The Top Fifteen Kiss-Worthy Reasons To Put The Mozzarella Cheese Stick Down And Finally Kick Your Dairy Habit!

Okay - if you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably know the truth about dairy and have happily adopted a vegan lifestyle. For everyone else out there, here are some reasons to make your new resolution this year to cut dairy out of your life like it's a bad boyfriend!

1. Daiya vegan cheese.

2. This recipe I came up with - and it's raw to boot!

Lindsay's Cashew Cheesy Cheese

Great on top of crackers, added to a sauce to make it creamy, or enjoyed plainly with a very large spoon!

1 1/2 c. raw cashews
1/4 c. water
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 c. nutritional yeast (or more if you like!)
2-3 garlic cloves
Splash of salt

Start with 1 c. of cashews and place all of the ingredients in a Vitamix or Food Processor and mix until completely smooth. Add more water if it's too thick, and add more cashews if it's too thin. 

Photo © Lead With Your Heart

3. This kiss-worthy fact (from PetaKiDS.com): 

"Cows are excellent mothers who are very loving and protective of their calves—they even take turns babysitting for each other! And despite their size, cows have been known to jump fences to search for lost calves."

4. This not-so-kiss-worthy fact: Female cows on dairy farms are continuously made pregnant so that they can produce milk for us, even though their babies are the ones who need their mama's milk. So if you think about it, we are stealing milk from a baby. There's something so wrong about that picture...

5. Loving your cheese or ice cream is actually an addiction, folks, much like being addicted to caffeine or alcohol. Don't believe me? Pick up a copy of Skinny Bitch (or Skinny Bastard) and learn more for yourself.

6. Coconut Bliss, Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream, and all the other deeeeelicious vegan ice creams out there on the market.

7. Speaking of coconuts, homemade coconut milk whipped cream with a little vanilla extract mixed in. On top of vegan pumpkin pie. Pure joy.

8.  Dairy, like all animal-based foods, is filled with heart-clogging cholesterol. Yuck!

9. You know what's not filled with heart-clogging cholesterol? Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Rice Milk, Hemp Milk. Even Hazelnut Milk!

Photo courtesy of Compassionate Cooks

10. “The very saddest sound in all my memory was burned into my awareness at age five on my uncle’s dairy farm in Wisconsin. A cow had given birth to a beautiful male calf… On the second day after birth, my uncle took the calf from the mother and placed him in the veal pen in the barn—only ten yards away, in plain view of his mother. The mother cow could see her infant, smell him, hear him, but could not touch him, comfort him, or nurse him. The heartrending bellows that she poured forth—minute after minute, hour after hour, for five long days—were excruciating to listen to. They are the most poignant and painful auditory memories I carry in my brain.” - Michael Klaper M.D 

 11. We're the only species on Earth who continues consuming milk past being a baby and from another species. Crazy, but true - and definitely not necessary!

12. You CAN live a life of joy without cow's - or goat's, or any other animal's - milk! This blog is living proof of that.

13. This kick-butt list of plant foods that contain mucho amounts of calcium:

Almonds!

Collard Greens!

Rhubarb!

Spinach!

Figs!

Sesame Seeds!

Tofu!

Kale! 

Fortified non-dairy milk!

The list goes on and on...

Need more convincing? Click here to check out more calcium-dense plant foods.

14. Once you kick dairy to the curb, your taste buds will come alive. Which means even brussel sprouts will taste yummy!

Photo courtesy of Moo Pig Blog

15. When you tell people you love animals, you can really mean it now.  

Okay friends - I know how difficult a process eliminating dairy from your diet can be. But it is possible. I've done it, many of my friends and family have done it, celebrities have done it, doctors have done it, athletes too - the list goes on. So you - yes, YOU! - can do it too. Chooseveg.com is a great place to start your journey. And of course, you can always email me if you feel really stuck. Now, get going on your dairy-free journey, and celebrate this awesome, empowering change!

Tips on Raising Healthy, Happy Vegans: A Guest Blog by Joy Paley

Hello beauties!

First of all, I just want to say - January has been a whirlwind. What with getting back to work, classes, bootcamp sessions (getting stronger by the day!), volunteering, and a very awesome project in the works, I am one busy gal. The result? Only enough time each week for one measly post on my beloved blog.

But do not fear! Although I will be writing to you less frequently, my posts will be about quality, rather than quantity (as all the best blog posts truly are), and I will of course keep you in the know should I need to hibernate for a while here in sunny LA - wait, can one hibernate in 70 degree weather? In January? 

