the blog.
Veganuary
If you're like most people at this time of year, it's likely you're trying to nail down your 2016 New Years Resolutions. And it's likely that somewhere on your list of goals is weight loss, improved energy, improved health, less impact on the environment, more time and effort dedicated to helping others, or maybe all five! Let me tell you a secret: going vegan allows you to do all of these things. That's where Veganuary comes into the picture!
If you're like most people at this time of year, it's likely you're trying to nail down your 2016 New Years Resolutions. And it's likely that somewhere on your list of goals is weight loss, improved energy, improved health, less impact on the environment, more time and effort dedicated to helping others, or maybe all five! Let me tell you a secret: going vegan allows you to do all of these things. That's where Veganuary comes into the picture!
Instead of making many resolutions, and making it hard on yourself to stay on track on all of them, why not make one resolution which will help you to achieve many (or all) of your goals?
Going VEGAN for the month of January will...
- help you to lose weight more effortlessly;
- reduce your impact on the environment more than giving up your car;
- improve your health by reducing cholesterol, improving digestion, and reducing the intake of carcinogens;
- make you a kinder person who puts others first;
- increase your energy and feelings of well-being;
- perhaps even inspire you to make a more permanent change to the most compassionate way of living on Earth!
I suggest you go to veganuary.com to learn more about going vegan for the month of January and to sign up for the challenge. Think of it as a test-drive to see how going vegan can impact your life - I promise you will notice many of the benefits very quickly!
Look out for my next post with tips and tricks for going vegan to help you crush Veganuary! In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to the weekly Plant Based Bride newsletter for your FREE copy of the Vegan 101 info booklet!
Until next time,
Are you going to sign up for Veganuary this year? I want to hear about it in the comments!
Surviving the Holidays as a Vegan
Out of the 23 Holiday Seasons I've experienced in my time on this Earth, 20 were just regular, omni holidays. I then spent 1 of them as a vegetarian and 2 of them as a vegan. As I prepare for my third holiday season without any animal products I begin to feel the anxiety that has become standard for this time of year. If you don't eat a "normal" diet, you may understand what I mean. As we get nearer and nearer to family Christmas, I begin to think more and more of how I will handle those days amongst family. I am by no means an expert, but let me share with you what I've learned so far and what I plan to implement this year to survive the holidays as a vegan!
Out of the 23 Holiday Seasons I've experienced in my time on this Earth, 20 were just regular, omni holidays. I then spent 1 of them as a vegetarian and 2 of them as a vegan. As I prepare for my third holiday season without any animal products I begin to feel the anxiety that has become standard for this time of year. If you don't eat a "normal" diet, you may understand what I mean. As we get nearer and nearer to family Christmas, I begin to think more and more of how I will handle those days amongst family. I am by no means an expert, but let me share with you what I've learned so far and what I plan to implement this year to survive the holidays as a vegan!
Now, in my ideal world, my family would eat 100% vegan while we're together. To be fair, I've never asked them to. I don't want to force feed veganism to my family, as I know it will only push them further away. But despite that I find myself thinking; "You've had countless meals to eat whatever you want since the last time we saw each other, and you know how I feel about consuming and using animal products. Can't you just go one meal, or one day, without hurting animals?"
For those of us who are ethical vegans, the holidays are an emotionally fraught time. I am lucky enough to be marrying a man who shares my values, and therefore live in a 100% vegan home. That means that the only times I have to break bread with non-vegans are in the lunchroom at work or if I go to a non-vegan restaurant (not a common occurrence). But at the holidays? I may be spending as much as a full week eating every single meal surrounded by death. It's not fun.
I love my family, and I want to spend as much time with them as I can. But I DON'T want to spend all of that time incredibly stressed and trying to hold in the sadness, anger, and frustration I feel as I watch them destroy their health, the lives of animals, and our environment so that our time together can be pleasant.
So this year, I'm making a plan. I'm going to think of as many different circumstances and conflicts I can ahead of time and find solutions so that this year the holidays can be a joy like they're meant to be (as much as possible). And I'm sharing it with you so that you can have the resources you need to survive the holidays as a vegan, especially if it's your first one!
P L A N A H E A D
Since you're reading this article, you're definitely on the right track! Grab a notebook and a pen or pencil to take notes on the points that apply to your family and life and get prepared for a happy holiday season!
