From Kathy Freston, author of “Veganist”
Q. Aren’t most animals sold for food “organic” and raised on humane farms now?
A. Most animals sold for food are definitely not “organic”. The vast majority are pumped full of antibiotics (over 70% of the antibiotics produced in this country go to livestock) to keep them alive long enough to get them to slaughter weight. There are all sorts of hormones and chemicals that go into factory farmed animals (over 95% of our meat, dairy, and eggs come from factory farms) to get them to grow faster and bigger so that the end “products” are more profitable.
Organic farms vary hugely on animal welfare grounds, and some do a somewhat better job than regular factory farms. But all organic farms cause suffering and death, and many organic companies are simply factory farms with a good PR job.
Specifically regarding dairy, on virtually all farms, organic or otherwise, calves are taken from their mothers soon after birth so that humans can take the milk meant for the calves. This is a wrenching process; there are so many testimonials about calves screaming and mother cows bellowing as they are torn apart from each other. Male calves are either confined to veal crates to be slaughtered after just weeks of life (there would be virtually no veal industry if it wasn’t for the dairy industry’s need to get rid of male calves) or are raised for beef, while female calves are used to replace old “dairy cows”. Cows used for milk are killed after just 4-5 years when their production declines, a fraction of their natural lifespan. At the slaughterhouse, many cows are still conscious when their throats are slit and they are dismembered. Everything in this paragraph relates to organic dairy farms as well as regular factory farms. So drinking any kind of dairy supports the abuse and death of these gentle animals. And many organic farms simply exploit major loopholes and keep cows in factory farming conditions while still enjoying the price premium that organic brings.
Labels like “Swine Welfare” and “UEP Certified” are simply the industry labels (the “Swine Welfare” label comes from the National Pork Producers Council and the UEP stands fort eh United Egg Producers; both are trade groups that exist only to maximize profits, and their explanations for their labels are filled with grandiose rhetoric which doesn’t do much good for the animals). The labels hide what really happens behind closed doors as animals are turned into meat for our tables.”
Q. Do you believe anyone can lean into a plant-based (or Veganist) lifestyle?
A. Anyone can “lean into” a veganist lifestyle, just by nudging themselves forward a little bit at a time. You can start by eating just one meatless meal per week and build from there. And as for health, take it from the American Dietic Association:
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. …A vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients. In some cases, supplements orfortified foods can provide useful amounts of important nutrients. … The results of an evidence-based review showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. Vegetarians also appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than nonvegetarians. Furthermore, vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. “
From Lindsay Shay Nixon, author of Happy Herbivore
Q. Is eating a plant-based diet hard?
A. The only ‘challenge’ to eating a plant-based diet is the lack of convenience — you can’t pull over at McDonalds and get a burger, run into Dunkin Donuts and get a muffin, but is this necessarily a bad thing? Keeping to a plant-based diet ensures I always make healthy choices and its better on my wallet too. Plus, more and more establishments are offering plant-based options, so it won’t be long until this minor inconvenience is gone.
Q. I don’t have time to cook, are there any easy meals I can make?
A. Bean burritos, pb&j, veggie sub, veggie soup or chili from a can (such as Amy’s brand), salad, stir-fry using frozen veggies (microwave) and equal parts sugar + sweetener for a sauce, oatmeal.
Q. I hate tofu! Do I have to eat tofu?!
A. No. It is possible to eat plant-based and not eat tofu. It is even possible to eat plant-based and be entirely soy-free and gluten-free. I ate a 100% plant-based diet for 2 years before I started incorporating tofu into my diet. I find it’s very universal and undetectable when in a recipe.
From Susan, author of “Fat Free Vegan Kitchen” – blog
It’s only boring if you let it be! Did you know that most people following the standard American diet repeat the same meals week after week? As a vegan, you can continue that trend or you can explore the great variety that a plant-based diet has to offer. Try a new fruit or vegetable every day; find out what to do with persimmons or parsnips! Look to other cultures for inspiration and add Thai curries, Middle Eastern pilafs, Japanese vegetable sushi, Indian chutneys, Spanish tapas, and a world of other international dishes to your culinary repertoire. Or stick to familiar comfort foods and make meatless versions of favorites such as spaghetti, pizza, chili, and burgers. A plant-based diet can be as varied as any other. It all depends on you.Q. It seems really complicated, I don’t even know where to begin! What do I need to buy first?
A. There are different ways to get started. It helps to have a plan, so look to vegan blogs and websites for recipes that look appealing, make a shopping list, and just get cooking! Or, if the idea of new foods scares you, find ways to make your family’s favorites without animal products; replace the meat in spaghetti sauce with cooked lentils or make tacos with refried beans.You will probably want to replace the milk in your fridge with one of the many non-dairy milks available today, so look for rice-, almond-, coconut-, or soy-milk in your grocery store. Stock up on beans. Canned beans can be the start of a quick main dish, so fill your pantry shelves with chickpeas, pinto beans, black beans, great northern beans, and kidney beans. And don’t forget the vegetables! Fresh are tastiest, but frozen veggies can be just as nutritious and very convenient. Add a whole grain like brown rice and you’ve got all the ingredients for several meals.
From Chef AJ, author of “Unprocessed”
Absolutely!!! I have been eating this way for 34 years now and even people who don’t eat plant based love my recipes and eat my food. As a matter of fact, I am a pastry chef at a restaurant in Los Angeles and the restaurant I work at isn’t even a vegetarian restaurant. I create absolutely mouthwatering desserts like German Chocolate Cake, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake and more. Not only don’t I use eggs or butter, I don’t even use sugar, oil or salt. No one could even tell that they are plant based.
A. I find that quite the opposite is true. You see, animal products and processed foods have much in common. They are both calorie rich and nutrient poor. They contain no water and little to no fiber. Fiber, found only in plants is what makes you feel full. In addition, processed foods and animal products contain only macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates – the caloric part of the food) while whole plant food contains micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants, the non-caloric part of food which has been proven to both prevent and help reverse disease. Because processed food and animal products are so nutrient poor, you almost always have to oversconsume calories to feel full because of the lack of nutrients, fiber and water. Quite simply, whole plant food fills you up so it is very difficult to overeat. You are simply too full.
Absolutely. That is why I just wrote a book, UNPROCESSED, with over 100 recipes. All of the recipes, except for one of them, use few ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes or less. All of my recipes were tested on my blind students so I know that they are easy for anyone to make. I have terrific recipes for sweet potato nachos, spicy peanut noodles, Caesar salad and Portabello mushroom stroganoff to name a few. Not to mention almost 50 decadent desserts. When you think of eating animals, there are basically 3 or 4 kinds of meat that people typically eat. But in the plant kingdom the varieties of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, beans, lentils and grains are endless so you never get bored. And it’s much less expensive too. Beans and whole grains found in the bulk section of any grocery store are so inexpensive, they’re practically free!!!