Today, I'm happy to share a guest blog by writer Joy Paley of An Apple A Day , a kiss-worthy new website and blog. Whether it’s the latest medical gadget, a run-down of the best hospital shows on TV, or a sneak peak into local remedies around the world, An Apple A Day covers all kinds of articles about health, wellness, and raising a well-rounded family. I asked Joy to write a little something about raising vegan kiddies, and here's what she had to say. Enjoy!

Tips on Raising Healthy, Happy Vegans

Joy Paley is a science and technology writer based in Berkeley, California. You can read her medical musings on An Apple A Day. She is also a writer on the subject of ultrasound technician schools for The Guide to Health Education.

If you thought your own transition to veganism was rocky (I admittedly still dream about butter sometimes), you haven’t tried to raise a vegan child yet. Turn on the TV, and you can’t escape the kid-targeted marketing for processed sugary convenience foods or the latest head-sized burger form your local fast-food chain. Kids, too, are especially prone to pressure from peers about following a diet that’s so “weird” and different. 

While there are certainly challenges, though, you can’t really overestimate the benefits of introducing your kid to an animal-free diet early on. Besides the impact a vegan diet has on cruel farming practices and animal treatment, it can also prevent diseases that are on the increase in America, like type-2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Here are a few tips to help kids adjust to this diet, and to keep them both healthy and happy.

• Let Them Be Kids: One thing that can help your kid enjoy being vegan is not letting their diet alienate them from their friends. There are some important aspects of kid-culture your child might be missing out on if you only send them to school with tofu salad everyday. Birthday parties, fun outings, and even lunch in the cafeteria can become awful for a kid with a strange diet. Send them to birthday parties with vegan cupcakes they can eat; pack some Newman-Os in their lunch, so they can have fun treats, too. If you make sure they aren’t missing out, they’ll be less likely to rebel against being vegan.
• Explain it to Them: I experienced my first vegetarian stint in the fourth grade, when I had the epiphany that the hamburger I was eating came from a real mooing, feeling animal. Kids are great because they haven’t been exposed to all the normalizing effects adults have about a meat-eating diet; understanding that their food choices impact animals will have a real, visceral impact on them. While you don’t have to be overcomplicated in your explanation for veganism, give them your rationale for the diet—you’ll be surprised how much they really will understand.
• Get Them Enough B-12, Calcium and Vitamin D: Studies have shown that a vegan diet is a perfectly healthy way to raise kids. The only catch is that it’s a bit harder for kids to get B-12, calcium, and vitamin D. B-12 isn’t really present in plant products, so vegan kids should take a supplement. (Nutritional yeast is one vegan source, and it tastes great sprinkled on popcorn.) The vitamin D and calcium can be gotten from fortified products like soymilk, but it doesn’t help to supplement, too.
• Look at Kid-Friendly Vegan Cookbooks Together: Kids love hands-on activities, and cooking together is a great way to involve your kids in their diet. Try looking at some kid-friendly cookbooks together. The Vegan Lunch Box is highly recommended. Most recipes in vegetarian ones like Kids Can Cook can be adapted to be free of animal products.
• Visit an Animal Rescue Farm: If you’re lucky enough to have a farm animal rescue near you, I would highly recommend a visit. First and foremost, it’s fun, and kids will love the chance to get up close and personal with some cute sheep or pigs. Secondly, it’s rewarding to understand the impact an animal-free diet can have on these awesome creatures.
• Indulge them in Vegan Treats: While a vegan diet is great because it’s naturally healthier, kids especially will simply want to eat something delicious and indulgent from time to time. If you live in a metropolitan area, chances are there’s a great vegan restaurant near you. These outings are fun because for once, you and your kid will be able to eat every single thing on the menu, and you’ll be able to order worry-free. If you don’t  have a great vegan eatery nearby, consider hitting up your local grocery for some treats that would be savored by people of any diet. I personally love Coconut Bliss ice cream; it’s deliciously fatty because it uses coconut milk as a base, and not soy.

Many thanks to Joy for this post!

Interview Series #19: Alex Hershaft of FARM

What a delight it is to share the story of Alex Hershaft today. Alex is one of the most important pioneers of the animal advocacy and vegan movements, and without him, the U.S. Animal Rights Conference just wouldn't exist. Vegan-friendly holidays like World Vegetarian Day, World Farm Animals Day, and The Great American Meatout are celebrated because Alex took his passion and turned it into something the entire nation could reflect upon and honor. And then there's FARM, Alex's nonprofit organization that works to promote a vegan lifestyle through public education and grassroots activism to end the use of animals for food. My favorite part about Alex's story is that animal activism became his calling long after he had spent years in another profession - proof to us all that we should always remain open to wherever life steers us!  
 
