tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86751616281673112902024-03-18T20:22:39.977-07:00The Vegan LifeA place to share recipes, thrifty shopping tips and things that make for a great vegan life.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-16815663432620942242018-05-08T12:08:00.001-07:002018-05-08T12:08:11.998-07:00Stupid Shit People say to Vegans <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Where do you get your protein?!</b></span><br />
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Dirt. I eat dirt. <br />
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No but really: Plants. <br />
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Ahem, let's try that again:<br />
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PLANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Did you forget that plants have protein? (For example, broccoli has 4.2 g of protein per serving. Potatoes have 4.3 g of protein per serving. Edamame has 18 g of protein per serving. Peanuts have 7 g of protein per serving. Tofu has 10 g of protein per serving. Got it?) <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Can't you just pick it off?</b></span><br />
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The simple answer: No. <br />
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Medium Answer: Hell no.<br />
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Long answer: Most vegans are vegan because of deeply held ethical beliefs about killing animals. We don't believe that it's okay to kill animals for food, or to use them as clothing or entertainment. We strive to make the world as good as we can for our fellow animal kind. So, let's say you order a pepperoni pizza, and you want to share some with me. When you are saying "Can't you just pick it off?!" you are asking me to ignore my deeply held belief that a pig shouldn't have to die for your effing pizza and just pretend everything is hunky dory. Also, picking the meat off leaves like this meat juice residue there. AND the pizza is coated with cheese. Guess where cheese comes from?! Did you say carrots? Nope. Here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV07jguCDUugM3AxJFyBZtXJ3LvnoBn0oxx80Y5eZHJ0uSvKi9suRY-raetW7RWXesYHnHUheW2VH77-m7mGP0upVnzhafqqh4ZSNegx3P8m-R3syqLPrrTOzT_lrCeBHtpoN6DOjsNbC/s1600/Cow_female_black_white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV07jguCDUugM3AxJFyBZtXJ3LvnoBn0oxx80Y5eZHJ0uSvKi9suRY-raetW7RWXesYHnHUheW2VH77-m7mGP0upVnzhafqqh4ZSNegx3P8m-R3syqLPrrTOzT_lrCeBHtpoN6DOjsNbC/s320/Cow_female_black_white.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Wow. But you look so healthy.</b></span><br />
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That's because I am. That's what happens when you eat lots of fruits and vegetables. (See, because unlike meat and dairy, fruits and vegetables and other vegan foods are not loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol that clogs your arteries and increases your blood pressure, as well as your chance of having a stroke or heart attack later in life. Now, look - I am not saying that being vegan makes you disease proof. I am saying that being vegan can significantly lower your risk of having high cholesterol or high blood pressure.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. But we're at the top of the food chain!</b></span><br />
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Tell that to the following animals:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOzrQEX-H-gSqzTkRFEd0mmjtvsosNbt6axxDZeTeamLTx7eQcZAZNmEoqDbFaLmws-lqNmnC8IQsVkVSEiEBhqOlLBJFQoKp3ZDxVcUfF-BSnwhu-JAXBbEPdS2sJz35Xe1PqO0_5vUn/s1600/sumatran-tiger-hero_92514619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOzrQEX-H-gSqzTkRFEd0mmjtvsosNbt6axxDZeTeamLTx7eQcZAZNmEoqDbFaLmws-lqNmnC8IQsVkVSEiEBhqOlLBJFQoKp3ZDxVcUfF-BSnwhu-JAXBbEPdS2sJz35Xe1PqO0_5vUn/s320/sumatran-tiger-hero_92514619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These and many other animals have to hunt and kill their food with their bare paws and teeth, then eat their food raw - completely raw. Whereas you can walk into your local Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, or D'Agostino's and buy your "food" and cook it. Plus, there are certain situations where, when threatened or intimidated, these predators may attack humans, who are physically incapable of outrunning a big cat or other predator. But sure, you go ahead and believe that humans are at the top of the food chain, you precious snowflake.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. I don't like vegan food.</b></span><br />
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Things that are vegan that you probably love: Fruits like bananas, grapes, oranges, apples, plums, etc. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, lettuce, and onions. So, like sure you may not like some vegan food - but I promise there is plenty you do like. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Oh, I thought this tasted funny.</b></span><br />
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This is based off an actual comment I received while helping some friends run a fan suite at a local Con event. They had it set up like a cafe for Con attendees, and were serving all vegan food. One woman was enjoying the food, eating a vegan bratwurst, and saying how good it tasted. She stated that it was excellent and she was really enjoying it. THEN, AFTER she heard me say that all the food was vegan, THEN she said "Oh, I thought it tasted funny."<br />
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No, sweetheart, you didn't. Not until you knew it was vegan. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. Plants feel pain to, you know.</b></span><br />
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This is an animal:<br />
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This is a carrot: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9AeSbxaZBSmg7BHulccBUQy0Je8c-A9cPEaeMy5L5kj_wPKXqDc2-g27kk7gXyGVo55o_xikPF9RTcdgbY_UgyH8JVurUdYNd7QhQrXPlyPQw05IMIDM2UyI-qD5QSvxfmnj7Qfdi4FV/s1600/02735jp_01_hercules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1120" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9AeSbxaZBSmg7BHulccBUQy0Je8c-A9cPEaeMy5L5kj_wPKXqDc2-g27kk7gXyGVo55o_xikPF9RTcdgbY_UgyH8JVurUdYNd7QhQrXPlyPQw05IMIDM2UyI-qD5QSvxfmnj7Qfdi4FV/s320/02735jp_01_hercules.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of these things has a central nervous system, bones, muscles, joints, etc, that make it capable of feeling pain when injured or harmed in any way. The other is a fucking carrot. <br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-41915541038530482952016-03-17T09:40:00.000-07:002016-03-17T09:44:00.692-07:00Reasons You Should Never Go Vegan!Let's face it: going vegan is hard! So, for all of you out there who are not vegan, here are the reasons you should just never, ever become a vegan.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange;">1. You don't like animals... At all.</span></strong><br />
