The Gist: Hello everyone! I am reporting from San Diego, Calif., where I am taking a brief vacation. I just recently went to Pokéz, which has excellent vegan Mexican fare—it was delicious. If any of you have any other restaurant suggestions, I'd love to hear about them!

We have now finished Vegan's Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, which was a fun and light read, and a book that is definitely a keeper. I look forward to going back and trying out the recipes and various tips! We will begin our discussion of The Bond by Wayne Pacelle next week, beginning on Monday, May 2—pick up a copy from the VN Store if you don't have one already.

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What is your favorite book by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, and why? If not this one, why not?

2. Have you tried any of the recipes from the Saturdays and Sundays? Which ones, and how were they?

The Assignment: Please read the Preface, Introduction, and Part One of The Bond for our discussion on Monday, May 2.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Happy Friday everyone, and thanks for a great first week of our discussion of Vegan's Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. If you don't have a copy of the book yet, hurry to get a signed copy at the VN Store—they're going fast!

I asked two discussion questions for this past week. First, I asked if you will use the book on a daily basis after reading it all the way through with the Book Club. There were varying answers. Some of you will use it for inspiration on a daily or weekly basis, or when you just need a little boost, or a good recipe to make. Some of you also said that you might pass the book on to family members or friends in order to spread the message of veganism. These are all wonderful ideas!

For the second question, I asked what your favorite themed day of the week is. Tuesdays were a big winner; they deal with communicating veganism effectively. This is very important, because the vegan lifestyle is a hot topic, and one that everyone wants to discuss, whether they're for it or not. Fridays were a close second though, which are the stories of hope, including stories of rescued animals. Who doesn't love reading about animals who beat the system?

Again, thank you for all of the discussion this week, and I look forward to discussing Day 116 to Day 203 next week. Have a great weekend!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! I hope you enjoyed the week off, and also were able to use the time to begin your reading of this month's book, Vegan's Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (CPG). I think this is actually one of my favorite books so far with the Book Club—maybe because of its simplicity. I really find it to be a breath of fresh air, and I hope you guys are enjoying it too. If you do not have a copy yet, there are signed copies on the VN Store, so be sure to get yours today!

This book is quite different from our past reads, because it's meant to be a "daily companion," throughout the year. As explained in the "How to use this book" section, the book is more like a day minder, with sections for each day of the year, though Saturdays and Sundays are grouped together. Each day of the week has a different theme: Mondays are about food; Tuesdays talk about communicating veganism effectively; Wednesdays deal with health; Thursdays share about animals in literature and film; Fridays give stories of hope, such as a profile of a rescued animal; and weekends are for recipes.

As mentioned above, I am really enjoying this book, and once I read it all the way through, I plan to use it as a day minder. It's a very inspirational and positive book, and I look forward to having it by my side throughout the year!

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. After reading through with the Book Club, do you think you'll use this book on a daily basis?

2. What's your favorite themed day of the week, and why?

The Assignment: Please read Day 116 to Day 203 of Vegan's Daily Companion, and try to do at least one thing, such as make a recipe or try one of the foods CPG features, for our discussion on Monday, April 11.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Happy Friday everyone! We have now reached the end of our reading and discussion of Veganist by Kathy Freston, and thanks to Crystal and lulu for participating this week. We will be taking a break next week from the Book Club, which will give you time to get started on our April read, Vegan's Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. We have signed copies on the VN Store, so be sure to get your copy before the discussion begins!

Now to the Q+A with Kathy Freston! Kathy generously lent her time to answer six of the top questions I received from our readers. Here are the questions with Kathy's responses. A big thanks to Kathy for sharing her thoughts with us here. Happy reading and have a great weekend!

Catherine: I am "leaning" into veganism as you suggest. Over the last four weeks since I've read your book, I would say that I am leaning pretty hard! My challenge is my 16-year-old son. He truly believes that eating meat makes him a man. In fact, he thinks the more meat he can eat, the more manly he is. I've thrown out some of the horrors of the factory farms and slaughterhouses, but he tunes it out. I'm looking for any suggestions to try to reach my son and help him to understand the consequences to his own health, the animals he is eating, the planet, the people that have to work in the environment that produces the meat, etc. Do you have any suggestions?

