The Early Bird Gets The Worm...

What a phrase, the early bird gets the worm. I start thinking about the worm who lives it's life out with not really any cares in the world until one day a bird snatches him and goes nom nom nom. His whole life on our earth stops and is ended right then and there.

I know that we as humans are (literally) not on the top of the food chain but most people in society (mostly meat eaters) carries with them the arrogance of thinking they are. This makes me wonder sometimes if society would have the "I AM on top of the food chain mentality" if there were another animal (not disease) that caused an immediate and constant threat to us by hunting and killing us for food. What if this animal was slightly smarter then us and could develop mass ways of producing us or killing us? We would live our lives out with our families only to be one day ripped away and killed for food OR never have a life at all because we would be in some metal shed never seeing the day of light.

How then would humans view the food chain? Would we accept the food chain as society sees it now?

#thingsithinkabout food for though...

Leesa

Vegan Tattoo

While in California this week, I insisted on getting a Vegan tattoo. I feel that tattoos are a form of expression that allows you to tell a story. A story about yourself, your beliefs, tour love, and your life. My tattoo signifies my journey to vegan bliss, the struggles, and the pain of the tattoo represents the pain and suffering animals go through daily. It really could have been any farm animal but I feel that cows are the most frequently eaten where I live in Texas. I got a "small cow" because it reminds me of the cow for milk, cow for slaughter, and calf who is harshly removed from his mother. The little Mohawk reminds me of youthfulness and innocence. When I look at my tattoo, it make a me smile to think of all the animals who I help save. 

I felt pretty honored to get this by o e of three all Vegan tattoo shops in the world. 

Enjoy,

Love Me

Fort Walton Beach

I just had the most AMAZING Vegan meal! I am on a business trip in Fort Walton Beach and the weather is bad. I went to Pranzo Italian Ristorante and the head Chef and owner Ryan whipped me up a Vegetable Ragu with a beer battered Italian polenta cake. OMG it was so good!

1 Year Anniversary as a Vegetarian

Today is my one year as a Vegetarian. This has been the most bold decision I have ever made and I would never look back. My decision to not eat meat goes against the way I was raised and how my family and friends view food and animals. I started on this path because well let's face it, it is healthier for you but I soon learned just flat out how mean it was to kill animals for food especially since it is NOT necessary. So if it is not necessary and it is willfully done, then what does that say about a meat eater?

This past year has been tough, I'm not going to lie. I have been bullied, had fights with loved ones, spent nights crying, and have had date nights with my Husband at restaurants that don't even know what Vegetarian or Vegan is. Even with all the negative experiences I have had, I cannot lose sight of the most important aspect of this whole journey which is the fact that I am saving many animals and that makes all of this so worth it to me. Animals are innocent beings who feel pain just like you and I. I cannot say how happier I could be that I made the compassionate decision 1 year ago to be Vegetarian. The next part of my journey is to move towards a (to the best of my abilities) Vegan lifestyle.

I would like to take a moment to encourage everyone to try a Vegetarian or Vegan meal to see if this is a journey that you would like to make too! This has forever changed my life and I just feel so incredibly blessed. This decision brings a new meaning of the word purpose to my life. Cheers to me and my past and future journey!

Quinoa Burger and Sweet Potato Fries

Yummy!

What do you gain?

So many people ask me about what I am giving up to be a Vegan. I like to instead focus on what I am gaining from being a Vegan. I am gaining back my health, the security in knowing that I am saving aninals, a growing passion for animals, and how to be compassionate. What do you gain?

Pastalicious

 

I made this yummy pasta today and thought I would share.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

8-10 Roma Tomatoes

1 Package of non-dairy Pasta - I use the pasta in the picture below

1 Whole Garlic - I love garlic

Shitake Mushrooms

1 Jalapeno

1 Small Can of Tomato Paste

1 Cup of parsley

Rosemary

Oregano

Sea Salt

 

 

Step 1: Start cooking the pasta according to the directions on the package.

