Another year older.....

Today is my birthday. Number 26.

Feels different than 25, that's for sure. Maybe its the impending 3-0 which I can already feel bearing down on me with so many goals and experiences left untouched.

On that note, here are my goals for this next year of my life:

1. Get healthy(ier).....lose weight, eat better, take my vitamins, floss :)

2. Finish the book I've been writing...(if you call writing slow painful jotting down of snidbits)

3. Work on my art: hone in my style, develop a marketing plan and go for it!

4. Give up fear and take risks - creatively, physically, emotionally

5. Start taking action in things I care about

6. Spend more time and connect more with those I love

7. Get some in-progress around-the-house/yard projects done! (aka my wedding scrapbook)

So those are my goals - I'll report back in a year. :)

And now I have to share my two favorite gifts this year, which I'm thrilled about:

#1 - This cookbook:

I was so touched to receive something supportive of my new lifestyle. Not to mention I'm really excited to have some incredible recipes and ideas on hand now! The book is awesome - its huge and has thousand of recipes! Literally! (Thanks Rach! aka lovely blogger of http://rdkphotography.blogspot.com/)

#2 - These little furballs:

Introducing Thomas O'Malley and Isabella!

My "gift" from my hubby. Although, they're not really a "gift" as its something we've been considering for awhile. But we both wanted to rescue a cat as we have the space and room and as it neared my birthday we decided to go for it....so really, its more like the money spent to adopt and spay/neuter them was my "gift".

We planned on just getting one, Isabella, but after corresponding with the adoption coordinator and finding out she was bonded to another cat - we ended up with Thomas too! (And I'm so glad we did - they adore one another!)

Our other 2 cats are adjusting, slowly, but with much hissing. But eventually we hope to be back to our harmonious household.

(And now, you're scratching your head thinking we're crazy cat people as we have 4 cats! yes, we know we are crazy. But when we heard how bonded they were and saw his adorable face - we couldn't leave him. So now, we have to spend more time cleaning but on the other hand we get more kitty cuddling, love and laughter.)

Cheers!

PS - If anyone is looking for a pet - please consider adopting one. There are thousands out there that need homes - purebreds, mutts, mixes, old, young. Take a look here:

http://www.petfinder.com/

Turbulence

Its been a rough week since I last posted.

On Thursday, I received the devastating news that my mom has Parkinson’s Disease. This shook our world pretty hard. She’s young (48) and healthy in every other way. Her father had Parkinson’s Disease (PD) so when she started mentioning her left leg felt stiff and weird and was headed to the doctors – I secretly was afraid that’s what it might be. My grandpa’s disease was fairly rapid and heartbreakingly painful near the end: dementia, inability to feed himself, talk, even move. So my first reaction was just emotional shock and grief at a possible similar future for my lovely, amazing mom.

But we’re trying to be positive – she’s young and proactive and healthy. She’d holding off on meds until she really needs them and instead is going to be focusing primarily on exercise. The doctor recommended this as did several PD websites. Its going to be a rough road – and we’re all still reeling from the news – but I’m positive that that she will make great strides because of her focus on her health, her positive attitude, tenacity and faith.

This news is also a reminder for me to focus on exercise and better nutrition as in this case, it could be genetic. I’ve been lazy and haven’t gone to the gym in a long time – but since making the change to vegetarianism I feel like I’m making healthier decisions regarding food.

I’ve eaten less fast food and less readymade food (like greasy chicken chow mein and corn dogs) since making the change. When I’ve gone out to eat – if they don’t have anything readily vegetarian, I order fish. Not something I would ever order typically – but now, it’s the first thing I look for. When I go to the buffet near my office, I load up on vegetables even though the fried chinese food looks divine.

So while it was not the main driving decision behind me becoming a semi-vegetarian, the healthy aspects of vegetarianism is nonetheless a motivating factor. I haven’t lost weight (well, maybe a pound or 2) and I don't feel like I have a huge surge of energy – but overall I have noticed that I feel less bloaty and I'm eating way more vegetables than ever before. Which my digestive system is thankful for. Yay fiber.

