VeganFabulous

the lowdown: Interview with Dave of Dave’s Killer Bread

I used to purchase only the cheapest sliced bread from the grocery store until one day I caught a glimpse of Dave’s Killer Bread. What is the packaging? the fact that it was vegan? or my affinity to the word “killer”? Whatever it was, not only do I purchase a loaf weekly, it has changed how I think about bread. As a result, I wanted to catch up with the man behind the phenomenon. Check out the Interview!

the lowdown: Interview with the owners of the Bye and Bye

I recently picked up a part time gig contributing to the NWVeg Newsletter and my first piece is an interview with the elusive owners of the Bye and Bye. As a result I have decided to start a series called What’s Your Story. Check it out !

the lowdown: Skinny Bitch & Skinny Bitch in the Kitch | by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Great books about looking hot through healthy eating!

About 9 months ago I decided to search Amazon for vegan cookbooks as a way to find dairy free recipes. I stumbled upon Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and in the “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” section, the title Skinny Bitch caught my attention. I hurriedly clicked on the link and discovered that it was a book about looking damn good by way of a vegan diet. I was admittedly hooked on the idea of being a Skinny Bitch and ordered copies of both books. My plan: First read Skinny Bitch and if the lifestyle strikes me, kick things of with Vegan for a Vengeance.

Fast forward to present day, Skinny Bitch literally changed my life. Immediately after reading it, I gave up meat and eggs (I had already been off dairy for a year) and I haven’t turned back, nor will I…ever! Not only is the marketing strategy brilliant, it is followed up with serious in yo’ face facts about what you eat and how it affects your body. If you haven’t read this book yet, you need to get it immediately. While you are at it, grab their latest Skinny Bitch in the Kitch for some super easy and fabulously incredible recipes.

Go forth with your Bitch self!

the lowdown: Vegan Freak | Bob Torres and Jenna Torres | Website |Avail at any library or $13.95 at any bookstore

I will admit that I was drawn to this book because I thought the title sounded interesting. Although I don’t feel like a freak, most likely because I live in Portland, I was looking forward to relating to the authors as they described some of the struggles I have faced and perhaps gain some insight on struggles I haven’t yet experienced but should be prepared for. Instead I found myself feeling strangely similar to the way I did in high school, “cliqueless”. Where if you didn’t wear enough black you couldn’t belong to the goth group or if you weren’t a super star athlete you were never allowed to hang with the popular crowd.

In an attempt to get you to “go vegan and stay vegan” the authors never seem to step back and take a holistic view. Rather then praise people who have reduced their animal consumption, the vegan freaks assert that those who choose to wear leather shoes “water-down what it means to be vegan” and complain about “half-hearted” and “pseudo-vegans”. I find this especially amusing coming from individuals who encourage the pit stop at Taco Bell or Subway, only some of the biggest contributers to the factory farming meat industry, for vegan fare when you find yourself hungry while traveling.

If someone rides their bike to work once a week and drives the remainder of the time should I inform them about what it means to be a bike commuter? The bottom line is that everyone has a limit to what they are willing to change about their lifestyle and any efforts by them to reduce animal consumption or work towards any cause should be commended, not judged.