Dining Out As A Vegan Mom in A Meat World (VIDEO)

We took the boys to a Mexican restaurant last week and I figured they would order a wrap or tacos without issue. I was wrong! All 3 of my son ordered a burger and fries. *shaking my head* I suggested some vegan options but when the protesting started, I quickly gave up.

Being their mother, I know I have the upper hand in meal decisions but I often wonder how that would play out long term. Will denying them a burger now make them want it more later? I try hard to respect other people's choices because I appreciate it when the same is extended to me.

With that being said, I feel very uncomfortable supporting the meat and dairy industries (see this post for more information on my views). I don't like giving these industries any of our money.

*Sigh*

In a perfect world there would be many juice bars and vegan restaurants all over America.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case....

For the time being, I'm willing to compromise.  They can order what they want and I will continue to teach them about the food industry, health benefits, and hopefully they'll use that information.  As you can see in the video above, Alvin (at 8 years old), made the connection between how we eat and how it affects our planet. I will take that as a step in the right direction.

Why I STAY A Vegan

I was working on a draft for this post and came across this article by Russell Simmons that summed up everything I wanted to write about.  

I am an ethical vegan.

There are many reasons why I became a vegan, and even though health is on the list, it's not the main reason. I continue with this lifestyle because of the environmental, human rights, and animal cruelty subjected in the name of meat and profit.

When I started this blog, I went back and forth about whether or not I should share a lot of my views because I understand that many of them aren't very popular. I grew up in Virginia Beach near PETA's headquarters and didn't agree with many of their abrasive tactics (paint throwing, harsh judgement, protesting, etc.), so I try hard not to be that type of vegan. 

My plan with this blog is not to convert anyone to veganism but to display delicious vegan recipes and provide information. I want to offer a non-judgmental approach to compassionate eating for your family, other families, the planet, and our non-human friends.  

Take a few moments and read Simmons' article on Global Grind for more information on my views.  

Also, when you have the time, listen to a few of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's podcasts. She's knowledgeable, approachable, compassionate, and down-to-earth-An example of the type of vegan I strive to be.

With Colleen (middle) at Veg Fest DC

Thanks for reading!

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This Is "Clean" Eating?

I was in the grocery store the other day and came across this magazine cover.

Huh? Pork is considered clean eating now? These "buzz" phrases are getting out of hand. 

When I think of clean eating, I imagine fresh fruit, leafy veggies, grains and lots of water. Dairy, eggs, and meat don't come into mind at all. I don't even think of flour or sugar when I think of clean eating (even though I eat plenty of it).

Maybe I'm the delusional one here?  It's sad because a lot of people want to eat right but companies are spending billions of dollars to confuse everyone into thinking that the majority of the junk we eat is clean. To me, there's nothing clean about eating lamb or pork pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones.  Or drinking/eating dairy that is filled with cow's pus and blood.

According to this article on Huffington Post, "Clean eating is a diet program based on the idea that the best way to eat is to abundantly enjoy whole foods -- that is, foods as close to their natural state and you can get them. This means eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins instead of pre-packaged, processed foods or fast food. Clean eating is also committed to replacing saturated fats with healthy fats. Many on the plan don't count calories, but instead trust in good quality, healthy food."

The bottom line is, stay as close to the plant as possible.  It gets no cleaner than that. :-)

If you haven't already, check out these awesome books and documentaries on whole foods & the food industry:

Food Matters  (available on Netflix Instant)

By Any Greens Necessary

Food, Inc.

Skinny Bitch

Fat Sick & Nearly Dead  (available in Netflix Instant)

Forks Over Knives (available on Netflix Instant)

What's your definition of clean eating?

"Would You Date A Non-Vegan?"

Rosetta, of Happy Black Woman put on an amazing meet and greet for her readers in DC the other night.  I met 20 of the most beautiful women in the DMV and had a few lively discussions about food, dating, and children.

One of the ladies, asked whether or not I would date a non-vegan.  Even though, I am married, this topic has come up before.  When I first became a vegan, my initial thought was heck no! Over time my thoughts on that have changed.  There are only about 2% of Americans who identify themselves as vegan.

2%!

Out of that 2% most are probably women (I don't know though) and out of that number, I'm curious to know how many are black men.  Oh, and just because a man is black, it doesn't mean that I will want to date him. So, I would have to make sure it's a man that I'm actually interested in.

I wonder what percentage I would be left with when all is said and done. 0.05%?

Umm, yeah, my odds are looking pretty slim.

 The bottom line is, if I were to ever date again, the man doesn't have to be a vegan but he would have to be genuinely open-minded and respectful of my decisions.  He would have to be willing to try the food (I refuse to go back to cooking 2 meals), and we would have to share many of the same values.

Would you date a non-vegan? Sound off in the comments below.

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What I ate at the meet & greet (La Tasca)

I had the most amazing asparagus sauteed in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

Also, I ordered fried eggplant with a cheese sauce (I asked them to skip the sauce)-very tasty

Check out happyblackwoman for articles on personal development, relationships, motivation, and entrepreneurship. 

What Does the Chef Have in the Kitchen?

Being a vegan in a world of meat and dairy can leave you feeling left out while dining out. Fortunately, many restaurants have added vegan-friendly options to their menu, as more people become conscious about the way they eat.

If you're visiting a restaurant that doesn't have an obvious vegan option on the menu, consider an excellent tip I learned from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. Colleen suggests that you take an inventory of what ingredients they do have in the kitchen and design your meal around those items.  

Here's an example:

Take a look at this basic restaurant menu I found on Google. Click here to see the full menu.

Even though at first glance there doesn't appear to be any vegan breakfast choices on the menu, train your mind to look at the different ingredients in each dish.  The waffles with seasonal fruit and whipped cream is the first menu item we will look at.  The waffles and whipped cream aren't vegan but we can ask for the fresh fruit. Also, the ham & sausage entree comes with hash browns and toast.  We can order the seasonal fruit, hash browns and toast and make ourselves a filling breakfast without much hassle.  

Let's take a look at the lunch choices.  I see there's a vegetarian pot pie (woohoo!) on the menu, but let's pretend that option isn't there. Looking at the menu further, we could order a meatless burger without mayo, or cheese and opt for the other toppings (mustard, lettuce, tomato, red onions) and a side of fries.

Look at that!

Eating out as a vegan can be challenging but using Colleen's approach can make these experiences a little easier.  

Visit the rest of my Vegan While Out posts and watch my YouTube videos below discussing more eating out tips.