Dr. Alex Hershaft founded the Vegetarian Information Service in 1976 and FARM in 1982. He launched World Vegetarian Day in 1977, World Farm Animals Day in 1983, the Great American Meatout in 1985, Gentle Thanksgiving in 1990, and CHOICE (Citizens for Healthy Options In Children's Education) in 1995. He organized 17 national animal rights conferences including the Action For Life Conference that launched the U.S. Animal Rights movement in 1981. He is a member of the Vegetarian and the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. He describes himself as a "late bloomer", having accomplished all this after earning a Ph.D. in chemistry and devoting nearly 30 years to science research and consulting.
 
Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: What was the turning point in your life that led you to veganism? Was it one huge moment, or a collective group of small moments that changed you? 

Alex: As far back as I can remember, it never made sense to me to hit a beautiful, innocent, sentient animal over the head, cut his body into small pieces, and then shove the pieces into my mouth. I suppose it was initially an aesthetic conviction - not too different from that of the ladies in Queen Victoria's England that led to the early anti-cruelty statutes. In 1962, during my two-year stay in Israel, I stumbled across the ritual sacrifice of a baby goat to celebrate the birth of a Druze baby. The bitter irony of that act was the last straw I needed to change my diet. I remained a closet vegetarian until attending the 1975 World Vegetarian Congress in Orono, ME, when I decided to spend the rest of my life promoting a vegetarian diet.

I didn't become a vegan till 1981, when I helped found the animal rights movement at a conference I arranged in Allentown, PA, and learned the bitter truth behind production of milk and eggs. From today's perspective, the more appropriate question would be "what took you so long." The fact is that, in those days, veganism was a very novel concept. There was a widespread notion that animal products were a necessary component of a healthy diet, and it was rather difficult to get vegan foods consistent with Western tastes. Many animal protection leaders were not vegetarian, served animals at their conventions, and did not even provide a vegan option. 

KMIV: Wow - times surely have changed! That being said, what have been the greatest rewards of your vegan lifestyle? What have been the greatest challenges? 

Greatest rewards: good health, youthful appearance and energy, and the supreme satisfaction of causing minimal harm to the animals and the environment.

Greatest challenges: failing to convince those dear to me, wondering if I am doing enough to convince the general public. Getting vegan food in supermarkets and restaurants was a challenge in the 1980s, but not since then.  

KMIV: Tell me a little bit about FARM. What were your hopes with it when you first started?  

Alex: Shortly after my epiphany at the 1975 World Vegetarian Congress, I formed the Vegetarian Information Service, which disseminated information on the benefits of vegetarianism. I served on the Board of the North American Vegetarian Society and arranged several vegetarian conferences. In the summer of 1980, I called a meeting of vegetarian leaders with folks who kept bringing up 'animal rights' at my conferences and by mail. At that meeting, we decided to hold a joint conference called 'Action for Life' in July 1981. That conference provided the launching pad for the US animal rights movement. Several national organizations were formed there, including FARM, PETA, TransSpecies Unlimited, and Mobilization for Animals. (The last two no longer exist, but were very big in the 80s.) In 1983, I launched World Farm Animals Day and in 1985 the Great American Meatout (the world's largest annual grassroots diet education campaign). 

KMIV: How do you feel the world of veganism and animal rights has grown within our society since the start of FARM? 

Alex: Being the most senior leader in our movement affords me the the 30+-year perspective needed to evaluate social progress. From that perspective, I see huge progress in public awareness of and appreciation of the benefits of a vegan lifestyle and of the superb variety of vegan foods.

A number of mainstream health advocacy organizations have launched their own diet education campigns patterned after the Great American Meatout. The American Dietetic Association was forced to recognize the benefits of a vegan diet. Local supermarkets offer a rich variety of meat and dairy alternatives, and most restaurants, including fast food outlets, offer vegan dishes. Surveys indicate that young people are particularly open to a vegan lifestyle.

On other animal rights fronts, the obscene LD-50 and Draize tests have been relegated to the garbage heap of history. Most medical schools have dropped dog labs from their curricula, and high schools allow students to opt out of dissection. The number of hunters is dropping rapidly, and fur is pretty much out of fashion. The number of animal companions killed in pounds has dropped by 80%. 

KMIV: A lot of my readers are either activists or activists-in-the-making, which is why I love them! What are some ways that potential volunteers can become involved with FARM and all that you do, especially if they don't live near your headquarters? 

Alex: That's easy: just visit www.farmusa.org/involve.htm and proceed from there. 

KMIV: As it says at the top of the blog, Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! is a blog "for the happy vegan in all of us.". What are the most positive aspects of the animal advocacy movement for you, and what do you feel are the biggest reason to smile when doing this work? 