Side note: I want to investigate and see if there's a correlation between slowing PD and vegetarianism. If anybody out there has any personal experience with Parkinson's and vegetariansim - I would love to know.

Louder Than Words

This picture breaks my heart.

Its from an investigation done by the Humane Society. What did they find? Sick and injured animals being horrifically abused.

Details of the new undercover HSUS investigation include:
• Downed cows repeatedly shocked in an attempt to get them to rise
• Calves and cows with broken legs and laminitis
• A downed cow being dragged by a chain around one leg, pulled by a Bobcat tractor, with the animal's leg severely hyper-extended
• A calf being kicked repeatedly in the head
• A blind cow being shocked and struck and other cows with serious and grotesque eye injuries/diseases
• A downed cow forced to crawl on her front knees by workers who repeatedly shocked her.

As pictures - and videos - speak louder than words I urge everybody to please click here:

http://www.hsus.org/farm/news/ournews/dairy_cow_abuses_new_mexico_auction_062508.html

And then take action online by asking the USDA to close the loophole that allows "downers," or animals who can't walk, to be slaughtered for the food supply--and to apply the downer ban to haulers, stockyards, and auctions as well as slaughter plants.

No animal should have to crawl to its death.

I'm so enraged and sickened and heart broken seeing this. I don't understand how someone could even do this to a living creature.

Did you know....

Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian? I had no idea until today.



"Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others: We are burial places! "- from da Vinci's 'Notes'

Here's an interesting article on his ethical vegetarianism:

http://www.ivu.org/history/davinci/hurwitz.html

In The Mind of Leonardo da Vinci (1928), Edward MacCurdy wrote:
"…The mere idea of permitting the existence of unnecessary suffering, still more that of taking life, was abhorrent to him. Vasari tells, as an instance of his love of animals, how when in Florence he passed places where birds were sold he would frequently take them from their cages with his own hand, and having paid the sellers the price that was asked would let them fly away in the air, thus giving them back their liberty.
That this horror of inflicting pain was such as to lead him to be a vegetarian is to be inferred from a reference which occurs in a letter sent by Andrea Corsali to Giuliano de’Medici, in which, after telling him of an Indian race called Gujerats, who neither eat anything that contains blood nor permit any injury to any living creature, he adds ‘like our Leonardo da Vinci.’ "

The article also points out that there is a vegetarian quote being falsely attributed to Da Vinci; and while a great quote and perhaps reflective of how da Vinci though - it is not actually from Da Vinci:

"I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men."

However, this quote (and sage advice) is from Da Vinci:

"If you would keep healthy, follow this regimen: do not eat unless you feel inclined, and sup lightly: chew well, and let what you take be well cooked and simple. He who takes medicine does himself harm; do not give way to anger and avoid close air; hold yourself upright when you rise from table and do not let yourself sleep at midday. Be temperate with wine, take a little frequently, but not at other than the proper meal-times, nor on an empty stomach; neither protract not delay the [visit to] the privy. When you take exercise let it be moderate. Do not remain with the belly recumbent and the head lowered, and see that you are well covered at night. Rest your head and keep your mind cheerful; shun wantonness, and pay attention to diet." –– Codex Atlantico 78 v.b.

The Protein Thing.....

Excellent "meat minimalist" article from the New York Times by Mark Bittman:

"The arguments for eating less meat are myriad and well-publicized, but at the moment they’re irrelevant, because what I want to address here is (almost) purely pragmatic: How do you do it?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/dining/11mini.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


As already I'm getting comments about a "lack of protein" I especially liked this part:

