Tag Archive for 'vegan-gelical'

Being Veggie in Columbus

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on December 31, 2006
in Uncategorized
. Closed

* These are not comprehensive lists by any means, just some of my personal favorites around town. For a more complete listing of resources check out VegOhio.com

thanks for not eating meat!

Grocery Stores

  • Clintonville Community Market: A community-operated natural foods grocery. Offers organic and locally produce. Grains, beans, nuts/seeds, herbs, meat and dairy alternatives, vitamins, cruelty-free products, and more. Also have a deli offering vegetarian/vegan items such as sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
  • Raisin Rack: Offers a variety of bulk grains, herbs, nuts/seeds as well as organically grown fruits and vegetables and a complete selection of vitamins, minerals, and herbals nutrients. Deli and smoothie bar offers vegetarian/vegan items.
  • Trader Joe’s: Some organic items & produce, meat and dairy alternatives, vitamins, and more.
  • Whole Foods: The nation’s largest natural and organic food retailer featuring many vegan and vegetarian options, including cruelty-free body care, household cleaning products, organic produce, vegan foods, meat and dairy alternatives, and more.
  • Wild Oats Market: A natural foods market offering a large selection of grocery items, including organic and conventional produce, bulk foods, meat and dairy substitutes, and frozen foods. Deli, juice bar, salad bar, and bakery have several vegan selections.

Restaurants

  • Aladdin’s Eatery: Mediterranean food with many vegetarian and vegan choices: hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, baba ghanouj, smoothies, pita sandwiches/pockets, salads, mujadara (rice with lentils), jasmine rice with vegetables, and more. Meals cost about $6.
  • Benevolence Cafe: Vegetarian café. Most items are vegan. Soups, salads, and bread made from scratch daily. Sandwiches include oven-baked tofu, hummus salad, and vegetarian sloppy joe. A meal costs around $7.00.
  • High Five Bar & Grill: Large selection of clearly marked vegetarian/vegan sandwiches and pizzas. Also offers nightly live music and art gallery.
  • North Star Cafe: Cafe that makes most dishes from scratch with organic ingredients. Vegetarian offerings include the Buddha Bowl, Northstar Burger, and the High Street Veggie. Items indicated on menu can be made vegan upon request. Meals cost about $8.
  • Pattycake Vegan Bakery: Vegan bakery that offers several varieties of cookies, muffins, and cakes made with organic ingredients, no hydrogenated oils, no animal products, and less refined sugars. Items include tollhouse cookies, banana walnut muffins, and chocolate raspberry cake. Gladly accepts special orders and wholesale orders.
  • Taco Ninja: Many vegetarian/vegan items including Big Bad Buddha’s Black Bean Hummus with Chips, Gandhi’s Veggie Burger Burrito and Falafel Salad. Delivery available to OSU campus area. Meals cost around $3-5.

Organizations

  • Central Ohio Vegetarian Society: The Central Ohio Vegetarian Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, operated for charitable and educational purposes to provide support for the growth and development of a vegan lifestyle.
  • Mercy For Animals: a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal advocacy organization that believes non-human animals are irreplaceable individuals who have morally significant interests and hence rights, including the right to live free of unnecessary suffering. MFA is dedicated to promoting nonviolence towards all sentient beings through public education campaigns and demonstrations, undercover investigations, and open rescues.
  • VegOhio.com: the easy guide to vegetarian eating in Ohio, including grocery, organization, and restaurant listings.

Vegetarianism: the Choice of the ‘More Intelligent’ Child

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on December 18, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

As well as being brighter, the vegetarians were better educated and of higher social class but the link with intelligence remained statistically significant even after adjusting for these factors. Despite their intelligence they were not wealthier and more likely to be working for charities or in education.

Published on Friday, December 15, 2006 by the Independent/UK, copied from Common Dreams

It’s official - vegetarians really are smarter. But it is not because of what they eat. Bright children are more likely to reject meat and opt to become vegetarians when they grow up, a study has shown. Clever veggies are born not made.

The finding helps explain how a team of vegetarians won the BBC Test the Nation competition in September, when they beat off competition from six other teams including butchers, public school pupils and footballers’ wives to achieve the highest overall IQ score.

The top scoring individual in the contest, Marie Bidmead, 68, a mother of five from Churcham, Gloucester, was also a vegetarian. “I think it shows we veggies are good thinkers. We think about what we eat for a start,” she said.