Kathy: Bravo you for leaning in! Well, you have a two-fold issue with your son. One is that he's a teenager, and it's his job right now to rail against his parents and go his own way (I say that only half jokingly). The second is that pushing someone to see things the way we see them never works, it only pushes them away. How would you feel if someone were trying to impress their views on you; wouldn't you just get annoyed and resist even more? I would let the ethical side of the conversation just rest for a while. Your son might be interested in seeing how really fierce athletes like Mac Danzig (UFC), John Salley, Tony Gonzalez, or even Mike Tyson eat in order to be fast on their feet and recover quickly. They all attribute their strength and success in sports to being vegan (or veganish). This way, you've caught his interest, and he might be more willing to give meat a rest here and there. You can also win him over with hearty meals, like tacos with Gardein beefless tips; black bean burritos with guacamole, vegan sour cream, and Daiya cheese; or quinoa pasta with meatless meatballs and tomato sauce. In time, the ethical awareness will come (for many guys, it's a girlfriend that turns that light on), but for now just feed him well!

Jennifer: The personal stories in each Promise section are great. How did you find these particular people?

Kathy: The personal stories just streamed in—it's as if the book just wanted to be written! Some came from the doctors and nutritional scientists that I spoke with—those guys have changed so many patients' lives, so it was a matter of finding the people who wrote their stories well. And the undercover investigators and rescuers came to me through the different organizations like the Humane Society of the US, PETA, Farm Sanctuary, and Mercy for Animals. One of the leads actually came from someone at VegNews! It's a tight community, those who give their lives to animal advocacy, and everyone in it is so willing to help wherever they can.

Michael P: Which part of the book was your favorite to write and why? Which was most difficult and why?

Kathy: Hey Michael! I loved writing the afterward, actually, because that is all about how to make the shift. I love helping people find their way as they lean in to being vegan or veganish. I know what their questions and concerns will be because I felt it all myself when I began my journey into conscious eating. It can be overwhelming when you are new to the idea, so I love making it easy and practical. The hardest part was pulling together Promise 8, about reducing animal suffering. It kills me every time I read an account of what happens behind closed doors to animals destined to be our food. It slays me. But I figure that if the animals are going through it, the very least I can do is bear witness to it. And talk about it.

Karin: Who is the person who has surprised you most by leaning in to a vegan diet?

Kathy: I was really surprised to see President Bill Clinton go vegan! I mean, this is a southern man who clearly savored burgers and steaks every chance he could get his hands on one. And he's in those circles where it's not so easy to get vegan food (he's traveling and at conferences, working with diplomats, etc.). But he's a great icon to look to, because if he can change, anyone can!

Robyn: What's your all-time favorite meal?

Kathy: I love almost any kind of pasta. A big bowl of it, with a glass of red wine. Sheer heaven!

Anonymous: What are your plans post-Veganist?

Kathy: I have so many plans, but you never know what will work out! I'd love to do a TV show—make vegan fun and interesting and easy. And I always say I'm never going to write another book (because it's exhausting), but then I hear the little voice in my head spewing ideas and thoughts, and I know I have to abide! Anything that makes veganism more popular and accessible, I'm game.

Thanks again Kathy!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! It's hard to imagine, but we are now in our final week of discussing Veganist by Kathy Freston. I received some great questions for our Q+A with Kathy, and her answers will be posted with the wrap up on Friday. We will then have a week off from the book club, and will begin to discuss Vegan's Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on Monday, April 4. Speaking of which, we have signed copies of the book in the VN Store, so be sure to get your copy before the discussion begins!

The rest of Veganist consisted of the final "Promise," and the afterwards, which details helpful tips in making the switch to veganism. The 10th promise says that a vegan diet will help you to evolve along with the rest of the world. By adopting a vegan diet, you are saying no to the terrible conditions of animal agriculture, and helping to create a more peaceful world. Freston mentions that our food choices are one of the best ways to express your worldly views, and that more people are becoming aware of this fact. All in all, veganism is catching on, and it's up to us to keep it going!

As mentioned above, the "Afterwards" includes tips from Freston regarding making the switch, like removing one animal from your diet at a time and how to eat vegan while traveling. There is also a frequently asked questions section, in which she has Dr. Neal Barnard contribute answers. Finally, she includes menus for a total of three weeks, a vegan shopping list, as well as a list of cookbooks and helpful websites.

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What's your favorite vegan-related website—blog, or other—and why?