"1. Forget the protein thing. Roughly simultaneously with your declaration that you’re cutting back on meat, someone will ask “How are you going to get enough protein?” The answer is “by being omnivorous.” Plants have protein, too; in fact, per calorie, many plants have more protein than meat. (For example, a cheeseburger contains 14.57 grams of protein in 286 calories, or about .05 grams of protein per calorie; a serving of spinach has 2.97 grams of protein in 23 calories, or .12 grams of protein per calorie; lentils have .07 grams per calorie.)
By eating a variety, you can get all essential amino acids. You also don’t have to eat the national average of a half-pound of meat a day to get enough protein. On average, Americans eat about twice as much as the 56 grams of daily protein recommended by the United State Department of Agriculture (a guideline that some nutritionists think is too high). For anyone eating a well-balanced protein is probably not an issue. "

Meat-free Athletes

I stumbled across this great article "Who says you have to eat meat to be a successful athlete? " (via Savvy Veg) about athletes who are becoming vegetarian or vegan:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri/080616

Its wonderful to see athletes promoting a vegetarian (or vegan) lifestyle. Their reasons vary: for some it’s about personal health, a love for animals or their concern for earth’s finite resources. But they are all prime examples, especially for those of machismo mind set, that a meat-free diet can still equate strength, power, and athleticism.

There was also a part of Mac Danzig’s story that really rang true for me (even despite my non-professional athlete status): "They just seemed like these fanatical vegan people," he said. "They kind of wore it on their sleeve, and I wasn't into that.”

I also was a little intimidated (and kinda turned off) by the fanatical, elitist attitude that comes from many veggers and it was one of the reasons I delayed becoming vegetarian even though I felt very strongly about it.

I didn’t (or don’t) want to be scrutinized for “not-being vegetarian enough” or for not “following the rules entirely”. I wasn’t planning to be a true vegetarian – I would want to eat fish and cage free eggs – and I felt like many vegetarians would condemn that and criticize that. I was afraid it was like the “our way – or the highway” group and I didn't want either.

But then I got to point where I just said: Screw it. I’m gonna do it. I’m doing it for me - and I don't really care what other's think. If there are people out there who aren’t supportive or if there are people who condemn me because they think I’m not “true” enough - it doesn't matter. Its my choice – for my heart, my health and my peace of mind.

For you veggers out there - have you ever felt similiarly?

PS - There's also some great vegan/tarian book rec's by the athletes in the article. Worth checking out.

Weekend splendor: 24 and a veggie challenge?

Happy (Belated) 4th of July!

DH and I had a very restful and relaxing weekend puttering around the house, working in our weed-exploding yard, reading the numerous tomes that are decorating our bedside.....and I became an official Jack Bauer fan (ahem, junkie). Yes, I have never actually watched an episode of "24 "- despite its several years on air - and apparently I live in a cave because I didn't know anything about it other than its "realtime". So at hubby's request - we had a weekend Season One marathon.......

And I can officially say - I'm hooked. And I love Jack Bauer. And David Palmer. And I love thought-you-were-a-wanker-but-turns-out-you-majorly-rock Tony Almeda.

Can't wait to start season 2!! (But considering I'm starting my new part-time second job tonight - it may have to wait til the weekend. Because I turn into an addict incapable of other activities beyond sitting slack-jawed at the tv, mesmerized by JB's devil-may-care intense sincerity.)

Without any sort of segue - on the food front, I did pretty well. Probably a few too many cookies then I should have had - but it was pretty easy eating as a flexitarian (whatev, etc) this weekend. We bought cage-free, organic eggs and they weren't that much more expensive so hubby was begrudgingly pleased. I ate lots of beans and veges. (Not to mention an entire watermelon all by myself. ha ha) Made some pretty darn good black bean and zucchini burritoes = Yum! Last night had lemon pepper fish and zucchini. Tres bien!

I realized I really like zucchini! Which brought up an interesting conversation with DH - "how many other vegetables might I like?" - which lead to......The Vegetable Challenge: in which I will try every vegetable grown! Within a year or something. (the fine lines are still being worked out.) But in the meantime - I refer you to my new fun "veggie challenge list" on my blog and to the big ol' list of veggies per Wikipedia (the official source on everything, right?! *wink)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegetables

I'm not too sure of some of those. In fact, I've worked very hard to avoid some (aka brussel sprouts) since I was a kid. But now - the gauntlet has been thrown done.