Researchers from the University of Southampton who conducted the study agree. They suggest that vegetarians are more thoughtful about what they eat. But they say it is unclear whether bright children choose to become vegetarians for the health benefits or for other reasons, such as a concern for animals, or as a lifestyle choice.
Continue reading ‘Vegetarianism: the Choice of the ‘More Intelligent’ Child’

The sad day that is Thanksgiving

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on November 22, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Ahhh another Thanksgiving is here again. A day when 45 million turkeys are killed so Americans can uphold another holiday tradition. Another day that reaffirms my desire to never eat meat again. Another holiday where I have to explain to my extended family members that I will not starve by not eating meat, that I have plenty of other things to eat at Thanksgiving besides the flesh of a bird corpse. But there are still millions of families who can’t wait to sink their teeth into a big bite of juicy turkey. For them I would like to share some things…

How Does that Yummy and Juicy Turkey Get to Your Table?

This is a video that shows you exactly how that delicious Butterball arrives on your plate. And if you can’t stomach watching it, how in the world can you stomach eating it? It’s called cognitive dissonance…

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Eat Turkeys

  1. They’re Begging Your Pardon
    Turkeys are “smart animals with personality and character, and keen awareness of their surroundings,” Oregon State University poultry scientist Tom Savage says. Turkeys are social, playful birds who enjoy the company of others. They relish having their feathers stroked and like to chirp, cluck, and gobble along to their favorite tunes. Anyone who spends time with them at farm sanctuaries quickly learns that turkeys are as varied in personality as dogs and cats. The president “pardons” a turkey every year—can’t you pardon one too?
  2. Get Rid of Your Wattle
    Turkey flesh is brimming with fat. Just one homemade patty of ground, cooked turkey meat contains a whopping 244 mg of cholesterol, and half of its calories come from fat. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are.
  3. Can You Spell ‘Pandemic’?
    Experts are warning that a virulent new strain of bird flu could spread to human beings and kill millions of Americans. The Bush administration is trying to deal with the problem, but experts warn that current factory-farm conditions, in which turkeys are drugged up and bred to grow so quickly they can barely walk, are a prescription for disease outbreaks. Eating a turkey carcass contaminated with bird flu could kill you, and currently available drugs might not work. Cooking should kill the virus, but it could be left behind on cutting boards and utensils and spread through something else you’re eating.

Continue reading ‘The sad day that is Thanksgiving’

McDonald’s Salads, is Your Heart Lovin’ It?

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on August 30, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

An interesting report has been produced by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. The report rates 34 examples of fast food’s latest craze: salads.

“Fast food salad”, you said? Yeah. Makes about as much sense as the fitness DVD’s McDonald’s was selling. But it’s true: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, they’re all pushing hip and trendy salads in a feeble attempt to make you think you can actually eat something healthy at a fast food joint. There are a few green leafy things in the bowl, yes, but once you drop a couple pounds of fatty meat on it, how healthy are these salads really?

McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad, 51 grams of fat, 660 calories

McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad [with dressing] has 51 grams of fat and 660 calories!

For some comparison, a Big Mac has 34 grams of fat and 590 calories. So you’d actually be better eating the Big Mac.

My favorite part of this report:

“Real salads with plenty of fresh veggies and chickpeas or beans for protein are best for heart health and slimming.”

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but covering some wilted and pale lettuce with chicken and bacon doesn’t make a salad healthy. It makes your arteries very sad and congested. The chickens and pigs don’t like it either.

Indeed, a vegetarian/vegan salad is the best way to go. Okay so I probably can’t make you go vegetarian just by saying that. But how ’bout this– if you’re going to get fast food, at least get something really greasy and indulging. Don’t kid yourself with the salad.

International Respect for Chickens Day

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on May 4, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 1 Comment

“A Day to celebrate the dignity, beauty and life of chickens and to protest against the bleakness of their lives in farming operations.”

two chickens

Today May 4, activists the world over will be celebrating International Respect for Chickens Day—an event organized by United Poultry Concerns—to take action for the most abused animal on the planet.

Here are a few fascinating facts about chickens:

  • Chickens understand sophisticated intellectual concepts, learn from watching each other, demonstrate self-control, worry about the future, and even have cultural knowledge that is passed from generation to generation.
  • Chickens comprehend cause-and-effect relationships and understand that objects still exist even after they are hidden from view. This puts the cognitive abilities of chickens above those of small human children.
  • When in their natural surroundings, not on factory farms , chickens form complex social hierarchies, also known as “pecking orders,” and every chicken knows his or her place on the social ladder and remembers the faces and ranks of more than 100 other birds.
  • People who have spent time with chickens know that each bird has a different personality that often relates to his or her place in the pecking order—some are gregarious and fearless, while others are more shy and watchful; some chickens enjoy human company, while others are standoffish, shy, or even a bit aggressive.

