on why i am no longer vegan

I am about to punch blogger in the nose because it ate my post!! So now you are getting the short, short version of why I am no longer vegan.

First, to address the anonymous comment on, "liking me with some meat on my bones". Don't comment anonymously. I thought you were my husband. I had to ask him if he likes me meaty. It turns out he likes me just fine the way I am.

Let me just say i think the state of food in the country is currently a mess. Go to the food store and most of the food doesn't even look like food. I don't even go down the aisles and it is still confusing. Companies lie, labels lie, food that looks like food might be GMO. It is all really very appetising.

and now the jumbled reasons I why I am no longer vegan-in bullet format. but before I list them I do want to say I did not come to this decision lightly. I am not 100% happy now just as i wasn't always 100% happy as a vegan.

• Leg pain. I started getting horrible leg cramps at night. I was up many nights walking around, stretching and trying to relieve my pain. I did a little research and found it was probably from a deficiency.
• Pregnancy. Yes! It is safe to have a vegan pregnancy. However, i did not feel equipped to have a vegan pregnancy. I didn't feel knowledgeable enough and confident in my ability to make sure I was getting everything I needed. It also would have involved me eating unfermented soy-which i don't do. More on that below.
• Short Order Cook. Pete and Eliza are not vegan. So, I was often cooking for them and cooking for me. Guess whose nutritional needs would come in third? Amy's frozen bean burrito anyone? I can't cook two dinners every night. No time. no Money.
• The Great Soy Debate. When it comes to soy I am AGAINST eating unfermented soy. I don't think soy is a healthy- it is certainly not a health food. Unfortunately, it is making its way into lost and lost of food.

So all these jumbled up reasons ended with me adding meat and dairy back into my diet. Am I completely happy? No. I had a choice between soy protein and animal protein and I chose animal. I don't like eating animals. I try to not to eat meat too often. I don't want to eat beef from cows that have lived miserable lives in feces covered pens, being forced to eat corn all the while being pumped full of antibiotics. I won't even get into pigs and chickens. Or farm raised salmon that are now being being fed corn. Fish eating corn. Really? Really? Are we serious? I truly feel like I am in between a rock and a hard place. It would be easy to be ignorant and choose to not care where my food came from or even if it was healthy.

I can only hope the tide is turning. I pray people are educating themselves and choosing healthy options because complacency leads us to a dangerous place. A place where cows and fish are being forced to eat corn. A place where it doesn't matter how our food gets to our plate as long as we have lots of it and we have it fast. When we let other people make decisions about our food they make decisions that benefit themselves and their pocketbooks. They certainly don't care about your family. They definitely don't care about our environment.

So here I am. I am trying to make good decisions, to stay informed and do what is best for my family.

Top 10 Reasons to Go Veg!

In honor of World Vegetarian Week..

Check out this article on going veg. Top Ten Reasons To Go Vegetarian

Tasty (ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, heavenly, luscious, savory, scrumptious) Tuesday

Dana from Just Talk and Eliza.

Here is the latest edition of Tasty Tuesdays! It was contributed by Dana from Just Talk. Check out her blog for another tasty recipe. I feel like I can't stop writing tasty. Tasty, tasty, tasty. Phew! Glad that is out of my system. How about ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, heavenly, luscious, savory, or scrumptious. Alrighty then, I guess pretty soon I am going to start posting my own recipes and stop being a lazy a$$.

Vegan Spiced Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

I've actually never made these but found this recipe that I thought Danielle and everyone else would like to try.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup margarine (make sure it's vegan)
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup soy milk
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 cups quick cooking or rolled oatmeal
1 cup dried cranberries

PREPARATION:
Cream together the margarine and sugars until smooth. Add vanilla and soy milk and mix well. Add flour, baking soda and spices until well mixed, then stir in oats and cranberries.
Spoon 1 1/2 inch balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until done.

EAT & ENJOY!!

It's been festering

So I haven't commented on the Oprah Puppy Mills show because I just don't know what to say. I know this sounds terrible and horrible and horrific, but I actually expected the conditions to be worse. I am in no way, shape or form in support of this practice. I am against the abuse or neglect of any animal- big or small. But in comparison to some of the conditions chickens, pigs and cow live in- the puppy mills weren't too bad.

Hens often can't even move their wings in their cages and their feet grow into the cage bars. The ammonia from urine gets so strong it burns their lungs and skin. Cows live in cramped fenced in quarters where they stand in their own waste. Baby male calves are sold from dairy farms to the veal industry. They are kept in crates so tiny they can barely turn around. There is currently legislation to change this in a few states. Pigs live in very similar conditions.

Now I know that these animals are considered agriculture in this country. Then again the Amish consider puppies to be agriculture. They won't let dogs in their houses just like many people would not let chickens or pigs in their houses. What makes them wrong and us right? All of these animals are being abused. I understand that the chickens, cows and pigs will most likely end up on a dinner plate. I am not saying you should stop eating meat. But why do they have to live their short lives in such horrific conditions?

I am sure many of you are thinking, "Well I buy Free Range Chickens?" Please don't be fooled by these labels in grocery stores. Free Range only covers their like of the farm and it isn't like these animals are grazing in the pasture.

I never try to push being vegetarian on anyone because I feel it is a difficult personal choice. Okay- so maybe I push my husband a little. Sorry Pete. I just want people to be informed about the practices in this industry. Just because we don't know it happens, or ignore the fact that it happens, does not mean it doesn't happen. It is only the consumers who have the power to change this industry.

So my answer is yes I am shocked at the horrible conditions of puppy mills. But I am equally shocked about the conditions that these other animals live in as well. and I doubt Oprah will be doing a special on them.

Easy Meals for Mommies

Here is the second installment of Easy Meals for Mommies on Tasty Tuesdays. If I keep getting such yummy recipes that are sans meat I might move them to Meatless Mondays!
Spicy Potatoes Tacos

• 1 TBL Spoon Vegetable Oil


• 3 TBL Spoons (About half a packet) of Taco Seasoning


• Cayenne Pepper to taste (if you like spicy)


• 1 (16 oz) Bag of Diced Potatoes (I recommend Red Skin Potatoes)


• 1/2 Cup sliced Mushrooms


• 1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Mexican Blend Cheese * Leave tis out for Vegan Tacos


• 1 (16 oz) Can of Vegetarian Refried Beans


• 3/4 Cup (plus more for serving) of your Favorite Salsa


• 1 Box Taco Shells


• Chopped Red Onion, Tomato, Lettuce, Olives, Cilantro, Sour Cream (you can also use Tofutti NOn Dairy Sour Cream) for serving

Pre Heat oven to 350, line a baking sheet and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together oil and taco seasoning. Add potatoes and mushrooms and toss until well coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Meanwhile, stir together beans and salsa in microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes; set aside

Check out more of Dana at Just Talk