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Lots of people think animals are cute and fun. But not you! If youy don't like animals, and if you don't care about their lives at all, you should definitely not go vegan.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange;">2. You don't care about the environment.</span></strong><br />
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Studies have been done showing the negative impact that animal agriculture has on the environment. If you don't give a shit about the environment, you should not go vegan at all!<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">3. You don't really care about your health.</span><br />
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Dr. Neal Barnard (from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), Dr. T. Colin Campbell (author of The China Study), and many other doctors have spent time studying the effects of animal proteins on the human body. They have determined that eating animal protein increases a persons risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other health problems. It seems right, then, that if you don't care about your health, you should not go vegan.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">4. Vegan food is just gross.</span><br />
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Let's face it: vegan food is gross, amiright? I mean, look at bananas, grapes, broccoli, potatoes, lettuce, and all those other nasty fruits and vegetables that vegans eat every day! And don't even get me started on pasta, rice, beans, and nuts. I mean, disgusting. Let's face it - you're better off eating dead animal flesh filled with pus, blood, vein, and potentially even feces. That's much less disgusting than the banana I ate for breakfast, right?! <br />
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As you can tell from the wonderful reasons above, you are really better off not ever going vegan. Just keep eating and wearing dead animals. <br />
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However, if, for some crazy reason, you think going vegan is for you, by all means check out the resources below. (But you'll probably just be disappointed!)<br />
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Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: <a href="http://www.pcrm.org/">http://www.pcrm.org/</a><br />
The Vegan Society: <a href="https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan">https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan</a><br />
Vegan Kit: <a href="http://vegankit.com/why/">http://vegankit.com/why/</a>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-28682507450045785202015-10-28T11:38:00.000-07:002015-10-28T11:38:10.116-07:00Dear PeTALast week, I checked the mail and had a survey from the State of Minnesota. I was curious as to why the state would be sending me a survey. Perhaps they wanted me to tell them how to keep snow off our streets in the winter.... Or how increase tourism... I opened it to discover it was a survey from none other than PeTA. That's right, the lovely paint-tossing, sexist, fat-phobic PeTA sent me a survey to ask me all about cruelty to cats and dogs. They wanted to know how aware I am of the cruelty that happens to cats and dogs on a regular basis. Then, on the back of the survey, there was a request for donations. PeTA was even so kind as to circle the $19 a month option for me, telling me that this was the amount that would help them the most. <br />
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See, here's the thing, PeTA: I don't like your organization. I never have. I think the tactics PeTA uses to spread their message are atrocious and vile. Most of you probably know some of the things PeTA has done that are below the belt. But in case you don't, let me share.<br />
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1.Fat-Phobia: Yes, PeTA is incredibly fat-phobic. They have posted numerous billboards shaming overweight people in order to get the message out that being vegan may help you lose weight. Yes, it's true that people who follow a plant based diet tend to be thinner than their meat eating counterparts. Yes, eating a plant-based diet can reduce your risk of becoming obese, or getting an illness commonly linked to meat and dairy consumption (such as high blood pressure.) However, it is not true that all vegans are skinny. It's also not true that all meat eaters are fat. Becoming a vegan is not a sure fire weight loss venture. And fat shaming people is not ever going to get you what you want. Below are some examples of PeTA's fat shaming ads: <br />
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(This one is especially awful because it implies that fat people can't be or shouldn't be proud of their bodies. I love my body, even when I'm fat.)<br />
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2. PeTA is sexist. They commonly have ads featuring women wearing either no clothes or some bikini that shows off tons of skin. They have made videos where a man and woman have very violent sex, then say it's because the man is vegan. One only has to watch the following video to see how PeTA tries to appeal to men:</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w7l3ojNQYsg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w7l3ojNQYsg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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The entire video is based on the idea that the ONLY way to appeal to men is with sex. It implies that men cannot do or accomplish anything in their lives unless sex is on the table. This video implies that men can't become vegan because of moral or ethical reasons - which is bs. If you are a man and you're not offended by the implications of this video, then color me surprised. <br />