Alex: Every morning, I look forward to spending one more day helping to make this planet a better place for all its inhabitants.  It's an indescribably delicious feeling, and yes, it puts a smile on my face. 

KMIV: I love that and want to stick that on my fridge as a daily reminder of the work I do as an activist. Thank you Alex! Okay - here's a silly one: you're stuck on a deserted island with three vegan food items - what are they?   

Alex:  A big head of Romaine lettuce, a Tofurky Roast, and a quart of Soy Delicious Ice Cream (make it a pint, if this island has no freezer). 

Many thanks to Alex for this interview. To learn more about Alex's work at FARM, visit http://www.farmusa.org/. 

The Very Vegan Caterpillar

I'm back in action guys and gals...

Well, sort of. If I'm going to be totally honest with you, Post-Italy-Withdrawal and the setting in of reality hit me like a ton of bricks today, my first weekday back from a joyous three-week hiatus. A fitness bootcamp (with rockin' vegan trainer Damon Valley of La Vie Physical Fitness) started the day off right, tons of delicious veggies, legumes, and tea, tea, tea filled it out quite nicely, but the challenging (to say the least) new year's prospect of finding supplemental income to aid me on my quest to work on behalf of hens in Southern California caused a sea of anxiety, worry, and dread to settle inside of me today.  Nothing like a Monday in January to really shake you out of the ease that accompanies a good, old-fashioned vacation. 

As if all of this weren't enough, I also happened to sign myself up for an acting class (just to shake things up even more), which I started tonight. While waiting for the class to start, I found myself walking into a bookstore next door, casually perusing section by section, until I stood right in front of self-help. Fate? Hmm...

A book stared back at me called Loving What Is by Byron Katie. Intrigued and moved by the title alone, I opened it up, read a few pages, and chose to buy it on the spot. On the fourth page was a quote that ultimately became my deciding factor for purchasing the book. It read:

To realize your true nature, you must wait for the right moment and the right conditions. When the time comes, you are awakened as if from a dream. You understand that what you have found is your own and doesn't come from anywhere outside. 

Buddhist Sutra 

We each have inside of us something so special, something that is uniquely our own. At this early point in 2011, I am finding myself a bit lost in the all too familiar sea of "What do I do with my life?" and "What should I do for a living?", and the voices within me trying to figure out the answers have grown ever more adrift. I'm sure many of you can relate to these feelings, and I think it's high time to share with you the silver lining in all of this. 

Back in 2007, when I had been out of drama school for a little over a year, when finding paid acting work was nearly impossible, and when the time in between doing a play became endless, I found myself completely lost. Yet in that moment, an experience fell into my lap that would forever change me - an experience that may have not occurred had I had been too busy with the work I was so desperately seeking. In that moment, my husband shared with me the end of Fast Food Nation and thus my journey toward veganism began. What a beautiful, magical, blissful thing to behold!

And ever since I chose to commit fully to this lifestyle, life itself has never felt the same. All of a sudden, my eyes opened to a wider world, a world in which there were countless possibilities for me to help make conditions for animals and people better. I learned how much I loved writing and keeping a blog, I learned how deeply animal welfare meant to my life's journey, and my relationship with Steve grew stronger when he chose a vegan lifestyle a year after me. Bottom line - life got better. And all from an experience that may have not happened had I been too busy, too productive, too focused on my life's mission to see it.

I try to remind myself of this today, because when you're feeling lost, the last thing you usually think about is the light at the end of the tunnel. But if you are present enough and patient enough, you may just find that the light is already within you. No matter how lost you may feel. 

So, I guess if I had to give myself a New Year's Resolution, it would be this - to enjoy the chrysalis of feeling a little aimless, a little stumped as to how to proceed next in life. It would be to remind myself that the very thing I have found that is my own (as the quote above so beautiful says) is something that the very act of being lost led me to - a loving, joyful, abundant vegan lifestyle.

I hope each and every one of you amazing readers had a restful, fun, delicious holiday season, and even more so, I wish you the most blissful 2011, whether you are in a place of peace or your own state of chrysalis. We have many kissable posts coming up, including interviews, a jam-packed Italy round-up, and more. For now, I leave you with the hope that you will enjoy wherever you are at this point in your life, and that you will use veganism (or whatever step of it you may be at on your journey) to help guide you to the best life possible. Remember the simple things: ahimsa, healthful and present eating and living, love, awareness, joy, and compassion toward beings large and small. I really feel that if you place those at the heart of your life, the answers will come to you. 

And as they say in Italy - Buon anno!

 Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.

Proverb