2. What did you think of Kathy Freston's new book? Do you think it will help spread the vegan message to more people?

The Assignment: Please read the introduction to Day 115 of Vegan's Daily Companion for our discussion on Monday, April 4.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! I know it's still February, but we're going to pretend it's March and begin our discussion of Kathy Freston's new book, Veganist. Before we start, I just want to let you know that we still have signed copies of the book for sale at the VN Store, so get yours today so you can join in on the conversation. Also, I will be making an announcement in the near future regarding a special post with Kathy Freston, in which you can participate, so be sure to check in regularly!

I asked you to read the introduction, as well as the first two chapters—or "Promises"—of the book. In the introduction, Freston mainly talks about the vegan diet, and how the book will outline the advantages of adopting a vegan lifestyle, or by being a veganist, if you will. She also mentions that it is very important to lean into this type of change. Not everyone can do it overnight, and that's not what is important. Making the change to a plant-based diet, no matter how gradual, is what's important.

In the first "Promise," Freston talks about how adopting a vegan diet will lead to weight loss. Obviously, the diet can't be filled with processed food, which is easy to do on a vegan diet, but with whole foods, such as vegetables, fruit, beans, and grains. She outlines the research done by Dr. Neal Barnard, and even has a question and answer with Dr. Dean Ornish—both doctors promote a plant-based diet. She finishes up the chapter with Ben Goldsmith's story about how he lost a great deal of weight after becoming a veganist, even though it wasn't the primary reason he adopted the lifestyle.

In the second chapter, or Promise 2, Freston talks about how a vegan lifestyle can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Like the first chapter, she outlines the research of plant-based doctors and nutritionists, specifically Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, and Dr. Barnard in this chapter. She also shares three more success stories: one from Meg Wolff, who beat breast cancer; one from Robert Dew, who overcame heart disease, along with his wife and father; one from Natala Constantine, who cured her diabetes after going vegan.

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. Did you go vegan/vegetarian overnight, or did you take a more gradual process? Did you find making the change hard or easy?

2. The success stories of Meg Wolff, Robert Dew, and Natala Constantine are pretty incredible. Do you have a success story of your own?

The Assignment: Please read Promise 3 to Promise 5 of Veganist for our discussion on Monday, March 7.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Hello VegNews Book Clubbers, and happy Friday! We are now finished with our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, and we will begin our discussion of Veganist by Kathy Freston next week. Be sure to pick up a signed copy of the book on the VN Store.

I asked two questions this week—one about your thoughts on Farm Forward and other humane meat movements, and if you think the vegan movement is moving at the right pace. It seems like you guys obviously support the humane movement, even though we would love to see everyone to become vegan tomorrow. The second question received a couple different answers. Some of you think it's definitely moving at a good pace, but Sock also brought up the fact about the cycles of movements, in which they can move forward for a while, but then take a big step backward. It will be interesting to see what happens, and hopefully this positive trend will keep moving forward.

I look forward to our first discussion of Veganist next week. Happy weekend!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good morning, and Happy Presidents' Day! I am actually reporting from home today, due to the holiday. I hope you guys are enjoying a long weekend as well. It is the last week of our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, and I look forward to talking to you about the rest of the book. We will be reading and discussing Veganist by Kathy Freston next week. If you don't have it yet, you can purchase a signed copy on the VN Store.

We read the last two sections of the book for our discussion this week. In "I do," Foer tackles the cattle industry, as well as the two competing terms in the animal rights movement today—Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare. He starts the section by introducing Bill and Nicolette of Niman Ranch, which was mentioned earlier in the book. Niman Ranch is known for its "humane" meat, and Foer visited the ranch while researching the book. The section goes on to tell three different views of the meat industry: one from Nicolette, the "Vegetarian Rancher;" one from Bruce Friedrich, the PETA activist; and one from Bill Niman, the humane rancher. After these points of views are shared, Foer goes on to talk about the cattle industry as a whole, and points out the fact that humane ranches, like Niman's, are fine, but won't make much of a difference as long as cheap, factory-farmed meat is available to the masses. Foer does say that if all meat was raised like Niman's or Frank Reese's turkeys, he would probably eat meat, but at this time, there is no way that you can eat humane meat 100 percent of the time. He explains that this is why he has chosen a vegetarian diet.