M A K E A L I S T
Of every single person who you'll see at the holidays. Every single one! If you have a big family this might take a while, but this will be so helpful for maneuvering this tricky time.
Made your list? Good.
Now I want you go down that list and think about each person individually. What are they like? Have they every commented on your diet, or the diet or someone else, before? What did they say? Do they like to ask a million questions? Get into debates? Make jokes? Poke fun? As you ask these questions about each person I want you to turn to a new page and jot down every comment, joke, or question you can imagine being asked by these people about your vegan lifestyle.
C R E A T E C A N N E D R E S P O N S E S
This tip is a LIFESAVER. Once you have your list of potential questions and comments, I want you to come up with a handful of responses that fit each eventuality. This is perfect if you...
A) Aren't great at thinking on your feet or get flustered easily, or;
B) Tend to get upset or angry quickly and can't think of a response OR say something that will hurt the other person (or the cause!), or;
C) Are really shy or afraid of offending people.
Some examples would be:
- (Where do you get your protein, iron, calcium, etc.) From plants.
- (So how do you like just eating salad?) There are over 20,000 types of edible plant foods and I love the huge variety in my diet!
- (Why won't you eat what I made for you? I worked so hard on it just for you!) I love you, and I would love to eat anything you made for me if it was animal product free. But I can't compromise my values no matter how much I love you and your cooking. I hope that being here and spending time together will be enough to show you how much I love and appreciate you!
- (Humans are omnivores. We're meant to eat meat, just like it's natural for lions to eat gazelle.) You are not a lion. And you're not a carnivore. You don't chase down your victim and catch it in your teeth. You don't rip into their living flesh and start eating them raw. You don't eat every piece, every organ, of their body without discrimination. You are NOT meant to eat meat.
- (Being vegan is dumb. Vegans are weak hippies. Why don't you care more about people than you care about the animals?) I don't discriminate against ANY living being, regardless of its species. That's why I'm vegan. I don't wish pain and suffering on any living thing, including humans. Did you know that if every person went vegan we'd have enough food to feed the entire human population?
B R I N G F A C T S T O B A C K I T U P
If you don't feel confident holding your own in a debate, use your list of potential questions, criticisms and comments to do research ahead of time and jot down facts and figures with sources. You can just pull it out of your pocket and read it to them! Another option is to download and print off my Vegan 101 pamphlet and pass it around to friends and family. I created it in a printable format as well as a PDF appropriate for reading on the computer or a mobile device, so you can also send it to them if you'd prefer to save paper and ink! Fill out the form below and I'll send the link to you, 100% free.
U S E T H E B U D D Y S Y S T E M
Everything's better with an ally. Is there anyone in your family who is vegan or vegetarian, or even just a little more sympathetic? Talk to them beforehand, if possible, and ask them to help back you up with certain family members or if you're being ganged up on. Make sure they know that you don't expect them to agree with your stance, if they don't, but that you just need that support and someone to tell others to take it back a notch if it gets to be too much.
E A T B E F O R E H A N D
Not sure if there will be anything you can eat at Christmas dinner? Eat before you go! If it's just a dinner thing, or if you can manage to sneak out for a half-hour, try eating a full meal ahead of time so that you won't have a hard time sticking to the few vegan options. If you know there will be a bit more for you to eat I still suggest as least a big salad, or something else light yet filling, just in case! It also helps for those of you who are new to veganism and are still having cravings or trouble with motivation.
B R I N G O R M A K E F O O D
For everyone to try! This is my favourite thing to do at the holidays, because it helps to show that a vegan diet can be more than salad, and that it can taste GREAT! This year Jason and I plan to make dinner for everyone - shepherd's pie, vegetable soup, and apple crisp for dessert. I bet no one is going to miss the meat or dairy in that hearty meal!
You can also ask if you can help out in the kitchen and make suggestions to make dishes vegan. You can explain how if the carrots are cooked without butter you can enjoy them too, and everyone else can put as much butter as they like on their own carrots - everyone's happy!