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When looking at the way PeTA treats women, one need only look at the following advertisement: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvpnA8cn-Rgfjl7TkxYRFtCx13fips2BhKvXfCLTJrzUqIOauTwCHkJhgft9SSqFzS5zbOAsb9cVeaBhLwn0Tz_2sDcuHKo8NZjzqmw0CB8LBSDCEEhyY4b-jHCPwAxkd1WsDi0dH3S5F/s1600/pamela-anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvpnA8cn-Rgfjl7TkxYRFtCx13fips2BhKvXfCLTJrzUqIOauTwCHkJhgft9SSqFzS5zbOAsb9cVeaBhLwn0Tz_2sDcuHKo8NZjzqmw0CB8LBSDCEEhyY4b-jHCPwAxkd1WsDi0dH3S5F/s320/pamela-anderson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are hundreds of other ads like this that PeTA has put out that degrade women and put them in vulnerable positions. The suggestion is that women are only valuable for their sex appeal and nothing else. (That also goes back to the implication that men can only be enticed by sex. Women are not here just for their sexuality, and men can be appealed to on more than just the most base level. <br />
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So, PeTA, I am not going to thank you for sending me that survey. I am not going to donate any money. I won't promote your organization. These and other reasons are more than enough for me to take my volunteerism and monetary donations elsewhere - and I'd urge all other animal activists to do the same. <br />
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Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-68970342060866033712015-08-27T18:10:00.001-07:002015-08-27T18:10:47.792-07:00Stir Fry! If you know me,you know I love a good stir-fry, especially a spicy one! So, on this {mostly} photographed post - I present my supper from the other night that I promised I would take photos of! <br />
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(There is more than enough to feed to or three people - or make into leftovers!)<br />
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<span id="goog_773621435"></span><span id="goog_773621436"></span><br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-19510629071145387442015-08-21T11:53:00.000-07:002015-08-21T11:53:00.597-07:00Trail Mix TimeWhen I was thinking about this blog post, for some reason, the song "Peanut Butter Jelly Time," popped into my head. But don't worry - there's no jelly in this trail mix! <br />
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What you need:<br />
1/4 lb of peanuts<br />
1/4 lb of almonds<br />
1/4 lb of walnuts<br />
1/4 lb of sliced pistachios<br />
1/2 lb of raisins<br />
1/2 lb craisins<br />
1/2 lb of dried bananas or cherries (or both if you like)<br />
1 bag of vegan chocolate chips<br />
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Mix ingredients together in large bowl, then store in airtight container. You can mix it into small bags or containers as well if you'll be bringing it with you for lunch or a trip. The beauty of trail mix is that it travels so well you can bring it anywhere! Enjoy!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-2726142486821611862015-08-20T16:37:00.000-07:002015-08-20T16:37:17.155-07:00Thai Orchid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you are a vegan living in or traveling to the Fargo/Moorhead area, stopping at the Thai Orchid is a must! It is easily one of my favorite restaurants around. Good food, with big enough plates to give you leftovers. <br />
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When you go, be sure to try the spring rolls! Totally awesome, totally vegan. <br />
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If you love your food spicy, get yourself some Evil Jungle Noodle. It's got rice noodles, bell peppers, carrots, bean sprouts, bamboo, coconut milk, and thai red curry. It's amazing and sure to fill you up. <br />
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In addition to those items, which are my faves, they also have Tom Kah soup, Tom Yum soup, Thai Salad, Somtum salad, Pad Basil, and a whole host of other great items that are or can be made vegan! Just make sure you remind them not to use fish sauce! <br />
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If you decide to pay the Thai Orchid a visit, you won't regret it. Great restaurant, great staff, great food! <br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-10053947630704444562015-08-14T10:51:00.001-07:002015-08-14T10:51:43.891-07:00Veggie Buddha Bowl! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is something that I love love love making! It's delicious and healthy! <br />
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<strong>What you need:</strong><br />
1/2 c brown rice <br />
1 medium potato<br />
1 carrot<br />
1 c chopped broccoli <br />
1 T Earth Balance<br />
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<strong>Directions:</strong><br />
Cook the brown rice in a medium sized pot. While the rice is cooking, cut the potato into slices. Cut each slice in 4. Peel and cut the carrot. Chop the broccoli. Place the earth balace in a skillet and heat. Once heated, put the potatoes, carrots and broccoli in the skillet and cook until tender. <br />
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Once brown rice and veggies are cooked, mix in a bowl and enjoy! <br />
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This will easily serve 2 (unless you're really hungry!) <br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-10874433893967978712015-08-13T10:34:00.000-07:002015-08-13T10:34:06.074-07:00Navigating small town {vegan} life If you've ever lived in or visited a small town, you know that vegans and vegetarians can often have a hard time finding food to eat. They may find that everyone else in the town they live in or visit eats meat. That can be frustrating. But, have no fear: As someone familiar with the challenges, I am here to do a little "hometown" talk about finding options when you live in or visit a small town. Consider is a "preview" of what my travel ventures will be like once I get my journey on the road and go to other places!<br />
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So, having grown up in and spent a lot of time in Fosston, a small town in Minnesota, I'm gonna talk about that area, and give all you other small town people's some idea. <br />
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#1: If you ever visit a small town in Minnesota, don't be afraid to tell people what you don't eat. People in small town Minnesota will probably look at you like you are crazy, because they all eat meat. But they will be nice to you! I mean, seriously. If you stop at a restaurant, and they just have salad available for vegans - that's okay. Just let 'em know you don't want them with eggs or shredded cheese and you'll be good.<br />
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#2: You probably won't be able to go to a grocery store in a small town and find fake meats or nut milks, but you will find lots of good produce, tons of farmers markets, and some decent vegan sauce things if you snoop around. If you ever find yourself traveling through the small town of McIntosh, Minnesota, go to the Mac Country Store (located on Highway 2 by the rooster) and get some nut milk there! They also have Thai Red curry - who can pass that up?!<br />