The final section is entitled "Storytelling" once again, like the first section, and Foer goes back to talking about family and traditions, specifically Thanksgiving. Americans have made Thanksgiving about the turkey, even though it's quite possible that there wasn't even a turkey served at the first Thanksgiving. He questions this tradition, as well as the treatment of the factory-farmed turkey. He once again mentions the fact about people "forgetting" when it comes to their food, and he really starts to delve into the importance of what we put on our plate. He understands that it is our food that gives us a "sense of self," but also mentions that due to the unfathomable abuses that are now taking place on factory farms, it is time to leave our comfort zone, and actively choose what we eat. He relates it to when his Grandmother said that she would not eat pork even though she was starving while on the run during WWII, and how she said, "If nothing matters, there's nothing to save."

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What are your thoughts on "I am a vegan who builds slaughterhouses," in which the man in charge of Farm Forward talks about helping Frank Reese build his own humane slaughterhouse. Would you still label him as a vegan? Do you think Farm Forward is a good program, or is there a better realistic solution?

2. It is obvious that the vegan movement is catching on—right now there are two bestselling books that deal with veganism, and people in the mainstream like Foer are bringing these issues to more people. Do you think that the movement is moving at the right pace, or does something bigger have to happen?

The Assignment: Please read the Introduction and the first two chapters of Veganist for our discussion on February 28.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers, and Happy Valentine's Day! We are in our third week of our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I, for one, have really enjoyed this book. Though I might not agree with everything that Foer writes, it is very refreshing to read a well-written book on the subject of factory farming, and why we eat animals.

For this week's discussion, I asked you to read the sixth section of the book, "Slices of Paradise/Pieces of Shit," which mainly deals with the pork industry. First, Foer introduces the independent slaughterhouse Paradise Locker Meats, which is located in the Midwest. Foer visited the slaughterhouse, which is known to be more humane in their slaughter methods. Specifically, that means pigs are killed one at a time, and not at the fast-paced rate as they are in bigger factories. Of course, there are still many issues with this plant, including issues with the meat inspection, and the obvious contradiction of the term "humane slaughter."

Foer continues to talk about the pork industry, mentioning how pigs are bred nowadays to be food, and not an individual animal, much like chickens and turkeys. He also brings up the fact that only four companies account for 60 percent of the pork produced today.

He then introduces Paul Willis, a pig farmer in Iowa, who produces pork for Niman Ranch, which is known to be a more humane producer of meat. Willis claims that on his farm, pigs can be pigs, until the time of slaughter, that is. While Foer is visiting the farm, the family finds out that a factory farm has purchased land nearby with plans to build a pork-producing facility, which would obviously ruin the land. This leads Foer to talk about the massive amount of pollution resulting from hog farming—specifically, the shit. He gives many facts and details regarding this subject, and then jumps into the actual abuses that factory-farmed pigs have to face. He relates it to a new form of sadism. It is truly unbelievable what happens at these farms.

Finally, at the end of the section, Foer goes back to the question of why we eat animals, especially now in the midst of the immense abuses of of factory farming. He brings up the issue of tradition, and talks about how remembering and forgetting are nearly the same thing, and happens quite often when it comes to our food.

The Discussion: Here's a discussion point to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. Many people are aware of the terrible conditions on factory farms, and the enormous amount of waste they produce. What are your feelings towards people who choose to "forget" about these issues?

The Assignment: Please read the rest of Eating Animals for our discussion on February 21. If you still need a copy, you can purchase one at the VN Store.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers, and welcome to the second week of our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. We started off with some great conversation, and I look forward to another great week!

We read the next two sections of the book for our discussion today. The fourth section is called "Hiding/Seeking," and it follows Foer's further investigation into the animal-agriculture business, as well as some history of our relationship with animals and how factory farming came to be. It begins with him writing about his experience with a woman who secretly goes onto big factory farms, specifically poultry farms. They are sneaking onto a poultry farm in the middle of the night. Foer has decided to do this in order to truly see what factory farms are hiding, and it's obviously not good. He also depicts a letter, which is his seventh letter, to Tyson Foods asking if he could visit one of their many farms. The letter seems to indicate the secretiveness of the big factory farms. The section also includes a part entitled, "I am the last poultry farmer," which is a man named Frank Reese who talks about how family farms no longer exist, excluding his, which has turkeys that have not been genetically engineered in any way.