 

Step 2: Cut the tomatoes and peel the garlic

 

Step 3: Combine the following in ingredients: Tomatoes, Garlic, Jalapeno, Can of Tomato Paste, Rosemary, Oregano, and Sea Salt. I ate the pasta sauce raw but you can also cook it.

 

Step 4: Sautee the Shitake Mushrooms, no oil is needed for this. 

 

Step 5: Assemble your bowl with the pasta, then shitake mushrooms, and then the pasta sauce on top.

 

Bon Appétit

 

 



Facebook Page

I am pleased to announce that I have also created a FB page. Please take a moment and like!

 

facebook.com/VeggarsCanBeChoosers

 

Thank you!!

 

5 Foods that potentially have animal products in it when you eat out

5 Foods that potentially have animal products in it when you eat out are:

1. Rice - Often made with chicken broth
2. Black Beans - Often made with lard
3. Flour Tortillas - Sometimes made with lard
4. Pasta - Often made with eggs or milk
5. Bloody Mary's - The mix typically has anchovies

VNation - Social Networking

The past year has been made easier through the support of my friends on VNation. VNation is a social networking app (on IPhone) for Vegans and Vegetarians. It is a great support system and way to share recipes, experiences, and restaurant picks. Check it out: To download PAVLOV LLC’s V Nation, you need to have iTunes.

My LOGO

Keep Calm and...

Love Vegan Beer. This is Stone Brewery. It's always important to check your alcohol to see if it's Vegan friendly. Believe it or not sometimes they use animal products to filter the alcohol. I use barnivore.com or the IPhone app: Vegaholic.

Vegan BBQ Sandwich

 

 

Orange Julius

This is an Orange Julius I made today with my new NutraBullet. Love it! So tasty!

2 Oranges
Coconut milk filled up to the max point on the NutraBullet
2 Tsp. of vanilla
Pinch of salt

Simple Salad

I was looking for a way to use up some of my veggies in the fridge and came up with this salad. Not too bad. This salad has spinach, red cabbage, red onions, avocado, tomatillo salsa, broccoli, radish, and green bell pepper.

Farm Animals

Aren't farm animals great? Aren't animals great in general? When I look into the eyes of an animal, I don't see a piece of meat, I don't see an object, I don't see property....I see a living being who feels pain the same way I do. When I think about that, it breaks my heart knowing that so many animals out there are treated this way. It is archaic to think that our society can continue down this path or that it will continue to be acceptable in future generations.

 

 

Vegan Pizza

I recently made this pizza that turned out to be so yummy.  Pizza, bell peppers, and mangos! I got the pizza crust at Whole Foods in the bread area. I love Whole Foods because they are so great at labeling vegan foods. I topped it with a bunch of veggies and used grated cashews as parmesan.

 

 

 

 

This is my fridge as a Vegan. Lots and lots of veggies and fruits. :)))

 

Is being Vegan really possible?

When I think of being Vegan, I think of someone who is doing the most good by doing the best they can to cut out all animal products. When others judge me as a Vegan, I can come across as a hypocrite. Why a hypocrite? Because our society has done a phenomenal job of sneaking animal products into EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything. This includes plastic, cardboard, body soap, cleaning products, paints and the big one was medications! Not only is there animal products in medications but the FDA requires animal testing.

I really hope one day our society realizes that animal testing is so archaic given the era we live in today. Surely it is not necessary anymore. If we can put a man on the moon, are we not that intelligent to figure out alternative ways of testing?

This was very hard for me to accept. I even tore off my bumper sticker that reads I think therefore I am Vegan. It was just all in all discouraging for me.

The only sane way I could see this situation is I am saving many animals by being a dietary vegan and I am doing my best to filter out products with animal ingredients or animal testing but while I am doing my best, I cannot cut out animal products completely.

Call me a hypocrite if you may but I am still saving more animals then you.