those that normalize the choice:

So why should you banish the burgers and chuck in the chicken in favour of a greener diet? Well, it's widely agreed that vegetarians are motivated by three key factors:

1. A respect for animals - Many believe that inflicting pain upon our fellow creatures, purely for our consumption, is an unnecessary evil.

2. Environmental awareness - Many see meat consumption as one reason for our rapidly deteriorating planet, as pollution, global warming and deforestation are directly linked to livestock farming.

3. Health issues - It has been proven that a meat-free diet has significant health benefits, particularly in combatting many of the problems plaguing Britain's population today. These include obesity, breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease, the latter being the sole biggest killer in the modern world, despite it being unheard of before this century. I suppose that's the price we pay for 10ft high yellow 'M's greeting us in every town centre, along with the 21st century monstrosity that is the 'Family Feast' KFC bucket.

Add to this that vegetarian food is packed with important protective antioxidants, including the beta-carotene form of vitamins A, C and E, along with a high-fibre content, it's no wonder that so many of us are moving away from meat. It could, in fact, save your life.

When's the last time you read a style/fashion piece that whole-heartedly endorsed vegetarianism?

On an entirely unrelated note, I watched Scotland, Pa. tonight, which -- despite being only sporadically funny -- was enjoyable to watch if for no other reason than Christopher Walken's character was a vegetarian out to solve a murder committed by a meat-eating hunter who killed his boss and took over his burger joint to turn it into a McDonald's-type restaurant. I won't tell you how it ends, but the last scene is pretty funny, despite what it says about vegetarian food.

Diet trends aggravate U.S. meat glut

Northwest Indiana News

Looks like meat consumption has dropped:

After years of people stuffing themselves with chicken, pork and beef while they were following low-carb diets like Atkins, the meat industry is looking at a glut as the diet trend turns toward a more balanced approach.

Benchmark wholesale prices for beef and pork are down more than 8 percent from a year ago and 20 percent for chicken, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center.

"There is just an overabundance of protein on the market," the center's Jim Robb said.

Retail prices for meats are forecast to be flat to 1 percent lower this year compared to a 2 percent to 3 percent increase for all foods, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agricultural economists said the oversupply and subsequent dip in prices is part of the normal business cycle. Good profits in 2004 and 2005 tempted farmers and agribusiness companies to raise production faster than the growth in demand.

But changing diets have helped pressure the market, as have export problems for beef and chicken.

Consumers are increasingly shunning high-protein diets like Atkins and South Beach, which have been lauded for inducing rapid weight loss but criticized for raising the intake of fats and cholesterol.

Of course, there's more to it than that, and the article goes into those reasons, but I wanted to focus on this capper to an otherwise encouraging article:

Despite diet fads, the long-term trend is for U.S. consumers to eat more meat and spend less for it as producers and processors become more efficient.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a steady rise in annual per capita consumption of red meats and poultry from 220 pounds in 2005 to 231 pounds in 2015, while consumer meat expenditures decline from about 2 percent to 1.3 percent of disposable income.

The last thing individuals need to do is eat more meat. Now per capita doesn't necessarily mean that those who eat meat will eat more. Here it means that those who do not eat much meat will be able to afford to eat more as prices come down. That's something veg activists need to prevent through outreach. Otherwise, despite the growth of the vegetarian food product category, meat consumption will continue to expand as well.

Tags: meat consumption

Can vegan diet fuel an athlete? He says yes

Arizona Daily Star | Opinion

Interesting that this is an opinion, because the writer's opinion really only comes in at the end, and it isn't really all that editorial. The bulk of the piece is a look at Bradley Saul, a former pro cyclist and founder of Organic Athlete. Saul is a raw foodist (though he will eat some brown rice in a pinch, according to the article), and Jennifer Duffy devotes substantial space to debunking the whole protein myth:

"Where don't you get protein if you're eating whole foods?" said Saul, who started Organic Athlete when he was living in Tucson in 2003 and now resides in California.

"Human mother's milk has only 5 to 6 percent of its calories from protein. And that's for babies growing at a much more rapid rate than we are. We get enough protein if we eat whole foods, fruits and vegetables." He eats nuts and seeds in small amounts because they're high in fat.

Fruits and vegetables have a bit of protein per calorie — some more than others — so as long as you're eating whole foods, you can't not get enough protein, Saul says. These foods aren't as high in protein as meat, of course, but that protein is more difficult to digest, according to Saul.

But this guy isn't just munching on heads of lettuce and lounging on the couch — he's an athlete.

Doesn't he need supplements or a chicken breast once in awhile?

Nope.

He doesn't use supplements when he races, and when he recently ran a marathon he just ate dates for fuel during the 26.2-mile race. "I was fine."

But the writer, a vegetarian herself, can't resist a glib ending that undercuts everything she just wrote about:

Saul's principles of eating lots of fruit and veggies appeal to me — but I'm not giving up my organic tofu any time soon. What I am going to glean from his purist lifestyle is a focus on organic produce, locally grown foods and choosing nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables over processed snacks.

