The Moon's Not Made Of Cheese - It's Green

Laugh!  Geez did I have a real "laugh out loud" moment when I read the headlines "NASA plans to farm greens on the moon" - are they saying that greens are far more important than cows or sheep or pigs…..????  

No, I realize that's not what they're saying that at all - it will be easier to "farm" vegetables than farm animals. But I do find it very interesting that they hold the "greens" in such high esteem as to want to actually grow them on the moon (or in space).  The reason being is that, according to this article: Tossed In Space  the scientists are really working hard to make food from the new technology of 3D-printing.

I don't have a problem with 3D-printing especially when it comes to tools etc that may be needed in space.  But food?   No, no, please don't go there .... I find this quite alarming especially for highly trained, fit and skilled astronauts - the last thing they need is cardboard food!!!

So here's hoping they get the vegetables to grow .... then we can have Vegan astronauts - what wonderful role models they will be then!

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com

Promoting Unhealthy Food.

And, no, it's not me who is promoting unhealthy food….far from it.

This video (at the end of this post) came across my desk the other day and when I first viewed it I must admit it did look like a good idea to help with a cultural tradition, but then I got to thinking about it and suddenly it just seemed wrong on many levels.

It's not the actual "mask" that is the problem.

Again, people are bombarded with the marketing strategies of the corporate fast foods..the most unhealthy foods on the planet.  Here are people who have been healthy eaters until the western fast food companies arrived and now these companies are determined to really try to corrupt a nation and increase their risks of numerous diseases all associated with processed, nutrition-less foods.

Who gains by the deterioration of a country's health - the pharmaceutical companies?, the medical profession?, the health insurance companies?, the meat processing companies?…..I'm sure the list goes on and, do you notice that these are all the big corporations - of course you do.

And on the flip side - who suffers?  The nation's ordinary man in the street?, the environment?, the farmers who practice sustainable farming?, the organic industry? all of whom are the victims of the abuse from the fast food industry who really don't give a jot about the Joe Blogs of this world.

Again, it's not the "mask" - it's the marketing ploy totally invented to increase sales (and it's worked).

Time to make a stand….we can each do our bit by refusing to purchase from these food outlets - start eating whole foods and actually "know" what you are putting into your mouth.

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com

Learning from History

I found this quite fascinating ….. but not surprising.

During WWII Britain's population was short of food.  Rationing was put in place for such things as butter, sugar and bacon which was then followed up with eggs, meat, cheese, cereals, jam and milk.

So far I see that list as pretty impressive.

Every person was issued with a ration book.  Some exceptions were made with the likes of pregnant women and children given extra milk and eggs.  The under 5 year olds had organ juice, blackcurrent juice, rosehip syrup and cod liver oil, but interestingly enough they were only allowed half of the meat ration.

To make up for the rationing, people were encouraged to dig up their flower gardens and plant vegetables. The government also provided public areas which, even today, are used for vegetable growing - called allotments…awesome idea.

Along with the rationing of food, there was also rationing of petrol which meant people either used public transport, walked or biked to get where they wanted to go.  With all that walking/biking along with digging in a garden you can imagine how fit they were.

During this time, no-one went hungry.  The population slimmed down, were healthier and there was a fall in tooth decay.  I would also guess that community spirit was lifted, and that people were more likely to help each other.

It's a pity these ethics didn't continue.  Yes, I know, people were so grateful that the war years were over and so enjoyed the abundance that followed in the 50's.  I'm certainly not advocating a war, but I do wonder why we continue not to learn from history and apply those wonderful benefits somehow to our modern society.

Guess I'm just a fairy wishing upon a star.

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com

Carnivores live in FairyLand!

The other day I posted a video up on my personal FaceBook profile to share it around with my friends...and I've got quite a few friends - the majority being carnivores.

Now the thing is that when I post, what I call "fluffy stuff", (examples below), I get lots of "likes" and "comments".

"...This is wonderful news that these bridges and underpasses are working!!!" Refers to an article about bridges that have been built especially for bears so they can cross roads.
 

Or this cute photo:

I don't normally put up hard hitting stuff, I leave that for the Vegetarian FB page (see the link to the page.....just up there...on the left - it says "Become a Fan").

Where was I?  Right, as I said most of my stuff on my profile page is just the usual sort of things interspersed with lovely animal photos.  But this video (below) I just had to put up.

My reason?  I really don't think any of my carnivore friends have any idea what really happens to animals before they get to the supermarkets.  And, like the title says, I really believe that most meat eaters live in fairyland.  They bury their head in the sand and just don't want to know.

I even issued a challenge to my friends "So you buy chicken from the grocery store do you? Are you brave enough to watch this????" and today I added a comment "Sooooo, no-one was game to watch it huh?" hoping that my added comment will go through the news feed again.

Well, we'll see........ Do I think anyone will watch it?  No.

So if any of my blog followers, who still eat chicken, are game enough to watch the video then please post up a comment.  Do I think there will be any comments to this blog?  No.

I'm unable to imbed the video on this post...so you'll have to click the link.

This Video Makes Grocery Shopping Feel Like A Scene In A Horror Film

www.upworthy.com

Why Are People Scared of Vegetarians/Vegans?

This delightful photo came across my desk a little while ago and it sure made me laugh .... oh how true!!!

Which leads me to the title of this post "Why are people scared of vegetarians/vegans?"

Let's face it, those of us who are constantly having the question "what do you eat for protein?" thrown at us know just how boring that is.  It's like - here we go again - and you put a smile on your face and trot out your much used answer (whatever that is).

