Going Vegan for Lent?

Hey guys!

Last year I had a close friend decide to go vegan for lent and wrote about it here. And, since it’s that time again, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are re-reading that post. So, I thought I’d share additional resources if any of you out there are deciding to try out veganism for 40 days.

• What is veganism? Depending on if you’re an ethical or dietary vegan – you will abstain from eating any animal product (meat, cheese, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, etc.) and possibly also abstain from using/purchasing animal products (or anything that commodifies animals), such as fur and leather.
• Why vegan? People are compelled to go vegan for different reasons, obviously. Animal ethics, environmental ethics, & better health are the three most compelling that I know of. If you’re interested in reading compelling cases for ethical veganism, I’d suggest Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals, Peter Singer’s The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter and Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet for starters.
• What do vegans eat?
  French toast, anyone?
  See here and here. Also, check out recipes from some of my favorite vegan bloggers, listed below, or check out VegNews & Vegetarian Times (some recipes are vegetarian, not vegan, so make sure you read carefully).
• How do vegans get enough protein? See here.
• Can I see a vegan meal plan? See here.
• Where do I eat vegan in Los Angeles? Quarry Girl just wrote a post about that today here.
• Where do I eat vegan in Long Beach? See here.
• Can I shop for vegan foods/stuff online? Sure you can. Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe & Vegan Essentials are two online stores I really like. However, you can also use regular online shopping sites, like Amazon.com, to find vegan food items like quinoa, vegan snack bars, etc. Check out one of my fave vegan blogger’s Amazon.com store here – all proceeds from clicking and buying a product via her links go to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital. Don’t forget you can also find vegan items at Costco & Target. And, stores like Trader Joe’s have online shopping lists specifically for vegans (see here).

Tips for Eating Out at Non-Vegan Restaurants (taken from an older post here)

• Do your research beforehand!  Most large restaurant chains put information online as to what’s in their dishes and even break it down for you in list fashion which dishes are vegetarian and/or vegan.  For instance, check out California Pizza Kitchen’s vegetarian/vegan list here and Subway’s here. Lists I’ve compiled: Claim Jumper here; Jamba Juice here; & The Yard House here.
• Google search your fave place to eat and its vegan/vegetarian options. A lot of your co-veggie-peeps have done the research for you and have put their research on the web for your convenience! (Always double-check and use your good judgment though…;)

My Favorite Vegan Bloggers
Sometimes it’s easier to envision yourself being or doing something when you have cool & real role models doing it, right? Some of mine:

• Mama Pea of Peas & Thank You – I love her writing style, her awesome recipes and the glimpse she gives us into her life as a mother and wife with two adorable little girls (oh! and hello – she’s a cookbook author!). I want to be as awesome as her when I’m a mama.
• Elise of Hungry Hungry Hippie – Her recipes (and appetite) never cease to amaze me. She’s got a crazy nurse work schedule and yet always packs her own amazing lunches. I love seeing what she comes up with.
• Katie of Chocolate Covered Katie – This chick concocts amazing (and healthy!) vegan desserts.
• Sheryl of BitchCakes – I love seeing how active this chick is!
• Isa of Post Punk Kitchen – Isa is the author of some of my favorite vegan cookbooks and her blog showcases some of her best recipes.

I have MANY more favorites, but I thought I’d limit myself to just five for time management’s sake!

In case you’re wondering, I’m not giving up anything for lent. While I was raised and baptized Catholic, I currently do not practice any form of institutionalized religion. But, that said, I fully support making any positive change in your life (by giving something up, taking up something healthy, changing a mindset, etc.).

If any of you are making changes for lent, please share in the comments! And, if any of you are still looking for something to give up, but can’t quite make the veganism leap, one thing I’d always suggest is giving up negative self-talk. That’s a killer. And something I work on giving up every.single.day.

Also, if you have any favorite vegetarian or vegan bloggers you love, please share their URL in the comments!

<3,

The Cranky One