In the fifth section, "Influence/Speechlessness," Foer talks about the increasing risk of a pandemic, due to the rise of animal agriculture. He talks about the last terrible pandemic, the Spanish Flu, which killed nearly 100 million people worldwide within about 24 weeks. He goes on to talk about how the increase of factory farming, which has led to the genetic engineering of animals to make them merely "food" has led to the rise of antimicrobial resistance and food-borne illnesses, and how we are lied to about the danger of eating animals and the health benefits of eating a vegetarian diet.

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What are your thoughts on the "Last poultry farmer," Frank Reese? Would you be a vegan or vegetarian today if all farmers were still like him today?

2. With the threat of increasing food-borne illnesses and a chance of a terrible pandemic, why do you think so many people still live in denial about animal agriculture?

The Assignment: Please read the next section of Eating Animals for our discussion on February 14. If you still need a copy, you can purchase one at the VN Store.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Happy Monday afternoon everyone! This is the first week of our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, and I hope you're as excited as I am. I have been dying to read this book for some time now, and I'm glad that I'm reading it with you guys. I've read one of his novels so far, Everything Is Illuminated, and I absolutely loved it! And I really like what I've read of Eating Animals thus far. So let's begin!

I asked you to read the first three sections of the book for our discussion today. The first is entitled "Storytelling," in which Foer talks about his background, specifically his relationship with his Grandmother, and how her life revolved around food. She was a surviver of World War II by staying on the run, and she ate to stay alive, in comparison to how most Americans live, in which we eat whatever we please, even if we're not hungry. Foer also talks about how he came to the understanding of how the eating of meat meant that you were eating animals, and that once he came to this realization, he has gone back and forth between eating meat and being a vegetarian. He shares that he felt the need to write the book once he himself became a father. He truly wanted to learn what meat actually is.

The second section is called "All or Nothing or Something Else." He begins the section by talking about his beloved family dog, George, who is actually a female. Before George, Foer was not a dog person, but he explains that once he saw George, he fell in love. He goes on to talk about how his relationship with George has led him to question the difference between animals and humans. It also leads him to question why we eat certain animals, and not others, which is different in each culture. As we know, animals that we would not eat in US—primarily dogs and cats—are eaten in other parts of the world, and Foer wants to know why. He then brings up our relationship to fish and factory farmed animals, which he describes as full out war. We have used technology to increase our production of our meat to a tremendous extent, and even though people don't know everything about these industries, they know enough, and they still don't change their habits. Foer questions why this is.

In the third section, "Words/Meaning," Foer lists words relating to the eating of animals, and gives a definition of some kind, whether it's an actual definition, or a story behind the word for phrase. Some examples include "Animal," "Battery Cage," "Comfort Food," "PETA," and "Radical."

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. Foer brings up stories of his Grandmother's relationship with food at the beginning of the book, which come from his memories, as well as his family traditions. How much do you think tradition and culture affects the way we eat? By being a vegetarian or vegan, do you feel like you've gone against your family tradition, or do you still find a way to keep it alive?

2. Foer says that it was the birth of his son which pushed him to write this book. Has an experience in your life ever caused you to make a big change or to accomplish something you've never done before?

The Assignment: Please read the next two sections of Eating Animals for our discussion on February 7. If you still need a copy, you can purchase one at the VN Store.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! We have now come to the end of our discussion of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott, which was a really fun read, and it sounds like all of you really enjoyed it.

Last Monday, I laid out two discussion questions. First, I asked if any of you have ever had your own garden. From the few comments, it seems like most of us would love to have one, but haven't had the opportunity yet. I think a lot of us live in the middle of a city, which complicates things, but community gardens, as mentioned by Sweet Swallows, are definitely good options. Good luck with trying your hand at that this year, Sweet Swallows!

I also asked what your favorite DIY project is, and what project you aspire to do in the future, and the dessert stands in the book were a major hit! I'm sure they would be of great use in the vegan bake sales, if you have one in your area.

Next week, we will begin our discussion of Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. Be sure to read the first three sections of the book to be ready for our conversation. Also, if you still need a copy, you can pick one up at the VN Store. Happy weekend!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Happy MLK Day VegNews Book Clubbers! We are now in the third week of our discussion of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott. I'm personally very excited about the holiday, because it gives me time to catch up on my reading. Don't forget that we will be reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safron Foer in February, so get a copy! We're actually selling the book over at the VN Store, so you don't even have to make a trip to the bookstore.