And attack the challenge, I must. (thank you igoogle "convert to yoda-speak" gadget for taking my daily communication to a whole 'nother level. The coolest and nerdiest thing ever, google yoda-speak is. It, I adore. Hmmmmmm.)

Morningstar Farms Responds!

I was totally suprised to get the following email from MorningStar this morning:

"Thank you for contacting us about the use of eggs in our Morningstar Farms® and Worthington® products. We are glad to hear you enjoy them and we appreciate the opportunity to explain our position regarding the source of egg ingredients used in our products.Our goal is to ensure that consumers have a choice when considering our brands. We currently offer several Morningstar Farms® and Worthington® products that do not contain eggs and are considered vegan. Some of these products are recent additions formulated to reduce our dependence on traditionally sourced eggs. Our Morningstar Farms® vegan products include:

Meal Starters™ Chik'n Strips
Meal Starters™ Steak Strips
Grillers® Original Vegan Burger
Meal Starters™ Grillers® Recipe Crumbles™
Meal Starters™ Sausage-Style Recipe Crumbles™
Vegan Burger made with Organic Soy

In addition, we offer 11 Worthington® products that are made without eggs.

In the last few weeks, our executives have authorized our team to fully determine the implications of the use of cage-free eggs in our products. As other companies have learned, there are issues of supply, cost and quality. We are also working with our team to make more of our Morningstar Farms products egg free.

We recognize that this is a sensitive issue and we are committed to actively exploring how we can use fewer or no caged eggs. We appreciate the information you provided to us.

Thank you, again, for your interest in our products.

Sincerely,

Consumer Affairs
Department4JXT/cl013496019A"

I was very pleased to hear back from them and to hear they are looking into using non-caged eggs. I know that supply and price are a major determining factor - but I hope they will find it a possible course of action.

In the mean time - if you feel similiarly as I do - write them, email them or call them! Consumers have a voice - let's use it. :)

Contact them here:
http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com/contact_us.aspx

1-800-962-0120

Kellogg Consumer Affairs,
P.O. Box CAMB,
Battle Creek, MI 49016

And in the mean time I'm gonna try some of their vegan products. I think they look pretty darn good! Here's their vegan burger....yum!

A Lesson Learned

Last night, I decided to bake the Morningstar veggie bites that I had purchased the day before. Spinach and artichoke – they sounded edible and looked good at the store and I bought them without paying too much attention to the label. (And, wow they were great! Amazing actually!) And then in curiousity over the grams of protein after I ate them – I noticed in the ingredients it said “egg whites”.


Shit.


I looked to see if it mentioned that the eggs were from free-range chicken but couldn’t find any info. So my first failure in eating "non-cruelty" food as far as I know. I was so mad at myself - why didn’t I look carefully before buying them?!

And then I just had the weirdest sense of hopelessness and defeat and so many things were running through my head. I already screwed up.


How am I going to do this for life?! And how, can I, just one person, ever make a difference? Am I crazy for wanting to do this? I felt like giving up. I heard the words of people saying that “not all farms are factory farms” and “not all animals are treated inhumanely before they’re slaughtered” and thinking maybe I'm overreacting by wanting to do this.

So I was just bummed out for awhile last night...thinking how my giving up meat won't help any, how there are so many animals out there that i can't help and how my heart aches for all the unwanted, neglected, abused horses and cats and dogs and I wish i could help every one. Argh. I felt so mad and just.....powerless.

This morning, I tried to remind myself – its another day and that small changes add up.

And despite the many people out there who inflict cruelty on animals - there are also many that do incredible, wonderful, selfless things to help animals.


Like the people at Rolling Dog Ranch: http://rollingdogranch.org/


















Or the people behind Save a Forgotten Equine: http://www.safehorses.org/index.html







These guys are awesome inspirations to me. And reminders that small change - or even helping one life is something.


So I'm gonna buck up - keep taking small steps - read labels carefully - and see where I end up.