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#3: Don't be afraid to stop on towns like Bemidji, Grand Forks, Crookston, or other "big cities" in the area. If you don't live in Minnesota, and have no plans to travel there, you can substitute the names of the "big" cities in your state. These places are usually full of Wal-Marts, Targets, or - in the case of Bemidji - food coops like Harmony, that sell all manner of vegan faux meats and other options. When you get a chance to actually go to a "big city" in the area, it's a great chance to stock up!<br />
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#4: Avoid fast food restaurants in small towns. Chances are, they fry EVERYTHING in animal fat, including the french fries. So, if you were in the mood for a salty treat, that would be out. You're better off going to a grocery store and getting a bag of chips to satisfy your salty craving.<br />
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#5: If, during your stay in small towns, you find you want a drink, have no fear: Pretty much every small town has a liquor store with enough booze for even vegans to find something they can drink! So, even if you are just passing through - you can find a 6 pack or some vegan liquor to make your day! Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-34705618392040772032015-07-29T11:53:00.000-07:002015-07-29T11:53:07.024-07:00Thoughts on Cecil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week, there has been a lot of outrage over the killing of Cecil the lion, a treasure to the land of Zimbabwe. I hear that outrage. I feel that outrage. I think it is sickening that anyone could think it's okay to kill any animal for fun. This poor lion, shot with a bow and arrow, then lured off his sanctuary and killed, did not deserve to die. Here are a few thoughts I have about this, though.<br />
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Yes, it sucks that Cecil is gone. Yes, it sucks that someone killed him ending his life. But, there are so many animals that are killed on a daily basis - for your food, for your clothes, for your makeup and hair care products. Do they deserve to die? No.<br />
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We all, especially non-vegans, need to ask ourselves what we can do to end those unnecessary killings. What can you do to stop that cow from dying? What can you do to stop that shark from being used for your makeup or facial cleanser? What can you do to stop that horse from being used for your glue?<br />
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The answer is simple: Go vegan. Every single one of you who is outraged by Cecil's death - Go Vegan. Every single one of you who is outraged by global warming - Go Vegan. Every single one of you who is outraged by the death of innocent animals killed for your food - Go Vegan. Every single one of you who has ever looked into the eyes of your dog, cat, or other companion animal and felt love and compassion - Go Vegan. Because that is the best way to end the senseless killing and death of so many other animals around the world. <br />
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-19922862901646990502015-07-10T10:55:00.002-07:002015-07-10T10:55:47.605-07:00The Vegan Life Travels <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone! Some of you know me in person, but for those who don't know me, let me tell you something! One of my dreams is to be able to travel. I mean, who doesn't want to see more of the world, right? <br />
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Well, as a challenge to myself, and as a new chapter in my life, I am going to start some travel around the US, stopping in different cities, visiting their restaurants, checking out vegan stores, and stores that sell vegan items - and writing about my travels here on my blog! At some point, I am going to write about my adventures in a book as well.<br />
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One of the things I am doing before I start on my venture is raising some money for the costs. I have launched a pretty stellar Indiegogo Campaign that you can view by clicking <a href="https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/the-vegan-life-travels/x/2176780" target="_blank">here</a>! I look forward to sharing my journey with all of you! <br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-90521107468777022112015-04-14T16:04:00.001-07:002015-04-14T16:04:26.102-07:00The Ex-Vegan MovementThere is this page I follow on Facebook called the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatGayVegan" target="_blank">Fat, Gay, Vegan</a>. The guy who runs it is pretty groovy! This morning, he posted a link to a <a href="http://erikaawakening.com/my-break-up-with-veganism-ex-vegan/" target="_blank">blog post</a> from an ex-vegan (who really sounds more plant based than vegan) in which she talks about how, over the past few weeks, she has become a meat eater again. The lady who runs the blog goes by <a href="http://theveganslife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Erika Awakening</a>, and is, in addition to now being very anti-vegan, also a pick up artist who teaches men how to attract women. That's right - she's an MRA. (But that's not something I am going to delve into on this blog.)<br />
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Throughout Erika's anti-vegan blog posts (yes, she now has multiple anti-vegan posts), Erika talks about many "issues" that she experienced while being vegan. She talks about how:<br />
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*<a href="http://theveganslife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Vegans</a> are so angry all the time<br />
*She started losing hair on a vegan diet (yes, she refers to it as a vegan diet throughout all her posts)<br />
*She apparently looked like an emaciated bag of bones (her description of how all vegans look)<br />
*Her hair started going gray at an alarming rate<br />
*She was having chronic headaches and pain<br />
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These sound like pretty serious issues - but I would certainly not attribute them to following a plant based diet. (See what I did there? Plant based diet! Yep - being vegan is a lifestyle, plant based is a diet.) In the blog post titled My Break-up with Veganism, Erika mentions all the issues she had with her diet. But, she never actually talks about what she was eating while plant based. Was she actually eating plants or was she a junk food vegan? Also, was she getting enough calories each day, or was she consuming a near starvation diet? <br />