Can't say that I disagree with here in spirit here. I'm not going raw any time soon, though I do try to eat more raw produce than ever. I don't really care too much about whether I eat all that much tofu for the rest of my life, though, as I consider it more of a convenience food than a necessity.

It's just that this ending reminds me of meat-eaters admiring vegans, then saying "The conscious diet of vegans appeals to me, but I'm not giving up my free-range beef any time soon. What I am going to glean... etc., etc., etc."

Tags: vegan | raw foods | living foods | vegan athlete

Eat your way to lower cholesterol

Orlando Sentinel | In The Kitchen

Another article promotes a plant-based diet over drugs to reduce cholesterol:

It's called the portfolio diet. And you won't find it in any bookstore.

Portfolio was developed at the University of Toronto and funded in part by some big players in the food industry: Unilever; Loblaw, Canada's largest food distributor; and the Almond Board of California.

The goal is simple: to see if a "portfolio" of foods, each with some minor cholesterol-lowering benefits, could have a larger, additive effect when eaten together as part of a regular diet. The concept was developed by David Jenkins, professor of nutrition and metabolism at the University of Toronto and a strong proponent of using food to help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

But the portfolio approach won't be for everyone. Strictly followed, it's a near-vegan regimen, meaning no meat, eggs, poultry, fish or dairy -- a diet unlikely to appeal to those who love juicy burgers, fries and a shake.

"It's a real challenge for people to stay on this kind of diet," notes Alice Lichtenstein, professor of nutrition at Tufts University.

It wasn't a challenge for me to go vegan, though that points to the concern behind some animal activists' statements that going veg solely for health reasons is much less likely to stick compared to going veg for ethical reasons.

Tags: health | diet | cholesterol

Veganism creates $2.8B market

Corroborating my claims that the spread of veganism would occur as vegans influenced the marketplace, this Arizona Star article describes the growth of the market for foods replacing meat and other animal products. I would argue that the figure is a little low, considering that many vegans start eating more whole foods that are not considered part of the vegan "market," much less dark chocolate and other non-vegan-labeled items, but the very fact that the vegan niche is growing to a $3 billion business demonstrates that meat-free eating is becoming more mainstream:

The shoes are fashionable.

And the food isn't bad either.

No longer considered a "hippie fad," the vegan lifestyle is translating into business opportunities for some local entrepreneurs, resulting in part from a growing $50 billion a year natural-products industry.

"People think vegans are grungy, granola eaters," said Ana Terrazas, who has been a vegan for 25 years.

"But it is becoming more mainstream, and businesses are thinking about that."

[snip]

There are more than 1.7 million vegans, in the United States, according to a 2000 poll conducted by the [Vegetarian Resource Group].

Choices for vegan consumers are growing along with demand, as more niche businesses cater to vegans, and main-stream grocery stores carry more products, said John Cunningham, consumer research manager for the vegetarian group.

The market for foods replacing meat and other animal products is estimated at $2.8 billion, according to Mintel International Group Ltd., a research consumer company.

"It would behoove a company to introduce new vegan products, because they would be able to reach the widest market," said Cunningham, who added that vegan products have potential to carry over to mainstream consumers.

Success for such products, however, depends on marketing, Cunningham said.

But because vegan products are such a niche business, vegans usually spread the word quickly, he said.

The great thing about vegan foods is that they don't exclude anyone (except, obviously, those with allergies, but that's true across all food categories). One of my favorite responses to people who ask what I eat as a vegan is, "A lot of the same things you do." In other words, fruits, veggies, grains, legumes. I remind them that a large number of common dishes are nearly vegan, requiring the substitution of vegan margarine for butter, or a seitan cutlet for "pork." It helps them understand that a vegan diet isn't all that weird, and a lot of these vegan products described by the article are great transitional products for people considering going vegan, or at least reducing their meat consumption.

Tags: vegan | food

Farmers worry that new minister is a 'semi-veggie'

Independent Online Edition (UK)

This is hilarious:

David Miliband, the new minister for the countryside, stands accused of turning up his Blairite nose at the roast beef of old England.

The incoming Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs sparked concern in farming circles yesterday, after his office refused to confirm or deny rumours that he doesn't touch red meat.

Since his new job will require much tub-thumping on behalf of the British meat industry, opponents of the red stuff scent a PR coup.

The Vegetarian Society tell me they're now launching an investigation, and reckon the bright young star of New Labour, above, to be a "semi-veggie".

"We've a contact with David who is going to let us know about his eating habits," said their spokesman yesterday.

"Our suspicion is that he does eat fish and poultry, and is, in fact, a meat reducer, as opposed to a proper veggie."

Miliband comes from a Jewish family, so may avoid pork for religious reasons. However, rural campaigners professed concern about his attitude towards other meat products.

