The Gist: Happy New Year VegNews Book Clubbers! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday, and is ready to get back to reading. This month, we will be discussing The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott. Gentlemen, we would love to hear your side of of the discussion as well, so please don't hesitate to join in!We read from the introduction to chapter two for today's discussion. In the introduction, Elliott introduces herself and shares her path towards veganism. She then delves into chapter one entitled "Understanding What Vegan Is (and Isn't)." This chapter explains the history of veganism, and also talks about the different reasons to go vegetarian/vegan, such as ethics, health, and environmentalism. Throughout the chapters, she features various vegan women from all parts of the world, giving them a chance to share their views. In this chapter, she also talks about how to get involved in animal activism, including leafleting, and mentions many animals advocacy organizations. If you're a new vegan, this chapter gives you the basic essentials.
Chapter two covers nutrition, and VN columnist Gena Hamshaw takes over. Hamshaw discusses how to maintain a healthy vegan lifestyle, and gives helpful advice on how to get enough protein, calcium, iron, and B12 in your vegan diet. She also talks about getting your Omega-3s, and discusses the debate on whether or not soy is safe. Other topics included in this chapter are being pregnant while vegan, raising vegan children, vegan athletes, and the connection between eating disorders and veganism.
The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!
1. Elliott mentions various methods of animal activism other than veganism. Have you participated in any animal advocacy? If so, what have you done, and what was your experience like?
2. Hamshaw gives several different healthy, vegan menus throughout the second chapter. What does a basic day's menu look like for you?
The Assignment: Please read chapter three of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life for our discussion on January 10.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
PS - If you don't have a copy of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life yet, be sure to pick yours up at the VN Store, so you can join in on the conversation!
Since I have not participated in animal advocacy (beyond being vegan) I will give a few examples of a basic day's menu...
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had toast w/peanut butter for breakfast, apples to snack on, a Vegan Kashi meal, Purefit bar, Lentil soup with Crackers, and a banana.
Today I had a Vega w/ Almond milk and fruit smoothie, an Amy's meal, apples (w/ Almond butter), Puffins peanut butter cereal (dry) and will probably have some toast for dinner (and some veggies).
Weekends I have more time to prepare salads, and "make" more meals.
By the way- I have read this book and LOVE it! I am thrilled that it covers so much and gives sooo many resources. It has helped me to refine my eating, my choices in materials I use and buy, and has really made me think more about what it means to be vegan.
I am interested to read others posts!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have gone to one vegan bake sale, I dont now if that counts.
For breakfest I have oat mealand or fruit and veggie smoothies.
I belong to various animal advocacy groups and donate to them. I also send letters and emails to advocate for animals when requested by these groups. I have sent letters protesting the circus that comes to town. When PETA comes to my city to hand out leaflets, I help out.
ReplyDeleteThis weeks dinner menu includes BBQ tofu steaks & salad, tofu & spinach manicotti, gardein chickens with mashed potatoes & mushroom gravy, and rich & bean burritos with chips & dips.
I transitioned from vegetarian to vegan last year.
Hi everyone! Great to see the comments so far, and I look forward to reading more. Dana, there's all forms of animal advocacy, and I really do believe that the Vegan Bake Sales are huge for animal rights. VegNews Magazine has been involved with several San Francisco Bake Sales, which have raised a ton of money for animals—and the treats are delicious!
ReplyDeleteEveryone's meals look great, and making me hungry, in fact! I look forward to hearing from more of you!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I've been a lazy vegetarian/vegan for about 12 years, and only recently decided to commit to transition to a healthy, fully vegan lifestyle. I have not done any animal advocacy other than donating money to local shelters and adopting our kitty from the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and my diet is still transitioning from junk-food vegan to nutrient-rich. Generally right now it looks like this:
ReplyDeleteBreakfast: Kashi Go-lean with Whole Soy yogurt and Cranberry Juice, or Oatmeal with agave, nuts, apples and raisins and green tea
Lunch: Salad with raw veggies and vinaigrette, Sandwich with tofurkey, pickles, avocado, mustard and greens on whole grain bread
Dinner: Beans and veggies over grains
Dessert: whatever yummy vegan baked good I've recently made, or homemade coconut sorbet
I picked up Melisser's book a few months ago, and absolutely love the format and content. It seems to be speaking right to me as a girl looking to make a well-informed lifestyle change.