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The average sedentary female burns roughly 1600 calories a day. Active females burn more than that. It is recommended that every female, regardless of their activity level consume at least 2000 calories a day. This ensures that they will have enough calories to want to be active, and to meet their nutritional needs. If Erika was consuming less than 1600 calories per day (and she may have been, but I can only speculate) this could have caused a lot of health issues for her. Also, if she were surviving mainly on vegan junk food, this could have caused health issues as well. (One only needs to look at Morgan Spurlock and his infamous month long experiment with McDonald's to know what an unhealthy diet can do to us. I know - Spurlock was consuming animal products during that experiment, but unhealthy food is unhealthy food whether it's vegan or not.)<br />
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Erika also talks a lot about how vegans are angry all the time. She has a very low opinion of vegans, and genuinely believes that they are angry and have cognitive deterioration and emotional imbalance. Erika full heartedly believes that vegans brains are deteriorating because they are not eating animal products. I find this to be diametrically different to everything I know about vegans - all the vegans I know are some of the kindest, most level-headed and most intelligent people I have ever met. One of my close friends recently graduated as a straight A student and passed her NCLEX - she's now a nurse. Her husband is equally intelligent. So are other friends I have that are vegan. They, contrary to what Erika seems to believe, show no sign of being angry, short tempered, or of lesser intelligence than meat eaters. <br />
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A lot of what Erika talks about on her blog are the nutritional deficiencies that she believes vegan are experiencing because they follow a plant based diet. She talks about omega-3 and omega-6 deficiencies, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin K1 and K2 deficiency and just an overall concern for vegans health. Since nutritional deficiency seems to be a huge concern for Erika, let's take a minute to talk about it.<br />
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Vitamin K1: This is found in largest amounts in leafy greens - you know: lettuces. If you eat lettuce on a regular basis, you have nothing to worry about.<br />
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Vitamin K2: most commonly found in cheeses and fermented foods like natto. Obviously, consuming dairy is out for vegans, but you can take supplements.<br />
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Vitamin B12: This can be a concern for vegans because B12 is most commonly found in animal products. However, there are many foods that are fortified with B12 (including soy and almond milks, veggie burgers, chik'n burgers, and other fortified foods) and there are vegan supplements one can take as well. If you eat enough fortified foods, or take a vegan supplement, you''ll be fine. <br />
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Omega-3 and Omega-6: Commonly found in fish, omega's help keep your cells healthy and can stave off inflammation. Keep in mind that consuming MORE omega-6 than omega-3 can inhibit your bodies ability to turn DHA into EPA. The following foods can help you get enough omega-3 and keep your omega-6 low enough that the omega-3's actually help your body: Flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, mustard oil, seaweed, beans, winter squash, leafy greens, cabbage family, berries, wild rice, herbs and spices, mangoes, and honeydew melon. Visit <a href="http://plenteousveg.com/vegan-sources-omega-3/" target="_blank">this website</a> if you want to know more.<br />
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I'm not going to turn this into one big nutritional lesson. Let's just say: With a properly balanced diet full of lots of veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and other healthy foods, people on a plant based diet can lead healthy, productive lives.<br />
<br />
Overall, I find that Erika is just grasping at straws and searching for any way she can to justify eating animal products again. I found, after reading through some of her blog posts and many of her replies to readers comments, that she sounded very bitter and angry towards vegans - that's just my perspective though. I hope she can work through her issues towards vegans and realize that we are not the enemy and we are not out to get anyone. Peace!<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-74461106165674159852015-03-16T06:46:00.000-07:002015-03-16T06:46:14.737-07:00Circuses and Zoos VS. SanctuariesThere are so many people who love going to zoos and circuses. Here's the thing, though. In circuses and zoos, the animals are often there against their will - they have been taken out of a natural environment and brought there for humans entertainment, or have been bred in a captivity that is abusive and enslaving. The animals in these places are treated as commodities. They are kept in cages or environments that are not large enough for them to be able to roam around, and are fed on a schedule that suits their trainer or handlers. This also extends to places like SeaWorld that have whales in captivity in small swimming pool that are much smaller than, you know, the ocean.<br />
<br />
There are other options though. I would much rather have animals be in a sanctuary than a zoo or circus. Generally, in a sanctuary the animals will have more space to roam and play, will not be abused or forced into performing for the public, and will generally be treated better than in a zoo or circus.<br />
<br />