Today’s Food Diary (so far):
Bkfst: Granola bar & protein bar, iced tea
Lunch: thai food: cashew nut & veggie stir fry, vegetarian pad thai & rice
Snack: skinny vanilla latte

Last night for dinner I had:
Hummus & ½ piece of naan
Steamed broccoli & cauliflower
Morningstar Veggie bites – spinach and artichoke
Frozen yogurt
Popcorn


PS - I emailed Morningstar to ask them about their egg sources – I doubt I’ll get a reply, but still it felt good – empowering almost – to communicate with them as a consumer and ask about free range chickens.

Day 2: hubby's reaction

Hubby had mixed feelings about my decision to go semi-veg/ethitarian. He seemed pretty skeptical of my intentions. I’ll confess I do have a tendency to dive into things and then end up changing my mind. But this is a very different situation then say deciding to sell painted mailboxes on ebay or learning to sew. He knows that my love for animals resonates within my heart and soul and shapes who I am. And I just can’t continue to contribute to unnecessary cruelty when there are other options.
He understands and supports that, but he also expressed concern over me having a diet that might be heavy on carbs and lacking in protein and the increased expense of buying vegetarian food/free-range/organic. I told him I wasn’t going vegan – I’m still eating fish and pastured dairy and poultry, so that seemed to alleviate some of his concern. And I reiterated that I wasn’t going to force him to do the same – that I hoped he would eventually agree – but I wasn’t going to make him follow suit. I did tell him that I wasn’t going to be buying nor cooking so the next time we go to the store should be interesting.

So we’ll see what happens – but I’m very serious about this and he seems to know it. His concern about me having a diet with too many carbs, too little protein was definitely valid and something I’m also worried about. So I’m going to try to really make sure I eat enough protein and maybe I’ll even end of measuring/tallying the grams. I found some sites that had good info on high protein foods – most which I already knew and already eat - so now my focus will just have to be on making sure I'm getting enough protein daily.

Protein power foods:
Eggs and Dairy
Egg, large - 6 grams protein
Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz
Beans (including soy)
Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams
Nuts and Seeds
Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 19 grams
Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8

http://vegetarian.about.com/

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/vegetarian/Vegetarian_Low_Carb_Resources.htm

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Food Diary - Day 2:
Bkfst: Fruit & nut granola bar

Lunch: salad, balsamic vinegar and I tried to up sources of protein by increasing the amount of garbanzo & kidney beans and then I added some sunflower seeds and tofu to the mix. (Not too sure about how much I liked the tofu…..hopefully it’ll grow on me)
Don’t know what I’ll do for dinner…..?


PS – Darling husband definitely wasn’t thrilled with the idea of getting chickens. So now I’ve got to show him all the benefits of chickens and convince him that having 3 or 4 wouldn’t be that stinky and that they would be nice, not-mean pets and we could build a nice coop. Luckily I found some great chicken coop ideas that are pleasing to the eye and too difficult to build. Pretty cool, huh?!

My first post: taking the big step....

As of 11:33 am yesterday, I decided to radically change the way I eat.

I don’t know if I really an had epiphany per se….but all of a sudden things just clicked and all the thoughts and images that have racing in my mind and weighing heavily in my heart lately just led me to the decision that I need to start eating according to my ethical beliefs. Which as a die-hard animal lover and proponent of ending animal cruelty means……. I don’t want to be the reason an animal suffers.

If you are what you eat – I don’t want to be a terrorized, pained, terrified, miserable hunk of meat.

So that means I’m a flexi-vegetarian? A semi-vegetarian? A mindful meat-eater? (As of now I still plan to eat fish, and dairy products and eggs from pastured poulty/true “free range”.) I don’t know how to categorize it. I’m just going to think of it as being an “ethi-tarian”. :)

I didn’t really mull over it heavily making a list of pros and cons – or develop a strong plan of action – instead I’ve just decided to make the leap and garner more information and ideas as I go. (Taking a leap without a plan is always the _best_ way to make a major life change, right? ;) ha ha). Ok, well maybe that’s not too smart – but IMHO (in my humble opinion) eating with my mind and heart is.