I've been lurking on this blog for a while, following along with books as much as I can. I picked up this book and read ahead to the end, I liked it so much! I haven't done much animal activism yet, but I'm in the process of adopting a dog from a rescue society.
ReplyDeleteAs far as meals, I typically eat Almond or Peanut Butter on toasted Ezekiel bread or oatmeal with almond and flax seed powder. Lunch is usually soup or salad and a sandwich or leftovers. Dinner is typically something simple that includes a grain or potato and veggies, or a stew or chili. I have a ton of cookbooks I love, but right now I'm really feeling recipes from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone.
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteI've volunteered with PETA giving away free tofu dogs with the lettuce ladies. It was a lot of fun. I try to volunteer handing out leaflets, but with my work schedule (9am-5pm) leafleting at colleges (8am-12pm) isn't really plausible. I try to stay up to date with OTCA and COK as well.
On the other hand a typical daily menu for me would include fresh fruit in the morning, a sandwich/wrap with some sort of hummus or veggie combo or left over dinner from the night before. Dinner typically consists of something from one of my many many cookbooks anywhere from stirfry, soups, pasta, veggie burger, casseroles, calzones, etc... there is no rhyme or reason to dinner except tasty and filling!
I think that when it comes to animal advocacy, every little bit helps - that includes attending vegan bake sales, donating to shelters, adopting from shelters, even just eating vegan in the lunch room helps because people see you're doing something different and they ask why. Everything little thing that helps animals is wonderful - it all adds up!
ReplyDeleteWell, I started a little late, but now I'm ahead of the game. Read up to chapter 5 last night!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to do more animal advocacy. What I have done thus far is going out to eat at restaurants on days when they donate a portion of profits to particular groups like COK or PCRM. I am currently collecting various items from my house to donate to a local animal shelter. I've also done tons of looking into a rescue group for when I am ready for my next dog. I have also sent letters online through organizations like PETA and PCRM.
My meals really fluctuate because I really do my best to eat local, seasonal foods. Typically weekday mornings begin with steel cut oat w/ cinnamon and agave. Lunch is usually soup or huge salad with tons of toppings or simply leftovers from the night before. A favorite dinner of mine is a seitan stir fry with mushrooms and broccoli. Pasta is a frequent meal, whether with just garlic and oil, tomato sauce, or just some sauteed veggies. Weekends provide more time so I enjoy waffles, pancakes, tofu sandwiches, etc, etc.
Hello everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am jumping in late on this book club as I just discovered it the other day. I have interned with the animal advocacy group Mercy For Animals in NYC. The work they do is fabulous and I am happy to be involved! I have done things from leafletting to volunteering at Woodstock Animal Farm Sanctuary to representing MFA at the monthly Vegan Drinks in NYC. Check them out on the web at: Mercyforanimals.org.
March will mark one year vegan for me. I am still very much learning about vegan food and don't really have a routine but can name some of my favorite products:
Daiya Cheese
Larabar (especially for breakfast with a banana and glass of Amazing Grass Wheatgrass!)
Boca vegan burgers (within in the last year Boca has removed eggs from their burgers to give us a vegan option as a direct result from a Mercy For Animals investigation.
If you are in NYC go to the Loving Hut in Manhattan and try a Protein Quesadilla with Daiya cheese and add mushrooms (you will NOT be disappointed!)
A simple side dish I learned how to make when I was first becoming vegan and saw as a Whole Foods demonstration was Quinoa with Kale on the side. Spray a bit of Braggs Liquid Aminos on top for flavor.
I'm excited to catch up and post on this vegnews bookclub blog!