C O M P R O M I S E
If you normally eat a fully raw, vegan, low fat diet, you may need to compromise with a cooked vegan diet, or foods with a higher fat content for a couple of meals. Or say a family member bought you vegan cookies with oil, and you usually avoid oil. It is far better to make an exception than to uphold a perfectly healthy diet and hurt someone who has tried so hard to accommodate you. Perfection is the enemy of the good. Being vegan is important to you, and it's important for the world. You don't want to compromise on that! But don't let an all or nothing attitude about your 100% clean diet ruin all of your hard work. A couple of days of vegan junk food won't hurt you, and it may just show your family that veganism isn't quite as scary as they may have thought!
I hope this post helped you, just as I hope the original conversation with my newly-vegan friend, Amanda (which inspired this post) did! If you haven't already, be sure to scroll up and fill in the form for your free Vegan 101 booklet! I've been working on it for a while and I think it will be a great resource for those of us with omni families. If you're a Plant Based Bride newsletter subscriber you will receive your link automatically, as you do with all free resources as soon as they go live!
Happy Holidays and good luck!
Until next time,
What's your number one tip for surviving the holidays as a vegan? Let everyone know in the comments below!
Vegan Gift Guide (for Him & Her!)
As we rapidly approach the close of the holiday season, I'm taking a moment to share one last gift guide with you al! This one has options for any vegan on your list, man or woman! Check it out and let me know if there are any awesome vegan products I left off and should check out in the comments section and happy holidays!
As we rapidly approach the close of the holiday season, I'm taking a moment to share one last gift guide with you all! This one has options for any vegan on your list, man or woman. Check it out and let me know if there are any awesome vegan products I left off and should check out in the comments section and happy holidays!
This post contains some affiliate links. That means that if you click through those links and purchase the product I will receive a commission on the sale, at no extra cost to you. If you've enjoyed the free content I provide on this site, think of it as a special holiday "thank you" or bonus that keeps this site going!
1. Matt & Nat Dean Backpack in Chili, $165
I have been lusting after this gorgeous clean-lined backpack for what feels like AGES! This bag is perfect for men or women, can hold a huge quantity of essentials and comes in three perfect neutrals. I have a couple Matt & Nat items and LOVE their quality and customer service!
2. Beet x Beet In Plants We Trust Pin, $8
Tongue in cheek, minimal, and just all around awesome - this pin is a great stocking stuffer!
3. Are Aware Minim Playing Cards, $15
Ok. I never thought I'd need another set of playing cards, but I was 100% wrong. These cards are printed on sustainably harvested cardstock using plant-based inks and are so my style!
4. Beet x Beet Not You T-Shirt, $26
"It's not you, it's meat." Turn that cliche upside down with this straight-talking tee!
5. Blockitecture Holiday Bundle, $90
Essentially lego for adults. I'm sold!
6. Keep Company The Elias Black Nubuck, $85
Hi top unisex sneakers that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. I need these in my life!
7. Native Shoes Apollo Chukka in Jiffy Black/Shell White, $100
I love the innovative design of the shoes from this company (and the fact that they're all vegan)! These jumped out at me but make sure to check out all of their styles as I'm sure you'll love (at least) one pair!
8. Soulshine Eat Fruit Muscle Tee, $44
I own this tank and love it! (Check out my instagram to see pictures.) This shirt is adorable, to the point, and for every tee sold $5 is donated to Voiceless365 to help fight animal abuse!
9. The Dharma Store Plant Powered Tote, $21.99
Don't tell, but I may or may not have picked up this shopping tote for a special someone! (Seriously, shh.) As every vegan knows, plant power is the way to be - wear it loud and proud as you use this reusable tote to bring your produce home from the market!
10. Herbivore Clothing Eat Like You Give A Damn Organic Cotton Apron, $30
Make those delicious plant based recipes in style and let your dinner guests know where you stand!
11. Herbivore Clothing Splaff Guitar Strap, $28
Have a vegan musician on your list? Consider gifting them a new (ethical) guitar strap!
12. Good Guys Duke Black (Veg. Suede), €165
Perfect for men and women, I'm eyeing these soft black cowboy boots for next fall!
13. Keep Company Happy Socks Cat Sock, $12
Every cat-person on your list will love these happy cat socks!
14. Gunas Ridley Green Crossbody, $98.95
This may be a bit more on the girly side, but I couldn't help but include one of Gunas' adorable vegan handbags on this list! Many are too colourful and girly for my personal taste but this little emerald green crossbody is to die for!