We read chapters four to six for our conversation this week. Chapter four covers non-food shopping, such as clothing, makeup, feminine hygiene, natural cleaning supplies, and even sex products. Elliott lists an array of brands for each area, giving a great guide for your cruelty-free purchases!

Chapter five talks food, and Elliott gives a detailed guide on how to stock your vegan kitchen. She includes canned food, dried food, baking ingredients, frozen foods, spices, tools, and other various staples. She also provides a sample menu, a list of non-vegan ingredients to look out for, and talks about what and what not to feed a non-vegan. If you are new to veganism, this is definitely the chapter for you.

Finally, chapter six contains recipes, and a lot of them! From breakfast to dessert, these recipes look to be a good start to help your vegan cooking take off. I personally want to make the Portobello Banh Mi Sandwiches, because I love everything sandwich.

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What are your favorite cruelty-free clothing and makeup brands?

2. Have you tried any of the recipes listed in chapter six? If so, which one, and how was it?

The Assignment: Please read the rest of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life for our discussion on January 24.

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! We are now halfway done with our discussion of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott, and I'm looking forward to the final two weeks. We've had some great conversation so far!

I brought up two discussion points last Monday, asking what type of restaurant is your favorite, and what is your favorite veg-friendly city, and why. After reading the wonderful comments, I've realized that you guys are a lot like me in being unable to choose one favorite food. I know, they're all so good! How on earth can you pick just one? Although, the top choices did seem to be Mexican and Asian food.

There were also a variety of answers for my second question, which totally makes sense. There are a ton of great veg-friendly cities. Some of you also said that you haven't traveled much, but it seems that you have found some vegan treasures right in your neighborhood. You guys live in some really cool cities!

It sounds like all of you are really enjoying the book so far, and I welcome all of the newcomers! Next week, we will be discussing chapters four to six of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life, which I'm really looking forward to talking about. If you haven't been able to pick up a copy yet, you can do so on the VN Store. Happy weekend!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! I hope everyone had a superb weekend, and ready to discuss more of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott. We are now in our second week of reading this book, so let's get to it!

We will be talking about the third chapter, entitled "Vegan Living," in which Elliott brings up almost every aspect of life, and how to veganize it. Such topics include dining out, explaining how to order, and she also lays out some of the hidden, non-vegan ingredients found in some dishes, such as ghee in Indian cuisine. She also gives tips on how to handle special events, such as birthdays and holidays.

Next, she talks about getting involved in your vegan community, by participating with animal organizations, reading local vegan blogs, and taking part in vegan potlucks. Other topics mentioned in this chapter include vegan tattoos, raising vegan companion animals, and vegan travel. Elliott is an avid traveler herself, and she mentions her favorite veg-friendly cities and their best restaurants, such as The Chicago Diner, which is also one of my personal favorites!

The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!

1. What type of restaurant is your favorite—Thai, Indian, Mexican, etc.? Why?

2. What is your favorite veg-friendly city, and why?

The Assignment: Please read chapters four to six of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life for our discussion on January 17. And be sure to pick up a copy from the VN Store if you haven't already!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig

The Summary: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers, and Happy Friday! It was wonderful to see so much participation this week in our discussion of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life by Melisser Elliott. It sounds like a lot of you are really enjoying the book so far!

Last Monday, I brought up two discussion points in order to get the conversation going. First, I asked if you have participated in any animal activism other than being a vegan or vegetarian. Many of you have, doing such things as attending or helping with Vegan Bake Sales, sending letters or emails for various animal-advocacy groups, handing out leaflets, adopting companion animals, giving donations, or even just eating a vegan meal in the lunch room. I think these are all great ways to get our message out there, and I am also a firm believer that any action, no matter how small, helps this movement along.

My second question asked what your basic day's menu looked like, and I have to say, you guys are way more healthy than I am! Although, I am striving to eat a more balanced, whole-foods diet. Your sample menus really gave me some good ideas, and I hope they helped some of you out as well. Much appreciated!

Next week, we will be discussing chapter three of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life, which I'm looking forward to talking about. If you haven't been able to pick up a copy yet, you can do so on the VN Store. See you guys Monday!

~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig