Live like a veggie - maybe even a little longer

On June 30th the Viva Las Vega's Food Festival took place. It was the last day of the Veggie Challenge for me (though you can also try a month longer or start on July first) and it was a day to look at all the delicious alternatives there are for animal food products... and more!

That's a month

The Veggie Challenge ended for me that weekend. A month without any meat at all and once a week as a vegan. As mentioned in my previous blogs (note: two links here :P), it doesn't have to be so difficult. But there were some challenges that I failed to conquer. One of them was one I spend a couple of days with my parents. My mother knows I love this very difficult and time consuming recipe with fish and she made it for me. I then told her that I really love it, but that I couldn't eat it because I entered the Challenge. She looked so hurt and tired that I said I'd make an exception and just pick the pieces of fish out. But as it turned out, they were really small and I ended up eating some.
There was another incident, also at my parents house. We got home late after the Viva Las Vega's Food Festival and ordered Chinese. I ordered some things that could have been veggie, but we forgot to say it and I ended up eating some chicken :S. I found out to late, and we had people over, so I couldn't exactly spit it out... So I ate it, even if I didn't really like it. So those are my little challenges/mistakes during the past month. But all in all I think I did really well. Unfortunatly - and I'm really bummed about this - I didn't succeed in the Challenge :(, but I did eat less meat and other animal products (like honey, eggs and cheese) than I would have so that's still a win in my book.

As for my last vegan meal. I loved it. I made Mexican wraps, with very easy products and it was very nice. I did make it with soy product instead of meat of course, but it was really good. It had a lot of taste and I'll definitely make it again. Other than that, I love the different spreads and salades I had during this month. So even though the Challenge ended, I'll keep eating something vegan every now and then. Just because it's good for the environment, the animals and of course my own body. I also like being creative with food and finding new recipes and these are all fun things to be busy with when you have the time (and of course money). Because I entered this Challenge I know where to find some recipes and I'm really excited to try some of those out. So that's another reason for doing it. I don't think I'll ever eat completely vegan, I won't overdo it (in my own words and no offense), but within my limits I'll keep eating/drinking vegan food and drinks. Because they are just as delicious and every little bit helps ;-). It will also keep me healthy (more vegetables for one), which is always good in my book. One thing I learned and will probably keep doing is looking at ingredients. Just knowing what I'm actually eating was very interesting for me. So that's what I'm taking with me from this past month.

Food, Films and other Festivities!

But of course the main activity was the festival. An initiative of young vegans to introduce people to a vegan and/or veggie life style. And even though it was a Food Festival it had so much more. It started around noon and until five there would be stands. Then at six o'clock they organised a vegan BBQ, after which there was time to party at Club V. Now that's a full day!

The market was free for everyone, but they also organised several workshops in which professional cooks would teach the people who signed up for it (bought tickets) to make certain delicious foods. Like cupcakes, but also some kind of vegan pigs in a blanket. It was sold out weeks before the festival, with the exception of kid workshops. So it was a very busy day for some people. 
The 'market' (?) consisted of stands with a lot of people promoting their business. Most of them were for food: delicious cupcakes, burgers, sushi, chocolates, spreads, popsicles and much more. Some of them you could try out for free, but others you had to pay for. And it proved to be a succes, because some had sold out or had to get extra because they didn't bring enough. We also had really good weather, and that's always a plus. It was outside and rain wouldn't help with that. But - as I said - it wasn't just about food. One stand sold vegan shoes! Can you believe that? You could also traid your clothes for other ones (kind of second hand, but you wouldn't have to pay for it) and there were natural beauty products. I don't remember all the names, but one of them was LUSH. A brand/company I've know for a couple of years now. They have really amazing things!

 (for more information: check www.lush.nl)

Then there's my (extra) reason for being there: My sister got in touch with this company in New York that makes totally vegan clothing (they even use PET-bottles for some of the clothes). It's called Vaute Couture and it's so cool! Anyway, they are thinking about branching out I believe and my sister arranged for them to get a stand. Her boyfriend and me would stand there and sell it for them. That way we could see if people were interested. And that's what we did. We had a lot of smaller sizes, so that was a little unfortunate, but we sold about half of what we had. I'd say it was a succes! It was so much fun to talk to people about it and see how other people also cared so much about this cause. And the clothes were absolutely amazing, so why wouldn't people like it ;-).
One other thing I helped my sister with was the movies. They showed a film program, because after walking all day or taking part in the workshops people may want to sit down for a while. So I helped to find some (short) movies that put vegans and/or animals in a positive light (instead of all those documentaries that would scare you out of eating fish or meat). I really wanted to see them myself (of course!), but unfortunately I was so busy selling clothes that I just didn't have the time. Several titles were Tegan the Vegan, Charlotte's Web and Vegan Love. The maker of this movie has his own blog and tries to use vegan film material as well, which is really interesting.

 Check out his blog www.veganfilmmaker.com,
you can also see Vegan Love there! 

My sister was a volunteer and in the organisation, so she was busy a lot of the time. Good thing we could help her out. I was there around eleven in the morning and helped out until half past three. Then I walked around a bit myself (with my parents who had just finished with a workshop/meal themselves) and them we went home. So I didn't go to the BBQ, even though I was really curious and it sounded heavenly. And I didn't go to Club V, but then again, it wasn't really for me I think. Could have been fun, but I had a lot of busy days (with graduating, my dad's birthday and helping out at the festival) so I could use an early night.

The festival was definitely a succes and I really hope there will be another one next year! It really succeded my expectations, because they showed how much is out there and how easy and fun all this veggie/vegan stuff can be. They really deserve a round of applause and I'm glad I was a part of it.

Live like a vegan - part two

Time goes by so fast. It's already day 20th of the Veggie Challenge, which also means that there's only ten days to go. I have to say that I was a little surprised at first. As I think I mentioned in my previous blog about the Veggie Challenge, what I really like about it is really finding out what you're eating. The ingredients in your food. Turns out there are a lot of products with some form of eggs or milk in them (or honey and gelatine for that matter). And we can't have that, cos those are animal products. Luckily we have the www to find out what several ingredients mean. And of course we have our own eyes to check the packaging of the products, where the ingredients are listed.

It's really not that hard to find vegan food. There are the obvious vegetables (though they are better from your own country: less chemicals to keep them fresh and so on), and whole weated pasta's or rice and such. I believe bread is vegan, but I'm not sure about all of the ingredients... As a nice extra I bought rice waffles (or however they are called) and crackers. Of course I can't eat cheese as a vegan, so I went out to find wonderful substitutes. For example, I found some delicious spreads (from tomatoes, paprika or cucumber), but also apple syrup (it's not exactly a syrup, but it's the best word I could think of) and peanut butter. Wasn't it Moby who lived a year on bread and peanut butter, because he had no money for other things but still lived like a vegan? This proves anyone can do it. And it doesn't have to be so expensive. There's also hummus and avocado with tomatoes, which make delicious sandwiches. And that's only for lunch! Most of this food you can easily find in a random grocery store. But for some products I went to the specialists, in this city you can find several grocery stores that specialize in biological food, like EkoPlaza. A store like that, makes it that much easier and surprises you with so many products, that it's make it hard to choose.

I also like to snack and there are enough cookies, crackers, chips and you name it. Like 'Love-choc' - it's so yummy... and the name says it all, right? I will not go into further detail about this, because it's too much to mention. But I will focus on one thing, because it caught me by surprise and that's gum. Yes, I'm talking about the white candy you can chew on... My sister brought it to my attention that it's made from raw oil and gelatine from cows. That's right... doesn't sound to tasty now, does it? It also sounds weird to have those kind of ingredients in stuff we eat. So gum? Not vegan or even vegetarian. Instead of buying gum - cos I do like a fresh breath - I found mints for veggies and vegans! It even says it on the box. How amazing is that?

The most fun part of doing this, is going all out. Taking the time to prepare something amazing to eat, whether it's morning, noon or night. I always have cereal for breakfast (with soymilk and now vegan cereal), but for dinner I like to take some more time. My first vegan day I didn't have a lot of time, so I decided to take the easy way: simple patatoes and vegetables, with fruit as desert. As a 'meat substitute' I could have added mushrooms or something, but you don't have to eat it everyday, and I'm not a big eater, so I decided to do one day without. But last week I was at my sisters and we spent the entire afternoon making delicous salades. From patatoes with beans to couscous (?) with apricots and dates. There was also soy yoghurt with cucumber, tomatoes and some herbs/spices and we had bread, without eggs or milk. It was a delicious feast! Tonight I'm going to make couscous with green vegetables, like broccoli, letuce and celery. I made it once or twice before, but it started out as some left over groceries I had lying around and I didn't want to throw it away. Boy, was that a great idea! 

Because next week is the final week of the challenge I want to make something really great and creative. I can't wait to look up some recipies for that. But I'll leave that for the weekend, so I can really take my time for it. 

Live like a veggie or vegan - the prep

Today, June first, I'm starting with this challenge... a Veggie Challenge! It's an initiative from the young group behind Viva Las Vega's. Their goal is to promote the consumption of plant products: to make others more aware of what they eat and what's in their food, but mostly to eat less animal products. When you sign up to do this you have several choices. You can either choose the month June or July (or both) and then there are the choices of how many times a week you want to eat vegetarian and/or vegan. Seeing how I call myself a flexitarian (though I dislike that word) I will go a month without any meat/fish, so seven days a week. As for the vegan part, I thought I might as well try it. My sister is vegan and she eats (and makes) the most delicous things! So why wouldn't I want to join that? Other than that, it's really healthy because their all natural products (from plants). 

(subtitle reads: "Challenge yourself!")

Now I don't like the idea of eating meat. And since my sister has become a vegan I have been reading much more about what's in our food and how they make it. For instance, did you know that you need 7 kilograms of grane for 1 kilogram of meat (to feed the animal, that is)? That's seven times as much!!! So imagine how much food there actually is in the world :O. That's kinda a OMG-moment, don't you think? One thing that really grossed me out though, was that cows (and the likes) are being forced to produce a lot of milk. They are not used to it, so it's unhealthy for them which causes infections. In one glass of milk, there's one thimble of pus (you know, the yellow stuff that oozes out of a wound). Gross!!!!! (That also applies on yoghurt and cheese of course). So when you think about it, even milk is inhumane for the animals and that food really isn't that healthy. And that's why I'm really excited to accept this challenge. The only reason why I'm holding back on it (and not going for more vegan days a week) is because it's expensive. It shouldn't have a price, I know, but hey, what would you do if you have no income at all?