Don't just take my word for it, though. Read the following articles and do some searching around on your own as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsinentertainment/fl/Whats-the-Difference-Between-a-Zoo-and-a-Sanctuary.htm">http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsinentertainment/fl/Whats-the-Difference-Between-a-Zoo-and-a-Sanctuary.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140320-animal-sanctuary-wildlife-exotic-tiger-zoo/">http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140320-animal-sanctuary-wildlife-exotic-tiger-zoo/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/zoos.htm">http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/zoos.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/circus-cruelty">http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/circus-cruelty</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paws.org/get-involved/take-action/explore-the-issues/circus-cruelty/">http://www.paws.org/get-involved/take-action/explore-the-issues/circus-cruelty/</a>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-60926235740253656822015-01-28T06:15:00.001-08:002015-01-28T06:15:32.800-08:00Make your own {stir fry} SauceHi gang! You all figured out after my post the other day that I love spicy hot food and stir fry. Occasionally, I will make my own stir fry sauce. Here is one of my favorite recipes! This is very easy to make and doesn't take a lot of time.<br />
<br />
You need:<br />
1 Cup Soy sauce<br />
1/2 C Brown Sugar<br />
1/2 TBSP Cayenne Pepper<br />
2 cloves of garlic<br />
<br />
Directions: Chop the garlic up finely. Then, mix everything together in a bowl (a small bowl is fine.) There is enough here to mix with one serving of stir fry veggies. You can adjust the cayenne pepper based on how spicy you want your sauce to be! <br />
<br />
Once it's all mixed up, pour the sauce over your veggies, fry them up and eat!<br />
<br />
Enjoy!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-13962228287315498152015-01-26T11:38:00.000-08:002015-01-26T11:38:35.011-08:00Vegan {Super Spicy} Stir FryHi all! For those of you who know me in person, you know that I love spicy food. In this case, I am not talking about food that is just flavorful, though. I am talking about spicy hot - food that feels like it is burning your tongue out when you eat it because it is so spicy hot! I. Love. Spicy hot! Another not so secret: I love stir fry's. This one is one of my faves! It's Yuuuumy.<br />
<br />
You need:<br />
<br />
1 large russet potato<br />
1 large carrot<br />
A head of broccoli<br />
1 to 1.5 C rice (you can pick what kind of rice you want to use - brown or white)<br />
1/2 a bottle of House of Tsang Szechuan Sauce (vegan!!!!)<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
<br />
Put the rice and water in a pan and cook it while slicing the veggies. While the rice is cooking, cut the veggies up. (I cut the potato into slices, then cut the slices into slivers. Peel carrot, then either peel it into thing slices or chop it up. Chop broccoli.) Once the rice is done, put it aside (or put it on a plate) and fill up a pan or wok with the veggies. Pour the sauce over the veggies and cook until tender. (Variation: You may cook the veggies with an oil, then pour the sauce over them. I like to cook the veggies with the sauce, because it gives them a nice flavor.)<br />
<br />
Serves: 2 (But truth be told, I usually save this and eat it for two to three meals all by myself!)<br />
<br />
Enjoy!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-14121554159407762422014-11-18T05:37:00.000-08:002014-11-18T05:37:18.442-08:00Recipe Books - Veganomicon I probably don't need an entire blog post to talk about the book Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moscowitz. But I am doing one anyway. That's okay! <br />
<br />
So, if you've heard of and have this book - awesome! And if you don't have it, you need to get it. If you've never heard of it, I am glad to open your eyes, because this book is amazing.<br />
<br />
If you've ever passed by this book at a library or bookstore, you've probably noticed that it looks rather big. Don't be fooled, all that bigness is worth it. This book is full of crazy good, awesome recipes that every person, whether they are vegan or not, should have at their disposal. And the way that Isa writes is just awesome!<br />
<br />
So, if you are looking for a good book full of great recipes, get out and get this one - you won't regret it.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-86410766940919610792014-11-17T07:12:00.001-08:002014-11-17T07:12:24.248-08:00Ch-Ch-Ch-ChangesSome of you may have noticed that I changed the name of this blog from The Thrifty Vegans to The Vegan Life. Well, here's why.<br />
<br />
I like the idea of being able to help people save a little money while being vegan. But, we all know that there is so much more to the vegan lifestyle than just saving money. So, I changed the name of this blog in order to better represent everything that comes with being vegan. I will still talk about money saving tips for vegans, but will also be blogging about shopping tips, holiday feast tips, and so much more. I hope that you enjoy the vegan journey with me, and if there is ever any topic you would like to see me blog about or any questions you have, please share them!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-10201161908369537772014-11-11T13:27:00.001-08:002014-11-11T13:27:40.436-08:00The V WordHi everyone! It's time for a lesson. This lesson is not for the vegans. This is for the people who think they are vegan even though they aren't. I am sure I am not the only person who has written a blog post about what a vegan is. And I am sure I won't be the last. But here it is: my talk about what it is to be a vegan. <br />
<br />
Here's the reason for the lesson on what a vegan is: over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of people who say they are vegan, but then say that they eat eggs or wear leather, etc. I have even heard of people saying they are vegan part time, but then eat meat on the weekends. But here's the thing - if you are engaging in any of those activities, you are not a vegan. In the last case, you aren't even a vegetarian.<br />
<br />
Let's break down some things:<br />
<br />
Vegetarian: A vegetarian is one who doesn't eat meat. Yes, that includes chicken, fish, turkey and shellfish. If it was at one point an animal, vegetarians don't eat it. If you eat eggs, milk or dairy you are still a vegetarian.<br />
<br />
Strict vegetarian (also called plant-based diet): A strict vegetarian, or person who follows a plant based diet, does not eat any meat, eggs, dairy, or other animal ingredients in any way shape or form. Their diet revolves around fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and other plant based foods. However, they will still use animal products in their clothes, makeup, hair care products and other aspects of daily life.<br />
<br />
Vegan: Simply put, a vegan is one who does not eat any animal products and doesn't wear fur or leather or any other item made out of animals. They use makeup, hair care products and other items that are free from animal products and that are not tested on animals. Vegans are ethically opposed to the use of animals in the forms of circuses, zoos and other areas where animals are seen as property instead of sentient beings. Vegans believe that all non-human animals deserve to be treated with love, respect and dignity. <br />