It's been so ingrained in us through excellent marketing strategies by the meat industry that one can't survive without meat protein.  Because of that, it's always such an uphill battle convincing meat eaters that, actually, they are having too much protein due to the fact that protein is in so many of the other foods that they are eating.

But, getting back to the question in hand about why meat-eaters are "scared" of vegetarians.  My opinion is, because of all that ingrained marketing beliefs, they think if they go without meat they will suddenly "fall over" through not eating properly.

Another reason for their fear is that they are so used to cooking (or dining out on) meat as the focal point of the dish that they really have no idea just how much more interesting and tasty their food can be if they take the meat out of the equation.

Even when I do serve vegetarian or vegan meals to friends, they are fascinated, they enjoy it and they even ask for more ideas on cooking with e.g. lentils (or whatever I've used).  However, once home, it's back to what they know - meat first.

My usual response is to give them the recipe and encourage them to give it just one try, and if they like it, then to contact me and I'll give them another recipe.  It works, but not often.

If I can get one person to change one meat meal to vegetarian once a week then it's a start.

Oh, and if you want to see just how much more protein meat eaters are having check out this chart - and it's based on only 100g.

Only some of the many foods that have protein!

Just so you know - a person weighing 150 lbs. should eat 55 grams of protein per day.  Now, going by the above if some-one of that weight had one egg for breakfast, a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and a 100 gm piece of chicken for dinner - and nothing else - that's 68.5 grams of protein...over the required amount.

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com

Can You Lose Weight Eating Vegetarian?

I had someone ask me the other day if you could lose weight eating vegetarian.....simple answer is "Yes" you can.  However - and there is a "but" or "however" in this case - it is like any other diet, you have to do it right.

I'm not writing today about the plus and minus of going on a diet.  Weight is a personal choice, some people have healthy meals and are a larger size than others...that's just the beauty of individuality.  However, one thing I will say is that if you are considering losing weight, then please don't do the "fad" diets.  Even companies that offer meal replacements are just as bad at creating that yo-yo type of weight gain/loss.

If you are wanting to lose some weight, then consider a meal plan that teaches you how to keep the weight off...and that's one of the good things about going vegetarian - it leads to actually changing your lifestyle.  Once a person discovers that, not only can they lose weight, but they can be healthy as well just by eating foods that are beautifully delicious, it's not long before they never want to go back to eating animals.

People become vegetarian for a variety of reasons - weight loss being one of them.  But once they have committed to this lifestyle, they soon learn how freeing it is, not only for themselves, but for the animals and the environment.  Learn more.

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com

Did You Know.....? Foods With Hidden Meat.

I read this the other day on a favorite website of mine: Green Prophet and thought it was well worth putting it up on my blog.

I must admit that some I did know, but others surprised me.
Thanks Green Prophet.  If you want to read their whole article go here: Animal Free Food 

"How many of these veggie-imposters surprise you?

1. Beer and Wine,  particularly those made in Britain, use isinglass (a byproduct of fish bladders) in the clarification process. Most is removed in production, but traces can remain.
2. Fruit Juice frequently contains Vitamin D derived from lanolin (sheep oil), Omega-3 sourced from fish oil, and gelatin (a collagen obtained from beef skin and pig hide). Apple juice is often clarified using isinglass (refer back to Beer and Wine).
3. Enhanced Breads, as with juices, may include Omega-3 amino acids originating from fish oil. Commercial baked goods may also contain non-vegan ingredients such as milk, eggs, butter, whey, and honey.
4. Parmesan Cheese and other regional cheeses such as Pecorino Romano, are required by law to use rennet in the curdling process to retain their “authenticity”. Rennet, sometimes called “enzymes” on product labels, is derived from animal stomachs.
5. Boxed Cake Mix uses beef fat, sometimes listed as lard, as a common ingredient. It’s also present in many cakes, cupcakes, and cookies.
6. Bagels use a dough conditioner “enzyme L. Cysteine”, commonly sourced from duck and chicken feathers. It’s used in other processed bread products, particularly those served in fast food joints. (Dunkin Donuts, Pizza Hut  and McDonald’s  all admit to the practice respectively in their donuts, garlic bread, and apple pie.)
7. White Sugar bags typically list only “sugar” as an ingredient, but most processed sugar (including brown and confectioner’s) is whitened by a process that uses bone char.
8. Red Candy and most any food that’s colored red contains pigments extracted from the female Dactylopius coccus costa.  This red bug dye is typically listed as cochineal, carminic acid or carmine in the ingredients.  It’s found in candy, wine, vinegar, juice and colored pasta. Many candies are also coated with shellac, a resin excreted by the lac bug, which is usually listed as “confectioner’s glaze:”.
9. Soups, particularly those prepared in restaurant kitchens, are usually made with stock made from chicken, beef, or fish.  Canned vegetable soups can also contain animal stock and gelatin thickeners.
10. Salad Dressings in restaurants often start with bacon fat for added flavor, undermining the classic vegetarian go-to in restaurants. Caesar dressing contains anchovies, and creamy dressings often include gelatin.
11. BBQ-Flavored Chips,  well, if you’re tucking into a bag of greasy chips, food purity may not be paramount.  But know that most brands of BBQ-flavored chips get their punch from chicken fat. Worcestershire Sauce is made with anchovies.
12. Packaged Peanuts, high in quality protein, are an easy snack, but beware of gelatin coatings.
13. Breath Mints, Gummy Bears, Marshmallows, Jello and Fruit Jellies frequently contain gelatin made from animal skin and bones."

    

    Where the Gelatin comes from - YUK

Again, thanks to my friends at Green Prophet.

Happy Eating
Fee
website:  www.thevegetariancenter.com