(a thimble)

The vegetarian part

Vegetarian food isn't exactly new to me. My mother was a veggie while I was growing up, so we never ate that much meat to begin with. The realisation of what meat actually is hit me later, like in my teens/high school. Somehow I just don't understand why people 'have to' eat meat. It's inhumane if you ask me. People say it's so delicious, but I don't get it. When I eat meat - like I said, I'm a flexitariar - I am very aware of the fact that I'm chewing on a cow/goat/pig or whatever it is I'm eating. The most trouble I have with red meat, because I see the red juice coming out of it, and I see blood. I also see those tendons (?) and I just start to gag. Seriously, it isn't pretty. When I moved out of my parents house and went to live as a student, I knew I would eat vegetarian. Because if I couldn't eat it, I definitly couldn't make it myself. It just kills me to have to cook/fry meat, because - again - I can see what I'm doing to the animal. Of course the animal is way dead by this time, but it doens't matter. It used to be a beautiful animal and now it's food. People are so weird sometimes... So I guess you could say that my motivations lie in the sweetness factor of animals. I have a heart for the animals and that's how it started. 

But little over six months ago I went to this meeting of a youth party (political, for animals) and there's a whole other set of important things to take into consideration as well. For example: Having those big kinda stables is bad. The gasses that come out of it, are really bad for the environment. Who new? I sure didn't! It made me wonder what else was going on that I had no idea about.

The flexitariar bit

So, I'm a flexitariar. Meaning that I sometimes eat meat. Like I said, I don't cook meat myself, but sometimes my parents do and sometimes I eat it. Usually when it's just a burger or something I just go without. But on holidays (when my dad has spent hours in the kitchen) I sometimes take a bite. Just because he has put so much effort in to it and he's so proud. But thankfully, more and more, they cook veggie for me (and of course my sister and her boyfriend). Other things I eat, are mostly things that I don't know what's in them. Like - I guess the English word is - pigs in a blanket (?) or something that I don't think exists in England, called a 'fricandel'. Though I have heard (from my sister) that's it probably the worst meat-thing I could possibly eat... One thing that I do eat when I'm with my parents and they make it is salmon. That's because it's supposed to be really good for year health and my mother told me that I really need it. But the older I get, the less meat I eat. I used to love tosti's (grilled cheese with ham) and it has become an exeption to eat one now. I also love pizza and while usually I eat a veggie one, I sometimes go for one with a little meat on it. Just to be clear: I'm talking about those frozen ones, whenever I'm in a restaurant I always order them without meat. But lately I hardly ever eat meat at all. Which I think is a really good thing. So a month without meat, should be a piece of cake. Let's see if it sticks!

Me and other people 
Sometimes when people have certain morals or values they try to convince others that they are the ones who are right. That's not necessarily me. Sure, when people ask me why I don't or eat less meat, I explain it to them. And I would love it if less people would eat meat. But I think everybody is free to make up their own minds about it. I do not find it easy to watch someone eat a steak, or hamburger or something like that. Because again, I see them chowing down a dead cow. And it gets to me. But I'm surely not gonna say that my way is the only way and that everybody should stop eating meat. Even though I think it would be better for the world and the people in it. So yes, I may say it here. But I wouldn't say it to their face. That just leads to discussions that always end the same way it started. With no change at all, just a lot of frustration. People don't have to get each other when it comes to things like this. I think the most important thing is to respect each others decisions and let them eat whatever they want. My last side comment on that would be, that I still think it would be better if people would put more effort in finding out what it is they are eating. Because I think that when people do that, actually pay attention, that a lot of people would start eating less animal products anyway.

The vegan part

Now this is a real challenge. As my sister tells me, a lot of products contain some kind of byproduct that has eggs or milk in them. So eating vegan once a week, will mean I have to really start looking at the ingredients. Though it may take a lot of work and time, I think it will be awesome. Because I never read what's in these things. And that's how I found out that gum has animal products in them! Wine has someting of fish in them! I mean come on... What's that good for? Now there are a couple of things that won't be so different. For instance, I always start my morning with cereal. I already started taking soymilk a while ago and as it turns out, I like it much more than cows milk! And it's just as good. Even better actually, cos HELLO without the pus! :-). But I do eat one sandwich with cheese everyday. This will be a big no-no. Fortunatly, there are delicious spreads that I can eat instead. Writing this now, I'm getting really excited. I thing it will be an eyeopener to realize what I'm eating and how much better I will feel (morally and physically) by choosing natural products. I think it will make me feel healthier and more aware. I'm even so excited that I think I'm going to do a second blog about what I usually eat and how that's going to change during this challenge. So stay tuned!

(with such delicious products, how bad can it be?)