"Take it as read: if this guy doesn't eat beef, we'll be very upset," said Robin Page, of the Countryside Restoration Trust.

Awwww. Poor baby.

The dairy debate

Independent Online Edition | Health Medical

This is a great piece that -- while it does offer reasons for consuming dairy -- covers several good reasons not to consume it, and gives sound advice for how to avoid it.

Tags: dairy

From super size to reduced size

From super size to reduced size

Inspired by Morgan Spurlock's vegan girlfriend in Super Size Me, Alex Jamieson, Michael Lucas -- fearing his obesity would lead to diabetes and who knows what else -- went vegan and started working out with something called a kettlebell (like an old-fashioned dumbbell). From a high of somewhere around 350 pounds, he has now slimmed down to a muscular 190. As you can see from the photo, you'd never know he was ever dangerously heavy. He looks like a former athlete or something.

Tags: health | fitness | vegan | obesity

Mmm, (vegan) donuts...

The Seattle Times | Business & Technology: Even vegan purists like their doughnuts

Do we ever!

The vegan doughnut niche is just one unusual role filled by Mighty-O in the world of doughnuts.

Besides being dairy-free, Mighty-O's also are organic and have no trans fats.

Owner Ryan Kellner likes to focus on the freedom from trans fat because he worries that the vegan part might scare away potential customers.

"Some people have a prejudice about the word 'vegan,' " he said. "A lot of people don't even know how to pronounce it."

Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, doesn't have that problem. After hearing about Mighty-O's ingredients, she had no doubt that they're real doughnuts.

"Switching to palm oil doesn't turn doughnuts into health food," Liebman said. "We're basically talking flour, sugar and saturated fat."

Well, even vegans know how to eat junk... I'd be thrilled to partake of Mighty-O's once in a while. Fortunately, you can now order their products online through Sun Flour Baking Company! (be prepared for 2-day shipping charges, though...)

Tags: junk food | vegan | donuts

Healthy School Lunch Year

Florida's House of Representatives have passed HR 9095, designating the 2006-2007 school year as "Healthy School Lunch Year" in that state, resolving that:

...all school districts and parents of school children in the state are urged to emphasize the importance of and to provide daily diets consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, including regular vegetarian entrée options.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives encourages each school district to observe a "Healthy School Lunch Celebration" on May 1, 2007, to honor food service workers for their contributions to the school children of Florida.

How's that for a feel-good resolution?

I'm mainly glad that Florida's House has acknowledged its obligations, as well as the sorry state of nutrition in schools:

WHEREAS, all children, regardless of ethnic, racial, or religious background, are entitled to a healthy meal each day at school in compliance with the mandate of the National School Lunch Program, and

WHEREAS, a disproportionate rise in poor health indicators, including obesity, risk for heart disease, diagnoses of cancer, and adult onset diabetes, are linked to diet, and a significant percentage of children who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches are considered at risk for these diet-related degenerative diseases, and

WHEREAS, recent studies indicate that more than one-fourth of Florida's children are overweight or obese and are therefore at higher risk of developing these health problems, and

WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic Association, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Institutes of Health recommend a greater emphasis in the American diet on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, which contain fiber and essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, but are low in fat and calories and contain no cholesterol, and

WHEREAS, the USDA's Team Nutrition program has stated that less than 15 percent of children eat the minimum daily recommended servings of fruit, 35 percent eat no fruit on a given day, only 17 percent consume the minimum daily recommended servings of vegetables, and 20 percent eat no vegetables on a given day, and exposure to vegetarian entrees in the school cafeteria would positively influence children with poor eating habits, and

WHEREAS, school children who identify themselves as vegetarian or vegan or are from families who avoid meat and dairy foods may be at a disadvantage if no appropriate school lunch meals are offered in their respective schools...

These are fantastic acknowledgements, and I hope it improves health and learning in Florida's children, as well as improving the social and nutritional needs of vegetarians in the state's schools. But, in light of the recent foie gras ban in Chicago, I wonder if some in Florida are now saying "Don't we have bigger priorities than dictating our children's diets?"

Big thumbs up to FARM's CHOICE program for their efforts on this resolution. This is a great example of healthy and effective activism.

Tags: health

Nature's choice: A vegetarian diet prevents disease and keeps you trim

A very pro-veg article in the midwestern outlet Northwest Indiana News:

Here in the Midwest, the average consumption of beef is highest in the nation at 73 pounds a year. So, should we be surprised that Chicago was named fattest city in the nation earlier this year by Men's Fitness Magazine?

One way to go if you're looking to thin down is to become a vegetarian. Removing saturated fats from your diet and replacing them with antioxidants and fiber provided by fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains can lead to a healthy lifestyle that may result not only in weight loss, but prevent many diseases, from diabetes to stroke to cancer.

It goes on quite a bit, giving midwesterners a clearer sense of how practical vegetarianism is as a lifestyle choice. Might be good to thank the editor for including the article.

Tags: health