<br />
<br />
So, if you are reading this post and wondering what a vegan is, hopefully that clears it up. If not, talk to me. Ask me questions. I want to help people learn everything they can about being vegan, and hopefully educate people enough that they wish to transition to veganism. Because, really, the more vegans there are in the world, the better.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-8844281054936401252014-09-05T06:24:00.000-07:002014-09-05T06:24:00.104-07:00Recipe Share - GuacamoleHi all! So, we all know that sometimes buying certain items at the grocery store can cost an arm and a leg. I balk at how expensive it is to get guacamole. So, in an effort to help you out with some good, less expensive guacamole, here's a recipe:<br />
<br />
1/2 avocado per person (you can use 1 per person of they are small or you just really, really love guacamole. No judgements ;)<br />
1 lemon<br />
1 clove of garlic<br />
1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper <br />
<br />
Make sure the avocado(s) you are using are ripe. Mash up the avocados - this can easily be done with a fork. Squeeze the lemon over the mashed avocado. Finely chop the garlic and add that. Add the cayenne pepper and mix it all together. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
You can always add or substitute other items depending on what kind of flavor you want your guacamole to have.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-80842044010537348502014-09-04T17:42:00.000-07:002014-09-04T17:42:00.416-07:00Chickpea Sandwich Recipe <div class="MsoNormal">
Who loves chickpeas?
I sure do! If you love chickpeas,
you are in for a real treat. This is my
version of a chickpea sandwich I first tasted at a coffee shop in Fargo that I
love. I made it up so that I could eat
it whenever I wanted!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This sandwich mix will make three sandwiches, easy. But let’s be real: if you are anything like
me, you’ll want to eat it all yourself! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You need:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 15 oz can of chickpeas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 tablespoons of vegenaise</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 tablespoons of mustard</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ teaspoon paprika</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vegan bread </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drain the chickpeas and pour them in a bowl. Mash them up slightly with a fork, then mix
in the vegenaise, mustard and paprika.
You can change the amounts if you’d like, depending on what flavor you
want the mix to have. Once you have it
all mixed up, warm it up slightly and scoop some onto some very lightly toasted
bread and enjoy! </div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-90968480673445285742014-09-02T17:41:00.002-07:002014-09-02T17:41:31.504-07:00Hummus Recipe<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You love hummus – admit it!
But, you know that buying hummus at the store can get expensive. So, here’s a way to make your own and save
money.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will need:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 15 oz can of chickpeas (organic if you can find it)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 Lemon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple tablespoons of tahini</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 clove of garlic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drain the chickpeas and pour them in a food processor. Add two or three tablespoons of tahini and
pulse them together. Squeeze in some
lemon juice and add the garlic clove and pulse them into the chickpeas and
tahini. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Additions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you want to mix it up, you can add in some other things
like cayenne pepper, diced up red pepper or anything else that you love in
hummus.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once it’s done, enjoy!
Since this hummus is fresh, it should be enjoyed within a couple of days
as that is when it tastes best. </div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-47110579407785697832014-06-17T13:21:00.001-07:002014-06-17T13:21:20.626-07:00CompostingThis is more of an environmental post, but it's still something every vegan should think about. <br />
<br />
Even if you've never tried it, you've probably at least heard of composting. It is something that more and more people are doing. Composting can cut way down on the garbage and thus decrease the amount of things that end up sitting in a large pile at the landfill.<br />
<br />
How do you compost, you ask? Easy, peasy! <br />
<br />
1. Get or build a simple container. You can even make it out of chicken wire.<br />
<br />
2. Get the ingredient mix right. Compost piles should have a mix of brown and green material.<br />
<br />
3. Take care of your compost pile. Run little shovel through it and mix it around every week or two to keep it "fresh."<br />
<br />
Since I am a compost newb, here is a link to a site that goes more in depth about how to compost:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/">http://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And here are some images that tell you what you can put in your compost pile and WHY you should compost.<br />
<br />
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-87006075882673934212014-01-22T16:29:00.001-08:002014-01-22T16:29:21.770-08:00Thrifty ShoesSince the point of this blog is to save money being vegan, I am going to take a minute to write about shoes that are inexpensive. This is not a food related post, but important nonetheless.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
How many of you love to buy shoes? I don't, but I'm not much for shopping in general. Okay, that's a lie - kind of. I love to shop for books and new yarn. But stick me in a shoe or clothing store and I get a bit uncomfortable. I like to know what I need before hand so I can get in and out as quickly as possible.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
