When someone initially discovers that I am vegan the usual suspects of questioning begins. “What do you eat?” “Do you only eat salad?” “How do you get enough protein?” “Why the heck would you want to be a VEGAN? Are you mad?” And so on and so on. It is clearly a challenge, at least in other’s views, to be a vegan in a non-vegan world. However, I find it quite simple, although at times very taxing on my patience.
One thing that taxes my patience the most is unnecessary animal-derived ingredients in food items. Why do owners of food companies, or at the very least the brilliant minds behind the food concoctions, feel the need to add frivolous items to everyday foods? For example, why would Walmart’s brand of cake mix have beef lard in it? No, this is not propoganda from a fanatical vegan cult (is there one?), there is honest to god beef lard in Walmart brand cake mixes. Yummy, eat up everyone! Yes, my thoughts exactly. Not to mention nearly every bread brand has some sort of milk or whey contained in their breads. Anyone who has ever made bread at home knows that milk is not a necessity when it comes to bread making. Why, then, do food conglomerates such as Sara Lee, feel the need to include the antibiotic, pus and fat filled ingredient of milk? Perhaps there is some unwritten connection between bread makers and dairy farms that few are aware of.
Animal-derived ingredients being in nearly every item in every supermarket aisle does not deter the average vegan. You see we are an inventive group that seeks options other than lettuce wraps. We see a more potential in a can of garbanzo beans than you can imagine: hummus, falafel, mock tuna, additions to any rice, etc. The list in endless.
So to answer the questions (in order): “I eat varied assortments of pasta dishes (spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli, gnocchi), rice dishes, chinese dishes (lo mein, fried rice, sweet & sour stir fries), mexican dishes (burritos, fajitas) and various american dishes—only difference being that all my meals are veganized.” “I almost never eat salad, way to boring if you ask me.” “Beans provide a great deal of protein, as do wheat flour and vegetables. Too much protein is bad for your health, especially from meat and dairy sources.” “I may be a tad mad, but why live life sane when you can have fun being crazy!!”
So I hope everyone gets a feel for what types of posts you can expect on this blog. There will be a plethora of topics…ranging from food (whether it be recipes or rants about it), living environmentally sound, living in a non-vegan world, the crazy life of a vegan, more rants, more recipes, random comments on current affairs etc. You never know what you will find at Vegan Verve!
