~ Vegan Living ~
by Judy (co-founder of NJR)

World Vegan Day is November 1, 2009, the start of World Vegan Month. (www.worldveganday.org)

Ever consider becoming a vegan? Perhaps you are like my sister-in-law who recently asked me, "So what is this 'vegan' thing I keep hearing about?" Or . . . maybe you've been living on another planet and have never even heard the term "vegan."

A vegan is a person who does not consume animal products of any kind, including diary, eggs, honey, gelatin, or other animal-derived products. Vegans also refrain from wearing leather, fur, wool, or other products made from animals.

Reasons for becoming vegan vary. There are truly impressive health reasons. A plant-based vegan diet can be heart healthy and can assist in preventing and controlling diabetes and overcoming obesity. Several studies suggest a connection between osteoporosis and diets rich in animal protein, and recent research has uncovered links between animal food consumption and many forms of cancer. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has a wonderful website providing information regarding the benefits of a vegan diet. (www.pcrm.org). Couple those health reasons with the non-therapeutic overuse of antibiotics given to animals on 'farm factories'-known in the food industry as 'concentrated-animal feeding operations' (CAFOs)-and the fact that farm factories are overcrowded breeding grounds for pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses and. . . well. . . it makes a vegan diet seem like an intelligent choice.

Some people become vegan for ethical reasons. The majority of farm animals raised for food are raised on industrial farms (CAFOs). Most of the animals are confined in crates, small cages, and barely have enough room to move. Most endure months, even years, of confinement or overcrowding. Inhumane treatment of farm animals is the norm in the United States. This is no secret. Go to the internet and key in "factory farming" and you will find websites in abundance that can inform you of the unbelievable suffering, torture, and abuse experienced by farm animals.

Some religions encourage their followers to forgo meat or certain types of meat and eggs.

Our earth is impacted by our dietary choices. Intensive animal agricultural practices degrade the land, our water and air. Many people are choosing to become vegan to protect our environment. Industrial farming comes at a high cost to the earth as well as to animals and humans. Go to the Vegan Society website to learn more.

So if vegans don't eat meat, what do they eat? Simply stated, they eat "plants."

A healthy vegan diet includes eating from four food groups:

• 1. Whole Grains (breads, cereals, whole grains, and pasta)
• 2. Vegetables (fresh, frozen, raw, or cooked)
• 3. Legumes, Nuts, and Other Protein Foods (beans, lentils, dried peas, soybean products, nuts and seeds, and non-dairy milks)
• 4. Fruits (fresh, frozen, raw, or cooked)

For more information on the new four food groups, go to:www.pcrm.org

At Not-Just-Recipes we feel that vegan living is the pinnacle of a healthy, compassionate, responsible life. As Bernie Wilke said, "I've found without question that the best way to lead others to a more plant-based diet is by example - to lead with your fork, not your mouth." ~ Bernie Wilke quoted in Joanne Stepaniak, The Vegan Sourcebook, 1998

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~ More Resources ~

Think you might like to explore vegan living a little more?
Patty "Sassy" Knutson has a terrific site that is filled with helpful information
about living a vegan life. "Sassy" is a vegan coach, author and nutritional consultant. You might even want to hire her to coach you through your
transition to a better, healthier lifestyle! Check her out at The Vegan Coach

Another excellent resource for people on the move is "Busy-Vegan.com".
If you're like a lot of people these days, you feel as if you don't have time to turn around! Busy-Vegan.com gives some great advice on how to maintain healthy vegan living during these fast paced times. First, check out the vegan food pyramid and then peruse their site for some great tips and information. You can find the Food Pyramid and more info at the-busy-vegan.com.

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