The United Poultry Concerns’ holiday is another reminder that today, and every day, is a great day to go vegan.

Vegans make the front page of the Columbus Dispatch business section

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on April 12, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Treats for vegans

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Tracy Turner - The Columbus Dispatch

Chocolate-chip cookies without butter, eggs or bleached flour and less refined sugar?

Yup, and they taste good, too.

At least that’s what more consumers say as they flock to buy locally baked vegan cookies and cakes now sold at several coffeehouses and grocers throughout Columbus.

Pattycake Vegan Bakery, 3009 N. High St. in Clintonville, has developed a healthy following.

The bakery counts eight coffee shops and grocers as clients, including Clintonville Community Market, Cup O’ Joe and the Wexner Center for the Arts.

That’s in addition to an increasing number of walk-ins who want pastries minus the animal products.

The bakery has even spoken with Whole Foods about placing its vegan baked goods on the grocer’s shelves, said Jennie Scheinbach, who owns Pattycake and is the master behind the vegan recipes.

“There’s really a growing movement for veganism now,” said Scheinbach, who bakes an average of 3,000 items a week. “Even nonvegans are coming in to buy because of health concerns.”

Vegans are strict vegetarians who avoid all animal-related items, including cheese, eggs, honey and milk.

Fueled by an increase in consumers seeking more-healthful fare, the market for vegetarian and vegan foods has nearly doubled this year to $2.8 billion, up from $1.5 billion just three years ago, according to Mintel Consumer Intelligence in Chicago.

Vegetarians have a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, according to the American Dietetic Association.

While there’s an estimated 1.7 million vegans nationwide, 97 million people consider themselves “health-conscious” and strive to eat at least three meatless meals per week, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group, publisher of the Vegetarian Journal in Baltimore.

Continue reading ‘Vegans make the front page of the Columbus Dispatch business section’

“the weirdo who has gone too far”

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on April 1, 2006
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

I really liked this post from the VeganFreaks blog, so I wanted to share it:

A few weeks back, I was re-reading the book Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia, and I was struck by this passage:

“She doesn’t like to admit to herself that, despite all her activities, she sometimes feels lonely. Not the loneliness of previous years, of a reluctant life by the sea, but a loneliness borne of the inability to share her joy.”

I immediately thought to myself that this really explains why many vegans feel lonely or isolated. Amongst many of the complex emotions that the notion of veganism brings out (sadness, horror, anger, peace), joy is definitely one of them – but many people would never suspect it. To the omni or the vegetarian, veganism seems like a hardship; it is a life of deprivation rather than abundance and fulfillment, of bitterness and sorrow rather than joy and serenity.

But vegans know otherwise. If you speak with a vegan (although I’m sure there are the odd exceptions as there is with any generalization), they will most certainly tell you that going vegan was one of the best decisions of their lives. They are extremely happy not to participate in what they consider to be horrendous practicies of cruelty to other beings, they feel peace at mealtimes and going about their daily lives, and they are happy to have awoken to a new abundance of foods and flavors. This isn’t to say that we don’t feel sad or angry when we think about the realities of factory farming or other cruel enterprises, or that we don’t sometimes get pessimistic about change for the future. Nevertheless, most vegans are extremely happy to be vegan, and want to share this experience.

Many times, we try to convey this sense of joy to others – but they just don’t understand. Even if they can see our happiness at our decision, they can’t participate in it because they have no sense as to how we can feel this way. Thus we get questions like “but don’t you miss meat/milk/cheese?” No, not in the least. “But I want to enjoy life and eat whatever I want.” But I do eat whatever I want and I do enjoy life – I just don’t want to eat meat or dairy or eggs. Nothing had to suffer for my meal and that makes me happy. It is refreshing to me to talk to other vegans – I do not feel so alone in my joy for these things. Now we just need other people to understand this side of veganism so we aren’t dismissed as the weirdo who has gone too far. I think simple things like sharing good vegan food and responding positively to queries about our veganism (when possible) can help.

“Now we just need other people to understand this side of veganism so we aren’t dismissed as the weirdo who has gone too far.” Oh man do I feel like that most days! But it’s true, the most effective way to debunk this myth is by sharing your food. I brought in vegan blueberry muffins to work and if I hadn’t said anything, they wouldn’t have known they weren’t “regular” muffins. And when I told them all I did to make them vegan was use applesauce instead of egg, imagine the surprise. Not everything vegan has to be complicated, plenty of shortcuts. And leave it to me to find them.

I will conclude this post with a humorous signature line from someone’s VeganFreak Forum profile:

“Is it wrong to want to do your vegan outreach with a baseball bat?”