Well, that being said, we all know that shoes are a necessity. I live in a cold weather state, so for many months out of the year, it's not possible to be outside without shoes. However, it can be tough to find sturdy, inexpensive, (warm), vegan shoes. <br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.gojane.com/">http://www.gojane.com</a> - There are a lot of really cute vegan shoes here that are inexpensive. My favorite is the sneaker section.<br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/">http://www.lulu.com</a> - If you are one of those ladies who loves sparkly, feminine shoes, lulu.com has a great selection of vegan shoes that are cute!<br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.planetshoes.com/vegan">http://www.planetshoes.com/vegan</a> - This site has a host of vegan shoes to choose from. <br />
<br /><br />
If you don't like shopping online, have no fear: Payless shoes is like heaven for vegans. They have tons of shoes made from man made materials, that are completely affordable! A lot of times, you can score vegan shoes for $10 or less.<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-23368504491282446542013-08-01T12:38:00.001-07:002013-08-01T12:38:58.374-07:00Menu Planning and CookingI started out this post thinking about how cooking in bulk and in advance could save you money, but in reality that's a better time saver than anything. So, this is *mostly* about menu planning with some cooking advice thrown in.<br />
<br />
Have you ever gone to the grocery store hungry? Have you ever purchased items only to throw them out because you didn't use them? I think everyone is guilty of doing this. <br />
<br />
To eliminate food waste, here are some things you should do:<br />
<br />
1. Don't shop while you're hungry. I know, this is a cliche, but it's true. When I shop while hungry, I spend more money on food that I don't eat, and it's a waste of money, and a waste of food. You can save yourself even just a little bit of money by NOT shopping while you are hungry. <br />
<br />
2. Make a list, and stick to it. Sit down before you go grocery shopping and write down everything you need. When you go to the store, by the items on your list. If you start veering from the list, the money can really add up. <br />
<br />
3. Plan your weekly menu before you go shopping. By doing this, you will also be able to stick to your list, because you will know exactly what you are eating for the week. Make sure you add a variety of items to your menu. It is important to get variety even while saving money.<br />
<br />
<br />
These items can help you save money on food in the long run. Something else you can do to save yourself some TIME is to cook in advance. For example, take a look at your menu and check what you'll be eating Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Cook the meals for those three days in advance. You can freeze the items and pull them out the morning of. You'll have time to do other things on these days instead.<br />
<br />
Now, what are you waiting for: get out and plan those menus ;) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-60516597679526209102013-07-29T08:36:00.003-07:002013-07-29T08:52:43.324-07:00Eating out...Okay, show of hands: How many of you love to eat out? Come on, I know you're out there! Yep, I like eating out, too. Here's the thing though, eating out can really add up!<br />
<br />
Let's say that you go out with you husband or wife or girlfriend, boyfriend, partner or on a date with the cutie who lives next door to you. You figure, hey this'll be fun! Eating out with someone I like (and eating out can be a social experience, after all.)<br />
<br />
So, you get to a restaurant that you both like that also happens to serve great vegetarian and vegan food. You think, "Hey, an appetizer would be nice." So you spend, let's say, $7 on your appetizer. Your order a bottle of wine because you think it'll go well with supper. The bottle cost $16. Then you order your supper. Let's say that you order an entree that costs $12.99 and your date orders an entree that costs $11.99. Let's add that up:<br />
<br />
Appetizer: $7.00<br />
Wine: $16.00<br />
Entree 1: $12.99<br />
Entree 2: $11.99<br />
<br />
Total: $47.99<br />
<br />
Adding in tax, you've just eaten a meal that costs roughly $50. Now, you add a tip, because the waitress did a good job and you're feeling generous. So, you give her $10. That means you just spent $60 on a meal out. That's a lot of money, right?<br />
<br />
Now, let's assume that the average single person living alone is like me: You spend about 40 to 60 a week on groceries. If you have two people at home, I think that it's safe to assume that jumps to roughly 80 to 100 a week on food. If you have kids, you probably spend 150 to 200 a week on food depending on how many kids you have and how much they eat (because, really some kids seem to have a hollow leg don't they?)<br />
<br />
So, unless your Bill Gates, you probably don't have tons and tons of money to spend on eating out a lot. It also takes money out of what you could be spending on food to cook at home! <br />
<br />
So, save yourself a dime, go to the grocery store and cook at home! It'll taste great, and you'll save some money.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8675161628167311290.post-36993518453519610292013-07-27T14:54:00.002-07:002013-07-27T14:54:49.790-07:00The {Not So Secret} GardenGardens, really, are a great way to save money as a vegetarian or vegan. You can grow your own produce and save yourself a ton of money, because we all know produce at the market doesn't come cheap!<br />
<br />
Some gardening ideas:<br />
<br />
*If you have a house, take up a plot in your yard. You can determine the size based on how much space you have. Grow whatever plants you feel like growing over the summer.<br />
<br />
*If you live in an apartment with a balcony, consider doing some container balcony gardening. It doesn't take a lot of space, and you can still get some awesome, great tasting veggies when you're done! Here are some cool photos of container balcony gardens:<br />
<br />
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*If you just don't have the space, ask a friend if they'd be willing to share some yard space with you. Afterwards, you can share some of your produce with them!<br />
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After your fruits and veggies start to grow, you may find that you have too much for just one person. You don't want the fruits of your labor to spoil! SO, get some freezer bags (or those vacuum bag things) and store the leftovers in your freezer. You can take them out and use them as you need them.<br />
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And there you have it: a great way to save money and still have great tasting fruits and veggies!<br />
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00759694615919428712noreply@blogger.com1