So what was the catalyst for this life change I’m about to embark on? (I mean, its me! A girl who loves hamburgers and fried chicken and bacon and used to think vegans were off their rocker!!?)

Well, a few things that have been growing and twisting poisonously in my conscience and heart that have made this decision very easy: videos of cows being fork-lifted to slaughter ....a picture of a chicken being de-beaked….the PBS nature special I watched about Pigs..... more information I've been reading about animal cruelty, factory farming and inhumane slaughterhouses…my thoughtless eating habit of just stuffing my face with things that taste good….my slowly increasing weight…. reading about Oprah's foray into "conscience eating"….blogs about “quantum wellness”. And the last straw - this video here:

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/30_day_veg_pledge?qp_source=vegpledgegen

All of these have made me resolute: I want to start living and eating by the morals that are important to me. So from now on, mindful eating with a focus on vegetarianism.

I’ll admit – I’ve always thought vegans we’re a little kooky – a little too hipster, new-age doofy for me. I believe and understand the necessity of a food chain and that some animals purpose is to serand even though I cringe and get teary eyed watching nature specials where the antelope get eaten by the cheetah, I know it’s a fact of life and part of the circle of life. (cue Disney music) .

But, as predators at the top of the chain, with our ability for reason, our free will – it means we have the power to make smart, humane choices in the way we use our resources and are part of the circle. And for me – that means we don’t have to have the animals suffer prior to their sacrifice. So if I’m going to eat meat I want the animals to have lived the best life they could have and to be slaughtered humanely.

I’m a big proponent of ending animal cruelty and stopping puppy mills – why haven’t I been supporting stopping meat mills? This is something I should have done awhile ago!

My plan:
*To live accordingly to the beliefs and morals of my heart as best I can which means eating food that hasn’t been caused undue pain, terror, fear or suffering. I’ll be eating dairy (going to try to find farmers who employ humane treatment of their cows), seafood, and chicken/eggs that is truly “free-range” or “pastured poultry”) (I’ve been reading that free-range doesn’t necessarily = happy stomping grounds; see links)

*To eat healthier overall and supplement meat with high protein choices like tofu, soy, beans, legumes, etc. I can’t just fill up on carbs. (Otherwise I’ll definitely be the mayor of Tubsville. Right now I’m a resident living on the borders.)

*To stop emotional eating and mowing down on food and to eat with a greater appreciation of the things I’m enjoying and the work it took to get on my plate.

*To try and buy from local farms and markets, to grow and provide food on my own and hopefully I can convince my hubby to let us raise chickens so I can eat eggs knowing they come from happy, healthy chickens that have ample room to roam and peck. Its gonna take work though because he hates chickens and think they are dumb and stinky. But we have over an acre of land – isn’t that what it’s for?!)

Well, that’s my plan. Most likely it will evolve and change as I garner more information and knowledge. But hopefully 6 months from now – I’ll be happier, healthier and a few pounds lighter.

And to help me as I begin this endeavor I’ve decided to keep a blog. I thought it would help me stay on target, find (hopefully) some support from others and serve as outlet for my frustrations, struggles and discovered joys of this new lifestyle. So welcome to my blog!

~ K.

"I will tell you as I’m talking to you today, the thing that gives me the greatest joy in the world is to be able to say to you that no animal has to die for me to live. I feel very, very strongly about that, that no animal out there is going to experience the terror and the devastation and the death of slaughter because it is called for my lifestyle." – Howard Lyman




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_range


http://www.aquarianonline.com/Values/Lyman_Interview.html


http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4777


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So how’d I do yesterday? Not too bad. I probably could have had more protein though.

Day 1 - Yesterday:
Bkfst – fruit & nut granola bar & coffee
Lunch –salad with lots of veggies, garbanzo beans and kidney beans; italian vinegerette
Dinner –vege spring roll, California roll, cherries
Dessert (my weakness *sigh*) - Scoop of choc ice cream and frozen yogurt

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