15. The Dharma Store Ask Me Why I Am Vegan Tote, $21.99
Get the conversation started and spread the word with this to-the-point canvas tote!
16. I Love Bad Organics Hemp & CottonFleece Organic Throw Blanket, $128.46
A good vegan blanket is hard to find. I love that this neutral throw is organic and has customizable stitching!
17. Truth Gemini Reversible Belt, $65
Perfect for the minimalist vegan - you get a black and a brown belt in one!
And that's it! I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Remember, you don't NEED to buy lots of gifts for your loved ones during the holidays! The gift of your time is the best you can give and doesn't clutter up anyone's home.
Until next time,
Which was your favourite gift on the list? Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to subscribe to receive weekly newsletters and first dibs on freebies :)
Let's Help Canada #BeCrueltyFree!
This is incredible news! #BeCrueltyFree is finally making its way to Canada. The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act has been introduced in Canada's Senate as of June 18th, 2015!
This is incredible news! #BeCrueltyFree is finally making its way to Canada. The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act has been introduced in Canada's Senate as of June 18th, 2015!
What is the #BeCrueltyFree campaign?
The #BeCrueltyFree campaign is a global initiative by Humane Society International to end all animal testing for cosmetics.
Due in large part to this campaign, animal testing in the cosmetics industry has been banned in New Zealand, Norway, India, Israel, and across the European Union. There are also a number of countries approaching this conclusion including the United States, Brazil, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, and now Canada!
Learn more about #BeCrueltyFree here!
What is the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act?
The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (Bill S-234) is a Senate Public Bill that was sponsored by Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen. Its goal is to amend the Food and Drugs Act to "prohibit cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing in Canada."
What does this mean? It means that if this bill passes no cosmetics will be tested on animals in Canada and no products contain ingredients that have been newly tested on animals in other countries will be sold within our borders. It's about time!
Humane Society International's director of research and toxicology, Troy Seidle, said: “Today is an historic day for animals in Canada thanks to Senator Stewart Olsen’s leadership in championing this progressive legislation. We look forward to working with Senator Stewart Olsen and our national industry to make Canada the next country to #BeCrueltyFree.”
Why should we care?
I don't know about you, but I care about the other living beings on this planet. Not only will I not contribute to animal suffering of any kind, I also want to help end it for good. More than 100,000 animals suffer and die each and every year due to animal testing for the cosmetics industry. This can not be allowed to continue!
Bunnies, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and hamsters are shaved to have chemicals rubbed on their bare skin, have chemicals dripped into their eyes, and are force fed huge amounts of a chemical to determine the fatal dose. These tests can (and often do) lead to birth defects, blindness, intense pain, convulsions, internal bleeding, organ damage, and death.
They are not given any form of pain relief and at the end of the test they will be killed (often by asphyxiation, having their neck broken, or decapitation).
Learn more about the cruelty and scientific limitations of animal testing here.
What can I do to help?
I'm glad you asked! There are many things you can do to help end animal cruelty.
First off, head over and sign the petition to support the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act!
(p.s. This is still an ongoing issue as of November 2016 - don't forget to sign the petition above to convince our government to do better! If Taiwan can do it, we can do it!)
Next, share this post on facebook, twitter, google +, instagram, and anywhere else you can think of to get the word out! Click the little icon to the right of the heart at the bottom of this post to share everywhere! Also be sure to tell your friends, family, and coworkers about the petition to get as much support as we can.
Also, start buying cruelty free makeup! Get started even before the bill is passed and send a message with your $$ that we only want cruelty-free beauty in Canada! Check out my list of cruelty-free beauty brands to get started and take a look at the resources I link in that post for reviews of the many cruelty-free brands on the market!
Last but definitely not least, go vegan! I have a multitude of posts on the benefits of veganism, not only for the animals, but for our health and for the environment! Take a gander and consider going plant-based to truly end your contribution to animal-cruelty!
Why Going Pescatarian Doesn't Cut It
The Truth About The Dairy Industry
We are entering a new and kinder age and I am so excited to be here to experience it!
Until next time,
I signed the petition. Have you? I want to know in the comments!
Sources:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/legisinfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=8055480&Language=E&Mode=1
http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=8055486
http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/news/releases/2015/06/canada-becrueltyfree-bill-061815.html
http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/news/releases/2015/12/canada-cruelty-free-cosmetics-act-121015.html